Because of the awkward angle, this step requires some patience to avoid tearing the cables. Work slowly and apply heat regularly.

Use blunt nose tweezers to pull the cables away from their ZIF connectors slowly and steadily at a level angle to separate the coating.

Gripping the tweezers closer to the tip can help get a tighter hold on the cables.

Keep pulling on the cables until they're completely disconnected.

During reassembly:

Inspect the ends of the cables and the ZIF connectors for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.

Peel off the coating, heating the cable and the ZIF connectors when the coating becomes too brittle.

It doesn't have to look pretty! You just need to remove enough coating to have the cables sit properly in their connectors.