JORDAN: RIOTS IN EAST AMMAN HIGHLIGHT LARGER

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 002451 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM KJUS SOCI JO SUBJECT: JORDAN: RIOTS IN EAST AMMAN HIGHLIGHT LARGER CONCERNS ABOUT GOVERNMENT REF: AMMAN 1898 Classified By: Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (S) Summary: Riots broke out in the Haj Al Tafaileh neighborhood on November 8 upon the death of Saddam Sa'ud, who died as a result of injuries sustained during a beating while he was in police custody. The Public Security Department (PSD) announced that two police officers have been arrested in connection with the beating and that an active investigation is underway. These claims have not appeased family members, who demanded immediate justice and the names of the implicated officers. Rioting began when the death was announced and resulted in significant damage to private and public property. Rioters also fired live ammunition at security personnel. Security personnel remain in the neighborhood, fearing that more violence could break out in connection with Sa'ud's November 9 funeral. ¶2. (S/NF) Post contacts have pointed to a lack of royal or government leadership during the violence and the absence of any official statements issued to quell tensions. Contacts have emphasized the need for the King to take a firmer stance against the perceived growing social and tribal violence in the country. Media widely criticized the government for being out of touch with the people and criticized the government's perceived inability to effectively manage internal issues. Some analysts fear that these growing incidents of tribal violence could become flashpoints leading to larger destabilizing protests against the government and its institutions. End Summary Rioters Attack Jordanian Police After Death of Tribal Member -------------- -------------- ¶3. (S) Intermittent riots broke out in the Hai Al Tafaileh neighborhood of East Amman on November 8. The riots started immediately after the death of Saddam Al Sa'ud. Sa'ud's relatives claim the death was caused by injuries sustained while in police custody after his arrest and detention on October 17 for participating in a fight between street vendors and municipal workers. Sa'ud's family has accused police officers of beating Saddam on the head with a gun while hand-cuffed, which resulted in a brain hemorrhage and coma. ¶4. (S) The Hai Al Tafaileh neighborhood is a densely populated and underdeveloped area, which government officials and even the police hesitate to enter. Contacts tell Post its residents are heavily armed and local gangs exercise strong control over movements within the area, preventing easy access by the police. Rioters reportedly started fires, smashed cars, threw Molotov cocktails, and caused damage to both public and private property. Additionally, the Gendarmerie and the media reported that some residents fired live ammunition at security personnel, who refrained from returning fire and only used tear gas to disperse rioters. The Gendarmerie reportedly also closed streets surrounding the neighborhood to help maintain control of the situation. ¶5. (S) Six members of the Gendarmerie, a special unit within the Ministry of Interior tasked with providing diplomatic security and special police functions such as riot control, were reported injured and four were treated for gunshot wounds. One resident was reportedly injured and others exhibited symptoms of tear gas inhalation. The Al-Tafaileh Residents Association issued a statement on November 9 praising the actions of the security forces and denouncing both the rioters and the police personnel accused of beating Sa'ud. Police Continue to Investigate Fatal Beating -------------- ¶6. (S) The Director of the PSD's Ombudsmen Office previously told Poloffs that police prosecutors are investigating the abuse allegations and that two police officers were arrested on October 19 for the mistreatment of Sa'ud. The PSD also states that it is investigating the case using established and transparent standard operating procedures, but contends that Sa'ud's relatives sparked the riot with their continued demands for immediate action and the release of the names of the police officers involved in the beating. ¶7. (S) The Gendarmerie have been regularly called upon recently to quell protests, disperse sit-ins, and maintain security after incidences of tribal violence. The Gendarmerie have been criticized for using overly aggressive tactics to break up protests in recent months, including the sit-in by port workers in Aqaba this summer. On the other AMMAN 00002451 002 OF 003 hand, contacts have told Poloffs that the relatively new force, which was introduced by the PSD on January 1, has won favor in many communities experiencing tribal violence throughout the country. These contacts believe the Gendarmerie successfully suppressed tribal violence and maintained order in Ajloun, Kerak, and Ma'an recently. Security Forces and Family Negotiate Tribal Truce? -------------- -------------- ¶8. (S) After