ABU GHREIB COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPLAIN ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001004

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS IZ
SUBJECT: ABU GHREIB COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPLAIN ABOUT
SECURITY AND LACK OF REPRESENTATION

Classified By: BAGHDAD PRT LEADER JOE GREGOIRE FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. On March 23 IPAOmet with five
members of the Abu Ghreib Qada Council and the Abu
Ghreib Chief of Police to discuss issues including
security and other issues. Council members
complained of lack of support and representation
from the Baghdad Provincial Council (BPC). They
also complained about terrorist activity in their
qada (district) and a perceived lack of security
patrols in their communities. The police chief
also talked about his efforts to improve the
performance of his police forces. IPAO briefed
the council members on initiatives to improve
communication and representation between the Baghdad
Provincial Council and sub-governorate councils.
The members requested and IPAO agreed that more
communication is needed between the councils and the
Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team
(PRT). END SUMMARY.

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LOW TURNOUT
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2. (C) Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
IPAO met with members of the Abu Ghreib Qada Council
and Commander of the Abu Ghreib Police General
Kareem Mahmoud. Only four members of the council
participated in the meeting held at the Al-Mansour
District Advisory Council (DAC) Building. Turnout
was low because roads in and out of Abu Ghreib
had been closed because of security risks
and all council members were not able to drive to the
Al-Mansour. Meetings have been held in Al-Monsour
because the Abu Ghreib Council no longer has a building
(it has been destroyed two times by terrorist attacks).
Also, due to attacks on council members in Abu Ghreib
Qada, the members have found it safer to meet in Al-
Mansour.

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COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
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3. (C) The members were quick to tell IPAO that some
of the biggest problems they are encountering are
the lack of representation and communication with the
Baghdad Provincial Council (BPC). IPAO assured the
members that the BPC and PRT are taking steps to resolve
these problems. A briefing informed the members about
the initiative to increase communication and coordination
between the BPC and sub-governorate councils (SGC)
through the BPC committees. BPC committees have begun
to meet with the respective SGC committees to discuss
health, human rights, agriculture, economic development,
security, and religious affairs. (Comment: The BPC Health
Committee has already held a meeting with all SGC Health
Committee Members. The Economic and Human Rights
Committees will meet next week. End Comment.) The Abu
Ghreib local council members welcomed the initiative and
said they are eager to participate.

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SECURITY THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
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4. (C) Members complained the biggest problem in their
qada is security. Sheikh Adel Heratt, Chairman of
the Qada Security Committee, declared that the qada
needs more security assistance from the police,
Iraqi Army, and Coalition Forces. He spoke of
terrorists roaming the qada freely with little
concern about detection or capture. He spoke
of being the target of numerous attacks. Kareem also
produced five threat letters warning that he will be
killed if he doesn't leave his home and the qada. The
fifth letter was labeled the final warning. He also
complained of trying to protect his family, but having
U.S. Army forces raid his home and confiscate all of
his weapons, leaving him and his family with no protection.
The sheikh demanded more patrols to protect the residents
of the qada. Sheikh Adel, who lives in one of the more
remote areas of the qada, noted he seldom sees any
police patrols. IPAO was informed the police are
undermanned in Abu Ghreib and do not have the resources

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to patrol every area as thoroughly as is necessary.
General Kareem reported there are only three police
stations in Abu Ghreib.

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MORE POLICE ON THE WAY
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5. (C) Additional resources are being made available to
the police in the qada. General Kareem told members he had
asked the Interior Minister for 500 ore policemen in Abu
Ghreib, and the minister has approved the request. Kareem
informed the group there are also plans to build more police
stations in the qada. However, he expects to encounter
problems meeting his recruitment goal of 500 police
officers. In the past the general attempted to recruit in
the area with little success. He said the problem was fear
of
reprisals against families with members in the police force
and
of additional attacks on police stations. When IPAO asked
for
group comment on performance of the police, none was given.
(Comment: No direct criticism was given about the police but
that seemed because Kareem was present. In overall
discussions
about security the police were indirectly accused of being
just
as ineffective as the Iraqi Army and U.S. Army in stopping
insurgent attacks. End Comment.)

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NO PROBLEM WITH DISPLACED PERSONS
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6. (C) IPAO asked the members if they had any knowledge
of approximately 100 displace Shia families in Abu Ghreib.
(Comment: IPAO had received reports there were up to 100
Shia families being forced out of their homes by threats
of violence. End Comment.) Council members and the police
chief all denied knowledge of displaced Shia families or
threats against them. However, in numerous phone
conversations
with chairman of the council, Hamed Al-Amery, IPAO was
told there were cases of Shia families being threatened and
some who had left their homes. Hamed was unable to
attend the meeting due to insecurity and road closures in
Abu Ghreib.

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COMMENT
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7. (C) This was the IPAO's first meeting with members of
the Abu Ghreib Council. Their primary worry, like every
sub-governorate council in Baghdad, is security. They were
concerned about insurgent groups being allowed to
operate almost without reprisal in the outlying qadas of the
province. This qada council feels neglected by the Embassy,
unrepresented by the BPC, and forgotten by the armies which
it
feels are supposed to protect them. Establishment of the
Baghdad
PRT should help alleviate some of their concerns. The PRT
has identified a liaison officer to work directly with the
council
and BPC Committee initiatives should improve communication.
IPAO has coordinated a visit to the qada council, police
headquarters, and some surrounding communities next
week. END COMMENT.
KHALILZAD