Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASMARA862
2006-10-18 12:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
HELEN BERHANE IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BEATEN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000862
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ER
SUBJECT: HELEN BERHANE IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BEATEN
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000862
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ER
SUBJECT: HELEN BERHANE IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BEATEN
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Post has confirmed reports that Helen Berhane, noted
Eritrean Evangelical Christian gospel singer, is receiving
medical treatment at Halibet Hospital in Asmara. The
hospital admitted Ms. Berhane after she was severely beaten
while detained in the Mai Serwa prison. At this time her
condition is stable. Presently, she is in a wheelchair with
a leg injury so severe she is unable to walk. Berhane
confirmed to her family and the doctors at the hospital that
she had been beaten in prison. Post does not know if Berhane
experienced other forms of torture.
2. (C) Berhane was hospitalized on or about October 7.
Upon being notified secretly of Berhane,s hospitalization by
a member of the hospital staff, her family came to visit her.
For several days other friends and fellow church members
also saw her in the hospital, however, the hospital
administrators subsequently limited visitation to just her
parents, daughter and grandmother. Her family continues to
visit her and report that despite severe beatings and
repeated attempts to force her renounce her faith, she has
refused. Her family hopes that upon completion of her
medical treatment she will be freed from detention.
3. (C) Helen Berhane was arrested in May 2004 shortly after
she released an album of Christian music. She is a member of
the Rema Church, one of the unregistered churches in Eritrea.
The GSE has detained her at Mai Serwa, a prison just outside
of Asmara, and her family has not seen her in nearly two
years.
4. (C) Comment: Post will continue to follow the situation
closely. Through friends of the family, post has
communicated our concern for Ms. Berhane,s welfare and our
continued criticism of the GSE,s restrictions on religious
freedom. The family has in response expressed its
appreciation for our concern. We are actively seeking a
meeting with Ms. Berhane,s parents and will explore with
them the options for Embassy staff to visit Ms. Berhane.
Although we would welcome the chance to interview her and
publicly highlight our support for her and others detained on
religious grounds we recognize that it is highly unlikely the
GSE will allow us to visit her. Nor, given the GSE,s
on-going persecution of members of the unregistered religious
groups, do we share her family,s hope that she will be
released upon her recovery. Nonetheless, we are sensitive to
family concerns and will coordinate carefully with the family
on any efforts to visit Ms. Berhane. The worry is that
public engagement by the USG will cause the GSE to respond
even more harshly towards Ms. Berhane and given the GSE,s
track record this concern has some merit. End Comment.
DELISI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ER
SUBJECT: HELEN BERHANE IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BEATEN
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Post has confirmed reports that Helen Berhane, noted
Eritrean Evangelical Christian gospel singer, is receiving
medical treatment at Halibet Hospital in Asmara. The
hospital admitted Ms. Berhane after she was severely beaten
while detained in the Mai Serwa prison. At this time her
condition is stable. Presently, she is in a wheelchair with
a leg injury so severe she is unable to walk. Berhane
confirmed to her family and the doctors at the hospital that
she had been beaten in prison. Post does not know if Berhane
experienced other forms of torture.
2. (C) Berhane was hospitalized on or about October 7.
Upon being notified secretly of Berhane,s hospitalization by
a member of the hospital staff, her family came to visit her.
For several days other friends and fellow church members
also saw her in the hospital, however, the hospital
administrators subsequently limited visitation to just her
parents, daughter and grandmother. Her family continues to
visit her and report that despite severe beatings and
repeated attempts to force her renounce her faith, she has
refused. Her family hopes that upon completion of her
medical treatment she will be freed from detention.
3. (C) Helen Berhane was arrested in May 2004 shortly after
she released an album of Christian music. She is a member of
the Rema Church, one of the unregistered churches in Eritrea.
The GSE has detained her at Mai Serwa, a prison just outside
of Asmara, and her family has not seen her in nearly two
years.
4. (C) Comment: Post will continue to follow the situation
closely. Through friends of the family, post has
communicated our concern for Ms. Berhane,s welfare and our
continued criticism of the GSE,s restrictions on religious
freedom. The family has in response expressed its
appreciation for our concern. We are actively seeking a
meeting with Ms. Berhane,s parents and will explore with
them the options for Embassy staff to visit Ms. Berhane.
Although we would welcome the chance to interview her and
publicly highlight our support for her and others detained on
religious grounds we recognize that it is highly unlikely the
GSE will allow us to visit her. Nor, given the GSE,s
on-going persecution of members of the unregistered religious
groups, do we share her family,s hope that she will be
released upon her recovery. Nonetheless, we are sensitive to
family concerns and will coordinate carefully with the family
on any efforts to visit Ms. Berhane. The worry is that
public engagement by the USG will cause the GSE to respond
even more harshly towards Ms. Berhane and given the GSE,s
track record this concern has some merit. End Comment.
DELISI