DATE=6/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ERITREA / REPATRIATIONS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263535
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=ASMARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Eritrea has begun the process of repatriating
Ethiopians displaced by war. Carol Pineau reports
from Asmara on the start of the process a day after
the countries signed a ceasefire.
TEXT: The repatriation proceeded calmly. There were
no reports of military or police presence. Many of
the Ethiopians came from Zalambessa, a border town at
the center of the original border dispute. There was
no information on their final destination in Ethiopia.
Eritrean officials said they had wanted immediately to
send all four-thousand Ethiopians requesting
repatriation, but Ethiopia had refused to accept more
than 500 in the first group.
Last year, the Red Cross was forced to cancel a
planned repatriation for hundreds of Ethiopians, after
Ethiopia refused to guarantee the Red Cross safe
passage for the group.
Eritrean officials say the Ethiopians returning home
were displaced from the border region along with
Eritreans during the most recent round of fighting.
Eritrea says it cannot care for displaced Ethiopians
because the government relief agency is already
overwhelmed by the estimated one-million displaced
Eritreans.
During the past month, Ethiopians have been living in
detention camps in Eritrea. Government officials say
the move was for the Ethiopians' safety.
Eritrean officials insist the repatriation is not a
deportation. International human-rights groups have
confirmed Ethiopia has deported more than 70-thousand
Eritreans living in Ethiopia since the war began two-
years ago. (SIGNED)
NEB/CP/GE/RAE
19-Jun-2000 12:45 PM EDT (19-Jun-2000 1645 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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