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GEDAB NEWS
Related News On Hedad Kerrar
By Gedab News (Archives)
Apr 1, 2003, 10:17pm
Several parties trying to mediate in solving the crisis
Asmara, Eritrea (Awate.com, June 25, 2001)

For weeks, there have been rumors circulating that the Government of Eritrea was about to expel two
Americans, including an employee of USAid, for fraternizing with the Reformers and linking with the
increasingly-independent private press. The decision to expel them was reversed under heavy pressure
by the American Embassy in Eritrea. Contacted by Gedab News to comment, the Public Relations
Officer at the American Embassy in Asmara, Ms. Colette Christian, dismissed the reports and told our
reporter that "there has been no problem between USAid and the government since 1996."
Over the past few weeks, several parties have tried to mediate between the Reformers and President
Isaias. Last week, Eritrean religious leaders went to the Presidential Office to meet with the president
and start their mediation process. However, the president refused to meet with them and told them “to
mind their business’ through his messenger. Our sources said that the religious leaders are “still trying
to break the impasse”.
Dragon summons Moslem religious leaders to his office
Asmara, Eritrea (Awate.com, June 18, 2001)
Gedab News has learned that two weeks ago, during the Muslim holiday commemorating the Birthday of The
Prophet [Mewlid ANebi] at Asmara's main mosque, several elderly citizens, including Fitewrari Hedad Kerar,
accused the Eritrean Government of discrimination against Muslims. When asked to specify their allegations by the
government liaison for religious affairs, Dragon, who summoned them to his office, the religious leaders complained
about the lengthy delay in establishing the "Mejlis alAila" which appoints the Eritrean Mufti and the government's
alleged insistence on the Muslim community to pay property tax in arrears [known as "meHwei gbri"] to regain title
over Mosque-owned buildings.
Eritrean Authorities Interrogate Mediators
Asmara, Eritrea (Awate.com, July 15, 2001)
Fifty elder Eritrean citizens whose attempt to mediate between President Isaias Afwerki and the fifteen
dissenting lawmakers who authored the “Open Letter to PFDJ Members” was aborted by the President’s
Office and have been summoned by the Eritrean Government to give an account of their motives.
The volunteer mediators were called individually and asked to report to Mr. Musa RabA , the Police
Commissioner. During their private interviews, they were asked if they had been directed to act as
they did. When they told their interrogators that their efforts were spontaneous and patriotic, they
were informed that they had violated Proclamation 27/2 which, they were told, limits the number of
Eritreans that can congregate for “political rallies” to a maximum of seven individuals. The elders
informed Mr. Musa RabA that if such a proclamation exists, this would not be the first time they have
violated it as many of them had organized “political rallies” to raise funds for the war with Ethiopia as
well as those orphaned and handicapped during the Liberation War. Almost 20 elders were interviewed
separately before the effort was called off.
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In a related story, Mr. Hamed Hmed, Eritrea’s former Ambassador to The Sudan and a signatory to the
Open Letter, was released after a grueling two-day interrogation by the authorities begining his first
interrogation on July 6. Mr. Hamed Hmed was accused of “leaking” the contents of an Asmarino.com
facilitated petition letter signed by thousands of Eritreans in Diaspora, as well as the efforts of the
elder Eritrean mediators in Asmara, to the Asmara correspondent of a London Based Arab daily.
More Journalists, Businessman Arrested; Reformers Jailed In Dongollo
Asmara, Eritrea,Rome, Italy (Awate.com, September 23, 2001)
… In another development, on Saturday Morning, a prominent businessman was arrested by the PFDJ
security forces. Not long ago, Hassen Kekia, a longtime supporter of the EPLF/PFDJ, was actively
trying to reconcile President Isaias Afwerki and the Reformers. The group of elders, including Hassen
Kekia, had tried to initiate a dialogue between the Reformers and President Isaias but were warned to
"keep away from politics" by the Presidential Office.
The Eritrean Government Arrests Elderly Mediators
Asmara, Eritrea (Awate.com, October 6, 2001)
Over the last few days, the government has arrested a number of people who were among the group of
elderly citizens and social notables who tried to mediate between president Isaias Afwerki and the
leaders of the reform movement. Gedab News has already reported the arrest of a prominent
businessman, Hassen Kekia. Two more elderly citizens were among scores jailed yesterday; Mr.
Abdulrahman Ahmed Younis and Mr. Hedad Kerrar , both in their mid-seventies, were arrested
from their homes without charge.
EU, Eritrea Still In Stalemate
Rome, Italy, (Awate.com, November 2, 2001)
… Reached by telephone, Mr. Bandini told our reporter that he “could not comment, for understandable
reasons” the ongoing discussions but described his current status as being “on standby.” Repeated
attempts to reach the spokesperson of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Valensise, were not
successful.
Hedad Kerar Arrested
Meanwhile, Gedab News has confirmed that Mr. Hedad Kerar who had been prevented from leaving
Eritrea on early October 6, 2001, has been arrested. Mr. Hedad Kerar, who is in his mid-70s, was one
of the elderly citizens who had attempted to mediate the conflict between the two factions of the sole
party in Eritrea, the governing PFDJ.
There was some confusion on whether Mr. Hedad Kerar was arrested. He was, for one day; then, due
to health reasons, given house arrest.
© Copyright 2002 by Awate.com
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