VZCZCXRO0918
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHYN #0589 0661351
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071351Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANAA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3095
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0568
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0337

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
MEPI TO JACQUELYN JOHNSTONE, CAIRO TO GERALD CHEYNE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KMPI KMCC PREF YM
SUBJECT: NEW MHR HAISAMI ON REFUGEES, PRESS, AND THE MHR 
 
Classified By: CDA Nabeel Khoury for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: During a February 27 introductory call by 
Ambassador the new Minister of Human Rights (MHR), Khadijah 
Ahmed al-Haisami, expressed her views on Somali refugees, the 
new press law and her new role, which she promised to perform 
to the best of her ability.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) On February 27, Ambassador paid an introductory call 
on the new MHR, Khadijah Ahmed al-Haisami.  Haisami spent 
much of the meeting discussing Horn of Africa (HOA) issues 
and specifically the status of Somali refugees in Yemen.  She 
noted that Yemen has become the "guard" of the HOA region and 
that in that capacity the country would like to see a stable 
Somalia in the very near future.  She also observed that 
Yemen's relatively good treatment of Somali refugees inspired 
many to stay in the country instead of moving on to other 
gulf countries that could offer them better economic 
opportunity.  This, noted Haisami, caused concern that some 
refugees would turn to extremism if their situation were not 
addressed soon.  "More and more refugees are coming to Yemen 
every day," she warned, "and their economic situation keeps 
growing worse." 
 
¶3. (C) Commenting on the proposed press law, Haisami confided 
that although she had yet to read it, she hoped that the 
Consultative (Shura) Council review of the law would yield 
agreeable amendments to "all sides" and promised to advocate 
for a "just law" that protected journalists.  Haisimi also 
posited that Yemen needed to "try out" the proposed press law 
despite "negative" repercussions.  "We are going through our 
trials, as you in the United States did," she reminded 
Ambassador. 
 
¶4. (C) When challenged by the Ambassador on whether she could 
criticize ministers if the need arose, she assured him that 
she would try her best adding that the ministers, who were 
her colleagues, had "open minds." 
 
¶5. (C) Haisami also forecasted the MHR's 2006 agenda.  She 
revealed that she wanted to expand HR training of MOI police 
forces since they were "the first line of defense" against HR 
violations.  She informed Ambassador that the ministry would 
be releasing a report on women's rights in May, but would not 
issue a HRR this year. (Note: In October, 2005, the ROYG 
released its first HRR).  Finally, she assured Ambassador 
that her ministry would reply to a post-issued Trafficking in 
Persons questionnaire sent to the MHR in February -- before 
the Cabinet reshuffle -- once an inter-ministry committee had 
completed it. 
 
¶6. (C) Comment: Appearing slightly overwhelmed by her new 
position in this first mostly pro-forma meeting, Haisami 
stuck close to what she knew: HOA issues (the subject of her 
doctoral thesis).  It is still not clear how Haisami feels 
about U.S. policies and whether or not she will be able to 
fill the shoes of the forceful and able former minister 
Soswa.  The March 8 release of the USG HRR, which will no 
doubt raise the temper of the ROYG yet again, will afford 
post the first opportunity to gauge Haisami's views and 
ability to deal with international critics in a constructive 
manner.  End Comment. 
Khoury