1) According to a representative of the Provisional Government of Eritrea (EPLF) Mission to the United States and Canada in Washington, D.C., any person wishing to visit Eritrea must fill out an application form for an entry permit and enclose two photographs and $10.OO to cover processing costs (12 May 1992). This information was corroborated by a representative of the Eritrean Relief Association in Ottawa, a non-profit charitable organization registered in Canada in 1979 which is in the process of becoming a bureau of the EPLF Mission to the United States and Canada in Washington, D.C. (12 May 1992).

A representative of the Eritrean Relief Association stated that the EPLF Mission to the United States and Canada located in Washington, D.C., processes the entry permit application form upon receipt and sends the applicant a copy of the application form filled out by the applicant with a picture and a seal affixed to it and a letter written in English (Ibid.). The letter, which represents the entry permit to Eritrea, can be opened by the applicant and is to be attached to the applicant's passport (Ibid.). The letter contains the following information: name of the applicant, mention to the effect that the applicant has filled out an entry permit application form, and the date of arrival and departure of the applicant (Ibid.). The letter is to be handed in to the Eritrean authorities at the port of entry and the copy of the entry permit application form filled out by the applicant is to be kept by the applicant to be used as an identification card (Ibid.).

Following a telephone conversation with two Eritreans to whom we were referred by Mr. Michael Embaie, a prominent member of the Eritrean community in Canada, it appears that both of them, during their recent visit to Eritrea, filled out the section of the application form relating to questions on membership in an association, organization and/or union and the amount of the membership fees (28 May 1992; 22 May 1992). One person received three travel documents: the original application form with a picture and a seal affixed to it to be handed in to the Eritrean authorities at the port of entry, a copy of the application form to be kept by the applicant and used as an identification card, and a letter written in English, which represents the visa and is to be kept by the applicant (28 May 1992). The second person, who also filled the above-mentioned section of the application form, received two types of travel documents: a copy of the application form to be kept by the applicant and used as an identification card, and a letter written in English, which represents the visa and is to be kept by the applicant (22 May 1992).

During a telephone conversation with a representative of the EPLF Mission to the United States and Canada located in Washington, D.C., on 13 May 1992, the representative stated that the above-mentioned procedure is being altered and will soon consist of issuing a piece of paper to be included in the applicant's passport and used as the entry permit to Eritrea.

2) A representative of the Eritrean Relief Association in Ottawa stated that the section of the application form requiring information pertaining to membership of an association, organization and/or union and the amount of the membership fees is not compulsory and does not have to be filled out by the applicant (Ibid.).

3) The representative stated that there are no consequences related to not completing the section containing questions on membership in an association, organization and/or union and the amount of the membership fees (Ibid.). The main reason for asking for that type of information is to know who contributed to previous fund raising calls from the EPLF (Ibid.). The money raised has been mainly oriented toward development projects such as road improvement, education, agriculture etc. (Ibid.).

In reference to the above topics, please consult the Response to Information Request ETH10857 of 12 May 1992 available at the Toronto II Documentation Centre.

Provisional Government of Eritrea (EPLF), Mission to the United States and Canada, Washington D.C. 12 May 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.

. 13 May 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.

Eritrean Relief Association, Ottawa. 12 May 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.

Eritrean residing in Canada, Calgary. 28 May 1992. Telephone Interview.

Eritrean residing in Canada, Winnipeg. 22 May 1992. Telephone Interview.