Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA147
2009-05-06 11:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
GSE FURTHER ISOLATES RELIGIOUS DETAINEES
how-toVZCZCXRO7539 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0147 1261103 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061103Z MAY 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0282 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 RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RUZEFAA/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000147
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV ER
SUBJECT: GSE FURTHER ISOLATES RELIGIOUS DETAINEES
REF: 08 ASMARA 605
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000147
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV ER
SUBJECT: GSE FURTHER ISOLATES RELIGIOUS DETAINEES
REF: 08 ASMARA 605
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) The Eritrean government (GSE) has recently been
relocating prisoners from Asmara to an isolated prison in the
small town of Meiter, located 113 miles northeast of Asmara,
near the costal city of Massawa. The newly constructed
prison is already filled with between 150 and 200 detainees
held for religious beliefs. Embassy sources state that
Meiter is known for its extreme isolation. Prisoners
attempting to escape at night are supposedly not chased.
Instead, guards head out the next morning to retreive the
body from the desert. Prisoners in Meiter are not afforded
family visits, as is sometimes the case for those held in
police stations and other prisons in Asmara. There is
reportedly one bus that travels from Asmara to the area near
Meiter once a week.
2. (C) As of Thursday, April 30, the GSE relocated all
imprisoned Jehovah's Witnesses (reftel) from Asmara to
Meiter. The GSE has also transferred over 60 prisoners of
other non-approved religious groups to Meiter in recent
months. Some of these prisoners have been released after
signing a form recanting their faith. Prisoners also include
those who broadly label themselves as "Christian" rather than
specifically Orthodox, Catholic, or Lutheran; they are held
until they agree to join one of the approved religious groups.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: KIRF PHUM PGOV ER
SUBJECT: GSE FURTHER ISOLATES RELIGIOUS DETAINEES
REF: 08 ASMARA 605
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) The Eritrean government (GSE) has recently been
relocating prisoners from Asmara to an isolated prison in the
small town of Meiter, located 113 miles northeast of Asmara,
near the costal city of Massawa. The newly constructed
prison is already filled with between 150 and 200 detainees
held for religious beliefs. Embassy sources state that
Meiter is known for its extreme isolation. Prisoners
attempting to escape at night are supposedly not chased.
Instead, guards head out the next morning to retreive the
body from the desert. Prisoners in Meiter are not afforded
family visits, as is sometimes the case for those held in
police stations and other prisons in Asmara. There is
reportedly one bus that travels from Asmara to the area near
Meiter once a week.
2. (C) As of Thursday, April 30, the GSE relocated all
imprisoned Jehovah's Witnesses (reftel) from Asmara to
Meiter. The GSE has also transferred over 60 prisoners of
other non-approved religious groups to Meiter in recent
months. Some of these prisoners have been released after
signing a form recanting their faith. Prisoners also include
those who broadly label themselves as "Christian" rather than
specifically Orthodox, Catholic, or Lutheran; they are held
until they agree to join one of the approved religious groups.
MCMULLEN