(C) TURCOMANS: USG MUST PREVENT KURDS STEALING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIRKUK 000289 SIPDIS POL, NCT E.O. 12958: 12/13/15 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PNAT KCOR IZ SUBJECT: (C) TURCOMANS: USG MUST PREVENT KURDS STEALING REF: KIRKUK 284 CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Bell, Regional Coordinator, REO Kirkuk, Department Of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. The Iraqi Turcoman Front (ITF) believes the Kurds are making a massive, flagrant effort to steal the election in Kirkuk with IECI connivance. ITF leaders made a number of specific complaints to us and repeatedly threatened to take to the streets if their concerns were not met, but they ended up saying they would urge their followers to vote. Their complaints reflect opposition to the Kurdish influx into Kirkuk province, and the perception that IECI is complicit in allowing Kurds to vote here improperly. They appear poised to blame the USG too if the election does not go as they wish. END INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Sa'daddin Ergech and Mustafa Thyai from the Iraqi Turcoman Front complained to the Regional Coordinator (RC) and UK CG December 13 about what the ITF sees as a massive, flagrant effort by the Kurds to steal the elections with IECI connivance. -- They alleged that the Iraqi Army 3rd division, based in Sulaymaniyah (in effect, Peshmerga),took advantage of having two companies of soldiers in Kirkuk province guarding polling stations at Qara Hanjir, by bringing in many additional soldiers to vote in Kirkuk province December 13. The ITF also charged the soldiers were attacking those putting up ITF posters and were sporting the Kurdistan flag on their patrol vehicles. -- They alleged the finger ink used in voting washes off easily with beauty cream: "the polling station smelled like a beauty parlor." -- They asserted IECI was allowing 200,000 bogus voters in Kirkuk. This was clearly a reference to the (universally acknowledged) Kurdish influx since liberation in 2003, which the Turcomans perceive as a direct threat to them standing. Ergech considered it improper to "change the demographic balance" in Kirkuk; he made a show of preparing to storm out of the meeting when RC stated that all Iraqis have the right to live, travel and own property in all parts of Iraq. RC explained in detail, based on information from IECI and the International Election Assistance Team (IEAT),that the 200,000 figure encompassed two different issues, and that the IECI had decided on procedures to deal with both. He also explained how these procedures were meant to ensure that all properly registered voters could vote, but no one else. -- The ITF repeated complaints (reftel) that the IECI's solution to voter fraud depended on documents that could easily be forged. They said they had lodged their complaints at a meeting with IECI, but nothing had come of it. RC stressed how important it was that parties read the IECI's website to learn what the IECI had decided, tell their observers what to look for, and report problems to the IECI as they arise. He invited them to inform the REO as well, but not instead of IECI. RC promised to report the concern about documents to Embassy Baghdad -- which we knew was in close touch with IECI -- and promised to get back to the ITF with any information we received. -- The ITF complained that "those with guns," i.e., the Peshmerga, controlled the polling stations and would not let their observers in. The RC noted that weapons are prohibited from polling stations. -- The ITF said it had encouraged a good turn-out by its supporters. Ergech and Thyai repeatedly threatened to put tens of thousands of protesters in the streets if their concerns were not met. They ended by saying they would urge their followers to vote, but register their dissatisfaction with the result. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: The Turcomans were touchy and unhappy throughout the meeting, in no mood to absorb messages. After an hour and three quarters of questions and explanations, they still went out the door saying there were 200,000 fraudulent Kurds registered in Kirkuk and many more who would be able to vote without ever having registered. Behind their complaints about procedures lies their opposition to the Kurdish influx into Kirkuk province, as well as a genuine perception that there is something rotten afoot and IECI is complicit: after all, IECI Kirkuk accepted over 81,000 registrations that IECI Baghdad later ruled suspicious and decided to remove from the voter rolls. Ergech and Thyai said they had come to us because IECI had not responded to their concerns. They clearly think the Kurds will steal the election in Kirkuk, and are preparing to blame the USG too if the election goes badly from their point of view. BELL