Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SANAA3600
2005-12-28 12:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION -- VIOLENCE IN SAADA,

Tags:  KDEM KMPI PGOV PHUM PREL YM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

281208Z Dec 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 003600 

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 FOR NSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KMPI PGOV PHUM PREL YM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -- VIOLENCE IN SAADA,
ASSASSINATION SUSPECTS ON TRIAL, ETC.

REFTEL A: SANAA 3572
REFTEL B: SANAA 3548
REFTEL C: SANAA 3534
REFTEL D: SANAA 3532

Following paragraphs cover December 15-27:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 003600

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 FOR NSC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KMPI PGOV PHUM PREL YM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION -- VIOLENCE IN SAADA,
ASSASSINATION SUSPECTS ON TRIAL, ETC.

REFTEL A: SANAA 3572
REFTEL B: SANAA 3548
REFTEL C: SANAA 3534
REFTEL D: SANAA 3532

Following paragraphs cover December 15-27:


1. AL-HOUTHI: The eruption of new violence in the
Sa'ada region has been a primary topic of press
coverage in recent weeks. After two weeks of
relative quiet, RayNews.net (website of liberal
opposition Rabita Party) reported on December 21
that armed clashes once again broke out between
government and Al-Houthi forces. On December 24,
independent daily Al-Ayyam reported that clashes
erupted at Sa'ada's central prison between guards
and inmates (many detained during previous Al-
Houthi uprisings) protesting their detention
conditions. On December 26, Zaidi (Shi'a)
opposition weekly Al-Shura reported that seven
inmates were killed in the confrontations with the
prison guards, and another fifty injured. Also on
December 26, Al-Ayyam and Al-Shura reported on
renewed clashes, particularly in the Bani Moa'dad
area of Sa'ada, including an Al-Houthi ambush of a
security patrol that left four troops injured. On
December 27, after stray fire killed two civilian
women (including, according to NewsYemen.net, the
wife of the Mufti of Sa'ada),Al-Sahwa reported
that Sa'ada area sheikhs and government officials
convened a meeting to discuss how best to suppress
the renewed violence.


2. ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT TRIAL: Government,
opposition and independent outlets all have given
considerable coverage to the trial of two men
accused of attempting to assassinate Ambassador
Krajeski one year ago. On December 19, official
government daily Al-Thawra, independent daily Al-
Ayyam, and opposition Islah Party weekly Al-Sahwa
all reported that one of the defendants admitted
at trial to possessing a rifle and two hand
grenades at the time of the attack. On December
26, Al-Sahwa described angry exchanges between the
two defense lawyers when counsel for one defendant
moved for dismissal of the charges by reason of
mental defect and charged the other defendant with
exploiting his mental state. [Note: Media outlets

consistently have mischaracterized the
assassination attempt as targeting former
Ambassador Hull. End note.]


3. PRESS FREEDOM: Following on a new round of
press harassment incidents (covered in reftel B
and most recently including telephone threats by a
government official to the managing editor of
weekly newspaper Annas, reported on December 26 by
Al-Sahwa and NewsYemen.net),the Yemeni
Journalists' Syndicate resoundingly has rejected
the draft press law proposed by the government.
On December 23, NewsYemen.net reported that the
YJS rejection of the draft law was unanimous. The
Yemen Observer followed on December 26 with a
report quoting the YJS as saying that if enacted,
the law would restrict press freedom. Also on
December 26, RayNews.net reported further that
journalists of the YJS have demanded an outright
abolition of the Information Ministry.


4. WAPO ARTICLES: Several local outlets gave
prominent coverage to the recent series on Yemen
published in the Washington Post by reporter David
Finkel. Among these, Al-Wasat published a large-
point headline on December 21 quoting President
Saleh that "all Americans are liars," as Finkel
reported Saleh saying to a group of tribal
sheikhs.


5. SOMALI PROTESTS: After two months of protest by
a large group of Somalis congregating outside the
UNHCR office in Sanaa, RayNews.net reported on
December 18 that two Somalis were killed and
several others injured when people moved in to
break up the protest. Other media sources
reported up to eight Somali protestors and four
police officers injured during the scuffle. On
December 21, post issued a press release denying a
rumor among the Somali protestors that the US
intended to resettle 70,000 Somali refugees in the
US. NewsYemen, Al-Sahwa, and Al-Shura all
published details of the press release.


6. AUSTRIAN HOSTAGES: 26 September, NewsYemen.net,
and Al-Sahwa gave prominent coverage to the
kidnapping and quick release of two Austrian
tourists on December 23-24. The tourists
reportedly were taken hostages by Ma'rib area
tribesmen demanding the release of a kinsman in
government detention, but were released unharmed
and unconditionally after negotiations conducted
by area tribal sheikhs.


7. JOINT MEETING PARTY INITIATIVE: Government
attacks continue unabated against the recent JMP
reform initiative. Al-Sahwa reported on December
26 that Shura Council Chairman Abdul Aziz Abdul
Ghani blasted the initiative in an interview with
Egyptian daily Al-Ahram as an attempt to subvert
the government's own reform process.


8. GPC CONFERENCE: Events surrounding the General
People's Congress seventh party conference have
been described in detail in reftels A-D, as has
the press placement of CDA's interview with Al-
Ayyam. Opposition media outlets have criticized
sharply events at the GPC conference. On December
17, RayNews.net spotlighted President Saleh's call
for the opposition Joint Meeting Party to take its
reform initiative directly to the public, noting
the tacit implication that the GPC will not engage
in dialogue with the JMP over its proposals. Also
on December 17, NewsYemen.net noted that Saleh
charged those who accuse his government of
corruption of "being themselves corrupt." On
December 18, Al-Wahdawi (affiliated with the
opposition Nasserite Party) described GPC
delegates storming out of the conference in
protest over the lack of internal party democracy,
specifically in the appointment of Prime Minister
Abdulqader Bajammal as GPC Secretary General.

KRAJESKI