The Eritrean Referendum Proclamation, No. 22/1992, issued on 7 April 1992 stated that the referendum question was to be: "Do you approve Eritrea to become an independent, sovereign state?" (UNDPI 1996, 159) It later stated: "There shall be no other question or issue on the ballot" (ibid.) The Canadian NGO Observation Delegation to Eritrea reports that the question posed in the referendum was: "Do you want Eritrea to be an independent and sovereign country?" (Sept. 1993, 1).

Variations of the referendum question were mentioned in several media sources. Reporting on Eritrean expatriates voting in Qatar, the Gulf Times stated: "They were asked only one question: Do you support a free Eritrea? Yes or No" (24 Apr. 1993). A Saudi Gazette article, focusing on Eritreans voting in Saudi Arabia, said:

To cast a vote, a ballot with the question 'Do you want Eritrea to be independent?', written in Tigrinia (Eritrean language) and Arabic, is given to a voter who has to show his voting card and other pertinent papers (24 Apr. 1993).

The Associated Press noted that the "sole referendum question" was "Do you want independence from Ethiopia?" (27 Apr. 1993) Africa Confidential made no mention of the actual referendum question, but stated that:

EPLF President Issayas Aferworki told journalists in Asmara on 25 April that he would not rule out very close economic ties or even the establishment of a confederation with Ethiopia - although this was not offered as an option to voters in the referendum (30 Apr. 1993).

Reference to making a choice between slavery and freedom was found in two sources. The first was in a story published in The Observer on 28 March 1993. The author reports:

The local radio in Asmara describes the referendum choice simply as: 'Do you choose freedom or slavery?' Because of the high level of illiteracy, the ballot papers are coloured. Blue is for yes, red is for no. Or, as the local radio helpfully puts it, 'Red is for blood.' (Observer 28 March 1993)

In an Addis Tribune opinion piece, Dr. Yacob Haile-Mariam wrote:

When Eritreans voted in favor of the bizarre referendum question 'do you want to be free?' as if anybody in his right mind would want to be a slave, they voted for a concept known as Eritrea and not for a definite geographic entity (Addis Tribune 3 Dec. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Addis Tribune [Addis Ababa]. 3 December 1999. Dr. Yacob Haile-Mariam. "International Support for Ethiopia's Right of Access to the Sea." http://archives.geez.org/AddisTribune/Archives/1999/12/03-12-99/Inter.htm [Accessed 15 June 2001]

Africa Confidential [London]. 30 April 1993. Vol. 34, No. 9. "Eritrea: Africa's New State."

Associated Press. 27 April 1993. Elizabeth D. Wise. "Eritreans Ratify Rebel Victory in Referendum on Independence." (NEXIS)

Canadian NGO Observation Delegation to Eritrea. September 1993. Eritrean Referendum, April 23-25, 1993: Final Report of the Canadian NGO Observation Delegation to Eritrea. Ottawa: The Delegation.

Gulf Times [Qatar]. 24 April 1993. "Eritreans Vote in Doha." (Moneyclips/NEXIS)

The Observer [London]. 28 March 1993. Peter Hillmore. "Thirty Years On, Rebels Celebrate Birth of a Nation." (NEXIS)

Saudi Gazette. 24 April 1993. Edgar C. Cadano and Faisal Ba Taweel. "Thousands of Eritreans in Saudi Arabia Exercise Franchise." (Moneyclips/NEXIS)

United Nations. Department of Public Information (UNDPI). 1996. The United Nations and the Independence of Eritrea. New York: United Nations, Department of Public Information.