The Eritrean regime has intensified its reprisal measures against Afar people along the Red Sea coast, particularly against the inhabitants of Tiio following the successful escape of nine young Afar military conscripts to Khokha a place near the main port city of Hudeda in Republic of Yemen in first week of  September 2010.

The Shabia security agents as usual arrested some of the parents of the escapee. The detention of the following parents is so far confirmed:

1.      Robito Osman, father of Ismeal Robito Osman about 80 years old

2.      Shami Muktar, father of Ahmed Shami Muktar

As usual, they have to pay the ransom of 50, 000 Nakfas in order to regain their freedom. Our sources have also confirmed that two Afar brothers, Osman Mohamad Yotthabba and Ahmed Mohamed Yotthabba who left the port city of Khokha in a smal motor boat to celebrate Eid el fitr with their family in Tiio have disappeared without trace never to arrive at their destination. A search and rescue attempt on the Yemeni side of the Red Sea coast is now called off without result, and it is feared that Shabia gunboats have detained the two brothers on their way to Tiio and took them hostage as part of its reprisals against Tiio residents.

It is to be remembered that the fate of thousands of Red Sea Afars who were detained by the Shabia security agents on suspicion of planning to leave the country illegally or for sympathizing with the Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO) remains unknown.

Other reprisal measure by the  Shabia regime following the recent escape of the nine Afar military conscripts include imposing a total ban on fishing activities around Tiio area as part of the collective punishment. The Afar people along the Red Sea coast depend mainly on fishing for their livelihood and a severe restriction on fishing activities was already in place.