IRAQ PRTS WEEKLY ROUNDUP FOR 31 MAR - 6 APR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 001215 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON MOPS PREL IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ PRTS WEEKLY ROUNDUP FOR 31 MAR - 6 APR 2006 ¶1. (U) INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. The Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) report weekly their activities and progress towards helping the provincial governments achieve self-governance capability. The following paragraphs summarize their activities in several areas for the period 31 March - 6 April. Two Provincial Councils (PC),Babil and Baghdad, have boycotted cooperation with the PRTs after a contentious U.S.-Iraqi military operation in late March. A fourth, Qadisiyah (Diwaniyah),boycotted for one week, but has since lifted this boycott. Sectarian problems in southern Iraq did not reach into the Kurdistan Region on any large scale. Ninawa PRT and Governor discussed the pros and cons to a commercial airport in Mosul. Kirkuk PC Chairman made the first step towards preparations for a provincial election by meeting with the Independent Electoral Commission (IECI). The killing of power plant workers closed the plant and reduced power supply sources in a Kirkuk district. In Baghdad, Iraq court system technology was compared to the U.S. in the 1920s. Hundreds of displaced persons are causing problems for Babil Province. END INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. -------------- NINAWA PROVINCE -------------- ¶2. (U) GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC. Recent Ministry of Finance instructions on the spending authorization and execution of $20M USD in capital projects from the Government of Iraq (GOI) has caused confusion and a disjointed effort in developing a plan in Ninawa Province. Currently, the PC is developing its by-laws for these funds and it has not included the Governor in discussions. The current Chairman believes that the Governor is part of "his" council and therefore, the council is the higher supreme authority on this type of issue from Baghdad. Currently, the Governor is also not included in the spending authorization and execution of the funds, but the PRT Governance Team expects significant changes to occur on this issue. ¶3. (U) The sectarian and ethnic strife found further south is still absent, for the most part, in Ninawa. The PRT hears complaints of issues between Kurds and Sunni Arabs, and occasional instances of Kurdish heavy handedness in treatment of minorities (Assyrian Christians, Shabbak, Yazdi, Turcomen, and others) in eastern areas of the province. However, violent 
attacks are generally aimed at Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) or Coalition Forces (CF). The Kurds expressed dismay at the continued sectarian conflict in the south and see themselves as observers, rather than participants in the struggle to move Iraqi politics forward. ¶4. (U) The Iraqi Private Sector Growth and Employment Generation spokesperson said it is not willing to assist the Ninawa Business Center (NBC) manage its micro-loan program, due to perceived mismanagement. The PRT recommended an audit of the NBC to account for its original $1M USD funding. ¶5. (U) RULE OF LAW. Police officials continued to make progress in assuming full responsibility for detainee accountability across the province. The various detainee facilities started submitting updated lists of detainees to the Provincial Joint Coordination Center (PJCC). The Governor and Provincial Chief of Police are working together with the Iraqi Army (IA) to ensure that all detainee questions are answered by Iraqi officials at the PJCC. ¶6. (U) SECURITY. There has been a concentrated effort by the Anti-Iraqi Forces (AIF) to intensify the deadly impact and sophistication of its attacks. A recent Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) BAGHDAD 00001215 002 OF 004 attack on CF in Mosul involved multiple munitions with a secondary complex attack by AIF forces. ¶7. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECONSTRUCTION. The DG of Water provided the PRT the first 18 projects nominated for funding with monies set aside for small water projects. The projects totaling over $2.2M USD will focus largely on pump stations in Mosul and well system refurbishment in several surrounding villages. These approved projects have been forwarded to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for funding approval and execution. ¶8. (U) A PRT member met with the Governor and Mosul Airport Manager to discuss the probability of opening the airport to commercial airline traffic. Both understood the vulnerability of aircraft operating into and out of the Mosul Airport given the heavily residential encroachment and the present terrorist threat against aviation. -------------- (U) TAMIM PROVINCE -------------- ¶9. (U) POLITICAL. The PC Chairman held meetings with the Kirkuk IECI Director in anticipation of planning for the provincial elections. The largest issue is expected to be voter registration. In other events during the report week, the Governor presented a plan for the Jubori tribe to play a more active security role in Kirkuk. The Governor said that the powerful Sheik Muhairi is interested in resolving security issues in Iraq. Other Jubori tribes are subordinate to the sheik so his stance on security could have a significant positive impact on the security situation. Reportedly, the Kirkuk Governor wants an Arab Chief of Police for the city. ¶10. (U) The Understanding and National Solution Committee, a local Arab delegation, formed to represent the Arabs brought into Kirkuk during Arabization programs. The group met with the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) Article 58 Committee to discuss membership and compensation. The special committee would like membership on the TAL Article 58 