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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000778 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2016 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: GSE CONFISCATES KALE HIWOT CHURCH PROPERTY 
 
 
Classified By: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Continuing the pattern of government control over 
social institutions, the GSE ordered the confiscation of all 
of Kale Hiwot,s church property. On September 13, the leader 
of another unregistered church, Reverend Zecharias Abraham 
(protect) told Poloff the church received a letter the week 
prior from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, signed 
by the Director of the NGO department, Emmanuel, informing 
the church they must turn over all church property.  Kale 
Hiwot, a Serving in Mission (SIM) evangelical Protestant 
mission, is one of the unregistered churches practicing in 
Eritrea and has substantial properties throughout the 
country.  The church operates schools, kindergartens, 
orphanages and other humanitarian programs. 
 
¶2. (C)  Rev. Zecharias said the Church leaders had asked GSE 
officials for more information about the decision and even 
tried to fight the Ministry,s order.  According to Rev. 
Zecharias, they requested a meeting with the Minster of Labor 
and Social Welfare, Askalu Menkorious and were told she was 
&too busy8 to meet with them. In further inquiries with the 
Director of NGO Affairs, (reportedly the right hand of 
Minister Askalu on NGO issues), the Director told church 
leaders the Ministry would not reconsider the decision and 
there would be no further discussion. 
 
¶3.  (C) In a meeting with Minister Askalu on September 21, 
Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Nick Astbury, inquired 
about the situation with Kale Hiwot.   Minister Askalu told 
Astbury that the seizing of the church,s assets was an issue 
independent from the church,s unregistered status.  Rather, 
Kale Hiwot was conducting activities outside of its area of 
responsibility.   &Churches8 she said, &should be limited 
to spiritual matters.8  She further commented that churches 
who run education, development or other programs should 
establish a separate organization and, like any NGO, these 
organizations need to be registered.  According to her, the 
programs run by Kale Hiwot are being divvied up among the 
other appropriate Ministries. 
 
¶4.  (C) Comment:  While human rights websites, such as 
Compass Direct, are reporting this incident as a &direct 
attack on the church8, the issue is much more nuanced.  Over 
the past two years, through proclamation and practice, the 
GSE has reduced the number of the NGOs, both local and 
international, from over 40 to just over 10.  The government 
continues to increase government scrutiny and control of 
social institutions, including the registered religions and 
their activities, schools, social welfare programs and those 
providing humanitarian assistance.  There is no question that 
the unregistered churches and their congregations experience 
persecution at the hand of the GSE (and this has been well 
documented by post); however, to insist that this seizure is 
an attack on the evangelical Protestant community 
specifically is perhaps too big of a leap.  Of course, 
Minister Askalu,s implication that the church should 
register is notable, as it is highly unlikely the GSE would 
permit them to register as an NGO.  As an unregistered 
church, Kale Hiwot is a vulnerable target for the GSE and is 
subject to persecution.  Yet, post believes this latest 
development more is a continuation of the GSE efforts to 
further control its population and not one specifically aimed 
at religious persecution.  End Comment. 
DELISI