DURING VISIT BY CONGENOFFS, RAS AL-KHAIMAH SHIHUH RENEW

UNCLAS DUBAI 003054 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINS SOCI KDEM MU AE SUBJECT: DURING VISIT BY CONGENOFFS, RAS AL-KHAIMAH SHIHUH RENEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT NEW BORDER FENCE BETWEEN OMAN AND UAE REF: DUBAI 0467, 05 DUBAI 3994 1.(SBU) SUMMARY: Abdullah al-Hadia al-Shehhi, Vice President of the Shihuh Culture and Heritage Society (SCHS) in Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) hosted Consulate officers April 30 for discussions about the situation facing the group in UAE, including the border fence along the UAE-Omani border, Shihuh democratic traditions, and other social issues. Al-Shehhi talked about the size and the history of the Shihuh, and the relationship between SCHS and the Shihuh cultural group in Abu Dhabi. END SUMMARY 2.(SBU) At the invitation of the Shihuh Culture and Heritage Society (SCHS),Congenoffs traveled April 30 to Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) to attend a cultural performance at the SCHS center in RAK. The event was hosted by the SCHS Vice President, Abdullah al-Hadia al-Shehhi. Nearly 40 members of the Shihuh performed traditional dances and songs. Afterwards Al-Shehhi and other members of the Shihuh discussed a number of social issues with Congenoffs. SCHS invited a reporter from al-Bayan, a Dubai based Arabic language daily newspaper, to cover the meeting. Background on the Shihuh -------------- 3.(U) Al-Shehhi described the Shihuh as "the largest and oldest tribe in the UAE," but he was unwilling to estimate the number of tribesmen. (Background: The Shihuh, most of whom live in mountainous ares in RAK and Fujeirah in the UAE, and ing the mountains of the Oman's Musandam Peninsula, historically have been difficult to govern. The Shihuh have their own distinct culture and several distinct dialects -- see ref A.) Although the Shihuh are based in the northern portion of the UAE and Oman, they can now be found working, and in some cases residing, in all major UAE cities. There are competing stories regarding the origin of the Shihuh; according to al-Shehhi, they migrated from Mareb, Yemen to the Dibba area when the Mareb Dam collapsed almost 1500 years ago. (The Mareb Dam collapsed in approximately 570 A.D.) UAE-Oman Border Fence a Hot Issue -------------- 4.(SBU) The Shihuh we spoke to April 30 said their specific grievance with the UAE government (see also Ref A) was that a new fence being built along the UAE-Oman border restricted freedom of movement across their historical homeland, which spans both two countries. They complained they are now required to cross the border at al Jeer and must show identity cards. Not only did they dislike the inconvenience, they find it offensive that they cannot travel freely between their newer homes in the UAE and their older homes and lands in the mountains in the Omani part of the Musandam. Democratic Traditions of the Shihuh -------------- 5.(U) Al-Shehhi proudly pointed out that the leadership of the SCHS is elected - not appointed. He and other Shihuh present said that democracy is very important them. All of the members present were quite proud that any member of the Shihuh could be elected to lead the SCHS, which they said was a reflection of the "liberal" views held by the Shihuh. Comment -------------- 6.(SBU) The Shihuh have two cultural organizations in the UAE, the SCHS, based in RAK, and the Shihuh Folklore Association (SFA),based in Abu Dhabi. Al-Shehhi said that that the only difference between the two groups is their location; he claimed that the number of Shihuh living in Abu Dhabi was large enough to support the SFA. The founder of SFA in Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, related in an earlier meeting that he had established his organization in Abu Dhabi only because the Ruler of RAK had forbidden the Shihuh from organizing there (ref A). He claimed the SCHS had formed much later than his group, and said his relations with the new group were strained. DAVIS