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 -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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