TFIZ01:SANAA FSNS: ANXIETY AND HINTS OF BACKLASH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000607

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2013
TAGS: PGOV YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: TFIZ01:SANAA FSNS: ANXIETY AND HINTS OF BACKLASH

REF: SANAA 521

Classified By: Classified by DCM Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.5 b
. and d.


1. (C) Summary: Sanaa FSNs report heightened worry from
friends and relatives about their working at U.S. Embassy.
Several expressed concern that they may unwittingly be the
means to an attack on US personnel or property, and some feel
that they themselves may become targets because of their
association with the U.S. Mission. The Ambassador and DCM
held a meeting with all the FSNs, and several section chiefs
have met with their FSNs this week to take the pulse on the
community, which provides a lens with which to view
unofficial Yemeni reaction to current events. End Summary.


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Connection with U.S. Mission Questioned
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2. (C) Several FSNs reported that their spouses, children,
extended family and friends had expressed heightened concern
about their working for the American Embassy and coming to
work this week. They were particularly worried about
Thursday, March 27th, the first day of the weekend after the
March 21st violent demonstration. Many thought that
demonstrations could begin that afternoon and several
supervisors were approached concerning Embassy closure that
day. (Note: Embassy Sanaa did move to StandFast on March 27
because of a government sponsored demonstration which was
peaceful and uneventful. No demonstrations were held on March

28. End Note.) Other FSNs told us that they do not express
their political views among friends and family, and in some
cases try not to speak of their association with the Embassy.
In one case, a third country FSN who may have been mistaken
for an American had rocks thrown at her by children on the
way to the Embassy.

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Fears of Violence Increasing
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3. (C) One FSN reported going to "Al-Aql" mosque on Friday,
March 21 and said that he would not have been surprised if
worshipers had committed violence had the Imam called on them
specifically to do so. He said people were very upset, and
the Imam had compared US actions to the Mongols sacking
Baghdad. Another FSN in a different section reported that he
felt that the average person may be increasingly inclined
towards violence. He added that the anger is still there, it
is just not being expressed. FSNs also reported feeling more
vulnerable in their commutes to and from the Embassy, fearing
that they may be watched and could be targeted for their
association with post.

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Work Relationships
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4. (C) Some working relationships with ROYG officials and
other Yemeni contacts, according to several FSNs in different
sections, have broken down. Requests for information have
been put off, or delayed, and some are feeling some backlash.
Pol/Econ FSNs requested that we hold off on making new
appointments right now due to political sensitivities.
However, one of the development FSNs reported that this
contacts at the Ministry of Health actively encouraged U.S.
development activities to proceed at full speed in order to
complete projects already underway.


5. (C) Supervisors have been extremely impressed with our
FSN's sense of loyalty and committment to the mission. Post
affirms that while some of the external working relationships
may have cooled, we have not seen any such reaction from our
FSN employees. FSNs have been working at home during
temporary Embassy closures, worked weekends to feed staff
quartered in the Embassy, and provided valuable information
while security procedures have curtailed much outside
activity for the American community.

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Reaction to Increased Security Measures for FSNS
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6. (C) The Ambassador met with FSNs on March 25 to discuss
new security concerns and to gauge public reaction to the war
in Iraq. The Ambassador listened to all of their concerns
and assured our FSNs that their concerns were being addressed
and the FSNs were an integral part of the Mission team. New
security procedures (Ref cable) involve increased screening
for FSNs entering the building and moving FSN parking outside
of the Embassy compound. One FSN said, "I don't care if they
check me seven or eight times, security is for everyone." On
March 26, Ambassador walked the Embassy perimeter with RSO,
FSN committee representatives and Central Security
Organization (CSO) on-site commander. A useful security
exercise, it also served as a morale booster for our FSNs who
work inside the Embassy, our Local Guard Force (LGF) and the
CSO soldiers assigned to protect us.


7. (C) Comment: With heightened security procedures for
American personnel limiting our outside contacts, post has
become more reliant upon the information provided by our
FSNs. This summary of their experiences provides a glimpse
into the mood of Sanaa. End Comment.
HULL