Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA800
2007-10-11 12:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
LGF MEMBER ARRESTED DURING ORTHODOX SERVICE
how-toVZCZCXRO6836 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0800 2841230 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 111230Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9158 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1466 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1643 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000800
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/IRF, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OPO/FPD,
DS/ICI/CI AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM KIRF ASEC PGOV SOCI ER
SUBJECT: LGF MEMBER ARRESTED DURING ORTHODOX SERVICE
Classified By: RSO SEAN MCCLANAHAN FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000800
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/IRF, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OPO/FPD,
DS/ICI/CI AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM KIRF ASEC PGOV SOCI ER
SUBJECT: LGF MEMBER ARRESTED DURING ORTHODOX SERVICE
Classified By: RSO SEAN MCCLANAHAN FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: A local guard force (LGF) employee and a
priest were picked up by the Eritrean Intelligence Service
(ANS) during an Eritrean Orthodox church service on 10/07/07.
The priest was released the same day but the LGF employee
continues to be held in jail incommunicado. While the
Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has a history of
arresting people attending non-approved church services, this
detention is the first report in many years of an arrest
during the service of a GSE-sanctioned religion. Post does
not know the reason behind this arrest. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On 10/07/07, a LGF member assigned to the embassy
mobile patrol was picked up during a church service at St.
Mary's Orthodox Church. Members of the Eritrean Intelligence
Service (ANS) interrupted the service and arrested the LGF
member and one of the priests. At the time of arrest, the
church was conducting a weekly "Sunday school" bible study
class and over 100 parishioners were present. The arrested
LGF serves as one of the coordinators for the bible classes.
The priest and the LGF member were taken to the Number 2
police station in Asmara. The priest was questioned about
his biographical information and released. The LGF employee
is still being held.
3. (C) Post's Foreign Service National Investigator (FSNI)
has spoken with other guard force employees who had been
attending the bible class. All stated that there was nothing
unusual about this particular class and they were not sure
why the LGF member had been arrested. FSNI told RSO that the
arrested LGF member was not involved in any political
activities and had already completed his national service.
Both the FSNI and the LGF's family have been allowed to
deliver food for the employee, but have not been allowed
access to him. The Eritrean Police told the FSNI that they
were not responsible for the employee's arrest; rather, the
ANS had picked him up and told the police to hold him for
"national security reasons."
4. (C) RSO Comment: This is the fourth LGF member to be
detained by the GSE since June. Of the other three, two were
picked up under suspicion of not having completed their
national service and one was arrested during an "illegal"
Protestant church service. Post does not know why this
particular employee was arrested. FSNI will continue to
monitor the case. End Comment.
MCINTYRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/IRF, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OPO/FPD,
DS/ICI/CI AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM KIRF ASEC PGOV SOCI ER
SUBJECT: LGF MEMBER ARRESTED DURING ORTHODOX SERVICE
Classified By: RSO SEAN MCCLANAHAN FOR REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: A local guard force (LGF) employee and a
priest were picked up by the Eritrean Intelligence Service
(ANS) during an Eritrean Orthodox church service on 10/07/07.
The priest was released the same day but the LGF employee
continues to be held in jail incommunicado. While the
Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) has a history of
arresting people attending non-approved church services, this
detention is the first report in many years of an arrest
during the service of a GSE-sanctioned religion. Post does
not know the reason behind this arrest. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On 10/07/07, a LGF member assigned to the embassy
mobile patrol was picked up during a church service at St.
Mary's Orthodox Church. Members of the Eritrean Intelligence
Service (ANS) interrupted the service and arrested the LGF
member and one of the priests. At the time of arrest, the
church was conducting a weekly "Sunday school" bible study
class and over 100 parishioners were present. The arrested
LGF serves as one of the coordinators for the bible classes.
The priest and the LGF member were taken to the Number 2
police station in Asmara. The priest was questioned about
his biographical information and released. The LGF employee
is still being held.
3. (C) Post's Foreign Service National Investigator (FSNI)
has spoken with other guard force employees who had been
attending the bible class. All stated that there was nothing
unusual about this particular class and they were not sure
why the LGF member had been arrested. FSNI told RSO that the
arrested LGF member was not involved in any political
activities and had already completed his national service.
Both the FSNI and the LGF's family have been allowed to
deliver food for the employee, but have not been allowed
access to him. The Eritrean Police told the FSNI that they
were not responsible for the employee's arrest; rather, the
ANS had picked him up and told the police to hold him for
"national security reasons."
4. (C) RSO Comment: This is the fourth LGF member to be
detained by the GSE since June. Of the other three, two were
picked up under suspicion of not having completed their
national service and one was arrested during an "illegal"
Protestant church service. Post does not know why this
particular employee was arrested. FSNI will continue to
monitor the case. End Comment.
MCINTYRE