Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03SANAA2218
2003-09-06 08:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

PROMINENT EXILES RETURNING TO YEMEN

Tags:  PGOV YM DOMESTIC POLITICS 
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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 SANAA 002218 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2013
TAGS: PGOV YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: PROMINENT EXILES RETURNING TO YEMEN

Classified By: Charge D' Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.5 (
b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 002218

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2013
TAGS: PGOV YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: PROMINENT EXILES RETURNING TO YEMEN

Classified By: Charge D' Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.5 (
b) and (d)


1. (c) Summary: Prominent Yemeni exiles who left after the
1994 conflict continue to slowly return to Yemen, including
most recently Dr. Abdul-Aziz al-Dali, a former People's
Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) foreign minister. The
2002 Presidential pardon of 16 separatist Yemen Socialist
Party (YSP) leaders, however, has not resulted in the return
of any of the "list of 16," including the top leadership.
President Saleh publicly repeated his encouragement for
exiles to return home just after the April 2003 parliamentary
elections, supporting speculation that the measure is
intended to provide a counter-balance to tribal, Islamist and
military forces on the political landscape. It remains to be
seen how prominent a role returnees will play in Yemeni
politics. End Summary.

--------------
Background
--------------


2. (u) Following the foiled secession attempt during the 1994
war, hundreds of Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) military and
civilian leaders and their supporters fled Yemen to
neighboring Gulf States, Egypt, Syria and the United Kingdom.
The ROYG conducted trials in absentia and issued death
sentences to 16 senior leaders, led by former ROYG
vice-president and YSP secretary general Ali Salem al-Beedh,
who had fled to Oman.


3. (u) Since the May 2002 Presidential decree dropping
charges against separatist leaders of the "list of 16" and
pardoning them, a number of military and civilian leaders and
their families have returned to Yemen. While it seems that
no one from the list has yet come back, the pardon issued by
President Saleh has encouraged other prominent personalities
to return. The most prominent leader to return recently is
Dr. Abdul-Aziz al-Dali, member of the YSP Central Committee,
former PDRY Foreign Minister and post-1990 unity Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs. He is the highest-ranking YSP
official come back since newly-appointed Presidential Advisor
Salem Saleh last year (septel).

--------------
Will Any of the "16" Return?
--------------


4. (u) It appears that none of the prominent members of the
"list of 16" has returned to Yemen, although there are
unconfirmed rumors that perhaps one minor military official
has come back. Negotiations between President Saleh and some
of the most well-known members of the "16" for their return
are reportedly ongoing. In a statement to al-Sahwa-net, the
on-line newspaper of the Islah party, Dr. al-Dali mentioned
that several high-level exiles were considering returning to
Yemen soon, including:

-- Haidar Abu-Baker al-Attas, among the "16" and former
Prime Minister of the ROYG and former PDRY President of the
Supreme People's Council

-- Yassin Saeed Noman, former Speaker of the first
post-unity Parliament and former PDRY Prime Minister (Note:
He is popular and widely regarded by all political forces.
End Note)

-- Mohamed Saeed Abdullah Muhsen, former Minister of what is
now called the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and
former PDRY Minister of State Security.

--------------
Comment: What's in it for Saleh?
--------------


5. (c) Before the 1994 conflict, the YSP was seen as a
counter-balancing force to the tribal, Islamist and military
influences in Yemen. Many observers view the returnee
initiative as an attempt to keep influential forces balanced
against each other in a political scene where maintaining a
power equilibrium is one of President Saleh's primary
objectives (along with following the adage keep your friends
close but your enemies closer). Some believe Saleh wants to
ensure the Republic of Yemen can never be split again into
north and south by keeping close tabs on the PDRY's former
leaders. His recent appointment of former YSP Assistant
Secretary General Salem Saleh, a 2002 returnee, as one of his

SIPDIS
advisors supports these views (septel). Saleh's repetition
of his call to the so-called "list of 16" soon after the
April 2003 elections was probably also fueled by such
concerns. Despite the overwhelming win by the ruling party
majority in the election, the opposition Islamist and tribal
Islah party made significant gains in Sanaa, including in the
President's constituency. Some observers also believe that
the ROYG may be under pressure from the countries harboring
the exiles to allow returns, because many of these countries
provide financial support to the exiles. End Comment.
MISENHEIMER