NOT A DONE DEAL: SUNNI WITHDRAWAL FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003012

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: NOT A DONE DEAL: SUNNI WITHDRAWAL FROM
CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires David M. Satterfield for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Following the July 19 assassinations of Sunni
representatives to the Constitution Drafting bodies, the
media has reported that the entire Sunni contingent had
withdrawn from the constitution drafting process. While
there is some confusion even amongst our Iraqi interlocutors
as to whether this is the case, it appears that Sunni
participation in the constitution development process has
been only temporarily suspended and Committee members are
taking time to mourn their slain colleagues. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Angry and grief stricken Sunnis openly contemplated
withdrawal from the constitution development process at the
July 20 session of the Transitional National Assembly.
Deputy Constitution Committee Chair and head of the Sunni
delegation Adnan al-Janabi demanded guards and a security
budget for Sunni representatives to the Committee that is on
par with that provided to other TNA members. In a side
meeting during today's session, Speaker Hajim al-Hassani and
Qassim Daoud agreed to provide the Sunnis with 15 guards --
the number allotted to other TNA members -- and a budget for
the purchase of an appropriate vehicle.


3. (C) Al-Janabi exchanged heated words with al-Hassani both
inside and outside the July 20 session, complaining that the
condolence statement read during the Assembly by Daoud, who
has essentially broken with the Iraqiya bloc, was
inappropriate. Daoud described Mujbil Ali Haseen al Shaykh
Issa as a member of the Dulaimi tribe rather than the Nuami
tribe. Additionally, al-Janabi felt he should have read the
statement, not Daoud.


4. (C) The National Dialogue's Dr. Saleh Mutlak expressed his
anger at the refusal of the TNA to support the new -- and
threatened -- Sunni members to the Constitution Committee.
He said TNA authorities had delayed even badging the new
members and had not made any moves to support their personal
security. He also stated that the Karada neighborhood where
Mujbil Issa and others were killed is well patrolled by Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF),who did nothing to protect his
colleagues.


5. (C) Both al-Janabi and Mutlak told reporters that they are
suspending Sunni participation on the Constitution Committee,
and today's meeting was cancelled. It remains unclear,
however, whether the suspension is because the Sunnis were
attending today's funeral for the slain Committee members or
a step out the door entirely.


6. (C) Dr. Hasib Saleh al Obeidi told PolOff while traveling
north to the slain committee members' village of Hawija that
he and several other committee members (most likely other
National Dialogue representatives) would be in mourning for
two days and did not intend to return to Baghdad before that
time. Obeidi said there had not yet been any decision to
withdraw but predicted National Dialogue members would come
to some consensus on how to proceed.


7. (C) Dr. Ala'a Sadoun, an Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP)
representative to the Committee, said the group did not
attend today's TNA meeting, but was considering attending on
July 21. IIP's Dr. Ayad Samarra'i also did not mention to
PolOff any planned withdrawal.

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


8. (C) It is far from clear whether the Sunnis do, in fact,
intend to withdraw from the constitution process permanently,
despite press reports that this is already a 'fait accompli.'
An encouraging sign is that Sunni interlocutors have
indicated they will go forward with a meeting planned for
this evening with the Charge. Post will press Sunni leaders
hard to continue participation in the constitution drafting
process. Post will also strongly urge the Government, as
PolCouns did today in a discussion with Prime Minister
Jafari, to provide adequate security --at least on par with
that provided to other TNA members -- to the Sunni members of
the Constitution Committee. END COMMENT.


9. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.
Satterfield