Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA304
2008-06-10 10:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
THE ROUNDABOUT METHOD OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
how-toVZCZCXRO5292 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0304 1621049 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 101049Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9723 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000304
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF SF ER
SUBJECT: THE ROUNDABOUT METHOD OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REPORTING IN ERITREA
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000304
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF SF ER
SUBJECT: THE ROUNDABOUT METHOD OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REPORTING IN ERITREA
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly protect) of the
Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church informed PolOff
during a late May meeting of the manner in which information
from Compass Direct is verified. (Note: Compass Direct is a
Christian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that documents
abuses of religious freedom. End Note.) Incidents occurring
within Eritrea are often passed along to Reverend Zecharias
from concerned citizens who either witnessed the event in
question or are close to those affected by the event.
Zecharias then investigates the details of this report
through a variety of local sources, including zoba
(neighborhood) administrators, eyewitnesses, and church
members and officials. Once the information is gathered and
found to be accurate, Zecharias routes the information to
contacts in Open Doors (an international Christian NGO
focused on human rights) in South Africa. The information is
then reported to Compass Direct, with Open Doors being the
direct, yet uncited, source. The circuitous nature of this
reporting serves to protect Eritrean sources, and is a
further example of the extent to which Eritreans must go in
order to avoid targeting by the Eritrean government.
2. (C) In two recent instances, Reverend Zecharias states he
has been able to provide Compass Direct with additional
details of incidents not found in any news coverage. While
Zecharias could not speak to the authenticity of reports from
similar Christian NGOs focused on human rights, he believed
that their information is obtained in a similar manner.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF SF ER
SUBJECT: THE ROUNDABOUT METHOD OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
REPORTING IN ERITREA
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly protect) of the
Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church informed PolOff
during a late May meeting of the manner in which information
from Compass Direct is verified. (Note: Compass Direct is a
Christian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that documents
abuses of religious freedom. End Note.) Incidents occurring
within Eritrea are often passed along to Reverend Zecharias
from concerned citizens who either witnessed the event in
question or are close to those affected by the event.
Zecharias then investigates the details of this report
through a variety of local sources, including zoba
(neighborhood) administrators, eyewitnesses, and church
members and officials. Once the information is gathered and
found to be accurate, Zecharias routes the information to
contacts in Open Doors (an international Christian NGO
focused on human rights) in South Africa. The information is
then reported to Compass Direct, with Open Doors being the
direct, yet uncited, source. The circuitous nature of this
reporting serves to protect Eritrean sources, and is a
further example of the extent to which Eritreans must go in
order to avoid targeting by the Eritrean government.
2. (C) In two recent instances, Reverend Zecharias states he
has been able to provide Compass Direct with additional
details of incidents not found in any news coverage. While
Zecharias could not speak to the authenticity of reports from
similar Christian NGOs focused on human rights, he believed
that their information is obtained in a similar manner.
MCMULLEN