INCREASED MILITARY ROUND-UPS AS INDEPENDENCE DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000156


DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2029
TAGS: ASEC PGOV MOPS ER
SUBJECT: INCREASED MILITARY ROUND-UPS AS INDEPENDENCE DAY
APPROACHES

Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d)


1. (C) The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) is
conducting its usual military round-up of persons in Asmara
as the May 24th Independence Day approaches. Thus far, the
round-ups have consisted of plainclothes military and
security officials at traffic circles during the daytime
hours looking for potential saboteurs, suspicious persons,
Eritreans who have not completed their compulsory military
service, or military deserters. During the nighttime hours,
uniformed soldiers flood the streets, positioning themselves
on almost every street corner. Beginning May 11, the
military has been openly deploying on street corners,
stopping all males, and in some instances females. Patrons
on buses, restaurants, and bars are also being searched and
detained. RSO observed soldiers beating a detained man on
May 14 and local guard force members (LGF) told RSO they
observed soldiers chasing an Eritrean teenager who fled their
checkpoint earlier this week near the embassy consular
entrance. An LGF member was arrested on May 13 in a
round-up, but was released 8 hours later after his family
presented his demobilization card to GSE officials. Those
rounded up are being taken to a military prison in Adi
Abeito, which is located on the northern outskirts of Asmara.
NOTE: Military round-ups occur regularly in Eritrea, but
are usually confined to a specific area. Usually only one
soldier will be armed with an AK-47 (no additional magazines)
and the rest will be armed with sticks. During the
independence day period, the majority of the soldiers are
armed and are wearing cartridge belts with additional
magazines and grenades. END NOTE. Those rounded-up will be
held until after the independence day period has passed.


2. (C) Security forces are also going house to house in
Asmara and surrounding areas during the early morning hours,
knocking on doors and kicking open those doors that residents
don't open. The soldiers search all rooms, containers, under
beds, and verify the existence and location of all family
members by checking ration cards assigned to each family.
One LGF had his door kicked open at 0600 hrs earlier this
week. He showed his embassy badge to the soldiers and they
left.


3. (C) Ethnic Ethiopians are being arrested en-masse and held
at a military camp near the Asmara International Airport.
Eritreans are being warned not to house ethnic Ethiopians who
are hiding from the military. Shopkeepers and businesses are
also being warned not to receive packages from anyone or
store items for friends or associates.


4. (C) Comment: The military presence in Asmara will
continue to intensify as the May 24th Independence Day
approaches. Traditionally diplomats are not harassed or
stopped in the military pedestrian or vehicular checkpoints.
RSO has distributed a security notice to all Americans at
Post advising them of the increased military presence, to
carry their MFA cards, radios, cellphones, and to call Post 1
in the event of any incidents involving the military.


TABLER-STONE