Viewing cable 09ASMARA363, ISAIAS ZEDONG? If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs Reference ID Created Classification Origin 09ASMARA363 2009-10-20 10:12 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Asmara Additional Addressees: None cc: AMEMBASSY BEIJING CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL CIA WASHDC CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ COMUSNAVCENT DIA WASHDC HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IGAD COLLECTIVE JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL NSC WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC SOMALIA COLLECTIVE Distribution: TED1461 ACTION AF-00 INFO LOG-00 EEB-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 INL-00 C-00 DOTE-00 PERC-00 DS-00 EAP-00 DHSE-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VCI-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 NSAE-00 OIG-00 NIMA-00 GIWI-00 DOHS-00 FMPC-00 SSO-00 SS-00 SCRS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 FA-00 SWCI-00 PESU-00 /001W ------------------C7FBB2 201047Z /38 P 201012Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0549 INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE SOMALIA COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY BEIJING NSC WASHDC CIA WASHDC DIA WASHDC SECDEF WASHDC CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE COMUSNAVCENT C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000363 E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ER CH SUBJECT: ISAIAS ZEDONG? Classified By: Ambassdor Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, who trained as a political commissar in China during the depths of the Cultural Revolution, continues to idolize Mao, remains fond of China, and governs Eritrea and its relations with the outside world based on his decades of experience as a revolutionary guerrilla leader combined with his interpretation of Maoist philosophy. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION ------------------------------- President Isaias made a surprise appearance at the Chinese Embassys reception celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Communist takeover of China. In a rare breech of Eritreas strictly observed protocol, Isaias interacted with the Chinese ambassador, despite not having officially received his credentials. Isaias was quickly ushered into a private dining room where he, five Chinese diplomats, and six senior Eritrean officials ate Chinese food, drank Moutai, and fondly discussed Sino-Eritrean relations. Romedan Mohamed Nur, who trained in China with Isaias in the mid-1960s, was present but largely ignored by the Eritrean president. Chinese Ambassador Li Liansheng later provided a detailed read-out to the ambassador. President Isaias mentioned ten times during the course of the evening his 42-year long relationship with China, dating from his 1967 training as a political commissar during Maos Cultural Revolution. ¶3. (C) PASS THE MOUTAI AND KEEP IT COMING ----------------------------------------- Isaias ate little during the meal but drank almost a whole bottle of high-proof Moutai, becoming visibly inebriated and sentimental as the evening drew on. He remarked repeatedly on his admiration of Chairman Mao and claimed that Mao laid the foundation for all of Chinas subsequent achievements. Other Chinese diplomats tell us Isaias dislikes Deng Xiaoping because Deng attempted to undermine Maos legacy. Isaias avidly consumes biographies of Mao and has refused offers of books on Deng and modern China. On a monthly basis the Chinese ambassadors chef gets a request from Isaias to send over a Chinese meal. Ambassador Li reported that Isaias watches Chinese news on television. Now 63 years old, President Isaias still plays a mean game of ping pong, according to some observers, when his chronic lower back pain permits. ¶4. (C) WHAT WOULD MAO DO? ------------------------- While Isaias is not known to wear a bracelet embroidered with WWMD?, he clearly reveres the revolutionary guerrilla leader-cum-ruling strongman. A young man of humble origins who through ruthless determination rose to the top of a revolutionary army and defeated a stronger foe, led his country against foreign domination, and launched a wrenching social revolution, Isaias probably sees many parallels between his life and Maos. Isaias closure of Eritreas only university mirrors Maos anti-intelligentsia campaigns of the mid-1960s. His nationalization of the economy and the wholesale conscription of Eritrean youth into a national service of military duty and forced labor resemble some aspects of Maos early rule. Isaias eschews a blatant cult of personality (unlike his hero), but brooks no opposition and entertains no notions of pluralism--at least for the next four decades. While Maos China fought India, sent volunteers to Korea, and tangled with the Soviet Union over their border, Isaias has fought Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Yemen to establish his bonafides as a regional power. Ambassador Li wryly commented that Isaias idolizes his relationship with China, perhaps because we are so far away. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The influence of Maoist China on Isaias should not be overdrawn, but it is there, perhaps most importantly as a philosophical lodestone for Eritreas isolated and mercurial dictator. Despite Chinas evolution beyond Maoist politics and economics, Isaias remains fond of the PRC. Today China provides about $12m of no questions asked assistance, is a source of easy-term military purchases, has invested in Eritreas promising mining sector, and provides political top-cover in multilateral fora. While Chinese today allow that Mao was 70 percent correct, Isaias seems to have adopted many of his policies from the other 30 percent. End Comment. McMULLEN _____________________________________________ ____________________
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:56:29 +0000
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