Eritrean Gov't Withdraws Party Membership from Anti-Afeworki Opposition Members 

Addis Ababa, August 22 (ENA)--The government of Eritrea is reported to have escalated campaign to paralyze the activities of the dissident group either by stripping them off their party membership or by taking punitive measures against them. 

Ashraq Al-Awsat newspaper published in London quoted well informed sources as saying that the Eritrean authorities summoned to Asmara all ambassadors, consuls and proxies operating in Eritrea's foreign missions last week to discuss the new developments and challenges facing the ruling party lately from major party members opposing the regime of President Issaias Afeworki.

 The dissident group comprising the 15 reformists in the central council of the People's Popular Front for Justice and Democracy (PPFJD) had signed an open memorandum opposing the president.

 The newspaper said the meeting would decide what measures to take against the dissident group while it was not clear whether or not the 15 reformists will attend the meeting.

 The government has an intention to obtain party decisions that would enable President Issaias Afeworki to legally chase those politically opposed to his method of running the country.

 It said the President has already threatened to prosecute the dissident group on charges of political corruption. 

"The 15-member opposition group in the parliament had earlier agreed to stand trial before an impartial court if the charges were comments on mistakes in running the country," according to the newspaper.

It quoted well-informed sources as saying that the Eritrean authorities had ordered the retrieval of all government-owned vehicles from a number of government officials who are among the members of the opposition. 

One senior government official is Mahmoud Sherifo, former minister of local government, who used to be second person in command in Eritrea and one of the signatories to the open letter, it indicated. 

"Observers describe this measure as a prelude to a solemn divorce between comrades in arms," the newspaper said. 

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