Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN5528
2002-09-26 04:04:00
SECRET
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

GOJ TO APPROACH DUTCH TO ASK THAT MULLAH KREKAR

Tags:  PREL PTER NL NO JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005528 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARN, EUR/EB, AND S/CT
DOJ FOR OIA: SWARTZ AND FRIEDMAN
BRUSSELS FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER NL NO JO
SUBJECT: GOJ TO APPROACH DUTCH TO ASK THAT MULLAH KREKAR
NOT BE EXPELLED TO NORWAY

REF: A. BERRY/RUSSELL TELCON 9/25/02


B. THE HAGUE 2722

C. AMMAN 5398

D. OSLO 2169

E. THE HAGUE 2659

Classified By: DCM Gregory L. Berry for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)

---------------------------
EXPELLING KREKAR TO NORWAY?
---------------------------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005528

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA, NEA/ARN, EUR/EB, AND S/CT
DOJ FOR OIA: SWARTZ AND FRIEDMAN
BRUSSELS FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2012
TAGS: PREL PTER NL NO JO
SUBJECT: GOJ TO APPROACH DUTCH TO ASK THAT MULLAH KREKAR
NOT BE EXPELLED TO NORWAY

REF: A. BERRY/RUSSELL TELCON 9/25/02


B. THE HAGUE 2722

C. AMMAN 5398

D. OSLO 2169

E. THE HAGUE 2659

Classified By: DCM Gregory L. Berry for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)

--------------
EXPELLING KREKAR TO NORWAY?
--------------


1. (S) Following ref a telcon, DCM and PolCouns September
25 called on Acting Foreign Minister Shaher Bak and Personal
Assistant to Foreign Minister Muasher, Ali al-Ayed, regarding
the GOJ's request for the extradition of Najmuddin Faraj
Ahmad (aka Mullah Krekar) from Holland. The DCM explained
that the Dutch said they were worried that, if Norway strips
Krekar of his refugee status and the 3-judge panel in the
October 9 extradition hearing denies Jordan's extradition
request, the GONL will be forced to release Krekar -- an
outcome the Dutch (and Jordanians) definitely do not want.
Consequently, we understand that the GONL may attempt to
expel Krekar to Norway before his refugee status/travel
documents are revoked.


2. (S) Bak said that he would call the Dutch Ambassador in
Amman and urge the GONL to continue with the process of
extradition to Jordan (including the October 9 hearing),to
consult closely with the GOJ before taking any action in the
case, and to not/not expel Krekar to Norway. He instructed
al-Ayed to contact the Jordanian Ambassador in the Hague, who
was to deliver the same message to the GONL.

--------------
GOJ EXTRADITION REQUEST TO NORWAY IN TRAIN
--------------


3. (S) Al-Ayed confirmed in a subsequent conversation that
the Jordanian Ambassador in the Hague had expressed to the
Dutch MFA Jordanian concerns about the possible expulsion of
Krekar to Norway. Al-Ayed said that the Dutch had advised
Jordan to submit a separate extradition request for Krekar to
Norway. Acting FonMin Bak also spoke to the Dutch Ambassador
in Amman making similar points, and will see her on September

26. Bak also plans to see the Norwegian Ambassador in Amman
separately on September 26.


4. (S) Both before and after the conversation with Bak, we
talked with al-Ayed to make sure that the Jordanians
understand the possible need for making a separate
provisional arrest and extradition request of Norway.
Al-Ayed said that the GOJ had already begun the process of
requesting that Norway arrest and extradite Krekar. Finally,
we understand that Jordanian GID Chief Kheir phoned PM Ali
Abul Ragheb on this case September 25, and that Abul Ragheb
subsequently called FonMin Marwan Muasher (who is currently
in Washington) to discuss next steps. As of 1930 local
September 25, we do not know what follow on actions Muasher
may have taken.

-------------- --------------
TECHNICAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE EXTRADITION REQUEST
-------------- --------------


5. (S) On other related topics, during the meeting with
Acting FonMin Bak, the DCM said that, even if this issue of
Krekar's possible expulsion to Norway is resolved, it appears
that the GOJ will still have to deal with two other technical
issues related to the extradition request. First, the GOJ
will have to pledge that Krekar will not receive the death
penalty. Second, the GOJ will have to pledge that he will be
tried only on the charges for which he is extradited, i.e.
narcotics trafficking. Bak said that the GOJ is prepared to
pledge that Krekar will not be given the death penalty, and
that he will be tried only on the narcotics trafficking
charges on which the extradition is based. He also said that
he would consider recommending that Jordanian Justice
Minister Faris Nabulsi contact Dutch Justice Minister Donner
to express the GOJ's very strong interest in progress on
their extradition request.


6. (S) Bak commented, however, that the twenty day delay in
the Dutch court proceedings may not provide sufficient time
for the GOJ to prepare the more detailed extradition request.
The military prosecutor's office, Bak noted, would have to
research and collect the related documents and court records,
prepare the request in Arabic, translate it and the documents
into English, then make sure the translations, format, and
procedures were proper. He hoped the GOJ could be given more
than 20 days to produce the final extradition request.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. (S) The GOJ is pressing ahead with its detailed
extradition request paperwork. We have offered USG
assistance in reviewing the final documents to assure that
they meet Dutch court standards. We recommend that the
Department contact FonMin Muasher in Washington to ascertain
what actions he might have taken today from Washington.

GNEHM