STATUS UPDATE ON CAMP ASHRAF REPATRIATIONS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 004154

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2015
TAGS: MOPS PHUM PTER IZ IR ICRC
SUBJECT: STATUS UPDATE ON CAMP ASHRAF REPATRIATIONS

REF: 04 BAGHDAD 2041

Classified By: Classified by Political-Military Counselor
David C. Litt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Between August 2004 and October
2005, 331 "defectors" from the Mujahideen-e-Khalq
(MeK) organization have been voluntarily repatriated
to their countries of nationality or residence: 316 to
Iran, eleven to Pakistan, two to Sweden, one to
Turkey, and one to Canada. Possible third-country
repatriations in the near future include two German
residents, one Afghan, one Swedish, and one Dutch. END
SUMMARY.


2. (S) Repatriations to Iran continue at the rate of
10-15 (mostly new) defectors each month, and thirteen
Iranian nationals are scheduled to return to Tehran
from Baghdad International Airport on October 13th via
ICRC propeller plane. Approximately 50% of new Iranian
defectors from the MeK Camp Ashraf opt for immediate
repatriation, with the remainder stating a fear of
persecution upon return to Iran.


3. (SBU) Post has requested that UNHCR conduct
Refugee Status Determination (RSD) interviews for this
remainder of approximately 170 (and growing). We plan
to distribute photocopies of the September 30th letter
from UNHCR to TIPF residents passed to Post through
the Department, which announces UNHCR's intent to
conduct these interviews via remote video-link from
Ankara in four to eight weeks, to all TIPF residents
as soon as copies have been transported to Ashraf.


4. (S) MNF-I is planning several outreach exercises
for the coming weeks, including a census and the
issuance of new ID cards to Ashraf residents: these
have typically provided defection opportunities for
main camp residents, as well as providing useful
information for future information operations
campaigns. Post, meanwhile, awaits guidance on the
request of four AmCit Ashraf residents for passport
renewal (see Reftel and related e-mails).
Khalilzad