VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHYN #0093 0200557
ZNY CCCC ZZH
P 200557Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANAA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3566
INFO RHEHNS/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SEURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000093 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP NEA/PPD AND DS/ATA JNASON 
DHS FOR CBP/OIOC EWALER AND CPB/PLT GDEWEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/220 
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ASEC EAIR KPAO YM
SUBJECT: YEMEN PROTESTS "COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT" OFNEW 
 
PASSENGER SCREENNG POLICIES 
 
Classified B: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4(b) and d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY.  On January 18, Deputy Foregn Minister 
Mohyadeen al-Dhabbi summoned a divere group of ambassadors 
to express the ROYG's concrns about new passenger screening 
procedures forinternational air travel that, in his 
characteriation, unfairly subjects all Yemeni nationals toadditional and unwarranted scrutiny.  He warned tht this 
"collective punishment" threatened the ROY's CT efforts by 
creating the impression that th international community 
regards all Yemenis as errorists.  The Ambassador explained 
that TSA prcedures scrutinize all travelers who visit Yemenand other designated countries, regardless of the tavelers' 
nationality.  Although the new TSA procdures have not 
attracted attention in the Yemenipress, Dhabbi's 
protestations suggest that the gidelines are about to become 
an issue in the bilteral relationship.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) On Janury 18, Deputy Foreign Minister Mohyadeen 
al-Dhabi summoned a diverse group of ambassadors to expres 
the ROYG's concerns about newly implemented pasenger 
screening procedures for international trvel that put "all 
Yemenis on the blacklist."  Witout mentioning the U.S. or 
TSA specifically, he aid that the new procedures unfairly 
subject allYemeni nationals to additional screning. 
"Twenty-three million people, wherever they're traveling, 
whatever they're doing, they are wanted ... The whole Yemeni 
people are penalized by being put on the blacklist."  Dhabbi 
said that extremists operating in Yemen should not be 
construed as representative of all Yemeni travelers, just as 
EU and U.S. nationals who are involved in extremist 
activities do not represent their countries. 
 
¶3. (C) Describing Yemen's recent "successful efforts against 
al-Qaeda" with "many (extremists) killed or arrested," Dhabbi 
suggested that the "collective punishment" inflicted on theYemeni people by the new passenger screening proceures 
undermines the ROYG's CT campaign.  He said "We don't know 
who these (procedures) serve.  Weneed the Yemeni people with 
us in the fight agaist terrorism."  He said that the 
procedures creae the impression that the international 
communit regards all Yemeni travelers as potential 
extreists, leaving the Yemeni public mistrustful of CTefforts. 
 
¶4. (C) Addressing USG-instituted passeger screening 
procedures in the wake of the Deceber 25 bombing attempt in 
Detroit, the Ambassador explained that TSA guidelines 
stipulate additional scrutiny for all passengers who have 
traveled to Yemen (and other TSA-designated countries) during 
their itinerary, not only Yemeni nationals.  "This isn't a 
measure that seeks to target the citizens of any nation," he 
said, emphasizing that the goal of the TSA guidelines is to 
address gaps in aviation security.  Dhabbi said that "there 
is a better way" of improving aviation security, and welcomed 
assistance to upgrade security in Yemen's airports. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶5. (C) Although the new TSA procedures have not yet been 
reported in the Yemeni press, Dhabbi's protestations suggest 
that the guidelines are about to become a sticking point in 
U.S.-Yemeni relations.  The planned visit of an ATA team to 
Sana'a International Airport to assist in upgrading the 
airport's security procedures presents an opportunity to put 
a better face on USG efforts to improve aviation security in 
Yemen. END COMMENT. 
SECHE