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
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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
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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
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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