Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1086
2003-02-20 08:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

INS-APPROVED IRAQI REFUGEES AWAITING SAO CLEARANCE

Tags:  PREF CVIS IZ 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.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001086 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/A - RUSCH AND NORONHA, NEA/ARN AND NEA/NGA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2013
TAGS: PREF CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: INS-APPROVED IRAQI REFUGEES AWAITING SAO CLEARANCE
FACE INCREASING PRESSURES AND DIFFICULTIES IN JORDAN

Classified By: DCM Greg Berry, per 1.5 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 001086

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/A - RUSCH AND NORONHA, NEA/ARN AND NEA/NGA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2013
TAGS: PREF CVIS IZ JO
SUBJECT: INS-APPROVED IRAQI REFUGEES AWAITING SAO CLEARANCE
FACE INCREASING PRESSURES AND DIFFICULTIES IN JORDAN

Classified By: DCM Greg Berry, per 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) AS REQUESTED BY PRM/A, THIS IS A BRIEF UPDATE
ABOUT THE INCREASING PRESSURES AND DIFFICULTIES REPORTED IN
THREE INS APPROVED REFUGEE CASES (13 PERSONS),PENDING THEIR
SAO CLEARANCE. WE NOTE THAT, WHILE THE APPLICANTS THEMSELVES
ARE THE PRIME SOURCE OF INFORMATION IN TWO CASES, UNHCR AMMAN
HAS CONFIRMED THE SITUATION OF THE THIRD, AND EXPRESSES
CONCERN ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF IRAQI REFUGEES MORE
BROADLY AS REGIONAL TENSIONS RISE.


2. (C) ONE OF THE CASES, JO-000626, WAS APPROVED IN THE JULY
2001 INS MISSION AND WAS READY FOR TRAVEL IN SEPTEMBER 2001.
NEW PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED AFTER 9-11 REQUIRED US TO RESUBMIT
HIS SAO REQUEST AND JO-000626 HAS BEEN PENDING EVER SINCE.
DUE TO HIS LONG STAY IN JORDAN, JO-000626 CLAIMS THAT HE IS
KNOWN TO THE IRAQI INTELLIGENCE SERVICES. AS A RESULT, HE
HAS TO KEEP A VERY LOW PROFILE AND RARELY LEAVES HIS HOUSE
BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IRAQI INTELLIGENCE SERVICES WILL "CATCH"
HIM IF HE LEAVES HIS HOUSE.


3. (C) ANOTHER CASE, JO-000711, CURRENTLY WORKS WITH THE
IRAQI OPPOSITION, THE IRAQI NATIONAL ACCORD MOVEMENT (INA, AL
WIFAQ) HERE IN JORDAN. THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK FOR THE
INA REPORTEDLY ARE REQUIRED TO SLEEP IN THEIR OFFICES BECAUSE
THE INA BELIEVES IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THEM TO GO HOME DUE TO
THE PRESENCE OF IRAQI INTELLIGENCE SERVICES IN JORDAN. THEIR
CHILDREN DO NOT GO TO SCHOOLS AND THEY HAVE LOCKED THEMSELVES
IN THEIR HOMES AND CLOSED ALL THE DOORS AND SHUTTERS. ALL
REFUGEES WORKING WITH THE IRAQI OPPOSITION (E.G. IRAQI
NATIONAL ACCORD MOVEMENT) CLAIM THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD BY
OFFICIALS WITH THE OPPOSITION TO TRAVEL TO THEIR RESETTLEMENT
COUNTRIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE REFUGEES REPORT THAT
THERE ARE OTHER EVENTS OCCURRING BUT THE REFUGEES CANNOT
DISCLOSE THE INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE AND IT IS UNSAFE FOR
THEM TO APPROACH AMEMBASSY AMMAN.


4. (C) ACCORDING TO UNHCR AMMAN, THE THIRD CASE, JO-000712,
HAS BEEN "TARGETED" BY IRAQI INTELLIGENCE AGENTS. THE ENTIRE
FAMILY HAS GONE INTO HIDING AND IS MOVED FROM ONE SAFE HOUSE
TO ANOTHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS. ONLY THE PROTECTION OFFICER
AT UNHCR KNOWS THE FAMILY'S EXACT WHEREABOUTS. THE SEVEN
FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE. THEY ARE
TRYING TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE, WHICH IS PROVING TO BE QUITE
DIFFICULT.


5. (C) UNHCR AMMAN REPORTS THAT THE PRESENCE OF IRAQI
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS IN JORDAN PRESENTS A PERMANENT RISK FOR
IRAQI REFUGEES WHO LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING HARASSED OR
HAVING THEIR LIVES THREATENED IN JORDAN. IN GENERAL, IRAQI
INTELLIGENCE CONTINUES TO SURVEIL AND HARASS SOME IRAQI
REFUGEES HERE IN JORDAN. THEIR ACTIVITIES AND MOTIONS ARE
CONSTANTLY MONITORED. REFUGEES REPORTEDLY HAVE BEEN ATTACKED
ON THE STREETS AND HAVE HAD PEOPLE COME TO THEIR HOUSES
SEARCHING FOR THEM. WHEN THE REFUGEES LEAVE THEIR HOUSES,
THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS.


6. (C) IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO UNHCR'S MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE GOJ, REFUGEES HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO
REMAIN IN JORDAN ONLY SIX MONTHS AFTER THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS
REFUGEES BY UNHCR. AFTERWARDS, THEY RISK BEING SUBJECTED TO
DEPORTATION TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN (IN THIS CASE IRAQ).
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY CASES OF DEPORTATION OF
UNHCR-RECOGNIZED REFUGEES, UNHCR IS INCREASINGLY ANXIOUS THAT
THE GOJ WILL MOVE TO DEPORT RECOGNIZED REFUGEES WHO HAVE
OVERSTAYED THEIR LEGAL RESIDENCY, PARTICULARLY IF CONDITIONS
INSIDE JORDAN DETERIORATE.


7. (C) FINALLY, INCREASING TENSIONS IN THE REGION ARE
MAKING THESE 13 INS-APPROVED REFUGEES INCREASINGLY NERVOUS
ABOUT THEIR FATE. IF WAR WERE TO OCCUR AND THE CURRENT
REGIME IN IRAQ WERE TO CHANGE, THE REFUGEES WONDER WHETHER
THEY WOULD BE RESETTLED OR GIVEN THE CHANCE TO RETURN HOME.
WOULD THEY LOSE REFUGEE STATUS ONCE THE CAUSE FOR FEAR OF
PERSECUTION IN THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN IS NO LONGER THERE? WE
WOULD APPRECIATE GUIDANCE ON THESE QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS
TIMELY REVIEW OF SAO CLEARANCES FOR THE CASES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
GNEHM