THOUSANDS OF JORDANIANS ATTEND PEACEFUL ANTI-WAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000745 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2013 TAGS: PREL PHUM JO SUBJECT: THOUSANDS OF JORDANIANS ATTEND PEACEFUL ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS: 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶1. (SBU) On February 1, several thousand demonstrators participated in a short anti-war march through the Shmeisani district of Amman. The demonstration, organized by the Opposition Parties Higher Coordination Committee, was approved by the government and proceeded amidst a large and visible police presence. Press estimates of crowd size range from 3,000 to 10,000 (with embassy contacts reporting 3,000 to be the more accurate estimate). The demonstration was the largest since May 2002. There were no reports of arrests or violence. ¶2. (SBU) The demonstrators hoisted pictures of King Abdullah, Yasser ARAFAT and Saddam Hussein, chanted anti-war slogans and listened to anti-Israeli and anti-US speeches. Various media reports showed placards of Saddam Hussein hoisting an AK-47 or puffing on a large cigar, alongside signs which read "no to attacking Iraq." Islamic Action Front Secretary General Hamzeh Mansour addressed the crowd, engaging in explicitly anti-American rhetoric: "Our message to the American administration and the Zionist enemy is that your war will not only be with Palestine and Iraq, but the entire (Arab) nation." ¶3. (C) COMMENT. The march and rally were fully choreographed in advance between the GOJ and the rally sponsors. While the rhetoric was sometimes heated (including calls for Iraq to strike Tel Aviv),the protest remained orderly and peaceful, and provided an opportunity for opponents of war to vent some steam. While permitting some expressions of public dissatisfaction, the GOJ will likely continue to restrict permits for protests and carefully regulate those it does allow to go forward. GNEHM