US embassy cable - 04AMMAN8580

UNCLAS AMMAN 008580 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, KMPI, JO 
SUBJECT: ANOTHER PRISON RIOT PRECEDES ABUSE TRIAL 
 
REF: AMMAN 7959 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (U) Another riot at the Al-Juweideh correctional facility 
October 6 preceded the opening of the trial of eleven 
officers charged in connection with the September 1 death of 
an inmate (reftel). Violence erupted a third time at the 
prison October 12. End Summary. 
 
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MORE VIOLENCE AT AL-JUWEIDEH 
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2. (U) The local press reported another riot at the 
Al-Juweideh Correctional and Rehabilitation Centre in Amman 
October 6. According to the Jordanian Public Security 
Directorate (PSD), three brothers started the disturbance in 
reaction to the decision of prison authorities to transfer 
one of the inmates to another facility. A PSD official was 
quoted as saying the situation was brought under control 
within 30 minutes. Witnesses near the facility reported 
seeing official vehicles and PSD reinforcements pouring into 
the prison. 
 
3. (U) According to press reports, violence again erupted at 
the facility October 12 as inmates reacted to the testimony 
from their colleagues exonerating the police officers accused 
of beating an inmate to death September 1. Prisoners set fire 
to their mattresses and dismantled their iron beds to use 
them as weapons. Interior Minister Samir Habashneh announced 
that iron beds at all correctional facilities would be 
replaced with concrete ones. 10 prisoners were reportedly 
hospitalized for minor injuries. 
 
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INTERNAL HEARING PRODUCES FRIENDLY WITNESSES 
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4. (U) Several inmates, including some that were injured 
September 1, testified at an internal PSD court proceeding 
that they saw no beatings or abuse by prison authorities 
during the September 1 riot. These witnesses claimed the 
injured parties "hurt themselves." Two of the beaten inmates 
testified that the authorities did all they could to prevent 
unnecessary use of force. Prison management claimed that the 
fatality was a result of wounds inflicted by other inmates. 
 
5. (SBU) Asem Rababa, an attorney for the quasi-governmental 
National Center for Human Rights (NCHR), told PolOff October 
14 that the October 12 disturbance occurred for two reasons: 
1) prisoners were unhappy with alleged deals between prison 
managers and the witnesses to testify on behalf of the 
accused, and 2) prison management did not follow through with 
promises made to those inmates who testified. Rababa claimed 
that the two inmates injured during the September 1 riot and 
who provided exonerating testimony were released from custody 
a week prior to their appearance in court. Rababa said these 
two witnesses came to the NCHR and complained that they had 
actually testified against the defendants and were being 
misquoted. 
 
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COURTROOM ACCESS LIMITED 
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6. (SBU) Rababa attempted to attend the PSD proceedings, but 
was turned away. He informed PolOff October 14 that the judge 
refused his entry and requested that he receive permission to 
attend from the head of the PSD. Rababa then asked the PSD 
for authorization but was told that he must request 
permission from the judge. Rababa stated that according to 
regulations, PSD court proceedings are generally open to the 
public unless the presiding judge rules otherwise. No such 
ruling has been issued, and Rababa claimed he knew of no 
journalists that had access to the proceedings. 
 
7. (SBU) Rababa spoke with lawyers participating in the 
hearing and said their general feeling was that the 
defendants would be found guilty. Rababa shared this opinion, 
but felt that the head of the PSD would reduce the sentences 
or prevent their implementation. (The PSD Director has 
authority to modify internal court punishments.)  According 
to Rababa, the three-judge panel and the prosecutor all work 
for the PSD. 
 
HALE