GOJ-PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS DISPUTE STILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001353

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ELAB KMPI JO
SUBJECT: GOJ-PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS DISPUTE STILL
SIMMERING

REF: A. AMMAN 709

B. AMMAN 571

Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Summary: The professional associations continue
to challenge the government's ban on its "political
activity" (refs). The like-minded opposition political
parties have now taken up the cause, calling for more
public freedoms during a sit-in in front of the Parliament
building on February 13. Meanwhile, the GOJ banned a
planned meeting of the Engineers' Association on February
14, and the Amman governor issued another memorandum to the
Associations' leadership reiterating the government's
position. Minister of Interior Samir Habashneh will appear
before Parliament on February 20 to answer questions about
the GOJ's handling of the situation. Arab unionists in
Cairo called on King Abdullah to end the conflict. End
Summary.


2. (U) The government's clash with the professional
associations has continued on a slow boil. Like-minded
opposition political parties have rallied around the
associations, organizing a sit-in in front of the
Parliament building on February 13 under the slogan
"defending public freedoms." The governor of Amman granted
permission for the event, which as reported in the local
media was attended by around 300 individuals. The
protesters ended the gathering 20 minutes early because,
according to statements by organizers quoted in the press,
"unknown persons penetrated the gathering and tried to
damage the (rally)." They accused the "infiltrators" of
trying to fight with protesters and attempting to seize
their banners. Afterwards, the Coordinating Committee of
the opposition political parties publicly accused the
Ministry of Interior of trying to sabotage a legal sit-in.
Spokesman for the Committee Dr. Sa'id Theyab said that they
had decided to send a memo to King Abdullah emphasizing the
deterioration of public freedoms under the current
government.


3. (U) The government is standing firm. The Amman
governor on February 13 sent a memo to the associations
reiterating the GOJ's demand that they commit themselves to
professional concerns only and avoid "political activity."
He also banned a planned seminar on February 14 by the
Jordan Engineers' Association (JEA) to discuss members'
"professional rights" and "national concerns." According
to JEA president Wa'el al-Saqqa: "A large number of police
officers surrounded the Professional Associations Complex
and prevented anyone from entering."


4. (U) Following a request from Islamic Action Front MP
Ali Abu Sukkar, Interior Minister Samir Habashneh will
appear before Parliament on February 20 to answer questions
about the conflict with the professional associations,
including the GOJ's use of force to break up a rally on
January 26 that resulted in injuries. (Note: Article 96 of
the Jordanian constitution gives any MP the right to
request the appearance of any minister before Parliament to
address "public matters." End note.) GOJ spokesperson
Asma Khader had told reporters on January 31 that the GOJ
was investigating the allegations of police brutality: "Of
course, there was no government decision to attack anyone.
If such an attack did take place, those responsible will be
held accountable."


5. (U) Meanwhile, Arab unionists outside Jordan have
taken up the cause. The Union of the Arab Professional
Associations at the end of its meeting in Cairo on February
12 announced that it had sent a letter to King Abdullah
requesting him to intervene in the situation.


6. (C) Comment: Both sides appear to be holding their
ground, but the longer the conflict persists, the longer
the more the government stands to lose. A main goal of the
GOJ's crackdown was to contain the vehement anti-Israel and
anti-U.S. speech emanating from the professional
associations, particularly its anti-normalization activity
that targeted supposed supporters of Israel. The GOJ's
heavy-handed approach has, however, galvanized the (legal)
opposition political parties to rally round the
associations and has given fodder to the argument that the
government does not value public freedoms. The crackdown
will not end the anti-Israel and anti-U.S. messages, but
may only push the oppositionist parties (whose membership
tends to overlap with the professional associations) to
assume the lead on championing these causes.


7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE