TURCOMAN TNA MEMBERS COMPLAIN ABOUT KURDS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003941

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2015
TAGS: PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: TURCOMAN TNA MEMBERS COMPLAIN ABOUT KURDS,
CONSTITUTION

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary: Two Turcoman TNA members complained
bitterly to PolOff September 22 about Kurdish
machinations in Kirkuk -- from padding electoral lists
to illegally settling Kurds on private Turcoman lands.
They asserted that Article 136 of the draft
constitution, about the future status of Kirkuk,
should be deleted. They said that some Turcoman
parties might call for a boycott of the referendum and
the election if their demands on Article 136 and voter
lists were not met. However, they both conceded that
the Turcoman community was not united on this issue
and the majority of Turcoman would vote for the
constitution no matter what the parties said. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) PolOff met with Kirkuk TNA members Reyad
Sarykahia, President of the Turcmaneli Party and Amal
Anwar Arif Beirakdar, a Turcoman from the Shia
Alliance List to discuss their views on the draft
constitution. They both claimed to have no objection
to most parts of the Constitution, but complained over
the absence of specific mention of the Turcoman people
and their rights. They said that Article 136 (on the
status of Kirkuk) should be removed from the
constitution. Calling the matter a "U.S.
responsibility", they demanded the Embassy help to
make the necessary changes. PolOff countered that the
Constitution was a product of the Iraqi political
process, and Sarykahia, as a member of the
Constitutional Committee, had had the opportunity to
contribute to the process. The USG worked to ensure
that minority rights were protected in the draft.

It's all About Kirkuk
--------------


3. (C) Both TNA members complained bitterly about
Kurdish activity in Kirkuk, the purpose of which, in
their view, has been to ensure that the area becomes
part of the Kurdish region. Among the specific
complaints, they charged that the Kurdish political
parties to the Kirkuk electoral lists had added
237,000 new names without vetQ. Conceding that
many Kurds had moved intoghe region, they insisted
that many of the new names are of Kurds who reside in
neighboring Irbil and Chamchamal (Sulaymaniayh
goveH!orate). Saykahi said that his party filed
complaint with the IndependenAElectoral Comssion of
Iraq (IECI) and had asked the UN to investigate.Q
(Note: TheQECI is investigating this large surge in
newjvoters in Kirkuk. End Note.) Saykahia said that
if this issue was notHesolved, his party would
cnsider calling for a boycott of the referendum and
withdrawing from the political process entirely.
PolOff cautioned that the Sunni Arabs now bitterly
regret just such a policy that left them at a
significant disadvantage during the Constitutional
drafting process. He said it would be better to take
part in the process and work for desired changes
within the system.


4. (C) The TNA members also complained about the
massive migration of Kurds into Kirkuk, including many
who have built houses on Turcoman or public land.
They said that local authorities were all Kurdish and
turned a blind eye to these illegal activities. They
further said the U.S. was responsible for helping the
local authorities come to power. They claimed that
most government jobs in Kirkuk are reserved for Kurds,
at the expense of the "Turcomen majority." PolOff
asked them to provide specific examples of the alleged
expropriation.


5. (C) Both Sarykahia and Beriakdar conceded that the
Turcomen are not united on constitutional/political
issues. They said that of the 15 Turcomen in the
National Assembly, Sarykahia is the only TNA member of
his Party. Beiakdar ran on the Shia Alliance list, as
did 4 of her Turcomen colleagues. Two others were in
the Turcoman Front while six Turcomen were elected on
the KDP ticket. Many of their colleagues, they
grumbled, cooperate with the Kurds because of fear or
economic advantage. In their opinion, most Turcomen
will vote for the Constitution, no matter what the
parties say.

Khalilzad