Ethiopia to release Eritrean POWs

There is little trust between the two govenments

By Nita Bhalla in Addis Ababa

Exactly one week after the signing of the peace agreement ending the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the Ethiopian Government has announced that it will be releasing thousands of Eritrean prisoners of war which were captured during the two-year border conflict.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the release and repatriation of Eritrean POWs is in line with the peace deal.

After intensive discussions with the International Committee for the Red Cross, ICRC, the Ethiopian Government said the releases would start immediately.

Obligation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was fulfilling its obligation under the peace agreement which calls on "both parties to release and repatriate or return to their last place of residence, all others detained as a result of the conflict".

More than 4,000 UN troops will monitor the peace deal

Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose exactly how many POWs have been captured during the war which began in May 1998, officials say it is at least a few thousand.

Most have been detained in POW camps in Dedessa, in north-western Ethiopia, Addis Ababa and in the northern Tigray region.

Yemane Kidane, chief of the cabinet at the ministry of foreign affairs, said that there will be three phases to the release and repatriation of the POWs.

The first phase will be the release of approximately 390 wounded Eritrean soldiers, who are currently detained in the capital.

The second phase will be the release of some 1,200 Eritreans, who are not strictly POWs, but Eritreans with a military background, who were considered a security threat when war broke out and therefore detained by the Ethiopian government.

The final phase will be the release and repatriation of the remaining POW's, which amounts to several thousand.

Remaining Eritreans

The chief of the cabinet added that the process had already commenced with the help of the ICRC, who will be interviewing all the POWs and flying them to Eritrea.

The Eritreans are obliged to release our soldiers and our people, under the terms of the peace deal

Yemane Kidane

He said that the POWs should be home within a week and hopefully before the festive holidays in early January.

Ato Yemane, however stressed that many of the POWs, expressed the desire to remain in Ethiopia, not wishing to return to Eritrea.

He said that those Eritreans who wished to stay here could do so, providing that they were not a threat to the security of the country.

As for Ethiopian POWs in Eritrea, Ato Yemane said that there were some 1,500 and when asked whether he expected their release, he said

"It's not a question of expecting or not expecting, the Eritreans are obliged to release our soldiers and our people, under the terms of the peace deal".

Progress

News of the release of Eritrean POWs has been greeted with pleasant surprise by diplomats in Addis Ababa.

Many commended the speed at which the Ethiopian Government is moving towards the implementation of the peace agreement, which was only signed seven days ago.

Sources said that it proved that "Ethiopia was committed to the agreement and really wanted peace between the two countries".

Not only is progress being made on the humanitarian front, but also the military front.

On Monday, three safe air corridors opened and UN helicopters have travelled between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

More than 1,700 of the 4,200 members of the UN peacekeeping force have also arrived in the mission area to oversee the ceasefire and supervise the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Eritrean territory which they have occupied since May this year.