YEMENI SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT'S INTERVIEW WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 001545

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER IZ YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: YEMENI SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT'S INTERVIEW WITH
AL-HAYAT


Classified By: Ambassador Edmund J. Hull, for Reasons 1.5 (b,d)


1. (U) Begin summary: A recent interview with Speaker of
Parliament Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar provides an
illustrative example typifying the views of this prominent
Yemeni political figure. Al-Ahmar is known for his
controversial ideas as demonstrated in a June 20 interview
with London-based daily Al-Hayat in which he criticized the
Arab response to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the
situation in Iraq, condemned the Sharm-al-Sheikh and Aqaba
summits and described the domestic political scene from his
vantage point as leader of Yemen's second largest party. See
biographic note in paragraph 8. End summary.

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Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
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2. (U) In a 6/20 interview with the London-based daily
Al-Hayat, Yemeni Speaker of Parliament Sheikh al-Ahmar
denounced "Arab pressures on the Palestinian groups to stop
the legitimate resistance against the Zionist occupation" and
criticized the Roadmap. He explained that Arab opposition to
the Palestinian issue is the result of "defeat, internal
fear, and the inability to say no to the occupation and
Zionist terrorism." Sheikh al-Ahmar condemned the
Sharm-al-Sheikh and Aqaba summits because "they turned the
resistance, martyrdom, and the jihad against Zionism into
terrorism." He asked "what dignity and value is left for the
Arabs if they abandon the legitimacy of the Palestinian
resistance? How can they confront Israel with all its
military capabilities and American support without the
resistance?" Al-Ahmar surmised that "martyrdom and the jihad
card is the only thing left to confront Israel. The Arabs
should defend all the Palestinian factions in order to
continue the free and legitimate resistance."

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Iraq
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3. (U) Sheikh al-Ahmar blamed Arab states for the situation
in Iraq saying that "had it not been for the green light from
some Arab and Muslim states, the U.S wouldn't have invaded
and occupied Iraq." Al-Ahmar believes "Arab states are
responsible for what is happening (in Iraq) after the fall of
Saddam Hussein's regime under the pretext of the existence of
weapons of mass destruction. The Americans have no excuse
anymore for slaughtering and annihilating the Iraqi people
and destroying the country. It is impermissible to remain
silent over the massacres, violation of honor, desecration of
land and holy site that is taking place now in Iraq."

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Domestic Issues
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4. (U) Discussing domestic issues for the first since the
April 27 parliamentary elections, al-Ahmar said that Yemen's
political situation is "better than that of the other Arab
countries despite the cracks and violation." Commenting on
President Saleh's recent decision to pardon 16 former ROYG
officials living in exile, he declared that "President Saleh
is known for his leniency and his care for all the sons of
Yemen." Al-Ahmar denied that he ever objected to or voiced
any reservations about the pardon, saying that he has always
supported "closing the pages of the past" for Yemen's
interest and stability. Sheikh al-Ahmar said that during the
campaign for the April 27 parliamentary elections "the Islah
alliance with the YSP and other opposition parties...under
the umbrella of the Joint Meeting Parties was a natural
phenomenon." However, he admitted that he was not one of
those who supported this experiment.


5. (U) Al-Ahmar disclosed a tension between GPC and Islah
"due to the violations, extortion, and pressure by the ruling
party against Islah during the elections," but stressed that
"this tension does not pose a danger to security and
stability in Yemen." He described it as a temporary
disagreement that coincided with the elections and will not
turn into ongoing confrontations. Continuing, he added that
had it not been for the Islah leadership's flexible and
patient policy the elections could have been a catastrophe.
Had the election been fair, which al-Ahmar asserted it was
not, he believes Islah would have won twice as many seats.
He added that YSP was expected to win the largest number of
seats, but "the GPC worked to turn everything in its favor."


6. (U) In the aftermath of the 4/27 elections, al-Ahmar
said that although Prime Minister Ba Jammal's government was
granted confidence by the majority of the ruling party MPs,
there were those who questioned the new program, but "were
afraid of being held accountable later if they blocked the
vote of confidence." Returning to the ROYG line, al-Ahmar
re-affirmed his condemnation of all acts of terrorism and
expressed his support for President Saleh's policies in
combating terrorism and promoting security and stability in
Yemen.

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Comment and Bio Note
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7. (C) Begin comment: The 70-year old Yemeni Speaker of
Parliament is also the foremost sheikh of the Hashid tribe
and chairman of Islah (an Islamist-oriented reform party and
the second largest political party in Yemen). His status as
tribal leader, business leader and Speaker of Parliament
allows al-Ahmar a prominent platform. Sheikh al-Ahmar is
well-known for his anti-U.S. rhetoric and, more recently, his
opposition to the inclusion of female candidates in the 4/27
parliamentary elections. For him, the tribe and its
authority are above everything else. His comments to
Al-Hayat are consistent with his conservative ideals,
represent a broad spectrum of thought in Yemen and illustrate
areas of continued tension between his followers and more
moderate elements in Yemen. End comment.


8. (U) Begin bio note: Sheikh al-Ahmar was born in the
Amran governorate in 1933. He was active in the national
struggle against Imamite rule and was imprisoned in 1959 by
the late Imam Ahmed. (Imam Ahmed also executed al-Ahmar's
father and brother.) Al-Ahmar was released from prison after
the 1962 revolution against the Imam, and led the Hashid
tribes in defense of the revolution and the republic. He was
appointed as a member of the Presidential Council, formed
after the 1962 revolution, and was Minister of Interior in
three consecutive cabinets. In 1969, al-Ahmar was elected
Chairman of the National Council that was tasked with
drafting the constitution, and in 1972 he was elected
Chairman of the Shura Council. After unification and the
declaration of political pluralism, al-Ahmar called for the
formation of the Islah party. Al-Ahmar became the first
Speaker of Parliament in 1993, and was re-elected in 1997,
2000 and 2003. Four of his sons are members of the newly
elected parliament: two are Islahis, while the other two
represent GPC (the ruling party). End bio note.


HULL