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