IECI-SUNNI ARAB OUTREACH MEETINGS A SUCCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004342

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINS PNAT PHUM PTER IZ
SUBJECT: IECI-SUNNI ARAB OUTREACH MEETINGS A SUCCESS


Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford for reasons
1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) PolOffs organized trips during September and October
to bring IECI commissioners to meetings in Ramadi,
Fallujah, Tikrit, Kirkuk, and Mosul with local officials
and notables. Typically, one or two IECI commissioners
met at each location with provincial council
representatives, mayors, police chiefs, Sunni Arab
political parties, local IECI officials, imams, sheikhs,
university professors, and other leaders. The meetings
were well attended, and local feedback was generally
positive. The most common complaint was the lack of prior
meetings, with a request that there should be more before
December 15.


2. (U) Main topics discussed included the provisions in the
new electoral law, polling center locations and security,
the process for counting ballots, and proposed changes to
IECI hiring practices to reflect ethnic representation of
their management. Local leaders often questioned the
method of allocating National Assembly seats and argued
they deserve more given their population. The IECI
commissioners reinforced their commitment to conduct a
credible electoral process, and to ensure broad Sunni-Arab
participation in the October 15 referendum and December
election. They also asked for local help to report any
legitimate, eyewitness accounts of ballot tampering or
intimidation.


3. (C) Given the success of these meetings, post plans to
continue this program in the run-up to the December 15
elections. The subject matter will be expanded to include
topics relative to the election process. We are also
considering adding an NGO representative who would be able
to address issues related to political party participation
for the elections.


4. (C) Comment: The visits provided a good opportunity to
reduce distrust among Sunni Arabs toward the IECI
commissioners. We do not pretend that we have banished all
suspicions; Sunni Arab reaction to the delay in the
referendum result demonstrates that IECI procedures are not
well understood. Our goal now is to ensure that these
visit are the start, and not the end, of outreach
throughout Iraq. PolOffs are discussing next steps with all
REOs and SETs. End comment.
Satterfield