Reference:PUBLIC/072/06August 11, 2006

Attention:

His Excellency Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi  
Office of the Leader of the Revolution  
Tripoli, Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

The report states that the detainees are in such a harsh condition for which very reason some women have to go for hunger strike. The report also includes that there are 4 detainees with bad health condition and one pregnant woman. Your Excellency, Please allow us to mention the unfortunate incidents which occurred in the year 2004 when young Eritrean nationals were subjected to similar situation like those who are currently facing imminent deportation in your respected country. At that time, these young Eritrean nationals compelled to hijack a plane in protest of their deportation and forced it to land in the Sudan. Moreover, we would like to draw your attention to the sad fate of another group of deportees in that same year. These helpless deportees after their arrival in Eritrea faced unspeakable torture and inhuman treatments in the hands of the Eritrean authorities in total violation of UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This fact is well documented by international human rights organizations. In light of the above facts, should these 400 vulnerable Eritrean nationals are subjected to a similar treatment, their destiny is a forgone conclusion. As you are well aware of, this kind treatment upon these very vulnerable people is in contravention of Article 33 of the 1951 UN Convention on refugee affairs to which your respected county is signatory.  We, therefore, respectfully request Your Excellency to give the matter an utmost attention and save the lives of these helpless Eritrean nationals. We particularly appeal to you to reverse their deportation proceedings and provide them with complementary protection.  We thank Your Excellency in advance for your kind consideration.

Respectfully,

Samuel Bizen Chairperson, EMDHR

 CC.

His Excellency Muhammad Ali al-Misrati  
Secretary of the People's Committee for Justice and General Security Secretariat of the People's Committee for Justice and General Security  
Tripoli,  
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 

His Excellency Abd al-Rahman Mohamed Shalgam  
Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation,  
Secretariat of the General People’s Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation  
Tripoli  
Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Dr. Muhammad Abduallah al-Harari  
Secretary for Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the General Peoples’ Congress  
P.O. Box 84662  
Tripoli  
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya  

African union

Amnesty international South Africa

Human right watch

UNHCR Geneva