CDRiE Press Release

As everywhere within and outside Eritrea, we in CDRiE, have been following the events that have been unfolding in our country in the past few days with great concern and anxious anticipation.

On 21 January 2013, the capital, Asmara, witnessed unusual troop movements that led to members of the Eritrean Defense Forces taking control of some key government buildings, including the Ministry of Information, which hosts the only television station, Eri-TV in the country. Although calm appears to have been restored, the situation still remains tense and as a result, people are in a state of fear and uncertainty.

Although very little is known about the movement itself, the brief statement read out on state TV, calling for political reforms resulting, inter alia, in the immediate implementation of the ratified constitution and the freedom of all political prisoners has deeply touched the hearts and minds of all Eritreans within and outside the country. These issues have been on the lips of most Eritreans for more than a decade.

Whether the mutiny is thwarted or not, the fact remains that the underlying reasons that gave rise to it remain unabated and unless the demands of the change-seeking democratic forces are met immediately, the incident that occurred on 21 January 2012 may be a harbinger of a protracted struggle for democratic change. The mutiny although highly significant and the whole nation will remain indebted to the courageous members of the Eritrean Defense Forces that gave voice to the voiceless, albeit, ephemerally is symptomatic of what is likely to unfold in the near future on a greater scale.

We therefore call upon the Eritrean Government to respond positively to the legitimate demands of the change-seeking forces of the Eritrean Defense Forces who articulated the demands of the entire Eritrean people. We also call upon the Government to desist from ill-treating the leaders and participants of the historic event.

Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea – CDRiE

The Executive Board,

London January 23, 2013