INTERIOR MINISTER GIVES AMBASSADOR ASSURANCES ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000291

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF KIRF
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER GIVES AMBASSADOR ASSURANCES ON
RELEASED PRISONERS, REYDA JEWISH COMMUNITY AND SECURITY
COOPERATION

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

Summary
--------------


1. (C) The Minister of Interior gave the Ambassador on
February 16 assurances on a number of issues ranging from
reports of recently released al-Qaeda suspects to information
sharing with the Embassy to the protection of Yemen's Jewish
community. While Post is relatively confident that the
issues concerning the Reyda Jews will be addressed, we are
less sanguine about Ministry assurances on other issues. End
Summary.

Prisoners
--------------


2. (C) Interior Minister Mutaher al-Masri denied to the
Ambassador that any of the 108 prisoners recently released in
Yemen were members of al-Qaeda. In a February 16 meeting,
Masri delineated the releasees into three groups: parole
violators, prisoners transferred to Yemen from Saudi Arabia
against whom there is no evidence of wrongdoing, and
prisoners who had been tried and acquitted. The Interior
Minister asserted that the released prisoners posed no danger
and assured the Ambassador that, if they had been members of
al-Qaeda, they would never have been released. The
Ambassador pressed Masri to provide the names of the
releasees. Masri replied that he did not have the
information at hand, but had no objection to turning it over
and would follow up.


3. (C) The Ambassador also pressed Masri on reports that
wanted terrorist Jaber al-Banna will be release presently
from a Yemeni prison, since an appeals court is expected to
reduce his sentence. The Minister told the Ambassador that
al-Banna will not be released without serving out his
sentence in full.

Reyda Jewish Community
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador raised the disposition of the Jewish
community from the town of Reyda. Members of this community,
who feel in danger after the murder of one of their number
and harassment from their neighbors, are seeking to emigrate
to Israel or the United States. Seven or eight of the
families have been waiting to receive passports for several
weeks. (Note: Other Yemenis usually receive their passports
within a day or two. End Note.) Masri said that this was
the first that he had heard of the issue and that he will
look into it.


5. (C) The Ambassador reminded the Minister that a verdict
is expected soon in the case of the accused murderer of a
member of the community and his family has threatened to
"kill the Jews" if he is sentenced to death. The Ambassador
asked the Minister to make provisions to ensure the
community's safety. Masri thanked the Ambassador for
alerting him to the problem and said that he would see to it.
(Note. Media reports on February 17 indicate the ruling in
the case is now expected March 2 or 3. End note.)

Cooperation
--------------


6. (C) The Ambassador asked the Minister what progress had
been made on an FBI request for original documents to be used
in the prosecution of two suspected conspirators in the
bombing of the USS Cole. Masri said that he had not received
the original diplomatic note making the request, but when he
receives it, he will forward it to the appropriate agency.
The Ambassador also raised a number of outstanding requests
for cooperation from the Ministry in the investigation into
the September attack on the Embassy. Masri claimed not to
have received any written requests. (Note: LEGATT has sent
numerous written requests for this cooperation and will be
providing copies of this correspondence to the Ministry. End
Note.) The Ambassador asked the Minister if written requests
will likely receive a favorable response. Masri responded
that he "will look at them."

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Masri's assurances on the recent releases from prison
are consistent with the ROYG's official stance. The Ministry
of Interior under Masri has a bad track record concerning
information sharing and other law-enforcement cooperation
after the embassy attack. Post does not expect a sudden


turnabout on this issue but will continue to press it. The
ROYG, on the other hand, has shown a desire to cooperate on
the issue of the Reyda community, and Post expects that the
Ministry of Interior will take steps to protect Yemen's Jews
and resolve the passport question. End Comment.
SECHE