Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA135
2007-02-09 06:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

MAKING AN ERITREAN BORG: POLITICAL RE-EDUCATION

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KPAO SOCI ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 090614Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8711
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 6053
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1294
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1472
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0016
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS ASMARA 000135 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO SOCI ER
SUBJECT: MAKING AN ERITREAN BORG: POLITICAL RE-EDUCATION
BEGINS AGAIN


UNCLAS ASMARA 000135

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO SOCI ER
SUBJECT: MAKING AN ERITREAN BORG: POLITICAL RE-EDUCATION
BEGINS AGAIN



1. (U) The sole political party of Eritrea, the Peoples'
Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ),is harkening back
to the days of Megistu and mandatory Marxist-Leninist
education training. With the blessing of the Government
of Eritrea (GSE),they have implemented political
training for all government employees. In the Fall of 2006,
the PFDJ started the classes, focusing initially on the
national service employees of the various ministries.
At the start of these re-education sessions, the
participants believed they would only be required to
attend one or two sessions, and the re-education would be
complete. However, the two-hour sessions have become a
weekly occurrence with mandatory attendance and
admonishment for tardiness. In the past few weeks, the
audience of these classes has expanded and now all
employees of the government must participate in the
weekly two hour re-education classes.


2. (U) According to reports from participants, the
curriculum of the sessions is broad, covering Eritrea's
history, the history of the struggle and political
ideology. Class topics have included: reiteration of
"weyane" (Ethiopia) as the enemy; the importance of
self-reliance; and how the struggle was fought
independently, with the unity of the Eritrean people
and without support from the international community,
drawing parallels to Eritrea's current situation.
PFDJ members serve as the instructors and the
classes occur at the ministries' offices. Conjectures
abound regarding the reasoning behind the classes.
Some claim the focus was initially on
the youth because they were disconnected from Eritrea's
history and the political belief system on which
Eritrea is based, and needed training in order to
increase their support of the PFDJ and the GSE.
Others cite as the impetus the concern of the GSE
leadership that Eritrean society is increasingly
diversified in opinions and perspectives, is splintered
and no longer has the feeling of unity experienced
during the struggle. One Eritrean speculated that the
classes would soon expand to include all adult Eritreans.


3. (U) Comment: The re-education, while having a Star
Trekkian Borg-like quality, reflects the GSE and PFDJ's
on-going efforts to ensure that all Eritreans think and
act as the leadership wishes. The GSE's propaganda
campaigns and control of the media complement the
re-education classes, and are an effort by the GSE to
establish "group think" and discourage independent thought.
While one can appreciate the wish by the leadership to
ensure that all Eritreans understand and are proud of
Eritrea's history, the focus on political ideology and
the fact that the classes are mandatory detract from any
attempt by the PFDJ to claim the courses are just free
public education. End Comment.

DELISI