Cablegate: Members of Unregistered Religious Groups Arrested

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PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHAE #1072 3611157
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271157Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8614
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 6037
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 2917
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0206
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1275
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1454
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0004
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS ASMARA 001072

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: MEMBERS OF UNREGISTERED RELIGIOUS GROUPS ARRESTED
IN MENDEFERA

1. During the second week of November, the Government of the
State of Eritrea (GSE) orchestrated a large scale campaign to
arrest members of the unregistered religious groups in
Mendefera, in the heart of the predominantly-Christian
central highlands, about 1 hour from Asmara. Initial reports
claimed the GSE arrested over 150 protestant Christians from
the Church of Living God, Kaile Hiwot and other churches.
Later reports indicate the number may be as high as 400.
Over a period of several days, GSE officials believed to be
part of the GSE domestic intelligence/national security
office, appeared at the homes of individuals and took them to
a detention facility around Mendefera. There were reports
that the GSE later moved some individuals to a national
security operated facility in Dekemhare, approximately 30
kilometers from Mendefera.

2. Post believes that many of those arrested remain in
detention with only meager food rations and with some
prevented from receiving visits from family and friends.
Post has received reports that some of those arrested were
being asked to renounce their allegiance and religious
beliefs and sign sworn statements announcing their
willingness to abandon their protestant Church and return to
the Eritrean Orthodox Church. In addition the GSE separated
at least 15 new mothers from their breast-feeding infants,
apparently in hope that this separation would pressure the
women to renounce their beliefs more quickly. In response to
this pressure, church members rapidly convened other
breast-feeding mothers to provide care for the infants.
Reportedly these 15 mothers remain incarcerated.

3. Comment: The GSE recognizes only four "authorized"
religious communities and continues to persecute citizens who
are members of other religious groups. In the past, most
arrests occurred when church members gathered for small bible
study groups or worship. We are concerned that the targeting
of individuals in their homes on such a large scale may
signal the beginning of a new campaign to threaten and
frighten members of unregistered religious groups. And
although attempts at forced recantations following arrest
have been standard procedure the separation of nursing
mothers from their children seems to mark a new low for the
GSE (especially in a country with no such thing as infant
formula). We are aware of no particular development that may
have sparked this latest crackdown but it seems consistent
with a range of GSE actions directed against those who refuse
to conform to GSE norms whether on religion, civic duty
(including national service), or political orthodoxy. In the
end, what the GSE seems to fear most is independent thought
in any form and, the gathering together of individuals who
believe in something other than the GSE and the struggle,
appears to be construed by the GSE as a "threat" to be
mitigated firmly and quickly. End Comment.
DELISI

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