Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANAA1887
2008-11-23 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
SCER SITS AT THE CENTER OF ELECTORAL SPAT
how-toR 231400Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0669
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001887
FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: SCER SITS AT THE CENTER OF ELECTORAL SPAT
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001887
FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: SCER SITS AT THE CENTER OF ELECTORAL SPAT
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. While publicly the GPC and JMP continue to
dig deeper into their entrenched positions regarding the
upcoming parliamentary elections, officials on each side have
left open the possibility of reaching a face-saving
compromise that would encourage JMP participation. The
GPC-dominated SCER began voter registration with a bang,
sparking violent protests in the South and heightening fears
that even a three-month delay in the elections might not
smooth over long-running tensions. END SUMMARY.
A PUBLIC BATTLE
--------------
2. (C) Recently, General People's Congress (GPC) officials
have maintained a "show must go on" attitude regarding the
April 2009 parliamentary elections. On November 10, Deputy
Prime Minister for Defense and Security Rashad al-Alimi said,
"The elections must be carried out as constitutionally
prescribed. It's actually to (the GPC's) advantage to delay
the elections, but we are subject to the law and
constitution." In a November 11 meeting, contacts at the
National Democratic Institute (NDI) reported debate within
the GPC regarding the elections; while some national security
"hawks" insist that the elections must happen on time to
maintain stability, the party's "doves" are willing to
consider a delay to enable Joint Meeting Parties' (JMP)
participation.
3. (C) On November 11, the Supreme Commission for Elections
and Referendum (SCER) deployed 33,000 field commissioners to
update voter registration lists nation-wide. But violent
protests against the electoral commissions occurred in some
southern governorates. Security forces opened fire on
protestors on several occasions, with at least one fatality,
a teenager in Lahj. Newspapers also reported an early morning
explosion and small-arms fire targeting electoral commission
headquarters in the city of Ja'ar in Dhale governorate. SCER
member Ja'afer Basaleh assured PolOff on November 11 that 95%
of the local committees were "functioning."
4. (C) Sultan Hizam al-Atwany, the current JMP chair and
Secretary General of the Nasserite Party, told Pol/E Chief on
November 15 that the "minimum guarantees" for JMP
participation were a parliamentary vote on certain electoral
amendments, reformation of the SCER and a number of other
items, including the annulment of all SCER actions undertaken
since August 18. Al-Atwany confirmed that the JMP was calling
on members to boycott the elections, saying, "We will not
support a totalitarian system under the cover of decorative
democracy."
PRIVATE TALKS
--------------
5. (C) Behind closed doors, negotiations between the two
sides continue. The latest ruling party proposal included the
addition of two JMP members to the SCER and a parliamentary
vote on an unspecified number of electoral amendments.
Although each side blamed the other for its unwillingness to
compromise, officials expressed limited optimism. According
to al-Alimi, "The President has said that the door remains
open to coordinate with the opposition parties." In a
November 15 meeting, al-Atwani sighed, "They (the GPC) do
whatever they want and don't give consideration to others'
demands. But we still hope they will reform." Mohammed
Abulahoum, head of the GPC's foreign relations department,
was also cautiously hopeful about the prospect for compromise
throughout a November 15 meeting.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Competitive, multi-party elections are the best
option for sustaining Yemen's fragile democracy. If a
compromise can be reached and JMP participation ensured, a
short delay would not be a significant setback. In light of
the violence that has already flared up in Yemen's
historically disenfranchised southern regions, the road to
the elections is still very uncertain, and even a political
compromise might not be sufficient to reduce street-level
tensions. END COMMENT.
SECHE
FOR NEA/ARP AMACDONALD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL YM
SUBJECT: SCER SITS AT THE CENTER OF ELECTORAL SPAT
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. While publicly the GPC and JMP continue to
dig deeper into their entrenched positions regarding the
upcoming parliamentary elections, officials on each side have
left open the possibility of reaching a face-saving
compromise that would encourage JMP participation. The
GPC-dominated SCER began voter registration with a bang,
sparking violent protests in the South and heightening fears
that even a three-month delay in the elections might not
smooth over long-running tensions. END SUMMARY.
A PUBLIC BATTLE
--------------
2. (C) Recently, General People's Congress (GPC) officials
have maintained a "show must go on" attitude regarding the
April 2009 parliamentary elections. On November 10, Deputy
Prime Minister for Defense and Security Rashad al-Alimi said,
"The elections must be carried out as constitutionally
prescribed. It's actually to (the GPC's) advantage to delay
the elections, but we are subject to the law and
constitution." In a November 11 meeting, contacts at the
National Democratic Institute (NDI) reported debate within
the GPC regarding the elections; while some national security
"hawks" insist that the elections must happen on time to
maintain stability, the party's "doves" are willing to
consider a delay to enable Joint Meeting Parties' (JMP)
participation.
3. (C) On November 11, the Supreme Commission for Elections
and Referendum (SCER) deployed 33,000 field commissioners to
update voter registration lists nation-wide. But violent
protests against the electoral commissions occurred in some
southern governorates. Security forces opened fire on
protestors on several occasions, with at least one fatality,
a teenager in Lahj. Newspapers also reported an early morning
explosion and small-arms fire targeting electoral commission
headquarters in the city of Ja'ar in Dhale governorate. SCER
member Ja'afer Basaleh assured PolOff on November 11 that 95%
of the local committees were "functioning."
4. (C) Sultan Hizam al-Atwany, the current JMP chair and
Secretary General of the Nasserite Party, told Pol/E Chief on
November 15 that the "minimum guarantees" for JMP
participation were a parliamentary vote on certain electoral
amendments, reformation of the SCER and a number of other
items, including the annulment of all SCER actions undertaken
since August 18. Al-Atwany confirmed that the JMP was calling
on members to boycott the elections, saying, "We will not
support a totalitarian system under the cover of decorative
democracy."
PRIVATE TALKS
--------------
5. (C) Behind closed doors, negotiations between the two
sides continue. The latest ruling party proposal included the
addition of two JMP members to the SCER and a parliamentary
vote on an unspecified number of electoral amendments.
Although each side blamed the other for its unwillingness to
compromise, officials expressed limited optimism. According
to al-Alimi, "The President has said that the door remains
open to coordinate with the opposition parties." In a
November 15 meeting, al-Atwani sighed, "They (the GPC) do
whatever they want and don't give consideration to others'
demands. But we still hope they will reform." Mohammed
Abulahoum, head of the GPC's foreign relations department,
was also cautiously hopeful about the prospect for compromise
throughout a November 15 meeting.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Competitive, multi-party elections are the best
option for sustaining Yemen's fragile democracy. If a
compromise can be reached and JMP participation ensured, a
short delay would not be a significant setback. In light of
the violence that has already flared up in Yemen's
historically disenfranchised southern regions, the road to
the elections is still very uncertain, and even a political
compromise might not be sufficient to reduce street-level
tensions. END COMMENT.
SECHE