KURDISTAN ISLAMIC UNION LEADER ASKS FOR HELP ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004924

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IZ KDP
SUBJECT: KURDISTAN ISLAMIC UNION LEADER ASKS FOR HELP ON
RECENT POLITICAL VIOLENCE


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met with Kurdistan Islamic
Union (KIU) leader Salah al-Din Baha al-Din on December 7
following attacks on six KIU offices in Dahuk the previous
day. Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Mas'ud Barzani
told the Ambassador in a phone call before the meeting that
he intends to launch an investigation into the attacks and to
meet with the KIU leader to head off further unrest. Baha
al-Din insisted that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
and KDP were behind the attack and warned that both Barzani
and Talabani (whom he said he believes have USG blessing in
suppressing dissent in Kurdistan) are exploiting their
relationship with the U.S. Baha al-Din urged the Ambassador
to put the KDP and PUK on notice by denouncing the attacks in
public. The Ambassador agreed to issue a statement
condemning the acts but without blaming any specific group.
The Ambassador also warned Baha al-Din that other groups may
be attempting to manipulate him and pit him against Barzani.
Baha al-Din agreed with the Ambassador's assessment, pledged
his restraint, and welcomed the plan for a U.S. statement.
END SUMMARY.

--------------
The Attacks
--------------


2. (C) The December 6 attacks against the KIU in Dahuk
(Kirkuk septel) occurred after crowds appeared in front of
the party's offices to protest its decision to run
independently in the coming elections; the crowds also
demanded that the KIU take down the Kurdistan flag adorning
its buildings. The attacks left three party members dead,
one in critical condition, and two others wounded. All of
the offices were set afire and looted.


3. (C) KIU leader Salah al-Din Baha al-Din, a former member
of the Governing Council, said he was convinced the attacks
were pre-planned by KDP and PUK activists. He pointed to an
article published on the internet two days before the
attacks, which claimed that PUK and KDP intelligence agents
were planning a raid on the KIU offices. Baha al-Din said
Kurdistan security forces (read: peshmerga) participated in
the attacks rather than preventing them, adding that the KIU
member in critical condition had been shot in the head by a
Kurdistan security officer. Kurdish firemen on the scene
refrained from putting out the flames after the buildings
were torched, he said.

--------------
Calling For a Strong U.S. Reaction
--------------


4. (C) Baha al-Din alleged that KDP and PUK leaders are
exploiting their well-known strong relationship with the U.S.
to suppress dissent in Kurdistan. He urged the Ambassador to
take a clear stand by denouncing the attacks on the KIU and
by supporting democracy in Kurdistan. The Ambassador's phone
call to Barzani was insufficient, Baha al-Din added, and
needs to be followed by a public position. "I understand
there are interests here and I don't want a change in U.S.
policy," he said. "I just want to make sure that the policy
does not come at the expense of other groups and lead to
another dictatorship in Kurdistan. I am not the father of
democracy myself, but I have a right to be there and to be a
participant in politics."


5. (C) The Ambassador said he would issue a statement
specifically denouncing the attacks but without assigning
blame. He also warned Baha al-Din not to let the incident
touch off violence, noting that entities attempting to sow
discord between Baha al-Din and Barzani and the KDP may have
been behind the attacks. Baha al-Din pledged restraint, said
the U.S. statement would be an excellent step, and suggested
that the U.S. consider putting a representative on any
committee formed to investigate the incident.

--------------
Other Key Points
--------------


6. (C) Baha al-Din made the following other key points in the
meeting:

-- KIU IS A PEACEFUL PARTY: He said the KIU is a peaceful
force that aims to have friendly relations with the two
larger Kurdish parties. Baha al-Din dismissed allegations
that the KIU is a terrorist group as slander; the KIU is
Islamic but absolutely rejects terrorism, he said, and the
KIU believes Islam and democracy are perfectly compatible.
Furthermore, he added, the KIU has resisted many calls to use
arms. During the attacks, Baha al-Din said, many KIU
security officers surrendered their weapons and refrained
from firing even on those who stormed the buildings.

-- BARZANI AND TALABANI NEED TO BE ABOVE POLITICS: Baha
al-Din said that he considers Barzani and Talabani to be
national symbols, not just party leaders, and that he appeals
to them regularly to act for all of Kurdistan and not out of
political interests. Barzani, he asserted, instead listens
excessively to his intelligence office and invariably pleads
ignorance when confronted on issues of governance. Talabani,
he contrasted, is far more likely to take action on the basis
of unfiltered information.

-- WHY THE KIU IS RUNNING INDEPENDENTLY: Baha al-Din said the
KIU decided to split from the Kurdistan Alliance because the
two leading parties were using politics as a way to divide
wealth and influence, not serve the people. Meanwhile, the
KIU was not rewarded with positions or authority, he said.
In an internal party vote, he added, the KIU decided that the
coalition was not serving its interests and that it should
quit for its own sake and for the sake of democratic
competition.
-- THERE WAS CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM FRAUD: Baha al-Din said
turnout for the constitutional referendum was very low, and
he accused the KDP and PUK of stuffing ballot boxes to
improve the constitution's ultimate mandate.
KHALILZAD