Country Information and Guidance Eritrea: National (incl. Military) Service Version 2.0e September 2015 Preface This document provides country of origin information (COI) and guidance to Home Office decision makers on handling particular types of protection and human rights claims. This includes whether claims are likely to justify the granting of asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave and whether – in the event of a claim being refused – it is likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under s94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Decision makers must consider claims on an individual basis, taking into account the case specific facts and all relevant evidence, including: the guidance contained with this document; the available COI; any applicable caselaw; and the Home Office casework guidance in relation to relevant policies. Country Information The COI within this document has been compiled from a wide range of external information sources (usually) published in English. Consideration has been given to the relevance, reliability, accuracy, objectivity, currency, transparency and traceability of the information and wherever possible attempts have been made to corroborate the information used across independent sources, to ensure accuracy. All sources cited have been referenced in footnotes. It has been researched and presented with reference to the Common EU [European Union] Guidelines for Processing Country of Origin Information (COI), dated April 2008, and the European Asylum Support Office’s research guidelines, Country of Origin Information report methodology, dated July 2012. Feedback Our goal is to continuously improve the guidance and information we provide. Therefore, if you would like to comment on this document, please e-mail us. Independent Advisory Group on Country Information The Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) was set up in March 2009 by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to make recommendations to him about the content of the Home Office‘s COI material. The IAGCI welcomes feedback on the Home Office‘s COI material. It is not the function of the IAGCI to endorse any Home Office material, procedures or policy. IAGCI may be contacted at: Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, 5th Floor, Globe House, 89 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PN. Email: [email protected] Information about the IAGCI‘s work and a list of the COI documents which have been reviewed by the IAGCI can be found on the Independent Chief Inspector‘s website at http://icinspector.independent.gov.uk/country-information-reviews/ Page 2 of 71 Contents Preface ...................................................................................................................... 2 Contents .................................................................................................................... 3 Guidance ................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Basis of Claim .......................................................................................... 5 1.2 National/Military Service: Terminology ..................................................... 5 2. Consideration of Issues ................................................................................... 5 2.1 Is the person’s account a credible one? ................................................... 5 2.2 Does the requirement to undertake national service put the person at risk of persecution or serious harm? ...................................................................... 6 2.3 Will the person be required to undertake national service on return? ....... 6 2.4 Would national service in Eritrea involve acts, with which the person may be associated, which are contrary to the basic rules of human conduct? ........ 7 2.5 Are the conditions of national service so harsh as to amount to persecution or serious harm? .......................................................................... 7 2.6 Is the punishment for draft evasion or desertion disproportionately harsh or severe? ........................................................................................................ 9 2.7 Are draft evaders/deserters regarded as traitors? .................................. 11 2.8 Are those at risk able to seek effective protection? ................................ 11 2.9 Are those at risk able to internally relocate? ........................................... 12 2.10 If refused, is the claim likely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002? ................. 12 3. Policy Summary ............................................................................................. 13 Country Information ............................................................................................... 15 4. Note on Limitations of Sources ...................................................................... 15 5. Legal Framework ........................................................................................... 15 5.1 The National Service Proclamation ........................................................ 15 5.2 The Aim of National Service ................................................................... 17 Back to Contents ........................................................................................... 17 6. Size of the Military ......................................................................................... 17 7. Exemptions and Alternatives ......................................................................... 18 7.1 General ................................................................................................... 18 7.2 Medical ................................................................................................... 19 7.3 Women ................................................................................................... 20 7.4 Religious Grounds .................................................................................. 22 Page 3 of 71 7.5 Time-Limited Exemptions (Students) ..................................................... 23 7.6 Recall for Reserve Duties ....................................................................... 23 8. Conscientious Objection ................................................................................ 24 9. Duration of National Service .......................................................................... 25 9.2 Discharge and Dismissal ........................................................................ 29 9.3 Moves to time-limit national service ........................................................ 31 10. National Service: Roles and Assignments ..................................................... 34 10.1 From School to Sawa ............................................................................. 34 10.2 After Military Training at Sawa ................................................................ 37 10.3 People’s Army ........................................................................................ 42 11. Conditions During National Service ............................................................... 43 11.1 General ................................................................................................... 43 11.2 Treatment during military training ........................................................... 44 11.3 Treatment of conscripts undertaking active military service ................... 46 11.4 Treatment of conscripts in non-military roles .......................................... 48 11.5 Conditions in detention and ill-treatment: general .................................. 51 11.6 Pay / Salary ............................................................................................ 53 11.7 Redress for Mistreatment ....................................................................... 55 12. Law on Desertion and Evasion ...................................................................... 56 13. Desertion and Evasion in Practice ................................................................. 57 13.1 Round-ups (Giffas) ................................................................................. 57 13.2 Treatment of Draft Evaders .................................................................... 62 13.3 Perception as ‘Traitors’ ........................................................................... 68 13.4 Punishment of family members .............................................................. 68 Version Control and Contacts ............................................................................... 71 Page 4 of 71 Guidance 1. Introduction 1.1 Basis of Claim 1.1.1 Fear of persecution or serious harm by the state because: (a) of the treatment and/or conditions likely to be faced by person during national/military service; and/or (b) of the open-ended nature of national service; and/or (c) of the penalties likely to be faced by the person’s refusal to undertake or their evasion or desertion from, national/military service. 1.2 National/Military Service: Terminology 1.2.1 By way of explanation and differentiation between terms used in this document: (a) ‘national service’ means the complete requirement that an Eritrean will serve in line with