Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASMARA755
2006-09-25 11:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

ERITREA PUBLICLY COMMENTS ON ARRESTED UNMEE STAFF

Tags:  PGOV KPKO PHUM PINR UNSC ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8429
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 5963
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 2848
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4634
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1204
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1379
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0542
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ASMARA 000755 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CORRECTED TEXT PARA
UNCLAS ASMARA 000755

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CORRECTED TEXT PARA 1)

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SENSITIVE

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPKO PHUM PINR UNSC ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA PUBLICLY COMMENTS ON ARRESTED UNMEE STAFF


1. (U) On September 23, Eritrean television news (Eri-TV) publicly
commented (The GSE did issue public statements in response to the UN
public statement.) on the August arrest of an UNMEE volunteer (UNV)
staff member under charges of smuggling. The Eri-TV report claims
the UNV admitted to smuggling eight Eritrean youth from Asmara to
Adigrat in Ethiopia for USD 16,600 or about USD 2000 per person. In
addition, the accused reportedly confessed to engaging in smuggling
youth four other times. The news report also asserts others in UNMEE
are involved in smuggling, naming specifically two UN employees.


2. (SBU) Comment: After numerous inquiries by the UN and other UN
member states about the status of the arrested UNMEE staff, the news
report provides the first details from the GSE and neatly falls in
line with GSE accusations. Since his arrest, the GSE has not
permitted UNMEE to visit or communicate with the arrested staff
member. Post anticipates that the GSE will continue to prevent
UNMEE from visiting him. As for the two individuals named in the
cable, while the names do not match, post suspects the GSE is
referring to two of the five UN staff declared persona non grata the
first week of September. End Comment.


3. (U) Summary of television news report follows below and is also
posted the Government of Eritrea's official website,
www.shabait.com.

Begin text:

UNMEE members engaged in illegal activities

Asmara, 23 September 2006 - The Public Relations Office of the
Eritrean Police Force disclosed that some members of the UN
Peacekeeping Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia (UNMEE) are engaged in
illegal activities in violation of their responsibility.

A member of the Mission who was apprehended while illegally
smuggling 8 Eritrean youths from Asmara to Adigrat on August 28
admitted to the Eritrean Police that other UNMEE members are engaged
in similar illegal activities.

The apprehended UNMEE member, Redis Sinenbo from DR Congo, received
about a quarter million Nakfa to smuggle the eight youths. He was
apprehended by the Eritrean Police in Dekemhare while trying to
smuggle the said youths hiding them in an UNMEE truck loaded with a
container carrying tires and other spare parts.

Redis Sinenbo pointed out that he had also smuggled a number of
youths in four rounds, according to an ERINA correspondent. The
culprit further mentioned that Mr. Painderka and Mr. Alfred, both of
whom are UNMEE members, were some of those who collaborated with him
in his illegal activities. End text.

MCINTYRE