Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1872
2003-03-28 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

TFIZO1: AMMAN SITREP 17 (3/28 1900 LOCAL)

Tags:  AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC CVIS EFIN ETRD IZ JO 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001872 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2013
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC CVIS EFIN ETRD IZ JO
SUBJECT: TFIZO1: AMMAN SITREP 17 (3/28 1900 LOCAL)

REF: FBIS GMP20030328000107

Classified By: Acting DCM Doug Silliman. Reason 1.5 (b,d).

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001872

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2013
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC CVIS EFIN ETRD IZ JO
SUBJECT: TFIZO1: AMMAN SITREP 17 (3/28 1900 LOCAL)

REF: FBIS GMP20030328000107

Classified By: Acting DCM Doug Silliman. Reason 1.5 (b,d).

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


1. (C) Embassy Amman went off standfast at 1800 local after
a mostly quiet day (see below). The movement of American
staff remains restricted. The Embassy will remain closed
March 29 for the regular Jordanian weekend.

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


2. (U) No new issues.

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


3. (U) No new issues.

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


4. (C) Demonstrations were less extensive than anticipated
in Amman March 28. Approximately 3,000 demonstrators marched
downtown following Friday prayers, a lower turnout than
demonstrations a week ago. GHQ confided to our military that
they were surprised (and pleasantly so) at the low turnout
throughout the city. PSD notes the demonstrations were
largely peaceful, though there was a report of some vandalism
to a bus, and police reportedly chased and detained several
demonstrators near the Kaludi mosque for chanting
anti-government slogans. Approximately 400-500 rock throwing
protesters clashed with police in the southern city of Ma'an,
but police report that the situation is now calm.

--------------
Economic and Trade Developments
--------------


5. (U) No new issues.

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


6. (SBU) The Jordan-Iraq border remains open and staffed on
the Iraqi side by Iraqi government officials. IOM reports 17
TCN's (9 Egyptians and 8 Somalis) arrived overnight March
27-28. The total transit camp population hovers around 170.
IOM plans to repatriate 20-30 TCN's March 28 if flights are
available.


7. (SBU) Due to continued light population movements, IOM
plans to downsize its operations March 28, reducing the
number of buses at the border to five and pulling its
expatriate staff out of Aqaba. IOM said it could quickly
beef up operations if required.


8. (SBU) Recent TCN arrivals report the road from Baghdad
to the border remains clear. One bridge is reportedly out
near H1. The current rumor among Baghdad's TCN community is
that it is safer to travel at night. Consequently, most new
arrivals appear at the border in the early morning hours.


9. (SBU) Medical officials report three cases of TB in the
transit camp. The GOJ, WHO, UNHCR, IOM and health care NGO's
in Ruweished are meeting March 28 to develop a management
plan for the cases. WHO advises that the infected people
should not travel until they have "several clean slides," a
process that could take up to two months. WHO is also
concerned about 10 reported diarrhea cases in the camp, which
it attributes to poor camp layout and management by JRCS.


10. (SBU) UNHCR reports that a seemingly destitute
Palestinian family (elderly man with emphysema, two women,
and two children) who arrived in no-man's land March 27
decided early on March 28 to return to Iraq. UNHCR is "very
concerned" that the family might have been pressured to
return.

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


11. (SBU) With regard to reports of American and Western
journalists who have "disappeared" from Baghdad in recent
days (see paras 8-10 of Amman 1869),a local "fixer" working
for Newsday in Jordan told the Embassy March 28 that she has
raised the case of the missing journalists with the Iraqi
Press Attache in Amman, who has "promised to look into it".
The "fixer" notes that it is possible the bus scheduled to
deport the journalists to the border on Tuesday may have been
delayed by heavy duststorms in the region.

GNEHM