VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAE #0412/01 2321445
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 191445Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9853
INFO RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 3075
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1633
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1810
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

S E C R E T ASMARA 000412 
 
NOFORN 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/ICI/CI, 
DS/IP/SPC/SO, DS/TIA/PII, AF/E, AF/EX 
 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  08/19/2028 
TAGS: ASEC PHUM PGOV APER AMGT KSOCI KIRF ER
SUBJECT:  GSE ARRESTS EMBASSY LOCAL GUARD AT HIS RESIDENCE 
 
REFS:  A. ASMARA 000371 
       ¶B. 07 ASMARA 000894 
 
Classified By:  CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Embassy Local Guard Force (LGF) Commander Mehari 
Zemhret was arrested at his residence on 08/18/08 at 
approximately 1300 hrs while on his lunch break by members of 
the Eritrean National Security Agency (ENSA).  An 
unidentified Eritrean male asked if "Mehari" was in the 
residence.  Since more than one person named Mehari lives in 
the compound, Zemhret's wife asked "which one?"  The 
unidentified male said "the one that works at the American 
Embassy."  Zemhret walked to the compound gate and two 
unidentified ENSA males exited from a red Toyota and took him 
into custody.  Zemhret's neighbors told FSNI that the car had 
been circling Zemhret's street for approximately 3 hrs 
earlier that day.  FSNI went to several police stations and 
found out Zemhret was being held at the 5th police station in 
southern Asmara, approximately 300 meters from the RSO 
residence, but was unable to speak with him.  Neither the 
ENSA personnel at Zemhret's house, nor the officials at the 
police station stated why Zemhret was arrested. 
 
¶2.  (C) Zemhret had not conducted his compulsory military 
service, but had completed military service in Ethiopia where 
he was born.  However, Zemhret is an ethnic Eritrean whose 
family returned to Eritrea after Eritrea gained independence 
in 1991.  NOTE:  In the last year, several LGF have been 
arrested in roundups for national service, but they have 
always been arrested when caught in roundups in downtown 
Asmara or while attending unsanctioned Protestant church 
services.  They were not singled out, but were arrested with 
other non-Embassy Eritreans in public venues.  None of the 
LGF thus far have been specifically targeted and arrested at 
their residence.  END NOTE. 
 
¶3.  (C) In September, 2006, the former LGF Commander Sirak 
Asmelash was arrested in a similar manner.  While leaving his 
house at approximately 0740 hrs three men from the ENSA were 
waiting outside his house, arrested him, put him in a red 
Toyota, and transported him to the 5th police station. 
Asmelash was held at the police station for two weeks and was 
repeatedly interrogated about his work at the embassy.  He 
served 10 months of military service before being released. 
 
¶4.  (C) Reftel A previously reported on former locally 
engaged staff member Daniel Haile who was forced to resign 
his position as the radio/telephone technician after members 
of the Eritrean ruling party, the People's Front for 
Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) told him he could no longer work 
at the U.S. Embassy.  Post reported this incident might have 
been revenge by a former LGF Commander Isaac Abraham who was 
fired in February, 2008 for malfeasance and blamed Haile for 
his termination.  Along with Abraham, six other LGF have been 
fired over the last six months for dereliction of duty.  One 
of the LGF that was fired is now a receptionist at one of the 
PFDJ offices in Asmara. 
 
¶5.  (S/NF) Post has previously reported it assumes the vast 
majority of its LES staff are co-opted or coerced into 
reporting on Embassy activities to the Government of the 
State of Eritrea, (GSE).  The GSE is extremely paranoid of 
diplomats and closely monitors foreigners in addition to 
their own populace. In November, 2007, Post RIF'd 12 persons 
as a downsizing measure since Post's DH American population 
has decreased.  At that time, RSO Source reported the 
Eritrean MFA met about these firings and wanted to know if 
these 12 persons were targeted because Post believed they 
were providing information about Embassy activities to the 
GSE, (Reftel B). 
 
¶6.  (S/NF) POST COMMENTS:  Post is not sure if the fired LES 
members are using their influence with the PFDJ to target 
Embassy LES they believe responsible for their firing and 
exacting revenge against Post by having key personnel 
terminated.  It is very possible some of the LES staff that 
have been fired over the last year were the "embassy 
kingpins" who provided information to the GSE on Post 
activities and the GSE is targeting individuals who have not 
reported to the GSE or trying to hurt Embassy operations to 
avenge the firing of their contacts within the Embassy.  Both 
Zemhret and Asmelash were 39 years old when they were 
arrested.  The mandatory, national service is a minimum of 
two years.  The cutoff age for males to start their national 
service is 40 years.  Post continues to monitor the situation 
with LGF Commander Zemhret and will report any additional 
information.  Point of contact is RSO Sean McClanahan, IVG: 
596-2778. 
TABLER-STONE