Ethiopian hunger-strike continues in Norway
By Girmay Berhe
March 31, 2004

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The Norwegian Interior Ministy is worried over the hunger strike of the 10 Ethiopian Asylum Seekers in Svolvær, Says a state minister Cathrin Bretzeg. She hopes they will stop their hunger stike but she still insists that they must vacate their camp or be willing for deportation even if they fear prosecution.

They have taken a dramatic choice and we can not support them for it therefore we hope they will stop the action , says Bretzeg.

In the mean time the Ethiopan Asylum seekers have continued their hunger strike for the third day in the town of Svolvær which is situated in the arctic circle.

Meantime, the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) Support Committee in Norway is expressing its deep concern to pertinent Norwegian offices over the condition of the ten Ethiopian Asylum Seekers:

• Samson Asrade
• Tewelde Hadgu
• Almazkidane Tesafay
• MerawiLesanewerk
• Habtamu Meles
• Yonas Tamru
• Dawit Wakjira
• Isqiel Belew
• Mulugeta Hailu
• Yohanis Kidane.

The Support Group has informed Norwegian officals that the Ethiopian Asylum Seekers had no recourse but go on hunger-strike since March 28 2004 to demand a fair decision for their asylum applications.

The hunger strike in a remote Arctic circle town of Svolvær puts the lives of the asylum seekers in imminent health danger if they are forced to vacate their camps.

Generally, The support Committee is appealing on humanitarian, legal and moral grounds for a fair decision for the Ethiopians given the ever-deteriorating situation in Ethiopia.