DJIBOUTI: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INTERVIEWS ERITREAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000767

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E AND PRM/AFR
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA-WATCHER
CJTF-HOA FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018
TAGS: PREL PBTS PREF PHUM DJ ER
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INTERVIEWS ERITREAN
DEFECTORS

Classified By: PolOff Rebecca K. Hunter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Representatives of Human Rights Watch (HRW)
granted permission to interview Eritrean defectors/deserters
now under GODJ control reported that there are currently 46
defectors/deserters in Djiboutian custody, along with an
unknown number of prisoners of war. HRW representatives said
that while the defectors/deserters were satisfied with their
current detention conditions, they were extremely worried
about the consequences they might face if the GODJ
relinquished them back to Eritrean control. END SUMMARY.

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46 DEFECTORS; PLUS POWS
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2. (C) Charge and PolOff met on September 18 with Chris
Albin-Lacky and Leslie Leskow of Human Rights Watch, who were
in Djibouti for a five-day visit. Albin-Lacky had previously
visited Djibouti in July, when he met with National Security
Chief Hassan Said Khaireh. Khaireh then reportedly "opened
doors" to allow HRW access to interview defectors/deserters
on this trip. Albin-Lacky said that there were currently 46
defectors/deserters in Djiboutian custody at Nagad Detention
Center, up from 26 during his July visit. Albin-Lacky said
that there was an additional group of Eritrean prisoners of
war (POWs) being held at the adjacent Nagad Police Academy.
He did not know how many POWs there were, and HRW did not
visit or interview any POWs.


3. (C) Albin-Lacky and Leskow reported that the
deserters/defectors were being held in "reasonable"
accommodations, and noted that several of the individuals
they interviewed had gone "out of their way" to praise
Djibouti's treatment of them. The defectors/deserters were
reportedly allowed twenty-four hour access to outdoor areas,
"at least for the duration of Ramadan," through the end of
September. Albin-Lacky and Leskow understood that the
International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) had made one
visit to the deserters/defectors.

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"OPPORTUNISTIC CROSSING"
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4. (C) Leskow and Albin-Lacky reported that the sample of
defectors/deserters they interviewed represented a mix of
ethnicities, and ranged in age from about twenty-one to early
fifties. At least one was an ethnic Somali, and two were
ethnic Oromos. Some had fought in Eritrea's independence
"Struggle." Others were reportedly of Eritrean parentage,
but had lived in Ethiopia all their lives until they were
expelled in 1998 and immediately conscripted by Eritrea. All
were part of the Eritrean military. Albin-Lacky and Leskow
said that many of the interviewees seemed to have made
"opportunistic crossings"--in other words, they may not have
been directly involved in the Djibouti-Eritrea border
standoff, or even assigned to units posted to the area, but
saw the situation as a useful pretense to be near the border,
and then slip over. Many of the interviewees had been trying
to escape the Eritrean military for some time, and some
reported having served prison time after previous failed
escape attempts.

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FEAR OF BECOMING A BARGAINING CHIP
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5. (C) According to the HRW representatives, the GODJ
"doesn't know what to do with the deserters/defectors."
Albin-Lacky said that while the GODJ did not want to
repatriate the deserters/defectors, they also did not want to
"house and feed them indefinitely," nor give them refugee
status in Djibouti. All of the interviewees were reportedly
frightened of being handed back over to Eritrean control, or
being used as a bargaining chip to recover Djiboutian POWs.
Several interviewees recounted an April Eritrean military
circular, read aloud to all troops in Eritrea, warning that
in the future, all deserters would be shot by GSE, not put in
prison. Albin-Lacky and Leskow asked about the possibility
for U.S. resettlement of the defectors/deserters. They also
asked Post to push the GODJ to allow UNHCR access to the
defectors/deserters; while clarifying that it was not/not
their impression that the GODJ had been stonewalling UNHCR
action. (NOTE: The UNHCR representative was on leave for
some weeks during the summer, and only recently returned to
Djibouti. This absence may have slowed on-the-ground

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coordination between the GODJ and UNHCR. END NOTE).


6. (C) COMMENT: The GODJ's willingness to let HRW interview
defectors/deserters reflects their deep desire to have the
international community help resolve the current situation.
However, Eritrea's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the
outbreak of hostilities with Djibouti presents a barrier to
international efforts to discuss possible prisoner exchanges.
Absent an accurate count of the number of Djiboutian POWs or
MIA, or a definitive GODJ announcement of its intentions
regarding possible prisoner exchanges, Eritrean
defectors/deserters have a legitimate fear of being used as a
bargaining chip. Post has previously encouraged the GODJ to
"internationalize" the defectors/deserters, and will continue
to urge the GODJ to work in close collaboration with UNHCR.
END COMMENT.
WONG