DON'T WANT IT, DON'T NEED IT: GSE ASKS THREE MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000280

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USAID/AF
STATE FOR USAID/DCHA/FPP, DCHA/OFDA
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL EAID ER
SUBJECT: DON'T WANT IT, DON'T NEED IT: GSE ASKS THREE MORE
NGOS TO LEAVE

CLASSIFIED BY: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In letters dated March 20, the Government
of Eritrea(GSE) informed three NGOs, Concern, Accord and
Mercy Corps, that they had not met the requirements for
their operational permits and that their registration
certificates were being revoked. According to the letter
they were asked to cease operations in accordance with the
NGO proclamation issued in 2005. Caught off guard and
totally by surprise, the NGOs are scrambling to respond but
the GSE so far has offered no further explanations.
Notably different from past expulsions, where non-
registered NGOs were asked to leave, the GSE had re-
registered all three NGOs under the 2005 proclamation. The
expulsion of Mercy Corps, one of the major distributors of
USG food aid, raises serious concerns regarding the future
of US funded humanitarian aid in Eritrea. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The three NGOs, Mercy Corps(US),Concern(Irish),
Accord(UK)were all re-registered last year following the
GSE's issuance of new laws governing NGOs, however none of
the 13 registered NGOs received the operational permits
required by the GSE. Mercy Corps and Concern received the
letters, dated March 20, the afternoon of March 21. Signed
by Amanuel Gherezgiher, the Director of the Ministry of
Labor and Human Welfare Office (Secretary to the Minister),
the letter thanks them for their contribution and asks them
to terminate activities as of February 28, 2006.

NO EXPLANATION WHY
--------------


3. (C) The Acting Country Director for Mercy Corps, Lemlem
Tecle, called on the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare
the morning of March 22 after receiving the letter the
previous evening and asked for additional information. She
shared with PolOff, that according to Amanuel, he prepared
and signed the letter based on a memo issued by a committee
tasked with evaluating NGOs with the intent of making
decisions about the operational permit. When questioned
further about who serves on the committee or what the
specific evaluation criteria were, he was unable(or
unwilling) to share them with her. While Amanuel offered
nearly no explanation, Lemlem felt he hinted that possibly
Mercy Corps' past or planned activities do not match the
not-yet-released 2006 GSE development strategy.


4. (C) Mercy Corps shared with PolOff their response letter
to the GSE. Noting that they have submitted all required
reports and requested documentation, they further state
"although we were not aware or informed of such
requirements, we regret being unable to fulfill them."
Additionally, despite Amanuel's indications that the
decision is final, the Mercy Corps headquarters has asked
them to do all they can to prevent Mercy Corps' departure
from Eritrea. Mercy Corps staff shared with PolOff that the
director is trying to meet with the Eritrean Ambassador to
the United States to discuss this issue. Concern Director
Janardhan Rao told USAID FSN he was shocked and surprised
to receive the letter and that his efforts to get an
explanation were fruitless. Rao traveled immediately to
the areas where they do projects to meet with local
officials there. USAID FSN went on to add in his attempts
to gain insight into the decision from his contacts, he was
instructed by them "not to ask."

AND WHEN ASKED, THE GSE SAYS...
--------------


5. (C) In conversations this morning with the Ambassador,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for the
Americas, Ghirmai Ghebremariam said essentially that he was
as puzzled as we were and had no idea of what had driven
the GSE's decision. Despite repeated requests in the past

month by the US Embassy to meet, Minister Askalu of the
Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare has been "unavailable"
to meet with the Ambassador or other COM. Mercy Corps
reported that to the best of their knowledge none of the
NGOs had met personally with the Minister since last July.
(NOTE: Catholic Relief Services had phone conversations
with the Minister prior to the restarting of the limited
food distributions in late 2005/early 2006.End Note.)

AND THE NGOS SAY...
--------------


6. (C) As of the morning of March 23, no other NGOs had
received similar letters from the GSE. The Country
Director of Oxfam shared with PolOff, that at an informal
meeting of the NGOs this morning, some discussion arose
about the NGOs attempting together to meet with Minister to
seek clarification of requirements and to press for
expedited delivery of any other similar letters. The
Country Director for Catholic Relief Services, expressed
NGO beliefs that immigration held a list of "good" and
"bad" NGOs and that some previous difficulties with
Immigration may be related to this decision. In addition,
among the NGOs speculation abounds, as Concern, Mercy Corps
and Accord's registration numbers were one, two and four
respectively, fueling discussion that the Ministry will
progress in order of registration.

COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Comment: The GSE's action in regard to the three
NGOs is on a par with its decision to order the termination
of USAID activities in in July of 2005: inexplicable and -
at least from our perspective - not in the interests of
Eritrea. Mercy Corps is one of two USG-funded NGOs that
had - at least until the GSE's suspension of general food
distributions almost eight months ago - been a key actor in
distribution of USG food aid. This action, coupled with
the GSE's continued feet dragging and seemingly obdurate
attitude when it comes to addressing future food aid
programs in Eritrea, will make it even hard for us to
provide the humanitarian assistance we have repeatedly
offered to the GSE. The government, through its actions
and attitudes, sends the signal that it does not care. It
is the people of Eritrea, however, who will unfortunately
be the ones to suffer. End Comment.

DeLisi