Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 5420 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
QA
YM YI YE

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08MANAMA140, MORE SHI'A STREET POLITICS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08MANAMA140.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08MANAMA140 2008-03-09 09:09 2011-02-18 21:09 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Manama
VZCZCXRO9680
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0140 0690925
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 090925Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7646
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC BA
SUBJECT: MORE SHI'A STREET POLITICS 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 118 
     ΒΆB. 06 MANAMA 1728 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Adam Ereli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1.(C) Summary: Street skirmishes, inspired by Shi'a activists of the Haq movement continued over the past week in several Shi'a villages as youths protested against the republication of the Danish cartoons and in support of the December rioting defendants (reftel). A journalist was injured. The street violence contrasted with the large, orderly rally staged by the Al-Wifaq party. End summary.

2.(U) Haq Movement activists staged unlicensed rallies on February 27 and 29 over the republication of the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Youths moving in packs of one and two dozen threw Molotov cocktails at police vehicles and attempted to set fire to an electrical substation during an unlicensed rally in Sitra February 29. A Bahrain Tribune reporter was injured by a rock aimed at police while covering a demonstration in Sanabis on February 27. In both cases, police kept their distance until the youths set fire to dumpsters and tires, when they dispersed the rioters with tear gas. Two young men were arrested in the Sitra incident. On March 1, Shi'a youths beat two Pakistani men in Jid Hafs; the youths apparently mistook the pair for undercover policemen. Also on March 1, about 50 youths, some carrying Haq Movement banners, torched dumpsters and burned tires in a Sanabis street. When police intervened, the youths responded with stones and torched a police vehicle.

3.(U) While Haq activists succeeded in generating several reports in international media, on February 29 the Shi'a Al-Wifaq political society attracted approximately 10,000 to a well-disciplined rally that was not reported outside Bahrain. Wifaq convened the rally to provide guidance to its base on how to react to the Sunni speaker of parliament's veto of MPs' efforts to compel the testimony of Cabinet Affairs Minister Ahmed bin Attiyatallah Al-Khalifa. (Note: Bin Attiyatallah was the central figure of the Bandargate scandal (ref B). End note.) The speaker's move might well have sparked broader violence, but coordination between Al-Wifaq leadership, Wifaq cadres, and the Interior Ministry helped to keep the situation under control.

4.(C) Comment: Al-Wifaq's disciplined mobilization of thousands demonstrates both its popular appeal and its assessment that it has more to gain in the reforming political system than on the streets. Al-Wifaq official Saeed Al-Majed told poloff March 2 that Wifaq's leadership was determined to continue pressing for the testimony of Attiyatallah, but that it was equally determined to avoid escalating sectarian tensions. Wifaq had no intention of pulling out of the political process, he said. While Wifaq can keep its supporters in line, groups like the Haq Movement are either unable or unwilling to do so. Low-level street violence is thus likely to persist, but large-scale action that might threaten stability is unlikely as long as Wifaq remains willing and able to control its numerous followers. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX********************************************* ******** ERELI