Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASMARA40
2010-02-18 11:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREAN GOVERNMENT GALVANIZES THE PUBLIC OVER UN
how-toINFO LOG-00 MFA-00 AF-00 AID-00 INL-00 PERC-00 VCI-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 NEA-00 DCP-00 NSAE-00 OIC-00 OIG-00 NIMA-00 FMPC-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 NCTC-00 ASDS-00 BBG-00 SCRS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SWCI-00 PESU-00 SANA-00 /000W R 181130Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0711 INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI USMISSION USUN NEW YORK CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE CIA WASHDC CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ COMUSNAVCENT DIA WASHINGTON DC HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000040
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR, AND
AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2030
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN GOVERNMENT GALVANIZES THE PUBLIC OVER UN
SANCTIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000040
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR, AND
AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2030
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN GOVERNMENT GALVANIZES THE PUBLIC OVER UN
SANCTIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) The Eritrean government (GSE) is coercing its
citizens into participating in letter-writing and
petition-signing campaigns, ostensibly to get the sanctions
overturned, but actually to drum up anti-American, pro-regime
sympathy. This week schoolchildren throughout Eritrea were
told to bring envelopes and money for postage to class this
week. At school they all wrote the same four-line message to
President Obama asking him to reverse UNSCR 1907. Other
students, government workers, and employees of
government-owned companies were forced to sign petitions
demanding that the UN reverse the sanctions.
2. (C) Post has received several reports that there will be a
demonstration at the embassy to coincide with the scheduled
anti-sanctions marches on February 22 in Washington, San
Francisco, Melbourne, and Geneva. A reliable embassy source
said the GSE would provide baseball caps with the logo "never
kneel down" to protesters. However, Minister of Information
Ali Abdu denied any GSE involvement in the planned
demonstrations, according to the VOA. A Reuters article the
same day said the GSE-run newspaper Eritrea Profile is
"running a sustained campaign" charging the United States
with masterminding the UN sanctions imposed on it and wanting
to control the whole Horn of Africa region.
3. (C) Security measures: Post will bring in additional LGF
members on Feburary 22 as a precautionary measure and LGF
vehicles will be on the lookout for gatherings or possible
marches heading towards the embassy. Post also requested
additional police coverage at the embassy for February 22,
but does not expect to receive it. All American personnel
have been advised to keep a low profile and to carry their
charged radios or cellphones.
4. (C) Comment: Conventional wisdom in Asmara has been that
the GSE would never allow any sort of public protest, even a
pro-government one, for fear of it getting out of control and
turning against the regime. If the GSE permits a
demonstration against the embassy, it will be the first one
directed at us since 2001. The GSE will likely select regime
loyalists to lead the demonstration, but police and members
of the Eritrean National Security Organization will watch the
situation carefully. Ironically, by orchestrating protests,
letter-writing and petition drives, the GSE may have
inadvertantly planted the democratic notion that is
acceptable to demand redress of grievances from public
officials.
McMullen
NOFORN
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR, AND
AF/E
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2030
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN GOVERNMENT GALVANIZES THE PUBLIC OVER UN
SANCTIONS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) The Eritrean government (GSE) is coercing its
citizens into participating in letter-writing and
petition-signing campaigns, ostensibly to get the sanctions
overturned, but actually to drum up anti-American, pro-regime
sympathy. This week schoolchildren throughout Eritrea were
told to bring envelopes and money for postage to class this
week. At school they all wrote the same four-line message to
President Obama asking him to reverse UNSCR 1907. Other
students, government workers, and employees of
government-owned companies were forced to sign petitions
demanding that the UN reverse the sanctions.
2. (C) Post has received several reports that there will be a
demonstration at the embassy to coincide with the scheduled
anti-sanctions marches on February 22 in Washington, San
Francisco, Melbourne, and Geneva. A reliable embassy source
said the GSE would provide baseball caps with the logo "never
kneel down" to protesters. However, Minister of Information
Ali Abdu denied any GSE involvement in the planned
demonstrations, according to the VOA. A Reuters article the
same day said the GSE-run newspaper Eritrea Profile is
"running a sustained campaign" charging the United States
with masterminding the UN sanctions imposed on it and wanting
to control the whole Horn of Africa region.
3. (C) Security measures: Post will bring in additional LGF
members on Feburary 22 as a precautionary measure and LGF
vehicles will be on the lookout for gatherings or possible
marches heading towards the embassy. Post also requested
additional police coverage at the embassy for February 22,
but does not expect to receive it. All American personnel
have been advised to keep a low profile and to carry their
charged radios or cellphones.
4. (C) Comment: Conventional wisdom in Asmara has been that
the GSE would never allow any sort of public protest, even a
pro-government one, for fear of it getting out of control and
turning against the regime. If the GSE permits a
demonstration against the embassy, it will be the first one
directed at us since 2001. The GSE will likely select regime
loyalists to lead the demonstration, but police and members
of the Eritrean National Security Organization will watch the
situation carefully. Ironically, by orchestrating protests,
letter-writing and petition drives, the GSE may have
inadvertantly planted the democratic notion that is
acceptable to demand redress of grievances from public
officials.
McMullen