16 MONTHS UNDERGROUND FOR "THE WRONG RELIGION"

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000016 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV SOCI ER SUBJECT: 16 MONTHS UNDERGROUND FOR "THE WRONG RELIGION" REF: 08 ASMARA 369 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Selam Reta (please protect),spent 16 months of her life in an underground cell at the Wi'a prison and was subjected to daily physical torture for being a member of the Berhane Hiwet Evangelical Church, a banned religious group. Selam was released after 16 months only after developing an untreatable medical condition; the prison did not want her death on its hands. Selam described the conditions of her arrest, imprisonment, physical torture, and eventual release. End Summary. THE ARREST -------------- ¶2. (C) In April 2008, the Eritrean government (GSE) arrested Selam, whose name means "peace," and 29 other women in Keren while they were praying at a member's home. A local colonel, whose wife was also a member of the church, knew about the meeting and called the authorities (after warning his wife to stay home). Police took Selam and the other women into custody and held them at the Keren police station for two weeks. The 30 women were formally charged with being CIA agents, and were told they would be released only after admitting to the charge and making a formal pledge to return to the Eritrean Orthodox Church. All 30 women denied the charge and refused to recant their faith. They were subsequently taken to the W'ia military prison camp. BENEATH W,IA -------------- ¶3. (C) W'ia is located in the desert approximately 40 miles east of Asmara. According to Selam, the average temperature above ground was 105 degrees, but even higher in the prison cells below. Selam's 12' x 12' cell held 15 of the women from Keren plus six other prisoners. They were given three or four jerry cans of water per day, but were forbidden to use it to shower. The women were taken outside twice a day to relieve themselves. The prison did not provide food. The six other prisoners shared their food with the women, but eventually the families of the "Keren 30" found where the women were being held and sent food. DAILY TORTURE -------------- ¶4. (C) "We were barefoot," Selam said, "and were made to walk on sharp rocks and thorns one hour each day." Those who did not walk fast enough were beaten with hard, plastic rods. This one hour of physical abuse was the only opportunity the prisoners had to see sunlight. Each night, around midnight, the guards would take the prisoners outside one by one and beat them across their legs, backs, arms, and shoulders, trying to draw confessions from the women. According to Selam, the prison guards wanted the women to sign the following statement: "I admit my mistake and pledge to go back to the coptic (Eritrean Orthodox) church. If I am ever found engaging in these activities again, then I am ready to be executed." The prison guards also exercised random physical abuse against the women throughout the day. If the guards saw or heard the women praying, the guards would enter the cell and beat them until the praying ceased. "This is hell," the guards would say. "If you ever want to see heaven (the outside) then sign the paper." One woman died after three years of such treatment (reftel). The majority of the women neither signed the confession nor recanted their faith and are still imprisoned. RELEASE -------------- ¶5. (C) When Selam was arrested, she already had problems with her left leg. After months of physical abuse, her leg swelled to twice its normal size. (Note: Post has a photo of her condition and will share upon request. End Note) One day Selam fainted, and was taken to the prison in Meiter for medical attention. Upon arriving at the hospital in Meiter, the hospital's "chief commander" told her that because she had not recanted, she could not receive treatment. Selam was promptly sent back to W'ia. ¶6. (C) In June 2009, W'ia closed due to a meningitis outbreak and the prisoners were transferred to Meiter. Selam was taken to Keren, not out of compassion for her sickness, but so that her death would not be "on the government's hands." She spent five weeks at the Keren hospital but doctors could not diagnose her condition. Selam was released in July 2009 with only the clothes on her back. Fortunately, her mother lives in Keren and she is able to stay with her. SELAM TODAY -------------- ¶7. (C) Selam walks slowly, and with a slight limp. She is softspoken but speaks freely of her ordeal. Most surprisingly, she is forgiving. When asked if she bore any ill-feelings towards her abusers, she quietly replied "No, I love them." Selam's injuries left her unable to work and she is still living with her mother. Before her arrest, Selam spent her time helping family members cope with the imprisonment of loved ones arrested for being members of unapproved religious groups. Now, she spends her time praying. McMullen