February 18, 2001

ALEMSEGED TEKA DEPORTED AND ALREADY DISAPPEARED

Reliable reports reaching SOCEPP have confirmed that BELGIUM has deported ALEMSEGED TEKA back to Ethiopia on February 13.Alemseged Teka, a security guard working for the Ethiopian Air Lines, had applied for asylum in Belgium. Relatives of the deported have not been able to meet him and the government is claiming that it does not know anything on Alemseged's whereabouts.

 SOCEPP had called on Belgium to refrain from taking a regrettable and condemnable action as regards Alemseged. Belgium had earlier sent him back but the plane had landed in Cairo and the Egyptian authorities had sent Alemseged back to Brussels.

SOCEPP had informed the Belgian authorities that the mere fact that Alemseged had sought asylum was enough to make him a candidate for repression by the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Regrettable, Belgium decided to ignore the plea and has now sent Alemseged if not to the death chamber at least to a life long suffering and imprisonment. This is a very inhuman and condemnable action.

 SOCEPP vigorously condemns the actions of the Belgian government and calls on all Ethiopian and foreign human rights organizations and peace loving forces to join it its condemnation of Belgium bys ending their protest letters to the nearest Belgian embassy or consulate.

 Letters should also be addressed to the government in Addis Abeba (Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, p,o.box 1031, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, fax no. 251-1-552020) requesting information on the whereabouts and condition of Alemseged Teka. Please send copies to Amnesty International (uateam@amnesty.org, Human Rights Watch Hrw@hrw.org, and all other human rights bodies.

SOCEPP