SUNNI LEADER REJECTS CONSTITUTION, ALLEGES POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003567 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015 TAGS: PGOV QA IZ SUBJECT: SUNNI LEADER REJECTS CONSTITUTION, ALLEGES POLICE ABUSE Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1. 4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Adnan al-Dulaimi told Ambassador on August 30 that Minister of Interior Baqr Jabr should be removed due to allegations of arbitrary arrest, abuse, and murder of Sunnis by Iraqi Police (IP). Dulaimi worried that federalism would divide the country and urged that the referendum be deferred until after the elections. Dulaimi also said Sunnis would vote against the constitution. He requested a countrywide 10-day extension for voter registration and said the recent release of 1,000 detainees was a welcome gesture of goodwill. Ambassador emphasized the necessity for continued Sunni participation in the political process, urging Dulaimi to withhold judgment on the constitution until the final text has been released. Ambassador said he would continue to press MoI to address allegations of abuse and extra-judicial killings by IP and said he would look into the requested extension for voter registration. END SUMMARY. -------------- ALLEGATIONS OF MOI ABUSE -------------- ¶2. (C) Adnan al-Dulaimi in an August 30 meeting with Ambassador called for the removal of Minister of Interior Baqr Jabr, alleging arbitrary arrest, abuse, and murder of Sunnis by the Iraqi Police (IP). As an example, Dulaimi pointed to the recent discovery in Wasit Province of 36 bodies identified as Sunnis, who were allegedly detained by IP (septel). Dulaimi alleged Iraqi Government complicity. The Ambassador said he would press MOI to address the allegations of abuse and extra-judicial killings by the IP. -------------- DULAIMI SAYS SUNNIS TO REJECT CONSTITUTION -------------- ¶3. (C) Dulaimi worried that federalism would divide the country, and urged that the referendum be deferred until after the next elections. Ambassador emphasized that Iraq must stay together and that Sunnis must participate in that process. The constitution is a living document, he added, and to affect it, the Sunni community must be fully engaged in the political process. Dulaimi stated that "We will definitely vote against it"; Ambassador responded that the democratic process is all about giving individuals the right to express their opinions in a meaningful peaceful manner. He urged Dulaimi to study the text and its compromises carefully and to withhold judgment until the final text is out. -------------- --- DETAINEE RELEASE WELCOMED; REQUEST FOR EXTENSION -------------- --- ¶4. (C) Citing security problems hampering voter registration in some provinces, Dulaimi requested a 10-day extension for registration throughout the country. He emphasized his efforts to encourage Sunnis to vote and suggested that such an extension would be a welcome gesture of goodwill. Dulaimi said that the Sunni community positively received the recent American release of 1,000 detainees and urged more of these releases, emphasizing they should be done quickly. Ambassador stated that more detainees would be released and agreed to look into the possibility of the requested extension. Khalilzad