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RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 3174
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1713
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RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
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RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, 
DS/IP/OPO/FPD, INR, AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA 
WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2030 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL PINS ER
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF EDUCATION SAYS LOCAL STAFF SPIES FOR 
U.S. GOVERNMENT 
 
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1. (C) All public school teachers in Asmara were summoned on 
February 19 for a briefing on the recently passed UNSCR 1907, 
according to two reliable embassy sources.  During the 
briefing, Minister of Education Semere Russom stated that 
Eritrea's chief enemy is the United States, and that the U.S. 
orchestrated the sanctionsm which is further evidence of 
continued U.S. hostility towards Eritrea.  Semere further 
said our FSN staff are also enemies of Eritrea because they 
provide information to the USG, making up lies "to feed their 
American masters."  Semere told the audience that the FSNs 
had recently received a large raise and that was a reward for 
all of the FSNs who spy for the U.S. government.  Semere 
further accused the embassy of hiring people to act as 
beggars to perpetuate the myth that Eritreans are hungry.  He 
even claimed one woman came to his office crying and 
"admitted" we had hired her as a street beggar. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Comment:  FSNs have long been an easy target for the 
Eritrean government (GSE), with over 40 FSNs arrested since 
¶2001.  The GSE continues its anti-American rhetoric with 
daily barrages on Eri-tv and in the GSE media outlets.  FSNs 
were given an annual raise for 2010 due to the increase 
increased cost of living. 
Tabler-Stone