ETHIOPIA: THE VIEW FROM HARAR AND DIRE DAWA (PART

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 003425

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PREL KIRF ET
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: THE VIEW FROM HARAR AND DIRE DAWA (PART
II OF II)

REF: ADDIS ABABA 3424

Classified By: Ambassador Donald Yamamoto. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary (Part II)
--------------


1. (C) Harar and Dire Dawa based contacts, including
religious leaders, told PolOff on a December 10-12 trip to
the two cities (reftel) the mixed Christian and Muslim
regions of Harar and Dire Dawa are a model for religious
tolerance and the religious community in both places
vigilantly guards against extremism by informing government
authorities whenever extremists attempt to gain a foothold.
Harar has not experienced spill over effects from instability
in the neighboring Ogaden region due to a massive state
security presence, according to the opposition party
representative. A Somali People's Democratic Party (SPDP)
representative told PolOff that atrocities are continuing in
the Ogaden (although he had not observed incidents
first-hand),but added that Ogadenis will not speak to
diplomats in Ethiopia for fear of reprisal. End Part II
Summary.

Islamic Council Touts Religious Tolerance...
--------------


2. (C) The Harar Regional President, the Regional Vice
President and mainstream opposition Oromo People's Congress
(OPC) representative separately asserted that Harar, an
historically Muslim region with a mixed Christian and Muslim
population, provides a model for religious tolerance. Sheikh
Ibrahim, of the (government sanctioned) Supreme Islamic
Council of Harar, underscored that the Harar regional
government does not interfere with religion, noting "the
administration is concerned with peace and development and we
have good relations with it. The EPRDF has recognized the
constitutional rights of all religions, and the government
does not favor any one religion." The Sheikh added that the
Harar faith community "does not accept conflict between
religions. We have a robust interfaith dialogue between
Christian and Muslim religious leaders, based on monthly
meetings." Religious tensions are minimal in Harar, the OPC
representative separately concurred, but "politics is the
more divisive issue and the anger and frustration is
palpable." Sheikh Muktar of the Supreme Islamic Council of
Dire Dawa painted a similar picture of religious tolerance in
Dire Dawa. "Muslims and Christians cooperate on everything,
and in particular we consult on how to further Dire Dawa's
economic development" Sheikh Muktar said, adding that the
practice of religion in Dire Dawa is "free from politics."
The Sheikh noted that "good interfaith dialogue and wisdom
keep Ethiopia free from religious conflict."

...and Guards Against Extremism
--------------


3. (C) The government and faith communities in both Harar and
Dire Dawa vigilantly guard against extremism, according to
the Supreme Islamic Council in both towns. In Harar, Sheikh
Ibrahim said that the mosques affiliated with the Supreme
Islamic Council actively preach religious tolerance. A Sufi,
Sheikh Ibrahim said that the Supreme Islamic Council members
"are against Wahabism, but we don't fight. Our Imams explain
our views. We have an anti-Wahabism school in Harar. A well
known Ogadeni mufti is fighting against the Wahabis." The
Sheikh added that the Supreme Islamic Council cooperates
closely with the government on security matters. "We have
community centers throughout the countryside," he said, "and
if we hear someone is preaching extremism we go immediately
to the problem and remove it. If we find a troublemaker, we
inform the government. We also work with the Eastern Oromiya
Supreme Islamic Council to control extremism. Some Wahabists
have tried to infiltrate the Harar region with no success, so
we have no serious concerns." Harar Regional President Murad
separately noted that "Harar wants to train Imams for
Ethiopia and the world, to strengthen traditional schools, to
keep old traditions alive and to prevent extremist cultures
from penetrating." Both Murad and Ragassa said that
insecurity in the neighboring Somali region has had little
impact on Harar. Murad cautioned that "development will be
needed to mitigate the problems in the Ogaden" and remarked

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that if the insurgent Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)
establishes links with extremists in Eritrea and Somalia,
"problems will multiply for us." The strong presence of
state security in Harar, however, has neutralized any
potential spill over effects from the Ogaden violence,
according to the OPC representative. "There is a massive
plainclothes law enforcement presence in Harar," the OPC
representative said, "and they will pick up and interrogate
anyone on even the slightest suspicion. If they find an
issue with someone, they will just let them rot in prison."


4. (C) In Dire Dawa, Sheikh Muktar said the Supreme Islamic
Council immediately informs the Ethiopian government if
"foreigners" propagate "bad religion," and the Sheikh noted
that in most cases the government swiftly takes "appropriate
action." The Supreme Islamic Council of Dire Dawa has a
strict code of conduct for its imams, Sheikh Muktar said,
noting that, in turn, imams must approve all preaching.
"Preaching must be positive, help progress and be
non-controversial, or the imam will stop the preaching and,
if necessary, inform the police," Sheikh Muktar said.

SPDP: Ogaden Violence Continues
--------------


5. (C) According to a Somali regional councilmember, and
member of the EPRDF Somali Region ally SPDP, the conflict
between the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and the
ONLF is stalemated and abuses continue on both sides. "In
the Ogaden," the SPDP representative said, "there is no
winner and no loser. The ENDF tried to crush the ONLF, but
they could not control the territory and their efforts
backfired. The number of ONLF fighters has increased
substantially because the ENDF targeted civilians." The SPDP
representative said he had not observed any atrocities first
hand, but added that he is certain they are continuing. "You
can imagine that if, during the 2005 elections, the ENDF shot
people in Addis Ababa, the heart of the African Union, they
have done far worse in the bush." PolOff sought access to
Ogadenis in Dire Dawa who might be able to tell their side of
the story, but the SPDP representative said "Ogadenis are
terrified to talk. I know Councilmembers from Jijiga. Most
are exiled. They have been beaten, tortured or seen their
families killed. Almost all educated Ogadenis are in jail.
The only reason I can even have this discussion with you is
because I am not Ogadeni."

6.(C) The SPDP representative continued, "it is a big mistake
if the international community believes the Ogaden violence
has stopped. There is a news blackout. The United Nations
came through at one point but the team was escorted by the
Ethiopian government, which hid the victims. Why doesn't
America react to this story? You should find out the truth
and do something about it." The SPDP official said that he
had not heard any recent reports of ethnic Somalis being hung
by wire, as was reported last year, but he insisted that
"killing, harassment and intimidation has not stopped." He
emphasized that both the ENDF and ONLF are culpable for the
on-going violence. "The ONLF is also a criminal
institution," he said, "and the Ogadeni people are caught in
the middle. Without change there will be a big problem in
the long run. We hear so much in the news about Darfur, why
not the Ogaden? The Ogaden is the soft underbelly of the
Ethiopian state." Queried whether the Ethiopian government
takes seriously accusations of human rights abuses, the SPDP
representative said, "the government's biggest problem is
that it can't learn from its mistakes. Human Rights Watch
recently told the world of the problems in the Ogaden through
a detailed report. Instead of reconciling, the Ethiopian
government attacked Human Rights Watch. The response was
shameful. The (ruling) EPRDF will repeat its mistakes in the
2010 national elections. After that, the future is hard to
predict, but the United States props up Meles' government,
and therefore should have access to the Ogaden." "Talk to
local Ogadenis," the SPDP representative said, "right now you
only talk to the perpetrators."
YAMAMOTO