IRAQ: DEMARCHE ON THREATS TO MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 005024 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2015 TAGS: PHUM MOPS KJUS PINS PGOV IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ: DEMARCHE ON THREATS TO MINISTRY OF INTERIOR INSPECTION PERSONNEL REF: BAGHDAD 5020 (AND PREVIOUS) Classified By: RULE OF LAW COORDINATOR JAMES YELLIN FOR REASON 1.4 (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On December 13, Embassy Rule of Law (ROL) Coordinator delivered a demarche to Iraqi Minister of Interior Baqir Jabr regarding threats to Ministry of Interior (MOI) personnel participating in inspections of detention facilities. ROL Coordinator stressed the importance of supporting these inspections and received assurances from Jabr regarding the personal safety and job security of Iraqi MOI personnel involved in them. ¶2. (C) Jabr complained that consecutive inspections of MOI facilities and lack of inspections thus far of MOD facilities were the result of political bias. ROL Coordinator replied that the choice of sites was apolitical and that the teams intended to inspect MOI, MOD and MOJ detention facilities nationwide. END SUMMARY. DEMARCHE TO JABR -------------- ¶3. (C) On December 13, Embassy ROL Coordinator met with Minister of Interior Baqir Jabr to discuss reported threats by MOI officials against Iraqi MOI personnel involved in detention facility inspections. ¶4. (C) ROL Coordinator stressed the importance of supporting the inspections. He also told Jabr that: -- During a joint U.S.-Iraqi inspection on December 8 of an MOI detention facility known as Site Four, Colonel Abbas Owdaa Aziz, Deputy Director General for MOI Intelligence, was heard threatening Iraqi personnel participating in the inspection and condemning them for collaborating with "the American dogs." -- Two Iraqi inspectors have told us that they fear for their lives. Associates of Colonel Abbas have asked MOI personnel threatening questions about the homes and families of Iraqi MOI employees who participated in the Site Four inspection. -- Iraqi MOI employees believe Minister Jabr might fire them for their participation in detention facility inspections. -- The Embassy counts on Jabr to look into these allegations and to ensure the personal safety and job security of Iraqi MOI personnel involved in detention facility inspections. JABR'S REPLY -------------- ¶5. (C) Jabr responded that he would guarantee the personal safety and job security of MOI personnel involved in the inspections. He added that he would fire Colonel Abbas if Abbas had indeed made threats. ¶6. (C) Jabr also asserted that: -- The inspection of two MOI facilities, the Bunker and Site Four, and the lack of inspections thus far of any MOD facilities were the result of political bias. -- The inspection team must visit an MOD facility before visiting another MOI facility in order to correct this bias. -- Further inspections must alternate between MOI and MOD facilities to prevent the perception of political bias. ¶7. (C) ROL coordinator replied that the choice of sites was apolitical. He added that the teams intended to inspect MOI, MOD and MOJ detention facilities nationwide, but refrained from making any commitment about which facility would be inspected next. KHALILZAD