Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1701
2003-03-20 17:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

TF1ZO1: AMMAN SITREP 3 (3/20 2000 LOCAL)

Tags:  AEMR AMGT CASC CVIS IZ JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001701 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2003
TAGS: AEMR AMGT CASC CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: TF1ZO1: AMMAN SITREP 3 (3/20 2000 LOCAL)

REF: FBIS GMP20030320000185

CLASSIFIED BY:AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS 1.5(B,D)

----------------
General Overview
----------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001701

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/20/2003
TAGS: AEMR AMGT CASC CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: TF1ZO1: AMMAN SITREP 3 (3/20 2000 LOCAL)

REF: FBIS GMP20030320000185

CLASSIFIED BY:AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS 1.5(B,D)

--------------
General Overview
--------------


1. (C) As of 2000 local time (1800 GMT) the situation in
Jordan remains calm. A steady rain throughout the day has
kept many people off the streets. A demonstration not
sanctioned by the GOJ (numbering in the low hundreds) has
begun at the Professional Associations Complex in the
Shmeisani area of Amman and is continuing at this time.
According to an Embassy contact and a media report (which the
PSD has not confirmed),there were some scuffles between the
protesters and GOJ security during the course of the protest.


2. (C) The Director of the GOJ's Karameh crossing with Iraq
told the official Petra News Service that the flow of
travelers from Iraq has been "within normal rates," and
totaled about 4,200 for the day, mostly Jordanians and
individuals from other Arab countries (ref). UNHCR reports
that as of 1600 (local),350 third country nationals (TCNs)
had crossed into Jordan from Iraq. The MFA believes a
Jordanian taxi driver, Ahmad Walid Ragheb, was killed in
Western Iraq. Oil tanker truck traffic appears to be slowing
significantly. During a 2 1/2 hour period 3/20, a DATT
officer sighted only 21 trucks crossing the border, 1/3 to
1/2 of the rate on a normal day. The GOJ has set up
approximately 15 checkpoints on the road from Azraq to the
border, and declared the Eastern Zone within the Ruweished
District a closed zone. No access into the region will be
allowed without a permit from the Crisis Management Center of
the Interior Ministry.

--------------
Consular Issues
--------------


3. (C) As of 2000, we have not received any reports of Amcits
crossing into Jordan from Iraq. GOJ border officials have
told UNHCR officials at the border that Amcits with proper
identification would be allowed to travel directly to Amman.

--------------
GOJ Actions/Statements
--------------


3. (C) King Abdullah chaired a meeting of the State Security
Council at the General Intelligence Directorate (GID)
Headquarters during the afternoon. According to the official
Petra News Service, the King told the council "what worries
us most is the suffering of the Iraqis and the catastrophic
situation they are passing through . . . we will not spare
any effort to shoulder our humanitarian duties towards the
Iraqi people with a view to ease their suffering and overcome
the effects of war." PM Abul Ragheb affirmed that the GOJ
will enforce the law and will not allow anyone to violate it.

--------------
Security
--------------


4. (C) Cooperation with all GOJ security agencies continues
to be excellent. Additional security measures around the
Embassy remain in place.

--------------
Refugee/Humanitarian Issues
--------------


5. (U) UNHCR Senior Logistics Officer Douglas Osmond reports
that 350 TCNs (mostly Sudanese and a few Egyptians) have been
screened, identified, placed on buses with police escorts and
taken directly to the IOM/JRCS transit camp in Ruweished. No
Iraqi asylum seekers have thus far sought to enter Jordan.
Of the 34 TCNS (again mostly Sudanese) that were detained at
the border during the course of the day due to inadequate
documentation, 15 were later cleared for entry into Jordan
(to the Ruweished TCN transit camp) and 19 are still under
review. UNHCR has set up three tents at the border for these
individuals and IOM is providing them with food and water.
UNHCR also reports that approximately 100 meters beyond the
last GOJ border post (and still within no-man's land),the
GOJ has leveled off an area that could be used for a
campsite. The JRCS has erected 10 tents there and is putting
in latrines and a water supply. As of this report, UNHCR did
not know the purpose for this new campsite. UNHCR has been
very satisfied with its degree of access at the border.

--------------
Press
--------------


6. (C) IO attended opening of UK government's press
information center at an Amman hotel. FCO briefer and UK
Ambassador provided official statements and some background
commentary to assembled international press. Separately, the
UN opened a briefing press briefing center, which intends
daily briefings for international press on regional UN
activities. The majority of international press (including
representatives of all major US TV and print media) resident
in Jordan have relocated from Amman to Ruweished near the
Iraqi border. The GOJ has allowed journalists to operate
there and to cover humanitarian and refugee issues at the
Iraq/Jordan border. The interest of the great majority of
these journalists remains, however, gaining access to Iraq at
such a time that it becomes safe to do so.
GNEHM