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Last update - 05:44 25/03/2008 Eritrean refugees say returning home means certain death By Vered Lee Tags: Israel, refugees, Africa  At a refugee shelter on Tel Aviv's Har Zion Street, Abu was reluctant to be interviewed. When he finally agreed to talk, he asked that his words not be recorded, and wanted to move far away from the crowd, on the shelter's ground floor. "You have to understand, even here, far away from home, I do not feel safe," he explained, constantly sneaking looks in every direction. "I don't know if whoever is listening to us now is a collaborator with the Eritrean government," he hinted, referring to the other refugees going up and down the stairs of the shelter. Advertisement Abu, 30, was an officer in the Eritrean army. "At a certain stage, I stopped understanding why we were fighting, and [started] to notice how corrupt the army and government were," he said. A year ago he fled to Sudan. "The moment I fled, the Eritrean government took my mother and sister and imprisoned them as hostages until I return." He said that when he felt unsafe in Sudan, he decided to flee to Israel via Egypt. "I believed that it is a democratic country that would give me political asylum," he said. When asked what would be his fate if Israel returned him to Eritrea, Abu could not find the words for a few minutes. Finally, he formed his hand into the shape of a gun and said, "They would shoot me immediately. I am wanted in my own country." Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to send the refugees back to Eritrea created a whirlpool of panic in the shelter. "Is it true?" ask the shocked refugees. "The entire world knows about our government and the monstrous things it does," says Ala, 24, in despair. "We have no home to return to as long as the government isn't replaced," he explained. Ala refused to join the army and was jailed for a year. "It was an underground prison," he tells. He was released when he promised to enlist, but he fled with his family to Sudan. "In Sudan I was jailed for three months. I have no documents and they asked me for money in return for [being allowed] to stay in the country - and I didn't have any," he said. "I was released when I promised to arrange the matter, but I fled from there too. If I return to Eritrea they will kill me," he said, and all the other refugees in the shelter nodded in agreement. Zaura, 27, holds her 9-month-old baby daughter. Her husband served five years in the Eritrean army before he chose to escape with his family to Sudan. "All the time war," she says. In Sudan, her husband was caught and imprisoned when it was determined he was an Eritrean refugee. Zaura and her daughter fled to Israel two months ago. They spent a month and a half in the Ketziot Prison, and now she is in the shelter. "It is hard here. There is not always food for the child, no money, my husband is in prison in Sudan, I am unable to work and I sit here for days with nothing to do, and I don't even have the possibility of going back. The government won't even ask anything, they will shoot us straight out," she said pointing at her daughter. "They have no mercy, they shoot everyone." Bookmark to del.icio.us   My land, my country Israeli Arabs mark 32nd Land Day in demonstrations across the country. One voice on Israel It's hard to find differences in U.S. candidates' promises on peace process.   1.   They are clueless 08:03  |  Armand 25/03/08   2.   Eritrea and Refugees Fate 08:13  |  Zev 25/03/08   3.   In human to send back Refugees 09:42  |  Max 25/03/08   4.   Eritrea and Refugees 10:24  |  David 25/03/08   5.   Israel has a duty to be safe haven for Eritrean Refugees. 14:20  |  Victims of Eritrea 25/03/08   6.   They will say anything to get money. 15:53  |  Keren 25/03/08   7.   decision of returning eritrean refs back to barbaric leader is a 01:59  |  franco 26/03/08   8.   Keren: You are a coward who are not bold enough to talk the truth 07:49  |  Biniam 26/03/08   9.   It is not too late 14:42  |  yemane 26/03/08   10.   Karen! Do you even have a clue? 10:28  |  AC 27/03/08   11.   Lock the border 09:18  |  NB 31/03/08

Today Online 'PM passed 20 messages to Assad, but he disappointed us' Responses: 91 Bush: Peace deal by 2009 likely if road map fulfilled Responses: 203 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Responses: 209 Editorial: Israel must help Bush, Rice's belated peace effort succeed Responses: 48 Rosner's Domain New Guest: Rabbis who don't officiate intermarriage should refer to rabbis who do Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? Is McCain eligable for contribution from the new dovish lobby? 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Bush is still determined not to repeat Clinton's mistakes More Headlines 08:06 Hamas leader Meshal: Gilad Shalit is still alive 09:02 Shaky peace initiative 06:07 U.S. Pres. Bush 'optimistic' on 2009 Mideast peace deal 09:17 Cash-strapped Foreign Min. can't celebrate 60th anniversary abroad 00:01 Study: 60% of Israel's poor are ultra-Orthodox and Arabs 06:25 Join the PA police, get NIS 1,400 a month 06:29 UTJ joins Yesha Council, seeks expansion of Haredi settlement 06:23 U.S. Jewish donors conference to address Israeli philanthropy 09:42 MK Ayalon: Barak is Labor chair, but he is not the party itself 01:29 Police: Bnei Brak has by far the highest rate of sexual offenses 06:03 Czech defense minister: Radar deal will help Israel 00:39 Motor racing body mum as president accused in Nazi role-playing sex scandal Previous Editions Select Day 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar

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