MEDIA REACTION -- AL-HOUTHI CLASHES, DRAFT PRESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 003438

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/PD, NEA/RA, DS/OP/NEA AND
S/CT
CENTCOM FOR POLAD
NEA/PPD FOR AFERNANDEZ
THE WHITE HOUSE PASS TO NSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KMPI PGOV PHUM PREL YM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -- AL-HOUTHI CLASHES, DRAFT PRESS
LAW, JMP REFORM INITIATIVE, ETC.

Following paragraphs cover November 30-December 6


1. HOSTILITIES RESUME IN SA'ADA: On November 30, all major
opposition and independent outlets gave prominent coverage
to the resumption of clashes between ROYG security forces
and followers of the Al-Houthi rebel movement in the
northern Sa'ada governorate. Casualty estimates on the
first day of fighting ranged widely: Al-Shura.net (Zaidi-
affiliated Popular Forces Union outlet) reported two rebels
killed and four policemen injured; Al-Wahdawi.net (Nasserite
Party site) reported three policemen killed; Al-Wasat
(liberal privately-owned weekly; circulation: 5,000)
reported eight policemen killed; and Akhbar Al-Yawm
(independent daily, often sensationalist; circulation:
3,000) reported five rebels killed. [Note: Foreign media
sources, in particular Agence France Presse, reported a
higher casualty figure, printing on November 30 that the
total casualties on the rebel side had reached sixteen. End
note.] Al-Wasat added that the clashes were primarily in
the Bait Zoqo area of Sa'ada.


2. On November 30, Al-Shura.net reported a threat by Yahya
Badruddin Al-Houthi, son of rebel cleric Badruddin Al-
Houthi, of attacks on foreign interests in Yemen to be
"waged by ROYG forces but blamed on the Al-Houthi." [Note:
Yahya Al-Houthi is a Member of Parliament and nominally a
member of the GPC. He is currently in Sweden. End note.]
Al-Shura also reported Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, another son of
Badruddin Al-Houthi, sent a message to President Saleh
complaining about the failure of ROYG security forces to
observe President Saleh's amnesty, issued during Ramadan,
for Al-Houthi followers.


3. On December 3, Al-Sahwa (Islah party weekly;
circulation: 25,000) reported security forces had
surrounded the Al-Houthi rebels in the Sahar area of Sa'ada,
and tallied the death toll at 18 as follows: ten policeman,
six rebels, and three civilians. On December 4, the quasi-
independent English language Yemen Observer weekly newspaper
(circulation: 5,000) placed the scene of many of the
clashes at Al-Khafji in Sa'ada. Also on December 4, Al-
Tagheer.net (private news site) reported Al-Houthi followers
were regrouping on the Ham Mountain in Al-Jawf governorate.


4. HUNT OIL: Al-Sahwa reported on December 4 that
production operations at Block 18 have come to a halt
following the transfer of control from Hunt Oil to the Safir
Exploration & Production Company.


5. PRESS LAW: Many outlets including the official Ministry
of Defense weekly 26 September newspaper (circulation:
40,000),Al-Sahwa, and the English-language Yemen Observer
noted the beginning of the Shura (consultative) Council
debate on the draft press law. On November 30,
NewsYemen.net (independent website) reported criticism of
the draft law by members of the Yemen Journalists'
Syndicate. The syndicate members complained that amendments
to the law have been "made in secret" and "without YJS
input." Al-Sahwa and Al-Tagheer.net reported on December 4
meetings with visiting MEPI representative Jacquelyn
Johnstone and PAO with YJS members and with other
journalists at the Political Development Forum on the
subject of press freedom.


6. WOMEN'S CONFERENCE -- QUOTA ANNOUNCED: On December 4,
Al-Sahwa reported PM Bajammal, speaking at the opening
session of a Sana'a conference on Arab women's rights,
publicly proposed a 15 percent quota for female political
representation. Al-Sahwa also noted DAS Gordon Gray's
speech, in which he stated the USG is to train female judges
from the region and has earmarked $27 million to improve
conditions for women in Iraq.


7. JMP REFORM INITIATIVE: On November 30, NewsYemen.net
and the daily government Al-Thawra (circulation: 40,000)
reported President Saleh "welcomed the recent Joint Meeting
Party reform initiative." That report stands out in
contrast to the heated objections from his ruling GPC party
and, in both the official and independent press, came in the
midst heated criticism of the GPC's reaction by opposition
outlets. On December 1, columnist Zaid Al-Shami wrote in Al-
Sahwa of the "hypocrisy of the GPC" in pressing the JMP to
generate a reform proposal only "to reject it" once
released. On the same day, opinion pieces in Al-Thawri
(Yemen Socialist Party weekly; circulation: 10,000),Al-
Wasat, Al-Usbu', and May 22 all criticized the GPC's
response to the JMP proposal.


8. Also on December 1, Iran's Arabic new channel, Al-Alam,
broadcast a program entitled "What Is The Truth?" focused on
the JMP reform initiative. The program featured YSP member
Ali Al-Sarari, journalist Abdulrazaq Farfur, Islah Party
leader Mohammad Qahtan, and writer Abdulkareem Al-Wishali.
Al-Sarari and Qahtan strongly supported the reform
initiative, pointing to deterioration in press freedoms,
difficult economic conditions, and rampant corruption as
indicators of the need for reform. Farfur, for his part,
exhorted the Yemeni opposition to take stock of the positive
reforms taken by the ROYG since 1995, and argued that
journalists often abuse press freedom to libel President
Saleh.


9. GENERAL WHITCOMB VISIT: Al-Thawra reported on November
30 General Charles Whitcomb of Central Command held a
meeting with Interior Minister Al-Alimi on security
cooperation. Also on November 30, 26 September reported
General Whitcomb met with Defense Minister Eleiwa on
counterterrorism.

KRAJESKI