US embassy cable - 05AMMAN470

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000470 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2015 
TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PTER, JO, KHMN 
SUBJECT: SUSPECTS IN 2002 MA'AN RIOTS FINALLY HAVE THEIR 
DAY IN COURT 
 
REF: A. 04 AMMAN 10304 
 
     B. 04 AMMAN 05476 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (U)  More than two years after riots shook the restive 
southern town of Ma'an, the State Security Court in January 
finally opened the trial of 108 individuals suspected of 
involvement.  The violence in November 2002 left six people 
dead, including two police officers, and resulted in 
criticism that the government mishandled the situation.  Only 
13 people appeared in court on January 9, and all pleaded 
innocent to the charges.  The remaining 95 suspects will be 
tried in absentia.  Chief among the defendants is local 
extremist Mohammad al-Shalabi (aka Abu Sayyaf), who was 
sentenced on December 27 to 15 years in jail on weapons 
charges related to a separate alleged terrorist plot (ref A). 
 
2.  (U)  The charge sheet is long.  The group is accused of 
carrying out terrorist acts that led to the death of an 
individual, possessing automatic weapons with illicit intent, 
plotting subversive acts by using flammable substances, and 
illegal public assembly with the intent of causing riots. 
They also were charged with importing weapons, including hand 
grenades and rocket launchers, and possessing unlicensed 
guns. 
 
3.  (C)  The trial so far has been marked by unusual levels 
of acrimony.  The prosecution introduced several witnesses, 
including a Ma'an-based security official who testified that 
he found weapons and machine guns at the home of one of the 
defendants.  Officers also testified that anonymous 
individuals had thrown Molotov cocktails and fired at them 
while on duty in Ma'an, resulting in injuries.  In contrast 
to the defendants' allegations that they were forced to sign 
confessions while blindfolded, security witnesses told the 
court that the suspects confessed willingly, "without being 
subjected to any form of torture or duress."  A session on 
January 17 was interrupted at least twice by defendants who 
cursed the judge and prosecutor, and screamed at witnesses, 
calling them "liars" and "traitors."  In one instance, one 
defendant threatened revenge against a police officer for his 
"lies."  A reporter who was present told poloff that the 
judge had to adjourn the hearing at one point for nearly an 
hour until order was restored.  At the end of the two-hour 
session, the judge adjourned until January 31, when the court 
will reconvene to hear more testimony from prosecution 
witnesses. 
 
4.  (C)  Comment:  Ma'an's economy is underdeveloped; tribal 
power there is still significant; Saudi influence is strong; 
and Salafi (and even Takfiri) tendencies widespread (ref B). 
Long a center of opposition to the government, Ma'an has 
repeatedly witnessed unrest over bread and gasoline price 
increases over the past 20 years.  The GOJ probably delayed 
this trial in the hope that sympathy for the Ma'an rioters 
would dissipate, and memories of the suppression of the 
uprising would fate.  Heightened concerns about terrorist 
threats in Jordan (and fear of regime retaliation) may 
mitigate against popular expressions of sympathy for the 
Ma'an rioters.  However, the animosity will continue to play 
out in the courtroom as the GOJ makes an example of the Ma'an 
troublemakers. 
 
5.  (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at 
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through 
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page. 
HALE