US embassy cable - 05DAMASCUS6368

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 006368 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, SY, HRCS 
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ROUNDUP: LABWANI UPDATE; MALEH TRIAL 
CONTINUES; OPPOSITION FIGURE FACES MILITARY CHARGES; 
AUTHORITIES PREVENT ATASSI FORUM MEETING 
 
REF: DAMASCUS 005866 
 
Classified By: CDA Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b)/(d) 
 
1.   (C)  SUMMARY: The SARG pressure on human rights 
activists continues unabated, with authorities using 
detention, legal cases and police intimidation as tools. 
Kamal Labwani remains detained in Aadra prison, while the 
presiding judge continues his investigation.  The military 
court trial of Haithem al-Maleh convened for a brief session 
in early December and was adjourned until 2006.  In the 
meantime, fellow Damascus Declaration signatory and 
opposition figure Hassan Abdul Azim was informed of security 
charges against him and will appear in court later in 
December.  SARG authorities prevented the Atassi Forum from 
meeting on December 4, for the fourth time in five months. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  LABWANI DETENTION ENTERS 4TH WEEK: Kamal Labwani 
remains detained in a criminal section of Aadra Prison. 
Labwani's family noted to Poloff and visiting NEA Senior 
Advisor David Denehy that he has now "purchased" a bed in 
prison by paying a fellow inmate 1000 Syrian pounds and feels 
relatively comfortable in his surroundings.  Prison officials 
continue to deny him access to the prison library.  Defense 
lawyer Anwar al-Bunni told Poloff in a separate interview 
that he has filed a number of motions for another hearing but 
has yet to receive a trial date from the prosecuting lawyer. 
"This case started with a phone call and will end with a 
phone call", said Bunni, alluding to the political nature of 
the charges, which he feels can only be resolved by the SARG 
leadership's direct intervention in the case, as no evidence 
against Labwani has been presented. 
 
3.  (C)  MALEH CASE CONTINUES:  Human rights lawyer Haithem 
Maleh appeared in the Damascus Military Court on December 1. 
Maleh, who is facing charges of slandering a variety of 
government bodies (reftel), submitted a request for any 
charges based on military law to be dropped.  The presiding 
judge has taken the motion under advisement; the next court 
date is set for January 19. Maleh continues to hope to be 
included in an expected presidential pardon for political 
prisoners in commemoration of Eid al-Adha, which will take 
place in mid-January.  (NOTE: Maleh has not been detained and 
continues with his human rights work) 
 
4.  (C)  ANOTHER DAMASCUS DECLARATION SIGNATORY FACES LEGAL 
TROUBLE:  Opposition figure and activist Hassan Abdul Azim, 
head of the Democratic Arab Socialist Union, spokesman for 
the National Democratic Front, and Damascus Declaration 
signatory, has been served with a summons to appear in 
military court in mid-December.  Human rights activists Bunni 
and Rezan Zeituneh noted that the charges are in connection 
with the August arrest of Hasan Zeino at a Hama bus station 
while he was carrying copies of the National Democratic 
Front,s newspaper.  Zeino was released on bail on August 24 
and awaits a final criminal court verdict on charges of 
possession of publications of a prohibited organization. 
 
5.  (C)  ATASSI FORUM PREVENTED FROM MEETING:  Following a 
month-long hiatus due to the Eid al-Fitr holiday, about 40 
people were prevented from attending a meeting of the Atassi 
Forum on December 4.  Bunni, who observed the proceedings 
from a safe distance, noted that police officers and cars had 
sealed off the area around the building where the meeting was 
to take place.  Police officers conducted brief interviews 
with persons attempting to near the building, conducted 
pat-downs, seized papers and documents carried by the 
would-be attendees, and noted the identification card numbers 
of those questioned. 
 
 
SECHE