Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1498
2006-05-07 04:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PRT BAGHDAD: OFFICE OF MARTYR SADR ATTEMPTING TO
how-toVZCZCXRO6214 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1498 1270446 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 070446Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4281 INFO RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 2126 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 2094 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHKUK/REO KIRKUK 2094 RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHMOS/REO MOSUL 2096
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001498
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA-I/POL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER ENRG ECON KCOR IZ
SUBJECT: PRT BAGHDAD: OFFICE OF MARTYR SADR ATTEMPTING TO
TAKE OVER FUEL DISTRIBUTION IN BAGHDAD,S KARADA DISTRICT
Classified By: Classified by Baghdad PRT Deputy Leader Ken Fisher for r
easons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001498
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA-I/POL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER ENRG ECON KCOR IZ
SUBJECT: PRT BAGHDAD: OFFICE OF MARTYR SADR ATTEMPTING TO
TAKE OVER FUEL DISTRIBUTION IN BAGHDAD,S KARADA DISTRICT
Classified By: Classified by Baghdad PRT Deputy Leader Ken Fisher for r
easons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) During a conversation with PRT representative, Karada
District Council (DC) Chairman Mohammed Al-Rubiey commented
that the Office of Martyr Sadr (OMS) is attempting to take
over the distribution of benzene and cooking gas (LPG) at
petrol stations in Karada, as well as house-to-house
distribution of LPG in the district.
2. (C) According to Al-Rubiey, OMS recently requested Karada
DC support for the appointment of OMS members to managerial
positions at state-owned petrol stations in the Karada
District. (Note: Government-owned stations are under the
control of Distribution Company, Ministry of Oil, and in the
past they have thwarted attempts by local governments and
organizations in appointing management to these stations.
OMS also sought DC support to take over home distribution of
LPG. The DC voted overwhelmingly to deny OMS the ability to
become involved in fuel distribution in Karada.
3. (C) A representative from OMS explained to Al-Rubiey that
OMS prefers to bypass the Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) and
directly provide necessities to the local citizens of Karada.
When the OMS representative was advised by Al-Rubiey that
OMS would not be receiving assistance from the Karada DC, he
issued a veiled threat to both Al-Rubiey and the council
declaring &this shows who the friends of the Sadr Office are
and this will be remembered8.
4. (C) Al-Rubiey was emphatic that the citizens of Karada are
not supportive of Muqtada Al-Sadr (MAS) and his supporting
offices. He noted that the district does not have an OMS
office due to widespread dislike by the citizens of Karada of
OMS and MAS.
5. (C) Comment. Efforts of the OMS to involve itself in the
distribution of fuel in the Karada District are troubling.
The OMS assertion that they wish to provide essential
products to the population may well be true, but an economic
motive cannot be ruled out: private distributors of LPG in
particular have been making huge profits during the current
acute LPG shortage. (Official price: 600 ID/12 KG; Typical
delivered price: 1,500-2,000 ID/12 KG; Black market price
15,000-18,000 ID/12 KG) Further, it is alarming that OMS
would threaten the Karada DC when it did not receive support
for its fuel distribution initiative. It remains to be seen
whether, in the end, the Karada DC will be able to resist OMS
moves to distribute fuel. In the worst case scenario OMS
maneuvering may lead to a showdown with SCIRI/Badr
Organization dominated PC over influence in this area of
Baghdad. End Comment.
SATTERFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA-I/POL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER ENRG ECON KCOR IZ
SUBJECT: PRT BAGHDAD: OFFICE OF MARTYR SADR ATTEMPTING TO
TAKE OVER FUEL DISTRIBUTION IN BAGHDAD,S KARADA DISTRICT
Classified By: Classified by Baghdad PRT Deputy Leader Ken Fisher for r
easons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) During a conversation with PRT representative, Karada
District Council (DC) Chairman Mohammed Al-Rubiey commented
that the Office of Martyr Sadr (OMS) is attempting to take
over the distribution of benzene and cooking gas (LPG) at
petrol stations in Karada, as well as house-to-house
distribution of LPG in the district.
2. (C) According to Al-Rubiey, OMS recently requested Karada
DC support for the appointment of OMS members to managerial
positions at state-owned petrol stations in the Karada
District. (Note: Government-owned stations are under the
control of Distribution Company, Ministry of Oil, and in the
past they have thwarted attempts by local governments and
organizations in appointing management to these stations.
OMS also sought DC support to take over home distribution of
LPG. The DC voted overwhelmingly to deny OMS the ability to
become involved in fuel distribution in Karada.
3. (C) A representative from OMS explained to Al-Rubiey that
OMS prefers to bypass the Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) and
directly provide necessities to the local citizens of Karada.
When the OMS representative was advised by Al-Rubiey that
OMS would not be receiving assistance from the Karada DC, he
issued a veiled threat to both Al-Rubiey and the council
declaring &this shows who the friends of the Sadr Office are
and this will be remembered8.
4. (C) Al-Rubiey was emphatic that the citizens of Karada are
not supportive of Muqtada Al-Sadr (MAS) and his supporting
offices. He noted that the district does not have an OMS
office due to widespread dislike by the citizens of Karada of
OMS and MAS.
5. (C) Comment. Efforts of the OMS to involve itself in the
distribution of fuel in the Karada District are troubling.
The OMS assertion that they wish to provide essential
products to the population may well be true, but an economic
motive cannot be ruled out: private distributors of LPG in
particular have been making huge profits during the current
acute LPG shortage. (Official price: 600 ID/12 KG; Typical
delivered price: 1,500-2,000 ID/12 KG; Black market price
15,000-18,000 ID/12 KG) Further, it is alarming that OMS
would threaten the Karada DC when it did not receive support
for its fuel distribution initiative. It remains to be seen
whether, in the end, the Karada DC will be able to resist OMS
moves to distribute fuel. In the worst case scenario OMS
maneuvering may lead to a showdown with SCIRI/Badr
Organization dominated PC over influence in this area of
Baghdad. End Comment.
SATTERFIELD