JULY 7 DEMONSTRATIONS CALMER THAN EXPECTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001219

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
BAGHDAD FOR LGURIAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV YM
SUBJECT: JULY 7 DEMONSTRATIONS CALMER THAN EXPECTED

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
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1. (U) In spite of fears of an outbreak of violence, it
appears that the ROYG has, by stationing large numbers of
security force personnel in Aden, avoided any significant
clashes on the anniversary of the end of the 1994 civil war.
Aden and Sana'a are calm and although there are reports of
demonstrations in other cities, there are thus far no reports
of violence. End Summary

Major Cities Calm
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2. (C) July 7 demonstrations have been calmer than
anticipated, at least in Sana'a and Aden. ROYG tactics
appear to have been particularly effective in Aden, where
large numbers of security force personnel have been posted.
Adeni businessman Ahmed Shukri, whose brother was held for
several weeks after the Unity Day demonstrations, told POL/E
Chief that he saw "soldiers at every corner," when he
traveled from his home to work. He added that at one corner
the ROYG had stationed what he called an "antiaircraft gun."
(Note: As there has been no reported threat from aircraft,
it seems likely the antiaircraft weapon, if that is what it
was, was intended only to intimidate. End Note.) Shukri
reported that checkpoints were set up in many areas, but paid
little attention to traffic moving away from the center of
the city. Traffic approaching the center of the city was
stopped and vehicles with license tags from the governorates
of Lahj and Dhale (where there has been much anti-ROYG
activity) were turned away. A Political Security
Organization source told EMBOFF that the ROYG was concerned
about a threat from al-Qaeda, but the roadblock tactics were
consistent with ROYG counter-demonstration strategies used in
the past.


3. (C) Shukri, alleged that the ROYG was interrupting
communications in Aden. He claimed that in the Mansour area
where he lives, there was no cellular coverage in spite of
good coverage at other times. He further said that people
trying to call his home received a message saying that his
land-line phone was unavailable. POLOFFs had encountered
difficulty making calls to mobile phones in the area on July
6, but when ECONOFF contacted the major cellular providers he
was told that there were no unusual coverage issues in Aden.
(Comment. With the effective use of mobile phones in recent
demonstrations in Tehran, it would not be surprising if the
ROYG took steps to limit coverage. End Comment.)


4. (U) Outside of a small pro-unity demonstration, there is
little activity in Sana'a and no reports of violence. There
are unconfirmed reports of demonstrations in Dhale and Abyan,
but news coverage in those areas is limited and post has been
unable to make direct contact with witnesses to
demonstrations there.
SECHE