ISLAH: IN FOR A PEACEFUL STRUGGLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000545

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: ISLAH: IN FOR A PEACEFUL STRUGGLE

REF: SANAA 426

Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a February 28 meeting with Islah (Reform)
party senior officials, Ambassador and DCM discussed economic
reform, corruption, and the need for dialogue with the West.
Islah General Secretary Mohammed Abdullah al-Yadoumi, Deputy
General Secretary Abdul Wahab al-Anisi, Head of the Political
Bureau Mohammed Qahtan and other Islah party leaders
uniformly expressed discontent with the proposed 10 percent
quota in parliament for women and called for comprehensive
economic reform and anti-corruption efforts. Qahtan demurred
on the question of an Islahi presidential candidate for 2006,
the subject of rampant rumors recently in Sanaa. End Summary.

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Women's Quota "Undemocratic"
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2. (C) Characterizing the GPC endorsed women's quota for
Parliament as "undemocratic," Islah leaders were outspoken in
their opposition to the proposal. Political spokesman and
moderate, Qahtan said that a woman's role in government must
be a "natural progression" announcing that the quota is not
on Islah's agenda. "But," he pointed out, "if the GPC
majority in Parliament passes it, we will follow." Yadoumi
underscored Islah's already strong women's representation,
noting that over 300 women were already active in Islah,s
party structure.

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Reform: All or Nothing
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3. (C) Turning to economic reform, ostensibly the reason
behind the current spat between Saleh and al-Ahmar (reftel),
Islah leaders called for a "comprehensive" economic reform
program. Anisi suggested that current plans neglect the
middle class. In response to Ambassador's inquiry on whether
they thought ROYG steps towards reform demonstrated a
willingness to change, Yadoumi, with everyone agreeing,
responded that the ROYG has done nothing to "really" fight
corruption. "They (the GPC) will not even acknowledge that
there is a problem, when it is a disaster," Yadoumi
commented.


4. (C) Anisi proposed that diesel subsidy reductions could
only work if it were part of a complete reform package. He
added that there was no place in Yemen for piecemeal reform,
and stated Yemen's need to "break the rock" in order to fix
the economic situation. Anisi complained that the ruling GPC
is not transparent about its discussions with World Bank and
IMF officials in order to suppress the bad news often
delivered by their interlocutors.

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Support our "Peaceful Struggle" for Democracy
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5. (C) Expressing disappointment that despite Yemen's wars
and revolutions, Qahtan reflected, "the outcome does not
reflect the struggle." He explained that Yemen still did not
possess the "basis for a state." Urging the Ambassador to
"stop encouraging" the ROYG in its current ways, Yadoumi
added "the effort is ours but you must support our peaceful
struggle for rule of law and democracy." "Instead," he
continued, "you talk about Yemen's democracy ... what
democracy is that?" Concluding, he said he wished to see
Yemen respect "equal application of the law." (Note: From
the context of the speech, it was obvious that Yadoumi was
referring to corruption. End Note).


6. (C) DCM asked if Islah would run a candidate for the 2006
Presidential Election. Qahtan said, "the issue is still
under discussion." (Note: The Sanaa rumor mill is predicting
that an Islahi candidate would challenge Saleh in 2006 for
the upcoming presidential election. End Note).

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Time for Dialogue?
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7. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, Yadoumi asked that
the USG help Islah promote an equal dialogue to help build
bridges between the West and East in compliance with Islah,s
final communiqu issued at the end of its party conference.
Anisi agreed that there needed to be a comprehensive dialogue
between the West and Islamic States and offered to help with
that endeavor.

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Comment
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8. (C) Comment: The Ambassador's meeting took place as a
public war of words continued between al-Ahmar and Saleh.
Islah was clearly appealing to the Ambassador to treat it as
a viable opposition party and continually criticized GPC
positions. Islah leaders ended every subject by
distinguishing themselves from the GPC. Islah, still more of
a coalition than a party, is nevertheless becoming a strong
political force. Regardless of whether or not they contest
the presidential election, it will be interesting to see how
they do with local council elections, slated to occur
concurrently with the 2006 presidential election. End Comment.
Krajeski