Sources have referred to the ELF-CL (or Sagem) group (ELF-RC Dec. 1999; ibid. 8 June 1999; Political Handbook of the World 1998 1998, 297) but information on this faction, other than that it is led by Tewolde Gebre Selassie (ibid.), could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The December 1999 Human Rights Report on Eritrea, published by the International Relations Office of the Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC) in Bonn, reported that Weldeab Paulos, a senior cadre of the ELF-CL (or Sagem) group was kidnapped in 1992 from Kassala, Sudan, but additional information on his fate remains unknown. An 8 June 1999 ELF-RC statement in response to the 1998 Country Report's "assertion" that Eritrea has no political prisoners also reports the Paulos kidnapping case.

Please note that the Eritrean People's Democratic Liberation Front (SAGEM) also exists (Walta Information Center 9 Mar. 1999; AfricaNews Online 17 Mar. 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.

AfricaNews Online. 17 March 1999. "Ethiopia: Seven Days Update." http://www.africanews.org/east/ethiopia/stories/19990317_feat3.html [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

Eritrean Liberation Front (Revolutionary Council) (ELF-RC), International Relations Office, Bonn. December 1999. Human Rights Report on Eritrea. http://www.telecom.net.et/~walta/conflict.articles.article923.html [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

_____. 8 June 1999. Statement entitled "Political Prisoners in Eritrea." http://users.erols.com.meskerem/political_prisoners_in_ertirea.htm [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Markham, Ont: International Press Publications.

Walta Information Center. 9 March 1999. "Eritrean Opposition Groups Issue Joint Statement." http://addisababa-server1.telecom.n...1 [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

Armed Struggle and Refugees: Phase One: 1961-1975.

Country Reports on Human Rights for 1999. 25 February 2000. US Department of State.

The Europa World Year Book 1999. 1999.

Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Groups, Violent Political Groups, and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements. 1996.

IRB Databases.

REFWORLD.

World News Connection (WNC)

World Refugee Survey 1998. 1998.

Internet sites, including:

Immigration and Nationality Database, Home Office, UK.

Terrorists, Freedom Fighters, Propagandists, and Mercenaries.

Search engines, including:

Dogpile

Fast

Google

Metacrawler