Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN6154
2002-10-22 12:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

HUMAN RIGHTS: STATUS OF JSCR; MB DEMONSTRATION

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM JO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006154 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM JO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: STATUS OF JSCR; MB DEMONSTRATION
TACTICS

REF: A. AMMAN 5838


B. AMMAN 5576

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION GREGORY L. BERRY. REASONS: 1.5
(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006154

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM JO
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: STATUS OF JSCR; MB DEMONSTRATION
TACTICS

REF: A. AMMAN 5838


B. AMMAN 5576

Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION GREGORY L. BERRY. REASONS: 1.5
(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY The President of the Jordanian Society for
Citizens' Rights (JSCR) told us October 14 that despite the
recent reports of a GOJ "walkback" from its threat to close
the JSCR (reftel A),he remains concerned that the JSCR will
be rendered ineffective by a rumored new GOJ-appointed board
of directors. In addition, he reported that the MB is
planning to organize anti-USG demonstrations outside of Amman
in areas where tribal influence is high in order to obviate a
potentially harsh GOJ response. END SUMMARY.

--------------
THE FATE OF THE JSCR
--------------


2. (C) JSCR President Fawzi Samhoury told PolOff October 14
that, although the GOJ now states that the JSCR can remain
open if it complies with the law, he is still worried about
the final outcome of GOJ action. Samhoury said there are
rumors that the JSCR will have to accept a new board
appointed by the GOJ, and is worried that such a move would
emasculate the JSCR. "If they take away the independence of
my society, I will not participate in it anymore," he said.
Hinting that GOJ scrutiny of the JSCR was in retaliation for
his reporting on human rights, Samhoury said he recently met
with Dr. Khaled Tahayneh of the Foreign Ministry, who told
him that the GOJ is in particular upset that the USG's Human
Rights Report for 2001 contained information about
Palestinian-Jordanians who have lost their passports due to
implementation of disengagement laws. "They know that I am
your source for this information," he said.

--------------
MB ORGANIZING DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE AMMAN
--------------


3. (C) Samhoury reported that the MB is planning to organize
anti-USG demonstrations outside of Amman, "where there are
fewer Palestinians and the tribal leaders have greater
control." He said that the MB believes security forces will
be less likely to use excessive force against demonstrators
in tribal-controlled locations and thus people will be less
inhibited from demonstrating. Samhoury reported that the
hawkish Ahmed Kawfahi of the MB gave a speech last Friday at
the local mosque in Tafileh in an attempt to organize a
future demonstration there. When a local Ministry of
Religious Affairs-appointed Imam objected, Kawfahi physically
pushed him aside. Samhoury said that the MB plans to hold
several demonstrations in small cities such as Tafileh, but
his sources had no further specifics.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) This was our first meeting with Samhoury since the
GOJ signaled that it may not, after all, dissolve the JSCR.
Samhoury is still patient, but is worried about the future of
the JSCR and the potential for it to be emasculated by a
rumored GOJ-appointed board of directors. We have not heard
any indications from other sources that the GOJ is
considering such a move, but will closely monitor the
situation.
GNEHM