IS A KHAIWANI RELEASE IMPENDING?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 002972

SIPDIS

MEPI PLEASE PASS TO HANS WECHSEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KMPI YM DEMOCRATIC REFORM
SUBJECT: IS A KHAIWANI RELEASE IMPENDING?

REF: A. SANAA 02498

B. SANAA 02863

C. SANAA 02790

Classified By: Ambassador Thomas Krajeski for reasons 1.4 (b. and d.)


1. (C) Summary. In separate discussions on 11/21 with a
member of the as-Shura Council and a close Presidential
advisor, Ambassador was told "in strictest confidence" that
Saleh has decided to release imprisoned As-Shura opposition
newspaper editor-in-chief, Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani "very
soon." End Summary.

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Is a release in the offing?
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2. (C) On 11/21 a Shura Council member and an advisor to
President Saleh told Ambassador that although the conviction
of Khaiwani was legal, Saleh intends to release him due to
negative international attention and fear that "Yemen's
reputation and Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) grade would
suffer." Khaiwani has been imprisoned since 9/25 when he was
convicted for several violations of the Yemeni Press Law
including, "supporting al-Houthi in his rebellion,"
"publishing reports damaging to the public interests," and
"public humiliation of the President" (ref A). Both
interlocutors expressed concern over the harm that Khaiwani's
case was causing, noting the possible negative effect on
Yemen's MCA scorecard. They pointed out that Freedom
House,s condemnation of the arrest and detention of Khaiwani
was particularly alarming to the ROYG.

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The straw that broke the camel,s back
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3. (C) The advisor informed Ambassador that the
editor-in-chief was arrested because of a specific comment in
one of his newspaper's op-ed pieces that stated "any
president who arises from the common people has no
legitimacy." Interlocutors furthered that Khaiwani's
"royalist, Hashimite leanings" had been tolerated up to that
point, but that Saleh considered the "no legitimacy" comment
as going too far. (Note: Although post has closely followed
articles in Khaiwni's paper, we are unable to find this
particular quote in print. End note).


4. (C) Ambassador informed interlocutors that the USG was
increasingly concerned about reports of mistreatment and
beatings of Khaiwani in prison, (ref B) and that speaking out
publicly would have to be the next step (ref C). Both noted
that Khaiwani would not be exonerated or pardoned but
released on parole.

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MOI promises to ease Khaiwani,s condition
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5. (C) Minister of Interior al-Alimi told Journalists at an
iftar dinner on 11/09 that he would follow up on the case,
and would assure that Khaiwani,s conditions of incarceration
would be eased. Nevertheless, two female journalists who
disguised themselves as relatives in order to visit him in
prison, reported, after Alimi's promise, that Khaiwani,s
condition continues to deteriorate and that he is in pain
from his last beating (ref B). (Note: There is a current ban
on journalists visiting Khaiwani. End note).

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Comment
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6. (C) It is unclear whether the actual comment referred to
by these two closely connected officials was indeed the red
line that caused Saleh to call for Khaiwani,s arrest; it was
not cited in the numerous charges against him (ref A). His
arrest and continued imprisonment demonstrates that, despite
Saleh's promises earlier this year to end imprisonment of
journalists, the President has no intention to cease using
the justice system against those whom he feels are attacking
him. On the positive side, interlocutors expressed concern
about MCA funding in particular, indicating that the program
does have the ability to affect the thinking of decision
makers. End Comment.
KRAJESKI