MORE MILITARY ROUNDUPS IN ASMARA

UNCLAS ASMARA 000071 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E AND DRL LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV ASEC MOPS ER SUBJECT: MORE MILITARY ROUNDUPS IN ASMARA ¶1. (SBU) RSO, DAO, and CLO witnessed Eritrean soldiers detaining Eritrean males in a roundup on 02/12/08 near the Intercontinental Hotel. Several groups of three to four soldiers, armed with clubs and rifles, were detaining Eritreans on the side of the road and walking them to a police station nearby. While at the Intercontinental Hotel, another Western diplomat told Emboffs that he had attempted to secretly photograph a group of soldiers holding Eritreans at gunpoint near a traffic circle. An Eritrean woman noticed him taking the picture with his cellphone and informed the soldiers. The Eritrean soldiers pointed their rifles at the diplomat and took him to the 5th Police station. An unidentified Eritrean police supervisor yelled at him and seized his phone. The diplomat stated he had diplomatic status and was eventually released. He was told to come back later in the afternoon for his phone. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: RSO continues to hear reports of mass roundups in Asmara. RSO sources have told him the situation is so bad many Eritreans will not leave their houses after dark for fear of being pressed into national service. The Embassy's packing company told ambassador last week they were short-handed as many of their young male were afraid to come to work for fear of encountering a round-up. The Eritrean military has increased the number of soldiers roaming the streets during the nighttime hours searching for people to conscript. Post has received reports that many Eritreans living in Asmara are leaving the city for villages outside the city limits where they feel the Eritrean military will not be able to find them. End Comment. MCMULLEN