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" -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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