Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA221
2009-07-13 05:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
OPPOSITION TV LAGS BEHIND RADIO/INTERNET COUNTERPARTS
how-toVZCZCXRO5326 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0221 1940544 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 130544Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0362 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS ASMARA 000221
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/PD, AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PREL ER
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TV LAGS BEHIND RADIO/INTERNET COUNTERPARTS
REF: ASMARA 105
ASMARA 095
ASMARA 212
UNCLAS ASMARA 000221
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/PD, AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PREL ER
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TV LAGS BEHIND RADIO/INTERNET COUNTERPARTS
REF: ASMARA 105
ASMARA 095
ASMARA 212
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The opposition website www.assenna.com and its
sister radio station have seen considerable success over the past
few months and have continued to expand both audience and
programming. Assenna's sotries stimulate much discussion around
Asmara, but its consumers are not discriminating-dubious report have
as much currency as more credible pieces, and could undermine its
legitimacy. Opposition television has somewhat fallen into this
trap. It functions as a mouthpiece for the Ethiopian-based Eritrean
opposition, reducing its credibility. Opposition television is also
more difficult to tune into compared to its radio and website
counterparts. End Summary.
RADIO ASSENNA IS TALK OF THE TOWN
--------------
2. (SBU) The website www.assenna.com and its affiliate Radio Assenna
(REF A) have perhaps the widest following of all opposition news
sources available in Asmara. Its news stories are discussed in a
variety of social circles, from professional meetings to drinks
among friends. One UN local staff admitted that "most everyone"
listens to Radio Assenna at work. The reason the Assenna name brand
is so popular is partly because anyone can access it. Not only can
the public tune into a shortwave radio station, but listeners can
also go to a low-bandwidth website to hear the radio broadcast
online. Radio Assenna also does not promote the Eritrean
opposition. It delivers the news without the excessive anti-GSE
rhetoric that mars other opposition sites.
3. (SBU) Radio Assenna recently announced the launch of another
opposition radio station, ERENA ("our Eritrea"),to be broadcast
from Paris. The radio station has already received praise from
Reporters Without Borders, who labeled the station a "historic
project." Many former Eri-TV broadcasters have reportedly joined
the ERENA line-up, including Biniam Simon. Currently, the
opposition website delina.org offers a link to ERENA's broadcasts,
providing live streaming of interviews and reports. The latest
interview (undated) is between Biniam Solomon and Tes Meharena,
founder of the opposition website asmarino.com.
CREDIBILITY IS KEY
--------------
4. (SBU) Assenna.com delivers many of the important news stories
before its competitors. It had early and fairly accurate notice of
the ministerial cabinet shuffle (Ref B) and news of the June
diaspora demonstration in DC. It does, however, include stories
that sound as if they were picked up from a conspiracy blog. In
April, Assenna scanned a supposed image of a $275 million check
written by the Fabon Bank of Hong Kong to President Isaias and his
son. In June, the website reported 41 computers were stolen from
the Office of the President that contained files on political
prisoners and diplomatic "covert dealings." The report also stated
"millions of monies" went missing from the Commercial Bank of
Eritrea. These events, if they happened at all, may have other
explanations, such as the recent CBE payment to Cargill for a wheat
purchase (Ref C).
OPPOSITION TV ALMOST NON-EXISTENT
--------------
5. (SBU) Despite the success of the Assenna name brand, opposition
television has not made noticeable gains since its debut in February
last year. The television station Dehai Ertra still broadcasts
montages of romanticized landscapes and burning rhetoric from the
Eritrea Democratic Alliance (EDA). The fact that Dehai Ertra is
based in Ethiopia also erodes its appeal. Moderate Eritreans
looking for legitimate news of its government's misdeeds are wary of
turning to Ethiopia for information.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Radio and internet continue to prove themselves as
powerful tools for the opposition. The key to success is
maintaining legitimacy as a news outlet rather than serving as an
extension for Eritrean opposition groups.
MCMULLEN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/PD, AND DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PREL ER
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TV LAGS BEHIND RADIO/INTERNET COUNTERPARTS
REF: ASMARA 105
ASMARA 095
ASMARA 212
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The opposition website www.assenna.com and its
sister radio station have seen considerable success over the past
few months and have continued to expand both audience and
programming. Assenna's sotries stimulate much discussion around
Asmara, but its consumers are not discriminating-dubious report have
as much currency as more credible pieces, and could undermine its
legitimacy. Opposition television has somewhat fallen into this
trap. It functions as a mouthpiece for the Ethiopian-based Eritrean
opposition, reducing its credibility. Opposition television is also
more difficult to tune into compared to its radio and website
counterparts. End Summary.
RADIO ASSENNA IS TALK OF THE TOWN
--------------
2. (SBU) The website www.assenna.com and its affiliate Radio Assenna
(REF A) have perhaps the widest following of all opposition news
sources available in Asmara. Its news stories are discussed in a
variety of social circles, from professional meetings to drinks
among friends. One UN local staff admitted that "most everyone"
listens to Radio Assenna at work. The reason the Assenna name brand
is so popular is partly because anyone can access it. Not only can
the public tune into a shortwave radio station, but listeners can
also go to a low-bandwidth website to hear the radio broadcast
online. Radio Assenna also does not promote the Eritrean
opposition. It delivers the news without the excessive anti-GSE
rhetoric that mars other opposition sites.
3. (SBU) Radio Assenna recently announced the launch of another
opposition radio station, ERENA ("our Eritrea"),to be broadcast
from Paris. The radio station has already received praise from
Reporters Without Borders, who labeled the station a "historic
project." Many former Eri-TV broadcasters have reportedly joined
the ERENA line-up, including Biniam Simon. Currently, the
opposition website delina.org offers a link to ERENA's broadcasts,
providing live streaming of interviews and reports. The latest
interview (undated) is between Biniam Solomon and Tes Meharena,
founder of the opposition website asmarino.com.
CREDIBILITY IS KEY
--------------
4. (SBU) Assenna.com delivers many of the important news stories
before its competitors. It had early and fairly accurate notice of
the ministerial cabinet shuffle (Ref B) and news of the June
diaspora demonstration in DC. It does, however, include stories
that sound as if they were picked up from a conspiracy blog. In
April, Assenna scanned a supposed image of a $275 million check
written by the Fabon Bank of Hong Kong to President Isaias and his
son. In June, the website reported 41 computers were stolen from
the Office of the President that contained files on political
prisoners and diplomatic "covert dealings." The report also stated
"millions of monies" went missing from the Commercial Bank of
Eritrea. These events, if they happened at all, may have other
explanations, such as the recent CBE payment to Cargill for a wheat
purchase (Ref C).
OPPOSITION TV ALMOST NON-EXISTENT
--------------
5. (SBU) Despite the success of the Assenna name brand, opposition
television has not made noticeable gains since its debut in February
last year. The television station Dehai Ertra still broadcasts
montages of romanticized landscapes and burning rhetoric from the
Eritrea Democratic Alliance (EDA). The fact that Dehai Ertra is
based in Ethiopia also erodes its appeal. Moderate Eritreans
looking for legitimate news of its government's misdeeds are wary of
turning to Ethiopia for information.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Radio and internet continue to prove themselves as
powerful tools for the opposition. The key to success is
maintaining legitimacy as a news outlet rather than serving as an
extension for Eritrean opposition groups.
MCMULLEN