Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASMARA652
2006-08-11 10:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREANS JUBILANT AFTER ETHIOPIAN BRIGADIER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAE #0652 2231045 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111045Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8368 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 5944 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 2830 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1189 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1362 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000652
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MOPS ET ER
SUBJECT: ERITREANS JUBILANT AFTER ETHIOPIAN BRIGADIER
GENERAL DEFECTS
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA Jennifer McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000652
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MOPS ET ER
SUBJECT: ERITREANS JUBILANT AFTER ETHIOPIAN BRIGADIER
GENERAL DEFECTS
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA Jennifer McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) Celebrations continue in Asmara with military and
government officials following the defection of Ethiopian
Brigadier General Kemal Geltu with a number of troops on
August 9. Previously commander of Ethiopia's 18th Army
Division, Geltu is an ethnic Oromo who reportedly was
denied a recent promotion. Geltu allegedly crossed the
border between Adi Teklay and Sheshebit, near Badme, during
poor weather conditions with hundreds of troops. (Note: UN
SITREPS report the number as 150 troops while Eritrean
officials report the number as being in the hundreds with
rumors of over 1000 troops being the extreme. End note.)
While the BBC reported shooting during the crossing and the
death of two soldiers, an Eritrean government official
denied the shooting saying Geltu and Eritrean officials
planned ahead for his defection and coordinated a peaceful
crossing of the border.
2. (C) Jubilant Eritrean military officials spent the nights of
August 9 and 10, celebrating this "victory" in a hotel in
Asmara. Joining to watch the well hyped interview with
Geltu on Eri-TV, a military official shared with Embassy
employee that the true number of defecting troops was over
1000 however the GSE for security reasons did not want to
publicize this number. In addition, an army colonel
explained that the best part was not about those who came
to Eritrea but rather that Geltu had recruited others to
defect to other countries, such as Uganda, and possibly in
the future. Others present at the celebration spoke of the
recruiters remaining in the Ethiopian military who will
diligently work to dismantle the Ethiopian force.
3. (C) Also discussed was the symbolism of his crossing at
Badme. Allegedly, Geltu lead the Ethiopian offensive at
Badme during the 1998-2000 conflict. One Eritrean official
was heard saying "we won him over".
4. (U) While the mood was festive and Eritrean officials
seem thrilled at what they are calling a success in the
battle with Ethiopia, Geltu's interview mentioned nothing
about the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Rather
his interview on Eri-tel and with the BBC focused on
Ethiopia's domestic policies and the oppression and
struggle of the Oromo people. During both interviews he
commented on the need to respect the rule of law in
Ethiopia and about bringing peace and equality for all in
Ethiopia. In particular he noted in the BBC interview his
intention was not "to give military secrets to the Eritrean
government."
5. (C) Comment: Of course the GSE is promoting Geltu's
defection as a victory in the fight with Ethiopia. Yet,
Geltu's absence of public remarks about the Ethiopian-
Eritrean conflict seem to indicate that his defection is
not the heroic victory claimed by the Eritreans but rather a
sign of Ethiopia's domestic problems and the continued
resentment of the Oromo people. End Comment.
McIntyre
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MOPS ET ER
SUBJECT: ERITREANS JUBILANT AFTER ETHIOPIAN BRIGADIER
GENERAL DEFECTS
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA Jennifer McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) Celebrations continue in Asmara with military and
government officials following the defection of Ethiopian
Brigadier General Kemal Geltu with a number of troops on
August 9. Previously commander of Ethiopia's 18th Army
Division, Geltu is an ethnic Oromo who reportedly was
denied a recent promotion. Geltu allegedly crossed the
border between Adi Teklay and Sheshebit, near Badme, during
poor weather conditions with hundreds of troops. (Note: UN
SITREPS report the number as 150 troops while Eritrean
officials report the number as being in the hundreds with
rumors of over 1000 troops being the extreme. End note.)
While the BBC reported shooting during the crossing and the
death of two soldiers, an Eritrean government official
denied the shooting saying Geltu and Eritrean officials
planned ahead for his defection and coordinated a peaceful
crossing of the border.
2. (C) Jubilant Eritrean military officials spent the nights of
August 9 and 10, celebrating this "victory" in a hotel in
Asmara. Joining to watch the well hyped interview with
Geltu on Eri-TV, a military official shared with Embassy
employee that the true number of defecting troops was over
1000 however the GSE for security reasons did not want to
publicize this number. In addition, an army colonel
explained that the best part was not about those who came
to Eritrea but rather that Geltu had recruited others to
defect to other countries, such as Uganda, and possibly in
the future. Others present at the celebration spoke of the
recruiters remaining in the Ethiopian military who will
diligently work to dismantle the Ethiopian force.
3. (C) Also discussed was the symbolism of his crossing at
Badme. Allegedly, Geltu lead the Ethiopian offensive at
Badme during the 1998-2000 conflict. One Eritrean official
was heard saying "we won him over".
4. (U) While the mood was festive and Eritrean officials
seem thrilled at what they are calling a success in the
battle with Ethiopia, Geltu's interview mentioned nothing
about the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Rather
his interview on Eri-tel and with the BBC focused on
Ethiopia's domestic policies and the oppression and
struggle of the Oromo people. During both interviews he
commented on the need to respect the rule of law in
Ethiopia and about bringing peace and equality for all in
Ethiopia. In particular he noted in the BBC interview his
intention was not "to give military secrets to the Eritrean
government."
5. (C) Comment: Of course the GSE is promoting Geltu's
defection as a victory in the fight with Ethiopia. Yet,
Geltu's absence of public remarks about the Ethiopian-
Eritrean conflict seem to indicate that his defection is
not the heroic victory claimed by the Eritreans but rather a
sign of Ethiopia's domestic problems and the continued
resentment of the Oromo people. End Comment.
McIntyre