MYSTERY SURROUNDS ERITREAN DEPORTEES FROM EGYPT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000353

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV SOCI ER
SUBJECT: MYSTERY SURROUNDS ERITREAN DEPORTEES FROM EGYPT

REF: ASMARA 324

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Mystery and conflicting statements continue
to surround the status of the Eritreans recently deported
from Egypt (reftel). While the UNHCR reports that some have
been returned to their homes and some returned to national
service, the MFA insists that each individual has been safely
returned home with cash gifts from the government. Reuters
speculates that at least a portion of those returned are
still detained in the Wi'a prison camp. End Summary.

UNHCR IN THE DARK
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2. (C) PolOff met with UNHCR representative Alvin Gonzaga
(protect) on July 7 to discuss the status of the deportees.
Gonzaga presented little useful information, in what is
becoming an unfortunate pattern with the UNHCR in Asmara. He
stated the prevailing rumor is that the returnees who had
previously completed national service requirements have been
returned to their homes while those who still had service to
complete were returned to their military units. Although
Gonzaga previously mentioned the UNHCR Cairo office holds a
master list of Eritrean refugees in Egypt, he expressed
concern over the safety of the deportees' families and has
reportedly instructed the Cairo office to hold on to the list
rather than to attempt to verify whether the Eritreans have
actually been returned home. Gonzaga also was unsure of
exactly how many returnees there were, quoting previously
reported estimates of between 400 and 1,400.

MFA TELLS A FAIRY TALE
--------------


3. (C) DCM and PolOff met with MFA Director of the
Euro-Americas Division, Tsehaye Fassil, on July 10, who gave
an exceedingly sugary version of the details. According to
Tsehaye, all of the returnees, totaling "nine
jumbojets-worth," were "pardoned" by the Government of the
State of Eritrea (GSE) and returned home with spending money
courtesy of the government. Tsehaye emphasized that it was
not in Eritrea's national interest to punish such a large
number of citizens. He also expressed surprise that the
citizens were fearful of returning, claiming to not know
where this rumor of impending abuse originated. When the DCM
attempted to persuade Tsehaye to allow either the UNHCR or
another third party entity to interview the returnees and
eliminate the air of doubt regarding the GSE's goodwill,
Tsehaye defiantly claimed that the GSE does not intend to
"play the game" and will not kowtow to international
interests. Tsehaye also affirmed that the UNHCR has no
authority over Eritrean citizens, citing that pending UNHCR
cases would be nullified.

REUTERS FEARS THE WORST
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4. (C) Reuters correspondent Jack Kimball (protect) bluntly
states that the returnees are most likely still in the Wi'a
prison camp, located some 47 miles East by South East of
Asmara along the barren, coastal lowlands. (Note: photos on
the GSE-owned www.shabait.com show the returnees being
addressed by the Wi'a commander. End Note.) While he does
not know the full details, Kimball postulates that even if
the GSE were to allow some of the deportees to return home,
this would only be temporary and their future safety against
being rounded-up by the GSE could not be secured.


5. (C) COMMENT: Post finds it next to impossible to
determine the actual fates of the deportees. Although the
UNHCR holds a master list of the deportees who registered
with the UNHCR while in Egypt, attempts to contact their
families either from the UNHCR, the U.S. Embassy, or another
diplomatic entity may prove hazardous and dangerous to the
families contacted. End Comment.
MCMULLEN