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Cablegate: Street Protests Subside Following Intervention Of

VZCZCXRO6621
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #1112 3541120
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201120Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7501
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 001112

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PHUM KISL BA
SUBJECT: STREET PROTESTS SUBSIDE FOLLOWING INTERVENTION OF
SHI'A COMMUNITY LEADERS

REF: A. MANAMA 1105
B. MANAMA 1109
C. MANAMA 1110

Classified By: DCM Christopher Henzel for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (SBU) Summary: After renewed clashes between police and Shi'a youths December 18, there were no further disturbances and the streets remained quiet as of mid-afternoon December 20. The intervention of Shi'a community leaders helped defuse the situation. End summary.

2. (SBU) Following clashes December 17 between police and youths in several Shi'a neighborhoods (ref C), about 3000 Shi'a gathered peacefully early December 18 for the burial in Jid Hafs of the street protester Ali Jassim Mekki (aka Ali Jassim Makki Al-Barbari). After most of the mourners dispersed, about 200 youths burned rubbish and threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas. There were no injuries or arrests reported, and the disturbances ended around nightfall. As of 3:00 p.m. local time December 20 no further protests have taken place.

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3. (SBU) Credit for the apparent end of the violence should go to the intervention of Shi'a clerics and Wifaq party leaders (as well as the onset of the Eid December 19.) As reported ref C, MP Ali Salman, leader of the Wifaq bloc in the Chamber of Deputies, persuaded the Mekki family to permit the autopsy which attributed the death to natural causes. Shi'a clerics Ahmad al-Asfoor, Saeed al-Wada'ee, and a number of lesser clergy attended the funeral.

4. (C) After Eid, we expect some Shi'a politicians to question the autopsy's results and to press for an independent inquiry into Mekki's death. End comment. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX********************************************* ******** ERELI

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