Cable: 1975ADDIS03052_b

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CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 01 ADDIS 03052 141621Z 72 ACTION AF-06 INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-03 H-02 INR-07 L-02 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15 USIA-06 /063 W --------------------- 053550 R 141237Z MAR 75 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3645 INFO AMCONSUL ASMARA AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MOGADISCIO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY PARIS USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GERMANY C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 3052 E.O. 11652: GDS TAGS: PINS ET SUBJECT: ARREST OF GALLA INSURGENT LEADERS REFS: (A) ADDIS 2803; (B) ADDIS 2623; (C) ADDIS 2584 1. ETHIOPIAN MEDIA MARCH 13 AND 14 PROMINENTLY FEATURE ARREST OF BG TADESSE BIRU AND LT. COL. HAILU REGASSA WITH CLUTCH OF THEIR "ACCOMPLICES." MEN, TAKEN BY SECURITY FORCES "IN COOPER- ATION WITH THE PUBLIC", ARE ACCUSED OF OPPOSING "ETHIOPIAN POPULAR MOVEMENT" AND ATTEMPTING TO INCITE REBELLION. ACCORDING MEDIA, THEY ARE TO BE CHARGED BEFORE SPECIAL GENERAL COURT MARTIAL TODAY (MARCH 14). PRISONERS (PICTURES DISPLAYED ON TV AND IN PRESS. 2. MEDIA REPORT THAT REBELS WERE TAKEN IN VILLAGE OF CURO MAKO IN META ROBI DISTRICT, MENEGESHA, SHOA PROVINCE, "WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN HIDING FOR SOME TIME." ACCORDING GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, BG TADESSE AND LT. COL. HAILU ATTEMPTED INCITE REBELLION ON CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ADDIS 03052 141621Z "TRIBAL BASIS" TO COVER THEIR TRUE MOTIVES, WHICH SAID BE OPPOSITION TO LAND REFORM. DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OF META ROBI DISTRICT REPORTEDLY WAS KILLED DURING SHOOTOUT PRECEDING ARREST THESE MEN. 3. COMMENT: DEPARTMENT WILL RECALL THAT TADESSE BIRU IS STORIED GALLA LEADER LONG KEPT BY EX-EMPEROR IN CUSTODY/HOUSE ARREST FOR HIS REBELLIOUS PAST. LT. COL. HAILU IS HIGHLY EDUCATED SOLDIER WHO HAD BEEN ASSIGNED AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF SPECIAL GENERAL COURT MARTIAL NOW TRYING FORMER OFFICIALS. PRESS EXPLAINS HIS DISSIDENCE BY SAYING HE WAS LARGE LANDOWNER. PRESS ALSO CHARGES HAILU WITH THEFT OF ETH$80,000 RAISED FOR DROUGHT RELIEF, TOGETHER WITH MAJ. ABEBE GEBRE MARIAM, WHO REMAINS AT LARGE. CAPTURE OF GEN. TADESSE IS SHARP SETBACK TO GALLA DISSIDENTS, AS OTHER POTENTIAL GALLA LEADERS OF HIS STATURE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. CONVERSELY, IT IS QUITE A FEATHER IN EPMG'S CAP. WE NOTE THAT EPMG CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN APPEAL ITS LAND REFORM AMONG GALLAS TO ATTEMPT USE BG TADESSE BIRU'S PUTATIVE OPPOSITION TO IT AGAINST HIM. WYMAN CONFIDENTIAL NNN

--- Capture Date: 01 JAN 1994 Channel Indicators: n/a Current Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Concepts: PARAMILITARY FORCES, ARRESTS Control Number: n/a Copy: SINGLE Draft Date: 14 MAR 1975 Decaption Date: 01 JAN 1960 Decaption Note: n/a Disposition Action: RELEASED Disposition Approved on Date: n/a Disposition Authority: blochd0 Disposition Case Number: n/a Disposition Comment: 25 YEAR REVIEW Disposition Date: 28 MAY 2004 Disposition Event: n/a Disposition History: n/a Disposition Reason: n/a Disposition Remarks: n/a Document Number: 1975ADDIS03052 Document Source: CORE Document Unique ID: '00' Drafter: n/a Enclosure: n/a Executive Order: GS Errors: N/A Film Number: D750090-0885 From: ADDIS ABABA Handling Restrictions: n/a Image Path: n/a ISecure: '1' Legacy Key: link1975/newtext/t19750352/aaaabucz.tel Line Count: '80' Locator: TEXT ON-LINE, ON MICROFILM Office: ACTION AF Original Classification: CONFIDENTIAL Original Handling Restrictions: n/a Original Previous Classification: n/a Original Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a Page Count: '2' Previous Channel Indicators: n/a Previous Classification: CONFIDENTIAL Previous Handling Restrictions: n/a Reference: 75 ADDIS 2803, 75 ADDIS 2623, 75 ADDIS 2584 Review Action: RELEASED, APPROVED Review Authority: blochd0 Review Comment: n/a Review Content Flags: n/a Review Date: 23 JUN 2005 Review Event: n/a Review Exemptions: n/a Review History: ! 'RELEASED <20 MAY 2003 by ElyME>; APPROVED <07 OCT 2003 by buchantr>; WITHDRAWN <21 Jun 2005 by BoyleJA, PRIVACY>; RELEASED <23 JUN 2005 by coburnhl>; APPROVED <23 JUN 2005 by blochd0>' Review Markings: ! 'n/a Margaret P. Grafeld US Department of State EO Systematic Review 05 JUL 2006 ' Review Media Identifier: n/a Review Referrals: n/a Review Release Date: n/a Review Release Event: n/a Review Transfer Date: n/a Review Withdrawn Fields: n/a Secure: OPEN Status: NATIVE Subject: ARREST OF GALLA INSURGENT LEADERS TAGS: PINS, ET, (BIRU, TADESSE) To: STATE Type: TE Markings: ! 'Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 05 JUL 2006 Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 05 JUL 2006'

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