JEDDAH JOURNAL 14: COMMOTION IN JCCI BOARDROOM;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 000427 SIPDIS SIPDIS RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2016 TAGS: KISL KWMN PREL PTER SA SOCI SUBJECT: JEDDAH JOURNAL 14: COMMOTION IN JCCI BOARDROOM; HARASSMENT CAUSES JCCI WOMAN TO RESIGN; SUMMER VACATION BOREDOM CONFRONTS SAUDI PARENTS; WOULD-BE SAUDI JIHADI DESERTS DUE TO LACK OF CHOICE REF: A. 05 JEDDAH 4941 ¶B. 05 JEDDAH 4967 Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). JCCI BOARD IN REVOLT AGAINST ABSENT CHAIRMAN ¶1. (C) Contacts have informed the Consulate and recent news reports have confirmed that a substantial majority of the Board of Directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry have expressed opposition to Chairman, Engineer Abdullah Yehya Al Moallemi. Over the past few weeks, press reports have chronicled growing dissension among the Board members concerning the lengthy absence and consequent inattention of the Chairman. Behind the scene, efforts are being made to persuade Moallemi to resign rather than initiate action to dismiss him. Fourteen members of the Board have made know their opposition to the continuance of Moallemi's tenure. Only four members have expressed support for the embattled Chairman. CHAIRMAN'S FAULTS ¶2. (C) The dissident board members have justified their call for the Chairman's resignation for a number of reasons. The primary reason cited is that Moallemi has frequently been absent from the Chamber, particularly during official events. This has seriously delayed execution of several decisions approved by the Board. Some reports also cite the negligence of Moallemi's two deputies, Al-Bassam and Batterji, his delegation of all responsibilities to the Secretary General and that all communication between the Chairman and the Board is restricted to his office manager. There are also complaints concerning confused decisions involving the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) (Note: The JEF is the premier economic conference in Jeddah. Held in February, it attracts an international audience. This year's attendees included Former Vice President Gore, Steven Forbes, and former German Chancellor Schroeder. End Note). Some questions have also been raised about some financial transactions. DEFENDERS CITE PERSONAL CRISIS AS EXCUSE ¶3. (C) The four Board members who support Moallemi state that a family crisis distracted the chairman from his duties. The Chairman's wife has recently undergone lengthy cancer treatments abroad. One Consulate contact, Olfat Qabbani, has dismissed most of the charges in the press as fabrications, stating that the Chairman still has the personal respect of the Board, but admitting that his frequent absences have necessitated action. Moallemi, himself, told the Arabic-language paper "Al Watan" that he occupies a volunteer position, and denied that his chairmanship will be discussed at the next board meeting on June 15. He also told the paper "Okaz" that he does not intend to resign. The Saudi Minister of Trade, Hashem Yamani, is reported to be closely monitoring the situation but the Saudi government has been reluctant to interfere. ¶4. C) COMMENT: The JCCI is not only a critical influence for economic activity but is one of the leading civil society institutions in Jeddah. Its decision to allow women to run for Board seats was a watershed event for women's empowerment in Saudi Arabia (reftels). The JCCI's role in economic development is significant. If the JCCI were to be crippled by dissension or a lack of leadership at a critical time when the Saudi economy is booming, Jeddah's economy could suffer or at a minimum be slow to adapt to important economic developments, such as the recent Saudi accession to WTO. END COMMENT. MINISTER TAKES (UNCERTAIN) ACTION IN BOARD CONFLICT ¶5. (C) The government's response to this trouble is ambiguous. At a meeting in Jeddah on June 16, Minster of Commerce and Industry Hashem Abdullah Yamani is reported to have issued an ultimatum giving the embattled Moallemi two months to hand over his post to one of the members of the Board of Directors. He also admonished the other members of JEDDAH 00000427 002 OF 003 the Board to cease making public statements or trying to influence the situation by other means. However, a contrary report published on June 19 states that Minister Yamani only asked that the Board find a solution to the problem during the next two months. COMMENT: The conflicting reports could indicate backpedaling by the government, a disinclination to enforce discipline on a powerful individual, or it could be an effort to reduce the public embarrassment to a powerful individual by allowing his departure to be portrayed as voluntary or a result of a mutual agreement by a local organization rather than being imposed by the government. END COMMENT. ANTI-WOMEN ATTITUDE PROMPTS WOMAN EXECUTIVE AT JCCI TO RESIGN ¶6. (C) This was not the only trouble at the JCCI in recent weeks. Ms. Ranya Bajssair, director of the International Relations Committee at the JCCI, told a Consulate contact that she had resigned her position with the JCCI and was going to Riyadh to "try her luck there." Ms. Bajssair said that the reason for her resignation was the attitude of Secretary