E/CN.4/2000/9 page 87 Eritrea Regular communications and replies received 426. By letter dated 29 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which Ethiopian nationals living in Eritrea have been ill-treated by the police during periods of conflict with Ethiopia (since May 1998). In particular, he transmitted information on the following cases. 427. Hadish Wolde-Negus, an Ethiopian trader from Assab, was reportedly arrested by police and ill-treated while being questioned about his alleged support for Ethiopia's war effort. He was reportedly questioned about his monthly donations to the Tigray Development Association (TDA), which is said to be registered in Eritrea as an Ethiopian non-governmental organization supporting development programmes in the Tigray region, and was told to report to the police every day. He reportedly said that he had disclosed all relevant documents to the police, but the police refused to accept them. During questioning, he was allegedly beaten on his back and legs when he failed to answer questions to the satisfaction of the police. According to the information received, marks on his legs, consistent with healing injuries, were visible. He reportedly returned to Ethiopia in August 1998. 428. Demos Desta, a priest from Assab, said he had been questioned for three days about payments to the TDA. During that time he was allegedly beaten with electrical cable and kicked repeatedly. After his release, he returned to Ethiopia on 22 June 1998. 429. Wolde Hagos, a hotel worker, was dismissed on the day the Asmara Airport was bombed at the start of June 1998. He was then reportedly arrested and taken to the 1st Police Station, where he was allegedly beaten while his hands were tied behind his back. After one month, he was released but the police reportedly tore up his identity card and work permit. When he went to register at the Ethiopian embassy, the police reportedly questioned him and asked for his identity card. He said he was taken to another police station, where he was allegedly beaten for not having the identity card. Ethiopia Regular communications and replies received 430. By letter dated 29 November 1999, the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which the January 1999 expulsion of people of Eritrean origin from Ethiopia was often carried out in an inhumane manner. People were reportedly arrested in the middle of the night to conceal the security operation under way. Some were allegedly kept in detention for periods ranging from one or two days to several months before being expelled. The persons expelled were frequently only allowed to take one bag with them. One of the first to be expelled was an elderly man who arrived in Eritrea wearing only pyjamas and sandals, as he had not been allowed to take anything else. In some cases mothers were taken away without being allowed to arrange for the care of their children, and families were deliberately and systematically split up and expelled in different batches, often months apart. During the long journey lasting several days, toilet stops were reportedly few, food and water said to have been minimal, and despite the suffocating heat, windows were kept