VZCZCXYZ0010
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DE RUEHAE #0327/01 1001226
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101226Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8067
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 5834
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 2742
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1114
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1284
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ER
SUBJECT: ERITREAN OPPOSITION GROUP CLAIMS ATTACKS ON 
GOVERNMENT FORCES IN GASH BARKA 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY:  AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
REFTEL: IIR 6908 031706, DTG 04 041256Z APR 06 
 
¶1. (C) During the month of March, individuals claiming to 
be members of the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of 
the Eritrean Kunama(DMLEK)reportedly carried out several 
attacks against the Eritrean Defense Forces in the Gash 
Barka area of western Eritrea.  A third country diplomat 
initially told PolOff, and separately the DATT, of the 
incidents.(REFTEL)  Post obtained what we believe is 
translated copy of the DMLEK military communiqui (para 5) 
that brags about several engagements between the DMLEK and 
EDF or the intelligence platoon of the PFDJ.  According 
to this report three simultaneous attacks occurred March 1 
with several buildings destroyed, including a store of 
ammunitions and personnel losses incurred by both sides. 
Shortly after the attacks, President Isaias visited the 
region.  According to the Eritrean press President Isaias 
inspected development and infrastructure projects in the 
region, however, the third country diplomat remarked the 
visit was to assess the stability and security of the area. 
 
2.(U) According to the official website of the DMLEK, 
Kunamas disgruntled with the GSE or QShabia regime 
founded DMLEK on April 1, 1995.  In their constitution they 
aim to fight for a peoples willed democratic Eritrean 
government and bring peace, justice, wealth and 
democracy to the Kunama by dismantling the Shabia 
regime.  It appears that the DMLEK is willing to use 
violence to achieve their goals. In 1999 the DMLEK claims 
to have allied itself with the Eritrean National/Democratic 
Alliance(ENA)a coalition of at least 10 Eritrean opposition 
groups, including the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) and 
the Eritrean Islamic Salvation Movement. 
 
3.(U) The Kunama are one of the smallest ethnic groups in 
Eritrea.  Residing in southwestern Eritrea around Barentu, 
they are farmers and pastoralists.  Some continue the 
animist religious practice, while some have become Muslim 
or Christian.  An ethnic group with a long history in the 
region, they live on some of the richest farming land in 
Eritrea.  The relationship between the Kunama and the GSE 
is tense, with some accusations that the GSE expropriated 
Kunama land for the resettlement of non-Kunama in the 
region.  During the 1998 war with Ethiopia the GSE accused 
the Kunama of supporting the Ethiopians and many Kunama 
took refuge in Ethiopia. 
 
¶4. (C) Comment: While we cannot confirm that the skirmishes 
occurred, circumstantial evidence gives credence to the 
DMLEK report.  And, although there have been no public 
reports of the incidents, occasional firefights and 
landmine strikes in western and northern Eritrea, allegedly 
initiated by insurgent/opposition groups, are not uncommon 
occurrences.  The GSE may present the picture of a united 
Eritrea to the world, but opposition groups established 
along religious or ethnic lines continue to trouble the 
Christian highlander-dominated government.  End Comment. 
 
¶5. Text of the English translation of the DMLEK military 
communiqui regarding the incidents follows. 
 
Begin Text 
 
Detailed Report of the Military Communique 
 
As reported on 05-03-2006, the gallant fighters of the 
Democratic Movement for the Liberation of the Eritrean 
Kunama(DMLEK) has carried-out swift and effective operation 
up on the intelligence platoon of PFDJ.  These successful 
operations were implemented on the same date and hour 01- 
03-2006 at 12:00(mid night).  The first one was at the 
plains of Armachew situated between Addi Teklay and Dembe 
Diima where an intelligence unit of the 21st kifleto, first 
birged, first Battalion and the second platoon was assigned 
hiddenly.  At this very skirmish, six notorious members of 
the contingents were killed, another seven wounded.  At 
this sudden attack hand grenades, RPGs and light 
artilleries were used.  Those confused ones were unable to 
escape and give a response. 
 
As said, on the same date and hour a sudden attack was 
taken up on the notorious Gimbar Silleya at Dabaloti 
(Melesanay)where 10 of the 18 members were killed and the 
rest wounded.  A store was ablazed.  Here a reinforcement 
force of the regimen too was ambushed successfully while 
trying to surround and curb the attacking forces of the 
DMLEK.  It was rather a lesson for the Shabiya regime. 
 
The third spot of the attach was at Fataket Q a garden 
place situated on the river banks of Sona (Gash), not far 
from the town of Shambakko.  Here, the clash was not as 
swift as the previous ones.  A. thirty minutes fight has 
taken places.  Here too, a store of ammunitions and ration 
was blazed and was changed to ashes.  A motor used to 
irrigate the garden too was destroyed by RPG and hand 
grenades.  The members of the platoon were unable to 
control themselves and seen shooting indiscriminately 
killing their Qcomrades an arms.Q  Out of the 33 personnel, 
14 were dead and 19 were wounded.  A total of 30 members of 
the intelligent forces and 44 were killed and wounded 
respectively. 
 
The enemy has to know that nothing will deter the 
liberation fighters of the DMLEK.  They will attach and 
attach where ever it suits irrespective of the buffer zone. 
The buffer zone should not be exploited by the regime as a 
shield. 
 
The principles of the DMLEK shall flourish for ever!! 
 
End text. 
 
DeLisi