Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA591
2008-12-12 09:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
LOCAL STAFF HARANGUED WHILE DONATING BOOKS
how-toVZCZCXRO4568 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0591 3470903 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 120903Z DEC 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0063 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA 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 000591
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PROP ER
SUBJECT: LOCAL STAFF HARANGUED WHILE DONATING BOOKS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000591
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PROP ER
SUBJECT: LOCAL STAFF HARANGUED WHILE DONATING BOOKS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) On December 11, public affairs section local staff
reported being closely scrutinized by a plainclothes Eritrean
National Security Agent (ENSA) during a routine book drop-off
to the American Corner in Dekemhare, 25 miles south of
Asmara. According to one local staff, the agent rifled
through the boxes of children's books, presumably searching
for subversive material. The agent later approached the
staff member asking where else they planned to travel and
what other plans they had in Dekemhare. The LES told the
agent they were only dropping off books at the Center. The
LES team was initially tasked to also drop a donation of
books at the Dekemhare Faith Mission. Fearing the church
might face harassment, the staff aborted this mission. The
local staff informed EmbOff that the agent in question is the
same person who inspected the books during a similar trip to
Dekemhare two months prior.
2. (C) COMMENT: Although the LES team was clearly dropping
off children's books, the fervor with which the ENSA
inspected the books is a clear-cut example of the regime's
paranoia. The local staff suspect the agent learned of the
book drop-off during a routine phone call from the local
staff in an attempt to reach the mayor of Dekemhare. End
comment.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018
TAGS: PGOV PROP ER
SUBJECT: LOCAL STAFF HARANGUED WHILE DONATING BOOKS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) On December 11, public affairs section local staff
reported being closely scrutinized by a plainclothes Eritrean
National Security Agent (ENSA) during a routine book drop-off
to the American Corner in Dekemhare, 25 miles south of
Asmara. According to one local staff, the agent rifled
through the boxes of children's books, presumably searching
for subversive material. The agent later approached the
staff member asking where else they planned to travel and
what other plans they had in Dekemhare. The LES told the
agent they were only dropping off books at the Center. The
LES team was initially tasked to also drop a donation of
books at the Dekemhare Faith Mission. Fearing the church
might face harassment, the staff aborted this mission. The
local staff informed EmbOff that the agent in question is the
same person who inspected the books during a similar trip to
Dekemhare two months prior.
2. (C) COMMENT: Although the LES team was clearly dropping
off children's books, the fervor with which the ENSA
inspected the books is a clear-cut example of the regime's
paranoia. The local staff suspect the agent learned of the
book drop-off during a routine phone call from the local
staff in an attempt to reach the mayor of Dekemhare. End
comment.
MCMULLEN