Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT566
2006-02-24 15:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
MGLE01: POLITICAL PRESSURE SECURES RELEASE OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8030 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHMOS DE RUEHLB #0566 0551535 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241535Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2170 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000566
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
PARIS FOR ZEYA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KISL PHUM KDEM LE PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: POLITICAL PRESSURE SECURES RELEASE OF
PALESTINIAN TERROR SUSPECT
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000566
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
PARIS FOR ZEYA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KISL PHUM KDEM LE PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: POLITICAL PRESSURE SECURES RELEASE OF
PALESTINIAN TERROR SUSPECT
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) On February 16, the Lebanese army arrested a
Palestinian national, Mohammad Abed al-Shmandur (aka Abu al-
Abed) at a checkpoint near the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian
refugee camp. He was suspected of transporting ammunition
in the trunk of his car. While his political affiliation is
unclear, the press reported that Shmandur runs his own armed
group. Other reports indicated that he is a member of a
radical Sunni group that operates inside the Ain al-Hilweh
camp, "Jund al-Sham," which is a splinter of the outlawed
Esbat al-Ansar group. Shamndur was reportedly released on
February 23, upon alleged political pressure from MP Bahia
Hariri. End Summary
2. (U) On February 17, rumors spread in the Ta'meer area
that Shmandur died in custody as a result of torture. Soon
after, armed men took to the streets and burned tires and
started firing in the air. Army checkpoints around the camp
took precautionary measures and cordoned off the area. In
the meantime contacts were made at the highest levels in the
city of Sidon, particularly between MP Usama Saad and the
various Palestinian factions to contain the anger and to
prevent further escalation.
3. (SBU) Head of the Sidon municipality Abed al-Rahman
Bizri told pol staff February 18 that Shmandur is believed
to have a connection to MP Bahia Hariri, sister of the slain
former PM Rafiq Hariri. According to Bizri, Shamndur's
mission is to establish control over al-Ta'meer
neighborhood, a no man's land between the Ayn al-Hilweh camp
and the city of Sidon.
4. (SBU) Majed Mneinmeh, the general manager of the al-Liwa
daily newspaper -- which reflects traditional Sunni views of
politics -- told pol staff February 23, that Shmandur was
released following several contacts between Ahmad Hariri,
son of MP Bahia Hariri, and the military prosecutor.
Mneimeh added that this is a serious blow to Lebanese
institutions, particularly the judiciary, adding "how can
the GOL call for disarming militias when a Palestinian
gunman is released under political pressure."
5. We will continue to follow this affair in light of the
various implications that it may carry.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
PARIS FOR ZEYA
LONDON FOR TSOU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KISL PHUM KDEM LE PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: POLITICAL PRESSURE SECURES RELEASE OF
PALESTINIAN TERROR SUSPECT
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (U) On February 16, the Lebanese army arrested a
Palestinian national, Mohammad Abed al-Shmandur (aka Abu al-
Abed) at a checkpoint near the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian
refugee camp. He was suspected of transporting ammunition
in the trunk of his car. While his political affiliation is
unclear, the press reported that Shmandur runs his own armed
group. Other reports indicated that he is a member of a
radical Sunni group that operates inside the Ain al-Hilweh
camp, "Jund al-Sham," which is a splinter of the outlawed
Esbat al-Ansar group. Shamndur was reportedly released on
February 23, upon alleged political pressure from MP Bahia
Hariri. End Summary
2. (U) On February 17, rumors spread in the Ta'meer area
that Shmandur died in custody as a result of torture. Soon
after, armed men took to the streets and burned tires and
started firing in the air. Army checkpoints around the camp
took precautionary measures and cordoned off the area. In
the meantime contacts were made at the highest levels in the
city of Sidon, particularly between MP Usama Saad and the
various Palestinian factions to contain the anger and to
prevent further escalation.
3. (SBU) Head of the Sidon municipality Abed al-Rahman
Bizri told pol staff February 18 that Shmandur is believed
to have a connection to MP Bahia Hariri, sister of the slain
former PM Rafiq Hariri. According to Bizri, Shamndur's
mission is to establish control over al-Ta'meer
neighborhood, a no man's land between the Ayn al-Hilweh camp
and the city of Sidon.
4. (SBU) Majed Mneinmeh, the general manager of the al-Liwa
daily newspaper -- which reflects traditional Sunni views of
politics -- told pol staff February 23, that Shmandur was
released following several contacts between Ahmad Hariri,
son of MP Bahia Hariri, and the military prosecutor.
Mneimeh added that this is a serious blow to Lebanese
institutions, particularly the judiciary, adding "how can
the GOL call for disarming militias when a Palestinian
gunman is released under political pressure."
5. We will continue to follow this affair in light of the
various implications that it may carry.
FELTMAN