Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has received credible reports that
in the last two days 250 Eritrean refugees were forced into trucks "like
cattle" and transported from Misrata prison in Libya to Sabha detention
centre, situated on the edge of the Sahara.
CSW has spoken directly to some of the refugees, who report that prior
to being relocated, the group endured beatings, electric shocks and
other mistreatment administered by members of the Libyan military, who
had suddenly descended on the prison.
Once the refugees were too battered and tired to resist expulsion, 250
of them were forced into the trucks and sent to Sabha. However, 20
prisoners were so badly beaten that they had to be sent to hospital, and
were returned to Misrata after receiving treatment
Around 47 Eritreans are left in Misrata, including
women and children. Describing his shock at recent events, one of the
refugees told CSW that in the three and a half years he had spent in
Misrata he had never witnessed anything close to the events of the last
two days.
There are fears that given the good relations between Eritrea and Libya,
and the manner in which Libya recently cooperated to facilitate
"selective returns" of escapees who are of special interest to the
Eritrean regime, these refugees will be forcibly returned to Eritrea,
where they will be subject to imprisonment, mistreatment, and possibly
even death.
According to African refugee law, of which Libya is a signatory, states
have a responsibility to find settlement elsewhere for refugees who are
unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin. Libya is a hub
in North Africa for refugees from sub-Saharan African and the Middle
East. The Libyan government is not party to UN Refugee convention and
recently demanded the closure of the local office of the UNHCR, but has
temporarily permitted it to resume part of its work.
CSW's Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, "CSW is urging the
international community to make urgent interventions on behalf of these
refugees, and to remind Libya of its obligations under African refugee
law. The Libyan government should also be encouraged to allow the UNHCR
to resume its activities fully in Libya, in order to facilitate the
registration and transfer of all refugees who are currently languishing
in appalling conditions in prisons throaughout the country. "
On the web: www.csw.org.uk
