Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA105
2009-04-02 13:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
RADIO ASENA IS THE NEW OPPOSITION VOICE
how-toVZCZCXRO7640 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0105 0921303 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021303Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0233 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 RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
UNCLAS ASMARA 000105
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
USAID FOR GEORGIANNA PLATT
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROP SOCI PGOV ER
SUBJECT: RADIO ASENA IS THE NEW OPPOSITION VOICE
REF: A. ASMARA 67
B. ASMARA 28
UNCLAS ASMARA 000105
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
USAID FOR GEORGIANNA PLATT
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROP SOCI PGOV ER
SUBJECT: RADIO ASENA IS THE NEW OPPOSITION VOICE
REF: A. ASMARA 67
B. ASMARA 28
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Opposition website assenna.com recently
launched Radio Asena, airing hour-long broadcasts on Mondays
and Wednesdays in Tigrinya and on Fridays in Arabic. ("Asena"
means "good" in the congratulatory sense). The station,
found on 9610kHz, reports on a variety of topics including
mass arrests and detentions, military defections, destructive
government policies, and military corruption. While these
topics are standard opposition website fare, Radio Asena has
turned up the heat with hard-hitting programming. Two
programs in particular have caught the attention of the
Eritrean public: an interview allegedly with a dissatisfied
military official and a report of a politically motivated
murder in Asmara. End Summary.
RADIO ASENA ASCENDENT
--------------
2. (SBU) Radio Asena reportedly has developed a strong
following in Eritrea and eclipsed awate.com as the leading
source of anti-GSE information. It appears to be more
credible than other sources. While most opposition-based
news reports are unverifiable, we have been able to
corroborate two of Radio Asena stories with firsthand
accounts from embassy contacts. Radio Asena reported on the
mass arrest at Radio Bana (Ref A) and the arrest of 10
employees at the Ministry of Immigration (MOI) accused of
selling exit visas. A close embassy source with regular
contact with the MOI corroborated the latter information.
Contributing to Radio Asena's standing are its three
well-known news anchors, two of whom were formerly with
GSE-controlled Eri-TV.
INTERVIEW WITH DISGRUNTLED MILITARY?
--------------
3. (SBU) In early March Radio Asena aired what it claimed was
an interview with a discontented Eritrean officer, who said
he was part of a group demanding major government reform. He
said the group delivered to senior military officials a list
of demands that included an end to national service and
implementation of the constitution. The nearly one-hour long
interview supposedly took place via cellphone. (Note: Post
has been hearing different versions of this story since last
November, including one with tanks in the streets and
midnight visits to GSE officials.) The officer said the
Minister of Water, Resources, and Environment, Woldemichael
Gebremariam, had been nominated as the mediator between the
government and the dissident military. Curiously,
Woldemichael was reassigned in the recent Cabinet shake-up to
be Minister of Local Government, a powerless position that
indicates he has been largely sidelined.
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MURDER
--------------
4. (SBU) The radio station also reported on the death of Mr.
Fesseha Woldedawit, head of the Finance Department at the
Northern Red Sea Administrative Region. Mr. Fesseha
allegedly discovered a 30 million nakfa ($2 million)
discrepancy in the department's records and was found dead
soon after reporting the matter to the appropriate officials.
Authorities stated Mr. Fesseha committed suicide by
strangling himself with a laptop cord, according to Radio
Asena.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Post contacts indicate Radio Asena is the
buzz of the town, with good reason: it's reaching more
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL
USAID FOR GEORGIANNA PLATT
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PROP SOCI PGOV ER
SUBJECT: RADIO ASENA IS THE NEW OPPOSITION VOICE
REF: A. ASMARA 67
B. ASMARA 28
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Opposition website assenna.com recently
launched Radio Asena, airing hour-long broadcasts on Mondays
and Wednesdays in Tigrinya and on Fridays in Arabic. ("Asena"
means "good" in the congratulatory sense). The station,
found on 9610kHz, reports on a variety of topics including
mass arrests and detentions, military defections, destructive
government policies, and military corruption. While these
topics are standard opposition website fare, Radio Asena has
turned up the heat with hard-hitting programming. Two
programs in particular have caught the attention of the
Eritrean public: an interview allegedly with a dissatisfied
military official and a report of a politically motivated
murder in Asmara. End Summary.
RADIO ASENA ASCENDENT
--------------
2. (SBU) Radio Asena reportedly has developed a strong
following in Eritrea and eclipsed awate.com as the leading
source of anti-GSE information. It appears to be more
credible than other sources. While most opposition-based
news reports are unverifiable, we have been able to
corroborate two of Radio Asena stories with firsthand
accounts from embassy contacts. Radio Asena reported on the
mass arrest at Radio Bana (Ref A) and the arrest of 10
employees at the Ministry of Immigration (MOI) accused of
selling exit visas. A close embassy source with regular
contact with the MOI corroborated the latter information.
Contributing to Radio Asena's standing are its three
well-known news anchors, two of whom were formerly with
GSE-controlled Eri-TV.
INTERVIEW WITH DISGRUNTLED MILITARY?
--------------
3. (SBU) In early March Radio Asena aired what it claimed was
an interview with a discontented Eritrean officer, who said
he was part of a group demanding major government reform. He
said the group delivered to senior military officials a list
of demands that included an end to national service and
implementation of the constitution. The nearly one-hour long
interview supposedly took place via cellphone. (Note: Post
has been hearing different versions of this story since last
November, including one with tanks in the streets and
midnight visits to GSE officials.) The officer said the
Minister of Water, Resources, and Environment, Woldemichael
Gebremariam, had been nominated as the mediator between the
government and the dissident military. Curiously,
Woldemichael was reassigned in the recent Cabinet shake-up to
be Minister of Local Government, a powerless position that
indicates he has been largely sidelined.
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MURDER
--------------
4. (SBU) The radio station also reported on the death of Mr.
Fesseha Woldedawit, head of the Finance Department at the
Northern Red Sea Administrative Region. Mr. Fesseha
allegedly discovered a 30 million nakfa ($2 million)
discrepancy in the department's records and was found dead
soon after reporting the matter to the appropriate officials.
Authorities stated Mr. Fesseha committed suicide by
strangling himself with a laptop cord, according to Radio
Asena.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Post contacts indicate Radio Asena is the
buzz of the town, with good reason: it's reaching more