Ethiopian solidarity movement demands release of asylum seekers

The Washington-based Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) has written to Malta's Commissioner for Refugees, asking for the release of some 50 Ethiopian asylum seekers, being held in detention.

Obang Metho, 
the SMNE's executive director, said in his letter to Mario Friggieri that his organisation was in contact with the detainees and was highly concerned about the length of their detention.

"We are also concerned about the extremely difficult conditions they face while in detention, including a lack of adequate medical and psychological attention for some who need it, services related to epilepsy, women's health, depression and mental health. Additionally, some are disabled and some are underage," Metho said. 

Metho said his organisation was ready to work with the Commissioner - whose responsibility lies in the processing of asylum claims, but not with the detention services - to send a delegation of Ethiopians to Malta to personally check on the condition of the asylum seekers "and to work out details for their release with authorities."

According to Metho, over 50 Ethiopians are now being held in detention for over nine months.

"Again, this is a violation of international law. We strongly urge Malta's detention authorities to immediately release all of these detainees to the open centre or for third-country asylum.

"These people are not criminals and are not dangerous to Malta society. Their only crime is entering into Malta without proper documents in hope of gaining asylum in another country.

"Despite it all, their greatest fear is not the detention center but is returning to Ethiopia, a country where the brutal treatment of its citizens is a constant threat to any who do not support a one-party, one-ethnic group kleptocratic dictatorship."