lodging an initial protest over the beating on October 18, the family and police reportedly reached a "security atwah" - a truce period in the tribal system designed to maintain calm between disputing parties until a final agreement can be reached. Some journalists had criticized the truce, stating that government and/or police should not follow tribal dictates and traditions. The government, however, denied that a "security atwah" had been negotiated with the family and stated that calm was reached after mutual discussions, not tribal intervention. ¶9. (S) Sa'ud's subsequent death quickly nullified any truce or understanding, and riots broke out immediately after the death was announced. Security officials met with the family on November 8 to again hear their concerns, give guarantees for justice, and inform them of on-going investigations. The family reportedly rejected any discussion or "truce" until the police agree to name the officers involved in the alleged beating. ¶10. (S) The family did agree to take possession of Sa'ud's body and scheduled the funeral for November 9. The funeral represents another potential flashpoint and, as such, security forces are maintaining a heightened presence in the neighborhood, according to a Gendarmerie spokesman. Where is the King? -------------- ¶11. (S/NF) The noticeable lack of observable royal and senior government leadership during the riot was commented upon by Embassy contacts. Neither the King, members of the royal court, nor senior government officials publicly stepped forward to calm citizens, stem further violence, or address the family's concerns. In fact, as of the evening of November 9, there has been no public statement by senior leadership to quell tensions. The fact that the King and Queen left for London on November 8 for yet another overseas trip, even as the situation remained unstable, was also noted by Embassy contacts. The King has yet to take a strong leadership stance on societal and tribal violence despite continuous media reporting of tribal violence throughout the country. Many observers believe that both societal and tribal violence are on the rise, and they would like the Royal Court to take a firmer stance against such violence and to attempt to restore citizens' confidence in state institutions and dispute resolution mechanisms so that citizens do not feel the need to pursue tribal resolutions. Media, Citizens Point to Weakness of State Institutions -------------- -------------- ¶12. (S/NF) The perceived weakness of and lack of citizen trust in state institutions was a main focal point of media criticism. A cartoon in the November 9 issue of Al-Ghad by leading cartoonist Emad Hajjaj summed up local media reaction. The cartoon showed two coffins under the title "Events in Tefileh Neighborhood." One coffin carried the name of Sa'ud, while the other coffin carried the words "The Rule of Law." Editorials in the mainstream media included headlines such as "The weak official is a danger to the country and the people" and "When wisdom and reason are absent." Editorials argued that the government's weak understanding of its citizens and lax management of internal social, political, and economic affairs is at least partially responsible for the violence. ¶13. (S/NF) Separately, almost a week before the incident, local media magnate Mohammad Ajlouni, chairman of Arab Broadcasting Services company, told Ambassador that the general up-tick of tribal violence in Jordan reflected the public's belief that Jordan's leadership and government were behaving like a corrupt mafia, solely acting in their own interest. As a result, people were increasing turning to tribal authorities, not state institutions, to represent their interests. Many articles after the incident also reflected this general feeling that citizens are unlikely to respect the law when the state itself violates it and fails to enforce it. AMMAN 00002451 003 OF 003 Comment -------------- ¶14. (S/NF) Comment: Some analysts believe that these incidents of tribal violence could easily turn into flashpoints leading to larger destabilizing protests against the government and its institutions. While some of the recent violence has been limited to members of different tribes fighting each other, the November 8 riot demonstrates that tribal members are now daring to engage in violent confrontations with the police. This shows that Jordanian state institutions are increasingly losing the respect of the people. While there is some debate as to whether or not a certain amount of tribal violence is "normal," there remains a perception that violence is on the rise. ¶15. (S/NF) Embassy interlocutors have also expressed concern that the government is failing to address this problem in a serious manner. Private sector contacts are dismayed that state security institutions appear to be following tribal rules for conflict resolution instead of enforcing the rule of law. They also note that the King continues to be absent from the scene, even when tensions clearly require his personal attention. End Comment. Beecroft