Cablegate: Two Unmee Drivers Conscripted Into Edf

VZCZCXRO3799
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAE #0026 0161336
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161336Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9389
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1573
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1751
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS ASMARA 000026

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO ASEC ER
SUBJECT: TWO UNMEE DRIVERS CONSCRIPTED INTO EDF

(SBU) A high ranking UNMEE official informed EmbOffs that two
of their Eritrean truck drivers had been conscripted into
military service while actively working for UNMEE, despite
having already completed national service. He said the
drivers had been missing for two days and UNMEE personnel
began a search for the vehicle and its occupants. The water
tanker they were driving was found along its route near the
town of Shilalo in Sector West but has not yet been released
by the Eritrean Government. The UNMEE Source had no further
information into the circumstances of their arrest. UNMEE
does not expect any problems in eventually retrieving their
vehicle but does not believe the drivers will be released.
MCMULLEN

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