General Mohammed Al Sherif toward women. She SIPDIS complained that Al Sherif seemed particularly opposed to women working in a mixed-gender environment. Ranya Bajssair is the personification of the "new Saudi women." She has appeared in or been interviewed by many Arab magazines in recent months talking about her career and ambitions. She was even photographed for one magazine without a hijab. There is some speculation that her widespread exposure in the media inspired Al Sherif's negative attitude. FUNDAMENTALIST WEB-SITE ATTACKS REFORMER ¶7. (C) Over the course of the last few weeks, the fundamentalist internet web-site Al Sahat has targeted well-known advocate for reform, and Consulate contact, Sami Angawi for criticism. During an appearance on TV Al-Hurra's program "Al Majlis," entitled "Islamic Monuments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" broadcast on March 27 and April 4, Angawi addressed the subject of historic and traditional buildings in the Kingdom and the need to preserve them as part of their heritage. He used this opportunity to voice some of his opinions on religion, contending that extremism has replaced mercy as a main theme of Islam. He also discussed Wahabism and Sufism, government, and globalization. Among his statements, he asserted that the government should recognize other Islamic schools of thought besides the Wahabi. He added his criticisms to those of a multitude of other critics concerning the Saudi school curriculum. In an earlier interview with the "Independent" in April, he expressed concern regarding the tall (and very expensive) buildings being constructed surrounding the Haram in the Muslim holy cities, saying "we are witnessing the final days of Mecca and Medina." ¶8. (C) In response, the conservative web-site began carrying criticism of Angawi and his stand, questioning his patriotism and faith and accusing him of treachery. Typical of the comments are the following: Rayat al Tawheed wrote: "Angawi and the rest of the Sufis, Ismailis and Rafidah (Note: The first two are non-Sunni sects whom the Wahibis reject as members of Islam and the last is an especially derogatory term for heterodox adherents to Islam. End note.) can't wait to see the day when Al Saud vanishes, even if this day comes on board an American tank. God save our government." A person identifying himself only as Shaja said: "(This was) another proof showing how Sufis have no patriotism and are willing to cooperate with infidels against Muslims." An Abdullah Zaqeel posted the statement: "Angawi, are you this hateful towards your country on Al Hurra and the Independent?" COMMENT: These comments demonstrate how quickly the fundamentalists will attack even relatively mild calls for reform. END COMMENT. SUMMER VACATIONS PRESENT SAUDI PARENTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS AMERICANS ¶9. (U) With the end of the school year on June 7, Saudi parents are facing the summer vacation season with the same problem that plagues American parents--what is there for the JEDDAH 00000427 003 OF 003 children to do? In Saudi Arabia the parents not only confront a brutal climate that renders many activities impossible, but a woeful lack of activities and opportunities for recreation. A commentator in the "Saudi Gazette" on June 12 offered a list of complaints: He noted that while those able to do so, abandon the Kingdom for milder climes with more attractions, the majority lack that option. For them there are publicly-sponsored programs, but these he described as very expensive and having few spaces and poor services. The many programs conducted by "summer centers" associated with schools, he criticized as being poorly organized. He reported about school programs where children are seen kicking and fighting each other. ¶10. (U) Additionally, he noted that summer is the high-season for weddings, despite the temperature. Often, when attending weddings, he complained, children are left alone to amuse themselves with TVs or computer games. He concluded with a plea for the establishment of inexpensive summer programs offering well-organized and age-appropriate activities and services. He also called for the private sector to step in and take an active role in the development of the local amusement industry. DISILLUSIONED SAUDI MILITANT RETURNS HOME ¶11. (U) The June 11 edition of the English-language "Saudi Gazette" carried a short article datelined Tabuk (Capital of the northwestern province of Tabuk, which borders Jordan, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Red Sea, north of Yanbu.) that related the story of a disgruntled, Saudi would-be militant. According to the article, the man, in his 20's and a Mosque imam, made his way to Iraq and joined a Yemeni group that assisted recruits to train and then join the jihad in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Chechnya. After reaching the group, the man exressed his desire to go to Chechnya, but the group insisted that he join others in fighting in Iraq. Dissatisfied, according to the report, with a lak of choice for his jihad, and having wedding plns back home, the man decided to return home. H escaped from the Yemenis, who attmpted to stop his flight, and returned to Saudi Arabia and surrendered himself to authorities. Gfoeller