NEW MHR HAISAMI ON REFUGEES, PRESS, AND THE MHR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000589 SIPDIS SIPDIS MEPI TO JACQUELYN JOHNSTONE, CAIRO TO GERALD CHEYNE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KMPI KMCC PREF YM SUBJECT: NEW MHR HAISAMI ON REFUGEES, PRESS, AND THE MHR Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During a February 27 introductory call by Ambassador the new Minister of Human Rights (MHR),Khadijah Ahmed al-Haisami, expressed her views on Somali refugees, the new press law and her new role, which she promised to perform to the best of her ability. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On February 27, Ambassador paid an introductory call on the new MHR, Khadijah Ahmed al-Haisami. Haisami spent much of the meeting discussing Horn of Africa (HOA) issues and specifically the status of Somali refugees in Yemen. She noted that Yemen has become the "guard" of the HOA region and that in that capacity the country would like to see a stable Somalia in the very near future. She also observed that Yemen's relatively good treatment of Somali refugees inspired many to stay in the country instead of moving on to other gulf countries that could offer them better economic opportunity. This, noted Haisami, caused concern that some refugees would turn to extremism if their situation were not addressed soon. "More and more refugees are coming to Yemen every day," she warned, "and their economic situation keeps growing worse." ¶3. (C) Commenting on the proposed press law, Haisami confided that although she had yet to read it, she hoped that the Consultative (Shura) Council review of the law would yield agreeable amendments to "all sides" and promised to advocate for a "just law" that protected journalists. Haisimi also posited that Yemen needed to "try out" the proposed press law despite "negative" repercussions. "We are going through our trials, as you in the United States did," she reminded Ambassador. ¶4. (C) When challenged by the Ambassador on whether she could criticize ministers if the need arose, she assured him that she would try her best adding that the ministers, who were her colleagues, had "open minds." ¶5. (C) Haisami also forecasted the MHR's 2006 agenda. She revealed that she wanted to expand HR training of MOI police forces since they were "the first line of defense" against HR violations. She informed Ambassador that the ministry would be releasing a report on women's rights in May, but would not issue a HRR this year. (Note: In October, 2005, the ROYG released its first HRR). Finally, she assured Ambassador that her ministry would reply to a post-issued Trafficking in Persons questionnaire sent to the MHR in February -- before the Cabinet reshuffle -- once an inter-ministry committee had completed it. ¶6. (C) Comment: Appearing slightly overwhelmed by her new position in this first mostly pro-forma meeting, Haisami stuck close to what she knew: HOA issues (the subject of her doctoral thesis). It is still not clear how Haisami feels about U.S. policies and whether or not she will be able to fill the shoes of the forceful and able former minister Soswa. The March 8 release of the USG HRR, which will no doubt raise the temper of the ROYG yet again, will afford post the first opportunity to gauge Haisami's views and ability to deal with international critics in a constructive manner. End Comment. Khoury