Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASMARA885
2006-10-25 16:53:00
SECRET
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ONE KILLED AS ERITREAN INTRUDERS ATTACK UNMEE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0016 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAE #0885 2981653 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 251653Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8509 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 6010 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0174 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 2892 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1243 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1418 RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0575
S E C R E T ASMARA 000885
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO UNSC PINR ER
SUBJECT: ONE KILLED AS ERITREAN INTRUDERS ATTACK UNMEE
SENTRY
REF: A) 231752Z OCT 06 ASMARA IIR 6 908 0036 07 B)
241720Z OCT 06 IIR 6 908 0039 07
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T ASMARA 000885
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO UNSC PINR ER
SUBJECT: ONE KILLED AS ERITREAN INTRUDERS ATTACK UNMEE
SENTRY
REF: A) 231752Z OCT 06 ASMARA IIR 6 908 0036 07 B)
241720Z OCT 06 IIR 6 908 0039 07
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On October 21 between 20:00 and 21:00, an UNMEE
Jordanian soldier shot and killed an Eritrean intruder in the
Giega UNMEE camp near Barentu in UN West Sector. The
Eritrean, accompanied by two others who managed to escape
during the melee, illegally entered the camp by cutting
through the barbed wire fence. The Jordanian sentry warned
the intruders to stop and when they did not fired two shots
into the air. The three intruders armed with sharp weapons
then attacked the soldier. During the struggle the soldier
discharged a third shot, striking one of the assailants in
the head. The two other intruders fled the scene and the
injured intruder received preliminary medical attention from
UNMEE but died the next day at a local hospital.
2. (S) Following the incident both UNMEE and the Eritrean
police initiated an investigation. Reportedly on October 23
the Eritrean Liaison Officer for the Sector West requested
the UNMEE Sector West Commander turn over the soldier to
Eritrean authorities for questioning and a subsequent trial.
The Liaison Officer also reportedly told UNMEE West Sector
Commander that if UNMEE did not comply he might not be able
to restrain the local population and militia (Ref A).
3. (S) UNMEE has remained in close contact with Eritrea's
Commissioner to UNMEE, Col. Zacharias Ogbagaber, over the
incident and has consulted with the UN Department of
Peacekeeping Operations(DPKO) in New York. After speaking
with DPKO, UNMEE declined to surrender the soldier who, by
all accounts, acted within UNMEE rules of engagement. UNMEE
protested to Col. Zacharias regarding the Liaison officer,s
demands and Zacharias stated he would go to Barentu to
address the issue with local authorities. Ambassador Leandre
Basole, UNMEE Head of the Political Affairs, confirmed to
PolOff October 25, that UNMEE anticipated the situation would
be resolved quietly and the matter dropped. (Comment: The
lack of press regarding the incident supports the claim the
Eritreans wish to resolve the situation with minimal
attention. End Comment.)
4. (C) Comment: While attempted thefts from UNMEE camps do
occur on both sides of the border, this type of armed
intrusion on the Eritrean side is unusual. Initial reports
claimed the intruders were attempting to steal food supplies
from the camps, however, no one is certain of their
motivation. Conversations with Embassy humanitarian aid
contacts whom have recently traveled near Barentu revealed
that security is tighter than usual in the area, which may be
a result of this incident. Moreover, with travel
restrictions still in place and the lack of information
provided by the GSE we cannot assess whether humanitarian
conditions in Barentu area are so serious as to drive local
residents to try and raid an UNMEE camp. However, although
we may not know &why8 this attack occurred we, and UNMEE,
welcome the GSE apparent decision not to add this incident to
the long list of unresolved contentious issues between
Eritrea and the international community. End Comment.
DELISI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV KPKO UNSC PINR ER
SUBJECT: ONE KILLED AS ERITREAN INTRUDERS ATTACK UNMEE
SENTRY
REF: A) 231752Z OCT 06 ASMARA IIR 6 908 0036 07 B)
241720Z OCT 06 IIR 6 908 0039 07
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On October 21 between 20:00 and 21:00, an UNMEE
Jordanian soldier shot and killed an Eritrean intruder in the
Giega UNMEE camp near Barentu in UN West Sector. The
Eritrean, accompanied by two others who managed to escape
during the melee, illegally entered the camp by cutting
through the barbed wire fence. The Jordanian sentry warned
the intruders to stop and when they did not fired two shots
into the air. The three intruders armed with sharp weapons
then attacked the soldier. During the struggle the soldier
discharged a third shot, striking one of the assailants in
the head. The two other intruders fled the scene and the
injured intruder received preliminary medical attention from
UNMEE but died the next day at a local hospital.
2. (S) Following the incident both UNMEE and the Eritrean
police initiated an investigation. Reportedly on October 23
the Eritrean Liaison Officer for the Sector West requested
the UNMEE Sector West Commander turn over the soldier to
Eritrean authorities for questioning and a subsequent trial.
The Liaison Officer also reportedly told UNMEE West Sector
Commander that if UNMEE did not comply he might not be able
to restrain the local population and militia (Ref A).
3. (S) UNMEE has remained in close contact with Eritrea's
Commissioner to UNMEE, Col. Zacharias Ogbagaber, over the
incident and has consulted with the UN Department of
Peacekeeping Operations(DPKO) in New York. After speaking
with DPKO, UNMEE declined to surrender the soldier who, by
all accounts, acted within UNMEE rules of engagement. UNMEE
protested to Col. Zacharias regarding the Liaison officer,s
demands and Zacharias stated he would go to Barentu to
address the issue with local authorities. Ambassador Leandre
Basole, UNMEE Head of the Political Affairs, confirmed to
PolOff October 25, that UNMEE anticipated the situation would
be resolved quietly and the matter dropped. (Comment: The
lack of press regarding the incident supports the claim the
Eritreans wish to resolve the situation with minimal
attention. End Comment.)
4. (C) Comment: While attempted thefts from UNMEE camps do
occur on both sides of the border, this type of armed
intrusion on the Eritrean side is unusual. Initial reports
claimed the intruders were attempting to steal food supplies
from the camps, however, no one is certain of their
motivation. Conversations with Embassy humanitarian aid
contacts whom have recently traveled near Barentu revealed
that security is tighter than usual in the area, which may be
a result of this incident. Moreover, with travel
restrictions still in place and the lack of information
provided by the GSE we cannot assess whether humanitarian
conditions in Barentu area are so serious as to drive local
residents to try and raid an UNMEE camp. However, although
we may not know &why8 this attack occurred we, and UNMEE,
welcome the GSE apparent decision not to add this incident to
the long list of unresolved contentious issues between
Eritrea and the international community. End Comment.
DELISI