ANOTHER ASMARA LIBERATION DAY: ROUND-UPS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000266

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM PROP PGOV ER
SUBJECT: ANOTHER ASMARA LIBERATION DAY: ROUND-UPS AND
ANTI-U.S. SENTIMENT

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Within the last two weeks, Embassy Asmara
has noticed a substantial increase in military presence and
citizen round-ups, as well as anti-U.S. sentiments voiced by
President Isaias Afwerki in the lead-up to the May 24
Liberation Day celebration. End Summary.

NO ID EQUALS "VERY BAD"
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2. (SBU) On the morning of May 15, Eritrean military police
stopped Poloff on two separate occasions in an attempt to
verify identification. When Poloff asked one of the soldiers
what would happen if he did not have identification, he was
simply told by an English-speaking passerby "it would be very
bad for you." After the incident the passerby strongly urged
Poloff to always carry a passport, "otherwise, how would they
know you are not Eritrean?" In the first instance, the
soldier initially ordered Poloff to sit down and wait for
further orders until Poloff produced sufficient
identification. Both incidents occurred while Poloff was
walking along the main road and in open presence of the
general public, indicating these sort of military inquiries
have become the norm.


3. (C) These stops occurred one day after Poloff met with two
Ethiopian refugees under the protection of the UNHCR
(protect) who warned Poloff that as of May 15, the Government
of the State of Eritrea (GSE) would drastically increase its
military presence in the city until well after Liberation Day
(May 24). They further warned that they did not feel safe
leaving their domicile after May 14, a common sentiment
shared by Eritreans who do not have proper identification
such as Eritrean national identification cards coupled with
military demobilization cards.

FORGET ROUND-UPS, U.S. IS THE ENEMY
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4. (SBU) In recent weeks, President Isaias has scheduled a
series of television and newspapers interviews, including
well-known international outlets such as Reuters, Egypt's
"Al-Ahram," Iran's "Press TV," and London's "The Guardian."
In each of these interviews, the President has stressed that
the United States has been pursuing destabilizing policies
towards Eritrea, and in one interview, he accused the CIA of
plotting to steal the country's youth via study abroad
programs. These statements, while not necessarily outside
the normal rhetoric of the GSE, have been on the rise in the
weeks leading up to Liberation Day.


5. (SBU) In a conversation earlier in the week, an
Eritrean-German businessman told Poloff he had been harassed
by the Eritrean police for doing business with Westerners and
claims to have escaped further abuse only because of familial
connections. At the same time, he also stated a vehement
dislike for the United States and its foreign policies in the
Horn, adding that he fully supported his government in its
efforts against the United States. His sentiments are not
uncommon views voiced by numerous Eritrean contacts in casual
conversations with Emboffs.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: As in past years, the virulence of the
GSE's anti-U.S. statements and severity of round-ups are on
the upswing with the advent of Liberation Day. Amazingly,
even amidst clear evidence of government repressive measures,
many Eritreans still manage to focus their anger towards the
United States, indicating that President Isaias' media "charm
offensive" is not without impact. End Comment.
MCMULLEN