TFIZO1: ANOTHER WEEKEND OF PEACEFUL COUNTRYWIDE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002083 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2013 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM IZ JO SUBJECT: TFIZO1: ANOTHER WEEKEND OF PEACEFUL COUNTRYWIDE DEMONSTRATIONS IN JORDAN REF: A. AMMAN 1867 ¶B. AMMAN 1872 ¶C. AMMAN 1875 ¶D. AMMAN 1883 ¶E. AMMAN 1905 ¶F. AMMAN 1928 ¶G. AMMAN 2044 Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm. Reasons 1.5(B) and (D) -------------- --- Thousands demonstrate peacefully against Iraq war -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) Several demonstrations ranging in the hundreds to the low thousands again took place throughout Jordan after Friday prayers on April 4. Press reports said the continuation of images of the destruction and civilian Iraqi deaths on Jordanians' television screens motivates the demonstrators. Jordanian demonstrators again hoisted pictures of Saddam alongside Iraqi flags while chanting "Death to America", "Bush, what do you want from us?", "Why don't you take your dogs and leave the region?", "Down with Bush the liar!", "America get out! Iraq will remain Arab and free!". At the Wihdat Palestinian refugee camp, the perceived ineffectiveness of Arab leaders in preventing the war prompted some demonstrators to chant, "You sold Baghdad for a dollar!", "You sold Jerusalem for a dollar!". US, UK and Israeli flags were burned and paraded on the back of a donkey. -------------- Arab leaders share the blame -------------- ¶2. (C) While many blame the US and UK for the misery and destruction in Iraq, Abdul Majid Dandis, spokesperson for an opposition bloc that demonstrated in Amman pointed the finger at Arab countries that had facilitated the US led war by providing access to their military bases. Demonstrators also condemned the coalition for its "crusade" against the region and Arab leaders for not taking a firm stand against the invasion of Iraq. -------------- PM's Protest to US Ambassador Praised -------------- ¶3. (C) Prominent Jordanian figures praised the government's summoning of the US Ambassador to protest the US aggression in Iraq. (Ref Amman 2029 and Amman 2035) Such figures included Sa'd Hayil al-Surur, former speaker of the House of Representatives, Marwan Dudin, moderator of the foreign affairs committee in the Upper House and Dr. Mamduh al-Abbadi, a former health minister and prominent political figure. Surur praised the government for its strong anti-war stance and defended it against "those who practice one-upmanship against the Jordanian position that this position is ahead of all the Arab positions. Surur also said that the PM's action symbolized a "translation of the feelings of all Jordanians and the Jordanian homeland." Dudin concurred saying, "the protest of all Jordanians had to be conveyed to the US Administration at the highest possible level in order to enable the Jordanian position to have an impact. We hope that the Arab capitals that have a one-party rule would follow Jordan's example." Dudin further added, "although we are eager to maintain good relations with the world's superpower, this does not at all mean we cannot raise our voices denouncing the ugly inhuman actions that started from the first days of the invasion and which shocks the conscience of all Jordanians." -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) At a meeting PolOff attended with Jamal Rifai, a Jordanian columnist, Rifai said that he was worried of the war lasting more than a month. If this happens he fears the US military might lose its patience and start bombing indiscriminately killing hundreds of innocent Iraqi civilians. Were this to happen he fears Jordanians might be less inclined to conduct legal, peaceful rallies. ¶5. (C) Jordanians again demonstrated their support of the Iraqi people and anger at civilian casualties in a largely controlled, organized and non-violent way. The GOJ continues to work with rally organizers to ensure that Jordanians continue to let off steam according to the law. GNEHM