US embassy cable - 05SANAA545

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000545 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PREL, YM, DOMESTIC POLITICS 
SUBJECT: ISLAH: IN FOR A PEACEFUL STRUGGLE 
 
REF: SANAA 426 
 
Classified By: DCM Nabeel Khoury for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: In a February 28 meeting with Islah (Reform) 
party senior officials, Ambassador and DCM discussed economic 
reform, corruption, and the need for dialogue with the West. 
Islah General Secretary Mohammed Abdullah al-Yadoumi, Deputy 
General Secretary Abdul Wahab al-Anisi, Head of the Political 
Bureau Mohammed Qahtan and other Islah party leaders 
uniformly expressed discontent with the proposed 10 percent 
quota in parliament for women and called for comprehensive 
economic reform and anti-corruption efforts.  Qahtan demurred 
on the question of an Islahi presidential candidate for 2006, 
the subject of rampant rumors recently in Sanaa. End Summary. 
 
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Women's Quota "Undemocratic" 
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2. (C) Characterizing the GPC endorsed women's quota for 
Parliament as "undemocratic," Islah leaders were outspoken in 
their opposition to the proposal.  Political spokesman and 
moderate, Qahtan said that a woman's role in government must 
be a "natural progression" announcing that the quota is not 
on Islah's agenda.  "But," he pointed out, "if the GPC 
majority in Parliament passes it, we will follow." Yadoumi 
underscored Islah's already strong women's representation, 
noting that over 300 women were already active in Islah,s 
party structure. 
 
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Reform: All or Nothing 
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3. (C) Turning to economic reform, ostensibly the reason 
behind the current spat between Saleh and al-Ahmar (reftel), 
Islah leaders called for a "comprehensive" economic reform 
program.  Anisi suggested that current plans neglect the 
middle class.  In response to Ambassador's inquiry on whether 
they thought ROYG steps towards reform demonstrated a 
willingness to change, Yadoumi, with everyone agreeing, 
responded that the ROYG has done nothing to "really" fight 
corruption.  "They (the GPC) will not even acknowledge that 
there is a problem, when it is a disaster," Yadoumi 
commented. 
 
4. (C) Anisi proposed that diesel subsidy reductions could 
only work if it were part of a complete reform package.  He 
added that there was no place in Yemen for piecemeal reform, 
and stated Yemen's need to "break the rock" in order to fix 
the economic situation.  Anisi complained that the ruling GPC 
is not transparent about its discussions with World Bank and 
IMF officials in order to suppress the bad news often 
delivered by their interlocutors. 
 
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Support our "Peaceful Struggle" for Democracy 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
5. (C) Expressing disappointment that despite Yemen's wars 
and revolutions, Qahtan reflected, "the outcome does not 
reflect the struggle."  He explained that Yemen still did not 
possess the "basis for a state."  Urging the Ambassador to 
"stop encouraging" the ROYG in its current ways, Yadoumi 
added "the effort is ours but you must support our peaceful 
struggle for rule of law and democracy."  "Instead," he 
continued, "you talk about Yemen's democracy ... what 
democracy is that?"  Concluding, he said he wished to see 
Yemen respect "equal application of the law."  (Note: From 
the context of the speech, it was obvious that Yadoumi was 
referring to corruption. End Note). 
 
6. (C) DCM asked if Islah would run a candidate for the 2006 
Presidential Election.  Qahtan said, "the issue is still 
under discussion." (Note: The Sanaa rumor mill is predicting 
that an Islahi candidate would challenge Saleh in 2006 for 
the upcoming presidential election.  End Note). 
 
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Time for Dialogue? 
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7. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, Yadoumi asked that 
the USG help Islah promote an equal dialogue to help build 
bridges between the West and East in compliance with Islah,s 
final communiqu issued at the end of its party conference. 
Anisi agreed that there needed to be a comprehensive dialogue 
between the West and Islamic States and offered to help with 
that endeavor. 
 
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Comment 
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8. (C) Comment: The Ambassador's meeting took place as a 
public war of words continued between al-Ahmar and Saleh. 
Islah was clearly appealing to the Ambassador to treat it as 
a viable opposition party and continually criticized GPC 
positions.  Islah leaders ended every subject by 
distinguishing themselves from the GPC.  Islah, still more of 
a coalition than a party, is nevertheless becoming a strong 
political force.  Regardless of whether or not they contest 
the presidential election, it will be interesting to see how 
they do with local council elections, slated to occur 
concurrently with the 2006 presidential election. End Comment. 
Krajeski