TIGRAY PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN ERITREA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASMARA 000011 LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS DEPT FOR AF/E SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PBTS ET ER SUBJECT: TIGRAY PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN ERITREA ASMARA 00000011 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The anti-TPLF Tigray People's Democratic Movement (TPDM) based in Eritrea recently selected a new leader after the death of the group's founder. Eritrean television often commends the TPDM for its armed actions against the Ethiopian government, but these stories are uncorroborated. Alleged TPDM attacks over the past two years are listed in para 6. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Ethiopian ruling party (TPLF) dissidents led by Fiseha Hailemariam Tedla (a former senior cadre of the TPLF security) established the TPDM in Eritrea in 2001. Since its inception, the TPDM sporadically claimed to carry out attacks inside Ethiopian Tigray. Eritrean state-owned Eri-TV broadcast such claims with increased frequency since mid-2006. In January 2008 Fiseha was killed in western Eritrea, and in May 2008 the TPDM held its third congress and elected new leaders. TPDM LEADERSHIP -------------- ¶3. (SBU) A knowledgeable non-Eritrean embassy contact believes the TPDM's new chairman is a man named Molla. The contact told Emboff that the group strictly guards its leaders' names for fear of reprisals against their families in Tigray. He said the TPDM does not recruit recently escaped Ethiopian Tigray soldiers in Eritrea, but rather recruits disgruntled Tigray youth from within Ethiopian Tigray. The contact believes the group presently has several hundred fighters. TPDM EXPLOITS TRUMPETED ON ERITREAN TELEVISION -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Very little open source information exists on the TPDM, other than YouTube videos from Eri-TV broadcasts. These "news" stories show interviews with TPDM fighters and extol the group's exploits against the Ethiopian army. Emboff's cannot corroborate any of these attacks. A well-placed non-Eritrean contact believes that although Eri-TV reports on the TPDM's activities are exaggerated, the organization is "alive and developing," and has the potential to become "a real headache" for the TPLF. PICTURES OF TPDM FIGHTERS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In early December a western diplomat traveling near Barentu photographed a large number of armed men marching along the road. The diplomat's driver said these were not from the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF),but rather TPDM soldiers. The photograph was taken while driving between the ranks of approximately 200 men in plain olive uniforms marching in good order along both sides of the road. Most of the soldiers carried wooden stock rifles and typical soldiers' kit (canteens, ammo belts, and ruck sacks). Emboff will send the photo via email to INR and AF/E. ¶6. (U) TPDM ATTACKS REPORTED IN ERITREAN MEDIA -------------- -- January 23, 2007 - TPDM forces killed 70 Ethiopian soldiers on the north west zone of Tigray. January 30, 2007 - TPDM forces killed 125 and wounded 80 Ethiopian soldiers from the 14th division in central zone, Mereb Leka district at the localities of Kushet Adi, Ukbales, and Araada. In other attacks in Tsimbia, Telebedunand, and Engalan localities the TPDM killed twelve and captured seven Ethiopian soldiers. December 2007 - TPDM forces killed 51 Ethiopian soldiers and captured weapons in Mereb Leka. February 14, 2008 - TPDM forces killed more than 100 Ethiopian soldiers. August 27, 2008 - TPDM forces defeated 35 Ethiopian soldiers during ambush at Medri Felasi, in Laelay Adiyabo (northern Ethiopia) September 5, 2008 - TPDM forces distributed leaflets and magazines to residents of Aksum town detailing the group's objectives. September 5, 2008 - TPDM forces killed eleven Ethiopian soldiers and wounded five others in an attack in Mereb Lekhe District (northern Ethiopia). September 11, 2008 - TPDM, EPPF, and Benshangul fighters put 454 Ethiopian troops out of action. ASMARA 00000011 002 OF 002 October 16, 2008 - TPDM and Benshangul fighters put 124 Ethiopian troops out of action. MCMULLEN