UNDERGRADS FRET ABOUT JOBS AND DISCUSS TERROR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 002495

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RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2015
TAGS: KISL PGOV PTER SOCI
SUBJECT: UNDERGRADS FRET ABOUT JOBS AND DISCUSS TERROR
DURING YOUTH CHALLENGE

REF: JEDDAH 02181

Classified By: ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CAROL KALIN
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT. Conoff participated in an
outdoor "Youth Challenge" competition on July 21 sponsored by
the College of Business Administration (CBA) Youth Business
Club and "Yalla Ya Shabbab" (roughly "Let's Go Guys"),a
youth-oriented television program. On June 30, Conoff
visited Hada Mountain, located between Mecca and Taif, with a
group of CBA undergraduates who explored the mountain as part
of a youth club (Reftel). Accompanying a larger group of
undergraduate students from CBA and other Jeddah colleges on
July 21, Conoff observed students race up the base of the
mountain to complete the challenge. During the event,
students fretted about their job prospects in Saudi Arabia,
discussed the causes of terrorism, and advocated for greater
political freedom in the Kingdom. The students' comments
mirrored growing frustration with the employment picture in
Saudi Arabia often expressed by young men their age. Their
discussion of the causes of terrorism also highlights a rift
between the Hejaz region and Saudis from other parts of the
country, particularly the bedouin. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.

JEDDAH UNDERGRADS WORRY ABOUT GETTING A JOB AFTER GRADUATION


2. (C) Conoff accompanied a group of Jeddah undergraduates
on a "Youth Challenge" on July 21 sponsored by the CBA Youth
Business Club and the youth-oriented MBC television program
"Yalla Ya Shabbab." The young men raced up the base of Hada
Mountain encountering snakes, wild monkeys, and thunderstorms
in the hopes of receiving prizes for those who completed the
challenge in the shortest amount of time. The participants,
who were mostly between 18 and 24 years old, were largely
Saudi, though some were citizens of Syria, Yemen, and other
Arab countries. Almost all were born and raised in Saudi
Arabia. The organizers of the event hoped to instill
confidence and bolster the self-esteem of participants. A
CBA student advisor stated he hoped to promote moral values
through motivational speeches during the event. The student
advisor reminded students to take breaks throughout the day
at prayer times. Most of the students heeded his advice,
praying together on the bare ground even when a mosque was
not available.


3. (C) Throughout the day, the students expressed concerns
about their employment prospects after graduation. "I will
do anything. Give me anything--typing, secretary stuff-- to
keep me busy," said one student who wished to work in the
computer industry. "I don't know if I will get a job. The
situation here is very hard and if you are not from the right
family, it is hard to get a good job," another lamented.
One Palestinian student worried about "Saudization," the
SAG's attempts to bolster employment for Saudi citizens,
stating "all the jobs I like are only for Saudis. It doesn't
matter if you are born here."

STUDENTS BLAME BEDOUINS AND "AMERICAN AGENTS" FOR TERROR IN
KINGDOM


4. (C) The young men were anxious to share their viewpoints
on political issues with Conoff, with many focusing on
terrorism in Saudi Arabia. Several students blamed
"bedouins" for violence in the Kingdom. Indeed, the students
were vocal in exhibiting prejudice against the bedouin.
Several students used slurs they normally reserve for
homosexuals in discussing them. Others blamed the bedouin
for the country's problems and for discrimination against
residents of the Hejaz who trace their roots from outside the
Arabian Peninsula. "They think they are the original Saudis,
and they hate everybody else," one student said.
Generalizing, another student remarked, "Bedouins are stupid
people. They are not educated, but somehow they have learned
to make bombs." When Conoff mentioned that the bedouin are
reputed for their generosity and hospitality, the students
shook their heads. "I lived in the south (Asir Province) for
five years. The bedouin there are really bad, and they want
everyone else out of Saudi Arabia," one young man declared.
"Riyadh is also full of these stupid people," another added.


5. (C) One student stated that he had read online statements
that terrorists would not kill Muslims, and he criticized
them for nevertheless killing Saudi police officers and
Muslim LES during the December 6, 2004 attack on the
Consulate. "We never had these problems in our country
before. It all started with September 11. Sometimes we
think American agents are doing this to us to punish us for
Bin Laden," he said. His friend nodded in agreement.


6. (C) Another young man commented, "Sometimes, I wish I
could send a message to President Bush with all that is in my
heart." When told that he could send President Bush an
e-mail on the White House website, he replied, "They would
kill me here if I did that." Later the young man approached
Conoff and stated, "I need to tell you the one thing we hate
about our government is that they never let us speak our
mind. This is the message I want you to tell President
Bush."


7. (C) Another student criticized the lack of entertainment
venues for young men given that many amusement parks and
public venues attempt to restrict access to families and
prevent young men from entering. "If they don't give us
things to do, we will do bad things," he added.

UNDERGRADS EXPRESS HOPE FOR GREATER POLITICAL FREEDOM


8. (C) At the end of the day, the students ate dinner
together in a private home in the town of al-Hada, located at
the top of the mountain on the road to Taif. Sitting in a
circle, the participants discussed the lessons learned on the
challenge. They concluded the day by performing the evening
"isha" prayer together. On the drive back to Jeddah, one
group of students sang Arabic songs to the beat of rhythmic
clapping and a traditional Yemeni drum. They took breaks
from their singing to talk about the political situation in
Saudi Arabia. "This government will never listen to anyone
else. The Al Saud will never listen to us," the driver of
the car stated. "We want a government like in America, where
the government changes every four or five years," he said.
"Yes, this will make sure that the leader works for the
people because he will be scared he will lose his job,"
another student added.
KALIN