Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA369
2008-07-23 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Asmara
how-toVZCZCXRO4248 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0369 2051416 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 231416Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9807 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000369
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: ANOTHER RELIGIOUS PRISONER DIES
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000369
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: ANOTHER RELIGIOUS PRISONER DIES
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Deaths reportedly continue in the Wi'a military camp
as religious, political, and other prisoners are either
beaten, starved, or denied medical treatment. Reverend
Zecharias Abreham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus
Evangelical Church informed PolOff July 23 that an imprisoned
woman died July 13 while in the Wi'a camp. The woman, Azib
Simon, died from lack of malaria medical treatment;
withholding medical care is a technique used to force
religious prisoners to recant their faith, according to
Zecharias. Azib was a member of the Kale Hiwot Evangelical
Church, one of the numerous banned religious groups in
Eritrea. She was also the sister of Biniam Simon, a former
Eri-TV reporter who fled Eritrea in 2006 after four months of
training in Japan.
MCMULLEN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: ANOTHER RELIGIOUS PRISONER DIES
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Deaths reportedly continue in the Wi'a military camp
as religious, political, and other prisoners are either
beaten, starved, or denied medical treatment. Reverend
Zecharias Abreham (strictly protect) of the Mehrete Yesus
Evangelical Church informed PolOff July 23 that an imprisoned
woman died July 13 while in the Wi'a camp. The woman, Azib
Simon, died from lack of malaria medical treatment;
withholding medical care is a technique used to force
religious prisoners to recant their faith, according to
Zecharias. Azib was a member of the Kale Hiwot Evangelical
Church, one of the numerous banned religious groups in
Eritrea. She was also the sister of Biniam Simon, a former
Eri-TV reporter who fled Eritrea in 2006 after four months of
training in Japan.
MCMULLEN