Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA84
2009-03-10 13:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREAN AIRMAN MURDERS MILITARY GUARDS
how-toR 101311Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0211 INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL CIA WASHDC CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ COMUSNAVCENT DIA WASHDC HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000084
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029
TAGS: ASEC MOPS PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN AIRMAN MURDERS MILITARY GUARDS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000084
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029
TAGS: ASEC MOPS PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN AIRMAN MURDERS MILITARY GUARDS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) An Eritrean airman reportedly murdered six air force
guards on March 6. He had recently been arrested for
desertion and was being held with other deserters at the air
force base adjacent to the Asmara international airport,
pending transportation to his unit in Massawa. The airman
was able to overpower one of the armed sentries, took his
AK-47 and killed six sentries before killing himself. The
embassy source obtained this information from a family member
of the airman who stated the airman was extremely stressed
about being arrested and "was close to a mental breakdown."
The same source said many air force personnel were angered
not at the killing, but rather that the gunman targeted
fellow national service conscripts instead of high ranking
Air Force officers. Thus far, there has been no mention of
this in the Eritrean media.
2. (C) Comments: Military desertions are common as many
conscripts have been forced to serve open-ended commitments,
some for more than 10 years. Using both general roundups and
targeted arrests, the GSE routinely conscripts those who have
not completed their national service.
MCMULLEN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, AF/E,
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2029
TAGS: ASEC MOPS PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN AIRMAN MURDERS MILITARY GUARDS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) An Eritrean airman reportedly murdered six air force
guards on March 6. He had recently been arrested for
desertion and was being held with other deserters at the air
force base adjacent to the Asmara international airport,
pending transportation to his unit in Massawa. The airman
was able to overpower one of the armed sentries, took his
AK-47 and killed six sentries before killing himself. The
embassy source obtained this information from a family member
of the airman who stated the airman was extremely stressed
about being arrested and "was close to a mental breakdown."
The same source said many air force personnel were angered
not at the killing, but rather that the gunman targeted
fellow national service conscripts instead of high ranking
Air Force officers. Thus far, there has been no mention of
this in the Eritrean media.
2. (C) Comments: Military desertions are common as many
conscripts have been forced to serve open-ended commitments,
some for more than 10 years. Using both general roundups and
targeted arrests, the GSE routinely conscripts those who have
not completed their national service.
MCMULLEN