CRITICISM OF DRAFT COUNTERTERRORISM BILL

UNCLAS AMMAN 004025

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER JO
SUBJECT: CRITICISM OF DRAFT COUNTERTERRORISM BILL



1. (SBU) Human rights groups, liberal NGOs, and professional
associations denounced a draft of the GOJ's counterterrorism
bill that appeared in the local press May 31. The draft
includes several provisions that provoked controversy. If
approved by Parliament, the new law would make it a crime to
"support or condone terrorism." King Abdullah called for new
legislation, in general terms, a week after the November 9th
bombings of three hotels in Amman. The Cabinet approved the
draft bill, and it is likely to be on the King's agenda for
this summer's extraordinary session of Parliament.


2. (SBU) The draft law drew criticism for its ambiguous
language on what qualifies as terrorism, as well as for
proposed penalties for those suspected of supporting
terrorism including asset freezes, travel bans, and
detentions without charge for up to two weeks which could be
extended without a court order. NOTE: The current penal code
allows for detention of up to 24 hours, and further detention
requires a court order. END NOTE.


3. (SBU) The bill drew fire from diverse quarters. Critics
ranged from the liberal Adaleh Human Rights group, which is
well known to post, and the Jordan Bar Association, whose
president is one of Saddam's defense attorneys and regularly
denounces other Jordanians for contacts with Israelis.


4. (SBU) The bill continues to attract substantial local
coverage in the media, both of the government's public
statements as well as criticism. Newspaper comment has been
limited, and focuses mostly on the bill's omission of a
definition of what constitutes terrorism.




Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/


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