Committee. Although they were told membership is not possible, they were encouraged to attend meetings. Approximately 70,000 relocating Arab families should receive compensation. The TAL Article 58 Committee agreed to visit the abolished villages and meet with local officials to better understand their needs. ¶11. (U) The PC discussed hiring employees from Tuz, Kifry, Jam Jamal and Kalar districts. The PC would like to re-hire people (all ethnicities) fired during the Saddam regime. The Chairman said it is not a political issue, it is a matter for all ethnicities. The Arab and Turcoman members (not on the Brotherhood List) left the meeting because they did want to take part in the discussion. ¶12. (U) The PC established a bank account with three signatures, two PC members and the Ministry of Municipalities Finance Manager. The account has $12.2B Iraqi Dinars transferred to Kirkuk Province from the Iraqi Minister of Finance. The PC Chairman and Governor resolved their differences over the management of these funds. They pledged to work together to ensure fair and equitable distribution. ¶13. (U) RULE OF LAW. The Chief Judge of Kirkuk Province told PRT Rule of Law Coordinator that the courthouse capacity is inadequate to meet current requirements. In a separate meeting, investigative judges told PRT member that they need Iraqi Police investigator training on criminal law and BAGHDAD 00001215 003 OF 004 investigative procedures. The judges feel the police cannot effectively handle citizen criminal complaints, conduct timely and complete criminal investigations, and do not follow court orders. They also requested PRT assistance to obtain firearm, drug, and explosive testing equipment. ¶14. (SBU) SECURITY. Leaflets targeting the Kirkuk Regional Embassy Office (REO) were discovered pasted on compound walls, along with threats that the REO is under surveillance and targeted. Advanced Improvised Explosive Device (IED) tactics, techniques, and procedures indicate new insurgents have moved into the Kirkuk area. To date, CF, Iraq Security Forces (ISF) and Iraq Police continue to be the primary target for insurgent acts. ¶15. (U) INFRASTRUCTURE. During the past ten days, 11 Bayji Thermal Power Plant engineers and technicians were killed in Bayji, a mostly Shia area. The plant stopped producing electricity as a result of these deaths and, hence, reduced the refinery power source to only one source, the Bayji Gas Power Plant. Unlike other provinces, Kirkuk does not have an oil product shortage. Existing depot stocks are adequately supplying Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah. Kirkuk receives between 700,000 to 875,000 liters of benzene daily. Kirkuk Governor took aim at the black market by issuing an order to arrest anyone selling benzene on the street. -------------- BAGHDAD PROVINCE -------------- ¶16. (U) POLITICAL. For the second week in a row, the PC enforced a policy of no communication or cooperation with USG personnel in Baghdad. The boycott, which includes subordinate councils, started after a March 26 U.S.-Iraqi military operation in a Baghdad City neighborhood. Several PC members oppose the boycott and reportedly are attempting to have it lifted. PRT members held informal talks with a PC representative to clarify issues and work towards a resolution. ¶17. (U) The PC appealed a ruling from one month ago in which the Baghdad City Council won an Administrative Court decision against the PC for its April 2005 dissolution of the City Council. The court ruled that the PC had no legal authority to dissolve the City Council and that the council members should return to their offices immediately. Currently, the City Council is holding its meetings in another district. ¶18. (U) RULE OF LAW. PRT members met with a group of prominent Baghdad community women. The Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish women included members of the Council of Representatives, chief executive officers of private companies, and association presidents. They discussed ways to empower women on rule of law issues. In a separate meeting, Judge Fa'iq Zaida Khalef said the technology sophistication of the Iraq court system resembles that of the U.S. in the 1920s. He claimed it is not yet the right time to bring TV cameras into the courtroom, mostly due to security concerns. He also suggested the Iraqi Bar association was not dissolved, as some reported, but only put on hold for administrative or political reasons and will resume operations in a few days. -------------- BABIL PROVINCE -------------- ¶19. (U) POLITICAL. The Babil Provincial Government, along with others previously noted, is boycotting the BAGHDAD 00001215 004 OF 004 PRT and CF. It does, however, remain willing to work with the civil affairs unit. PRT members are trying to re-invigorate communications. ¶20. (U) The situation with hundreds of persons/families displaced from Baghdad and other municipalities to Babil Province is developing into a serious problem. Housing and aid is not available to meet the need. Funding is generally from local non- governmental organizations (NGOs) and religious organizations. ¶21. (U) SECURITY. The security situation remained stable in Babil with the frequency of attacks against CF below the 90-day average. The Babil Iraqi Police and an Iraqi Infantry Division continued to progress in their development. The Infantry Division conducted several raids during this report week resulting in the capture of numerous weapons caches and insurgents. ¶22. (U) RECONSTRUCTION. The PRT Deputy Engineer visited the Ministry of Planning in Baghdad to procure construction standards and codes. Only about half of the codes were procured. The visit provided PRT insight into the difficulties faced by the average contractor in acquiring important quality control documents. The PRT plans to distribute the obtained construction codes within the province. KHALILZAD