CDA VISITS ADEN ON THE EVE OF THE GPC CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 003532

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KMPI KPAO CASC YM DEMOCRATIC REFORM
SUBJECT: CDA VISITS ADEN ON THE EVE OF THE GPC CONFERENCE

REF: A. SANAA 2986

B. SANAA 3185

Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Summary: On December 13-16, CDA visited an Aden
saturated with political activists and senior ROYG officials
in town for the seventh General People's Congress (GPC)
convention. Before attending the ruling party convention,
CDA participated in a local media conference on Arab-European
dialogue. CDA also visited the Yemeni Women's Union (YWU),
the opposition Joint Meeting Party (JMP) coalition, and
prominent attorney Sheikh Tariq Abdullah. In addition, CDA
held a Wardens meeting with area Amcits and toured a new
community college. Many participants in CDA's meetings
shared candid views on the challenges facing Aden and the
country while others asked for USG assistance. End Summary.

--------------
Media Conference: Arab-European Dialogue
--------------


2. (U) On December 13 and 14, CDA attended sessions of a
conference on the "Role of the Media in the Arab-European
Dialogue." Sponsored by the German embassy and the Friedrich
Ebert Stiftung Foundation, the conference also was attended
by Gunter Mulack, Germany's Commissioner for Dialogue with
the Islamic World. The participants, mostly democracy reform
activists and/or journalists, discussed stereotypes and
misunderstandings between the Arab world and the west. The
discussion in one session almost entirely dwelled on how
Western -- and particularly US -- foreign policy is one of
the primary causes of Arab disenchantment with the West.

--------------
Yemen Women's Union: We Need Help
--------------


3. (U) During a meeting at the Aden Branch of the Yemeni
Woman's Union (YWU) hosted by local council member and YWU
Chairwoman Fatima Muraisi, the discussion centered around
Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) programs (ref. A).
YWU members also updated CDA on their programs, including
legal support for released female prisoners, a health
awareness campaign, and improving female literacy.
Participants also repeatedly asked whether post or MEPI could
provide them with training on how to run an NGO collective so
that they can better lobby for women's enfranchisement.
Regarding the women's political representational quota,
participants observed that although the issue has been raised
in internal GPC meetings, no quota has been enacted into law.
Muraisi pointed out that of 22 local council seats held by
women in Yemen, 18 come from Aden. "There is hope," she
concluded, "but there needs to be more movement."

--------------
The Joint Meeting Party: Another Civil War?
--------------


4. (C) During a meeting with the Aden branch of the Joint
Meeting Party (JMP) opposition coalition, CDA challenged
representatives from Islah, the Yemen Socialist Party (YSP),
and the Nasserite Party to come up with two immediate policy
reforms they would implement if empowered. The attendees
generally avoided the challenge, opting instead to blast the
ruling GPC and northern forces for taking jobs from the south
and for preventing a democratic culture from prospering in
Yemen, particularly after the 1994 civil war. Ali Ba Hashwan
of the YSP pointed to the ROYG's hostile reaction to the
recently released "JMP Political Initiative" (septel). "We
are not dealing with a ruling party," added Ali Munassar,
head of the YSP's Aden branch, "we are dealing with an
absolute party." Mohammed Aqlan, head of Islah's Aden
branch, added that "the rulers keep listening to their own
voices." Echoing oft-heard warnings of a coming rematch of
the 1994 Civil War, Mohammed Bram, head of the Nasserite
Party's Aden branch, and others cautioned that the status quo
inevitably will engender "a reaction.8 Pressed again for
their alternative ideas, the representatives finally agreed
that the JMP would seek reform of the election process and
better dialogue among all political parties.

--------------
Aden Community College: Facing Serious Issues
--------------


5. (U) On December 15, at the Aden Community College (ACC),
CDA met with Dean Ja'afar Hussein Mone'em and several
faculty. Before leading a tour of the ACC facilities,
Mone'em updated CDA on the college's several new programs,
including majors in Business Administration, Computer
Sciences, and Automotive Technology. Mone'em also noted that
ACC is the first Yemeni institute of higher education to
offer a major in Hotel and Hospitality Management. "We are
facing some serious issues," pointed out a professor of
Computer Sciences. "Our breakers cannot even support the
electric current for all of our computers." Other faculty
pointed out that the college, which has 1000 students and 75
faculty, is thus far ill prepared to help its graduates find
jobs. "We need greater partnerships with American
educational institutions," added a Business faculty member.

--------------
Wardens' Meeting: Avain Flu
--------------


6. (U) On the morning of December 15, CDA held a Warden's
meeting with Aden Amcits. CDA updated them on steps to take
in case of an Avian Flu outbreak and pointed out how post
will help should the need arise. Amcits asked about various
USG development initiatives and thanked post for the recent
outreach.
--------------
Sheikh Tariq: The Last Colonial Adeni
--------------

7. (C) On December 15, CDA had lunch with Sheikh Tariq
Abdullah, one of a mere handful of Yemenis of Indian origin
who have remained in the country since the British departure
from Aden in 1967. Tariq, a well-known attorney, revealed in
conversation that he was tangentially involved with the Hunt
Block 18 controversy (ref. B). He commented that he had
warned MinOil Dr. Rashid Barabba' against abrogating Hunt
Oil's contract, but that he was told that persons in the ROYG
had "already made up their minds." Tariq predicted that the
ROYG would lose an arbitration challenge, but added that it
would not be easy for Hunt to attach Yemeni property after
such a judgment. "It will take years and years," he
predicted.

-------------- --------------
The GPC Seventh Party Conference: Five Hours Long
-------------- --------------


8. (U) Under the banner, "With Us March Towards Democracy,
Development and Administrative Decentralization," CDA
attended the opening of the GPC's seventh annual party
conference, at the end of which President Saleh received his
party's nomination to run for a third term. Most of the
five-hour ceremony was taken up by speeches from over 15
international delegations (including Syria, Sudan, Cuba,
China and Eritrea) paying tribute to Saleh and the GPC and
calling for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The
opening ceremony and party conference are addressed septels.


9. (U) Note: The GPC's Opening Ceremony and a December 14
meeting and CDA interview with Basha Bashrahil, International
News Editor of the independent Aden-based daily "Al-Ayyam,"
are covered in detail septels. End Note.
Khoury