In correspondence dated 2 March 2000 a member of the Revolutionary Council of the International Relations Office of the Eritrean Liberation Front (Revolutionary Council) (RLF-RC) in Bonn stated that the ELF-RC has main offices in Stockholm (Sweden), Bonn (Germany), Damascus (Syria), Khartoum (Sudan), Sanna (Yemen), Rotterdam (Holland), Rome (Italy), and an office was established in early 1998 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). However, not all of these offices are membership card-issuing bodies. The membership cares are issued only in Bonn, Khartoum, Addis Ababa and by the branch of Saudi Arabia. The ELF-RC member stated that for security reasons the addresses of the offices are not provided.

The ELF-RC member stated that the ELF has been issuing membership cards since the second half of the 1970s. At that time, most of these were given to members living outside Eritrea who were members of the organization and foreign relations office members.

The ELF-RC member stated that although the membership cards have been changed several times, since 1997 the organization has been using the same cards in all countries. However, some branches are still using the old cards because they had a great number of them. Some members still carry the old membership cards which were issued before 1997.

Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted.

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.

Reference

The Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC), International Relations Office, Bonn. 2 March 2000. Correspondence from a member of the Revolutionary Council.

Additional Sources Consulted

Amar, Woldesus. n.d. Armed Struggle and Refugees.

Country Reports on Human Rights Conditions for 1999. 25 February 2000.

Foreign Terrorist Organizations 1999. 8 October 1999. (Designations by Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright)

LEXIS/NEXIS

Patterns of Global Terrorism 1998. April 1999. US Department of State.

Saudi Arabia - Consular Information Sheet .14 September 1999. US State Department.

Internet sites, including:

Federation of American Scientists

Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office, UK.

Parties Around the World on the Net

Terrorists, Freedom Fighters, Propagandists, and Mercenaries.