HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP: LABWANI UPDATE; MALEH TRIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 006368

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SY HRCS
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP: LABWANI UPDATE; MALEH TRIAL
CONTINUES; OPPOSITION FIGURE FACES MILITARY CHARGES;
AUTHORITIES PREVENT ATASSI FORUM MEETING

REF: DAMASCUS 005866

Classified By: CDA Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b)/(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The SARG pressure on human rights
activists continues unabated, with authorities using
detention, legal cases and police intimidation as tools.
Kamal Labwani remains detained in Aadra prison, while the
presiding judge continues his investigation. The military
court trial of Haithem al-Maleh convened for a brief session
in early December and was adjourned until 2006. In the
meantime, fellow Damascus Declaration signatory and
opposition figure Hassan Abdul Azim was informed of security
charges against him and will appear in court later in
December. SARG authorities prevented the Atassi Forum from
meeting on December 4, for the fourth time in five months.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) LABWANI DETENTION ENTERS 4TH WEEK: Kamal Labwani
remains detained in a criminal section of Aadra Prison.
Labwani's family noted to Poloff and visiting NEA Senior
Advisor David Denehy that he has now "purchased" a bed in
prison by paying a fellow inmate 1000 Syrian pounds and feels
relatively comfortable in his surroundings. Prison officials
continue to deny him access to the prison library. Defense
lawyer Anwar al-Bunni told Poloff in a separate interview
that he has filed a number of motions for another hearing but
has yet to receive a trial date from the prosecuting lawyer.
"This case started with a phone call and will end with a
phone call", said Bunni, alluding to the political nature of
the charges, which he feels can only be resolved by the SARG
leadership's direct intervention in the case, as no evidence
against Labwani has been presented.


3. (C) MALEH CASE CONTINUES: Human rights lawyer Haithem
Maleh appeared in the Damascus Military Court on December 1.
Maleh, who is facing charges of slandering a variety of
government bodies (reftel),submitted a request for any
charges based on military law to be dropped. The presiding
judge has taken the motion under advisement; the next court
date is set for January 19. Maleh continues to hope to be
included in an expected presidential pardon for political
prisoners in commemoration of Eid al-Adha, which will take
place in mid-January. (NOTE: Maleh has not been detained and
continues with his human rights work)


4. (C) ANOTHER DAMASCUS DECLARATION SIGNATORY FACES LEGAL
TROUBLE: Opposition figure and activist Hassan Abdul Azim,
head of the Democratic Arab Socialist Union, spokesman for
the National Democratic Front, and Damascus Declaration
signatory, has been served with a summons to appear in
military court in mid-December. Human rights activists Bunni
and Rezan Zeituneh noted that the charges are in connection
with the August arrest of Hasan Zeino at a Hama bus station
while he was carrying copies of the National Democratic
Front,s newspaper. Zeino was released on bail on August 24
and awaits a final criminal court verdict on charges of
possession of publications of a prohibited organization.


5. (C) ATASSI FORUM PREVENTED FROM MEETING: Following a
month-long hiatus due to the Eid al-Fitr holiday, about 40
people were prevented from attending a meeting of the Atassi
Forum on December 4. Bunni, who observed the proceedings
from a safe distance, noted that police officers and cars had
sealed off the area around the building where the meeting was
to take place. Police officers conducted brief interviews
with persons attempting to near the building, conducted
pat-downs, seized papers and documents carried by the
would-be attendees, and noted the identification card numbers
of those questioned.


SECHE