PARIS, 7 DECEMBER 2004

WAN, WEF Protest Imprisonment of Swedish Journalist in Eritrea

The World Association of Newspapers and World Editors Forum have asked
President Isaias Afworki of Eritrea to immediately release the founder of
the country's first independent newspaper, Dawit Isaac, from prison and to
ensure that the country respects international standards of justice.

  "Mr Isaac, who is a Swedish citizen, remains in prison without having been
given a fair trial," said the Paris-based WAN and WEF in a letter to the
president.

  Mr Isaac, a journalist, author and playwright, has been held since his
arrest in September 2001 for publishing a call for democratic reform in his
newspaper, Setit, which he founded on his return to the east African nation
in 1996 after living in exile in Sweden for nine years.

  He was last seen at the beginning of 2002 when his wife visited him in
hospital where he was being treated for injuries which were reportedly the
result of torture. All visits to Mr Isaac have since been banned and little
is known of his condition, although the government states that he is still
alive.

  Setit, the first independent newspaper in Eritrea, was known for
criticising the government and reporting on abuses of power. At the same
time as Mr Isaac was arrested, the government closed all private and
independent media and jailed many critics.

  The letter said:

  "We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the
World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 countries,
to express our serious concern at the continuing imprisonment of journalist
Dawit Isaac and the government's ongoing suppression of press freedom.

  "According to reports, Mr Isaac, a journalist, author and playwright, has
been held in jail since his arrest in September 2001 for publishing a call
for democratic reforms in Setit, the newspaper he founded on his return to
Eritrea in 1996 after living in exile in Sweden for nine years.

  "Setit, the first independent newspaper in your country, was known for
criticising the government and reporting on abuses of power. At the same
time as Mr Isaac was arrested, your government closed all private and
independent media and jailed many critics.

  "Mr Isaac, who is a Swedish citizen, remains in prison without having been
given a fair trial. He was last seen at the beginning of 2002 when his wife
visited him in hospital where he was being treated for injuries which,
according to some sources, were the result of torture. All visitors to Mr

  "Isaac have since been banned and little is known of his condition,
although the government states that he is still alive.

  "We respectfully remind you that the jailing of Mr Isaac constitutes a
clear breach of his right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by
numerous international conventions, including Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Furthermore, the United Nations Commission on
Human Rights considers that "detention, as punishment for the peaceful
expression of an opinion, is one of the most reprehensible ways to enjoin
silence and, as a consequence, a grave violation of human rights".

  "We respectfully call on you to ensure that Mr Isaac is immediately
released from jail and that all charges against him are dropped. We urge you
to take all necessary steps to ensure that in future your country fully
respects international standards of freedom of expression."

  WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and
promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its
membership includes 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper
executives in 102 countries, 13 news agencies and ten regional and
world-wide press groups.

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