Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA39
2008-01-29 14:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
how-toVZCZCXRO4002 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0039 0291423 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 291423Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9408 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1588 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1766 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUMICEA/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000039
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2028
TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR ER
SUBJECT: CONDITIONS IN TRACK B PRISON
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000039
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2028
TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR ER
SUBJECT: CONDITIONS IN TRACK B PRISON
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) An UNMEE official informed Poloff of the conditions in
Track B, an underground prison located on the former site of
Kagnew Station. The official said an Eritrean UNMEE staff
member was summarily arrested in November 2007 for not
possessing his demobilization card, which is proof of
completion of national service. The man was held in Track B
for several weeks before being released.
2. (C) The staff member reported roughly 400 prisoners held
in the facility. Many individuals were abducted from refugee
camps in Sudan under the guise of job opportunities in
Khartoum, loaded onto trucks, driven to the Eritrean border,
and released to the Eritrean military. He described the
conditions within the jail as horrible, with only meager
quality and quantity food provided - and none allowed from
the outside. He mentioned that many prisoners talked of
being tortured, and suicide attempts were common. The staff
member claimed he had seen many well-known people from the
community visiting the prison and allowed to move about
freely, almost like employees. He later heard that they were
neighborhood spies of the regime and was shocked at their
large number.
3. (C) Rumors were circulating that the prison operates under
an authority independent of the judiciary, responsible only
to someone "very high" up the chain of command. The staff
member was told by other prisoners that high-ranking
Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) officials had
attempted unsuccessfully to intervene on their behalf,
implying that Track B houses prisoners who are personally
important to specific members of the regime. (Note: GSE
officials routinely intervene on behalf of others in court
and police matters to influence the outcome. End Note.)
After being released in December, the staff member learned
that he was arrested due to a simple family dispute. Post
has heard from several sources that family disputes in
Eritrea often escalate into family members calling in favors
from GSE officials to arrest, harass, or intimidate the other
side of the dispute. This is especially common among
families of ex-fighters.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2028
TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR ER
SUBJECT: CONDITIONS IN TRACK B PRISON
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) An UNMEE official informed Poloff of the conditions in
Track B, an underground prison located on the former site of
Kagnew Station. The official said an Eritrean UNMEE staff
member was summarily arrested in November 2007 for not
possessing his demobilization card, which is proof of
completion of national service. The man was held in Track B
for several weeks before being released.
2. (C) The staff member reported roughly 400 prisoners held
in the facility. Many individuals were abducted from refugee
camps in Sudan under the guise of job opportunities in
Khartoum, loaded onto trucks, driven to the Eritrean border,
and released to the Eritrean military. He described the
conditions within the jail as horrible, with only meager
quality and quantity food provided - and none allowed from
the outside. He mentioned that many prisoners talked of
being tortured, and suicide attempts were common. The staff
member claimed he had seen many well-known people from the
community visiting the prison and allowed to move about
freely, almost like employees. He later heard that they were
neighborhood spies of the regime and was shocked at their
large number.
3. (C) Rumors were circulating that the prison operates under
an authority independent of the judiciary, responsible only
to someone "very high" up the chain of command. The staff
member was told by other prisoners that high-ranking
Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) officials had
attempted unsuccessfully to intervene on their behalf,
implying that Track B houses prisoners who are personally
important to specific members of the regime. (Note: GSE
officials routinely intervene on behalf of others in court
and police matters to influence the outcome. End Note.)
After being released in December, the staff member learned
that he was arrested due to a simple family dispute. Post
has heard from several sources that family disputes in
Eritrea often escalate into family members calling in favors
from GSE officials to arrest, harass, or intimidate the other
side of the dispute. This is especially common among
families of ex-fighters.
MCMULLEN