SHIA INDEPENDENT ALLEGES IECI CORRUPTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004900 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2015 TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ SUBJECT: SHIA INDEPENDENT ALLEGES IECI CORRUPTION Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) TNA member and Shia independent Ali Hashim al- Yusha, who is leading his own party, the Unified National Coalition, in the December elections, alleged IECI corruption in a December 4 conversation with PolOff and PolFSN. Al-Yusha said he had been approached by IECI poll center managers with an offer to "sell" ballot boxes. According to Al-Yusha, the center managers said that when the ballots are counted in the polling center after closing, empty ballots would be filled out for the party that had paid the most and then mixed in with legitimate ballots. Al- Yusa said he knew that 3 or 4 lists have made payments - he would not name them, but said they are "powerful". He said he would raise this issue in an upcoming press conference. He also said Unified National Coalition posters are being torn down or being covered up with Shia Alliance posters. ¶2. (C) Hussein Mussawi, leader of the Liberal Republicans Party (part of the Sun of Iraq Coalition), made similar allegations about the IECI in the Karbala Governorate to PolOffs December 5 (septel). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Post cannot confirm the accuracy of the above allegations. At the same time, we have stressed to the IECI and its international advisors that charges of this kind, must be addressed and -- as important -- be seen as being addressed by the Commission. On December 5, poloff raised Al-Yusha's specific reports with International Elections Commissioner Craig Jenness who said he would raise this issue with the Iraqi Commissioners. Jenness noted, however, that without specifics, it would be difficult to follow up on these allegations. On, December 6, poloff discussed the allegations further with IECI Chief Electoral Officer Adil Allami. Allami expressed willingness to meet with anyone who could give him more information about IECI malfeasance. We are following up with al-Yusha and others and, if need be, will work to facilitate such interaction. We will also explore with the IECI means to maximize the ability of monitors and observers to maintain sufficient presence at polling centers on election day to reduce the opportunity for fraud. ¶4. (SBU) On a technical level, al-Yusha's specific allegation suggests at a minimum a lack of sophistication on the part of those who made him the offer. First, ballots are counted at the polling stations and likely in the presence of at least one independent observer or a political entity agent. Second, the party would need to overcome procedural safeguards to obtain a significant source of blank ballot sheets. (E.g., the unused portion of each multi-paged ballot is to be destroyed after each voter casts his/her individual vote, which should reduce the possibility of fraudulent use of the leftover portion of legally case ballots.) Third, each polling station will have the capacity for handling about 500 voters. The scope of this plan to conduct fraud would need to include a large number of polling centers and stations in order to have an effect on the outcome of the elections. The IECI data review systems at the Baghdad Tally Center should be able to detect anomalies that would reveal attempts of fraud of this kind. KHALILZAD