YEMEN PROTESTS "COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT" OFNEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000093 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP NEA/PPD AND DS/ATA JNASON DHS FOR CBP/OIOC EWALER AND CPB/PLT GDEWEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/220 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ASEC EAIR KPAO YM SUBJECT: YEMEN PROTESTS "COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT" OFNEW PASSENGER SCREENNG POLICIES Classified B: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. On January 18, Deputy Foregn Minister Mohyadeen al-Dhabbi summoned a divere group of ambassadors to express the ROYG's concrns about new passenger screening procedures forinternational air travel that, in his characteriation, unfairly subjects all Yemeni nationals toadditional and unwarranted scrutiny. He warned tht this "collective punishment" threatened the ROY's CT efforts by creating the impression that th international community regards all Yemenis as errorists. The Ambassador explained that TSA prcedures scrutinize all travelers who visit Yemenand other designated countries, regardless of the tavelers' nationality. Although the new TSA procdures have not attracted attention in the Yemenipress, Dhabbi's protestations suggest that the gidelines are about to become an issue in the bilteral relationship. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On Janury 18, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohyadeen al-Dhabi summoned a diverse group of ambassadors to expres the ROYG's concerns about newly implemented pasenger screening procedures for international trvel that put "all Yemenis on the blacklist." Witout mentioning the U.S. or TSA specifically, he aid that the new procedures unfairly subject allYemeni nationals to additional screning. "Twenty-three million people, wherever they're traveling, whatever they're doing, they are wanted ... The whole Yemeni people are penalized by being put on the blacklist." Dhabbi said that extremists operating in Yemen should not be construed as representative of all Yemeni travelers, just as EU and U.S. nationals who are involved in extremist activities do not represent their countries. ¶3. (C) Describing Yemen's recent "successful efforts against al-Qaeda" with "many (extremists) killed or arrested," Dhabbi suggested that the "collective punishment" inflicted on theYemeni people by the new passenger screening proceures undermines the ROYG's CT campaign. He said "We don't know who these (procedures) serve. Weneed the Yemeni people with us in the fight agaist terrorism." He said that the procedures creae the impression that the international communit regards all Yemeni travelers as potential extreists, leaving the Yemeni public mistrustful of CTefforts. ¶4. (C) Addressing USG-instituted passeger screening procedures in the wake of the Deceber 25 bombing attempt in Detroit, the Ambassador explained that TSA guidelines stipulate additional scrutiny for all passengers who have traveled to Yemen (and other TSA-designated countries) during their itinerary, not only Yemeni nationals. "This isn't a measure that seeks to target the citizens of any nation," he said, emphasizing that the goal of the TSA guidelines is to address gaps in aviation security. Dhabbi said that "there is a better way" of improving aviation security, and welcomed assistance to upgrade security in Yemen's airports. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Although the new TSA procedures have not yet been reported in the Yemeni press, Dhabbi's protestations suggest that the guidelines are about to become a sticking point in U.S.-Yemeni relations. The planned visit of an ATA team to Sana'a International Airport to assist in upgrading the airport's security procedures presents an opportunity to put a better face on USG efforts to improve aviation security in Yemen. END COMMENT. SECHE