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

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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

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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