US embassy cable - 05AMMAN1353

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001353 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, ELAB, KMPI, JO 
SUBJECT: GOJ-PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS DISPUTE STILL 
SIMMERING 
 
REF: A. AMMAN 709 
     B. AMMAN 571 
 
Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1.  (U)  Summary:  The professional associations continue 
to challenge the government's ban on its "political 
activity" (refs).  The like-minded opposition political 
parties have now taken up the cause, calling for more 
public freedoms during a sit-in in front of the Parliament 
building on February 13.  Meanwhile, the GOJ banned a 
planned meeting of the Engineers' Association on February 
14, and the Amman governor issued another memorandum to the 
Associations' leadership reiterating the government's 
position.  Minister of Interior Samir Habashneh will appear 
before Parliament on February 20 to answer questions about 
the GOJ's handling of the situation.  Arab unionists in 
Cairo called on King Abdullah to end the conflict.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (U)  The government's clash with the professional 
associations has continued on a slow boil.  Like-minded 
opposition political parties have rallied around the 
associations, organizing a sit-in in front of the 
Parliament building on February 13 under the slogan 
"defending public freedoms."  The governor of Amman granted 
permission for the event, which as reported in the local 
media was attended by around 300 individuals.  The 
protesters ended the gathering 20 minutes early because, 
according to statements by organizers quoted in the press, 
"unknown persons penetrated the gathering and tried to 
damage the (rally)."   They accused the "infiltrators" of 
trying to fight with protesters and attempting to seize 
their banners.  Afterwards, the Coordinating Committee of 
the opposition political parties publicly accused the 
Ministry of Interior of trying to sabotage a legal sit-in. 
Spokesman for the Committee Dr. Sa'id Theyab said that they 
had decided to send a memo to King Abdullah emphasizing the 
deterioration of public freedoms under the current 
government. 
 
3.  (U)  The government is standing firm.  The Amman 
governor on February 13 sent a memo to the associations 
reiterating the GOJ's demand that they commit themselves to 
professional concerns only and avoid "political activity." 
He also banned a planned seminar on February 14 by the 
Jordan Engineers' Association (JEA) to discuss members' 
"professional rights" and "national concerns."   According 
to JEA president Wa'el al-Saqqa: "A large number of police 
officers surrounded the Professional Associations Complex 
and prevented anyone from entering." 
 
4.  (U)  Following a request from Islamic Action Front MP 
Ali Abu Sukkar, Interior Minister Samir Habashneh will 
appear before Parliament on February 20 to answer questions 
about the conflict with the professional associations, 
including the GOJ's use of force to break up a rally on 
January 26 that resulted in injuries.  (Note: Article 96 of 
the Jordanian constitution gives any MP the right to 
request the appearance of any minister before Parliament to 
address "public matters."  End note.)  GOJ spokesperson 
Asma Khader had told reporters on January 31 that the GOJ 
was investigating the allegations of police brutality: "Of 
course, there was no government decision to attack anyone. 
If such an attack did take place, those responsible will be 
held accountable." 
 
5.  (U)  Meanwhile, Arab unionists outside Jordan have 
taken up the cause.  The Union of the Arab Professional 
Associations at the end of its meeting in Cairo on February 
12 announced that it had sent a letter to King Abdullah 
requesting him to intervene in the situation. 
 
6.  (C)  Comment:  Both sides appear to be holding their 
ground, but the longer the conflict persists, the longer 
the more the government stands to lose.  A main goal of the 
GOJ's crackdown was to contain the vehement anti-Israel and 
anti-U.S. speech emanating from the professional 
associations, particularly its anti-normalization activity 
that targeted supposed supporters of Israel.  The GOJ's 
heavy-handed approach has, however, galvanized the (legal) 
opposition political parties to rally round the 
associations and has given fodder to the argument that the 
government does not value public freedoms.  The crackdown 
will not end the anti-Israel and anti-U.S. messages, but 
may only push the oppositionist parties (whose membership 
tends to overlap with the professional associations) to 
assume the lead on championing these causes. 
 
7.  (U)  Baghdad minimize considered. 
HALE