ERITREAN OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACKS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000327 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ER SUBJECT: ERITREAN OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT FORCES IN GASH BARKA CLASSIFIED BY: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). REFTEL: IIR 6908 031706, DTG 04 041256Z APR 06 ¶1. (C) During the month of March, individuals claiming to be members of the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean Kunama(DMLEK)reportedly carried out several attacks against the Eritrean Defense Forces in the Gash Barka area of western Eritrea. A third country diplomat initially told PolOff, and separately the DATT, of the incidents.(REFTEL) Post obtained what we believe is translated copy of the DMLEK military communiqui (para 5) that brags about several engagements between the DMLEK and EDF or the intelligence platoon of the PFDJ. According to this report three simultaneous attacks occurred March 1 with several buildings destroyed, including a store of ammunitions and personnel losses incurred by both sides. Shortly after the attacks, President Isaias visited the region. According to the Eritrean press President Isaias inspected development and infrastructure projects in the region, however, the third country diplomat remarked the visit was to assess the stability and security of the area. 2.(U) According to the official website of the DMLEK, Kunamas disgruntled with the GSE or QShabia regime founded DMLEK on April 1, 1995. In their constitution they aim to fight for a peoples willed democratic Eritrean government and bring peace, justice, wealth and democracy to the Kunama by dismantling the Shabia regime. It appears that the DMLEK is willing to use violence to achieve their goals. In 1999 the DMLEK claims to have allied itself with the Eritrean National/Democratic Alliance(ENA)a coalition of at least 10 Eritrean opposition groups, including the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and the Eritrean Islamic Salvation Movement. 3.(U) The Kunama are one of the smallest ethnic groups in Eritrea. Residing in southwestern Eritrea around Barentu, they are farmers and pastoralists. Some continue the animist religious practice, while some have become Muslim or Christian. An ethnic group with a long history in the region, they live on some of the richest farming land in Eritrea. The relationship between the Kunama and the GSE is tense, with some accusations that the GSE expropriated Kunama land for the resettlement of non-Kunama in the region. During the 1998 war with Ethiopia the GSE accused the Kunama of supporting the Ethiopians and many Kunama took refuge in Ethiopia. ¶4. (C) Comment: While we cannot confirm that the skirmishes occurred, circumstantial evidence gives credence to the DMLEK report. And, although there have been no public reports of the incidents, occasional firefights and landmine strikes in western and northern Eritrea, allegedly initiated by insurgent/opposition groups, are not uncommon occurrences. The GSE may present the picture of a united Eritrea to the world, but opposition groups established along religious or ethnic lines continue to trouble the Christian highlander-dominated government. End Comment. ¶5. Text of the English translation of the DMLEK military communiqui regarding the incidents follows. Begin Text Detailed Report of the Military Communique As reported on 05-03-2006, the gallant fighters of the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean Kunama(DMLEK) has carried-out swift and effective operation up on the intelligence platoon of PFDJ. These successful operations were implemented on the same date and hour 01- 03-2006 at 12:00(mid night). The first one was at the plains of Armachew situated between Addi Teklay and Dembe Diima where an intelligence unit of the 21st kifleto, first birged, first Battalion and the second platoon was assigned hiddenly. At this very skirmish, six notorious members of the contingents were killed, another seven wounded. At this sudden attack hand grenades, RPGs and light artilleries were used. Those confused ones were unable to escape and give a response. As said, on the same date and hour a sudden attack was taken up on the notorious Gimbar Silleya at Dabaloti (Melesanay)where 10 of the 18 members were killed and the rest wounded. A store was ablazed. Here a reinforcement force of the regimen too was ambushed successfully while trying to surround and curb the attacking forces of the DMLEK. It was rather a lesson for the Shabiya regime. The third spot of the attach was at Fataket Q a garden place situated on the river banks of Sona (Gash),not far from the town of Shambakko. Here, the clash was not as swift as the previous ones. A. thirty minutes fight has taken places. Here too, a store of ammunitions and ration was blazed and was changed to ashes. A motor used to irrigate the garden too was destroyed by RPG and hand grenades. The members of the platoon were unable to control themselves and seen shooting indiscriminately killing their Qcomrades an arms.Q Out of the 33 personnel, 14 were dead and 19 were wounded. A total of 30 members of the intelligent forces and 44 were killed and wounded respectively. The enemy has to know that nothing will deter the liberation fighters of the DMLEK. They will attach and attach where ever it suits irrespective of the buffer zone. The buffer zone should not be exploited by the regime as a shield. The principles of the DMLEK shall flourish for ever!! End text. DeLisi