MEETING WITH NEW MINISTER OF INTERIOR, JAWAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002136

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2016
TAGS: PHUM KJUS PINS PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH NEW MINISTER OF INTERIOR, JAWAD
AL-BOLANI

REF: BAGHDAD 1960

Classified By: Rule of Law Coordinator James Yellin for Reason 1.4 (d)

SUMMARY


1. (C) On June 18, EmbOffs met with the new Minister of
Interior, Jawad al-Bolani, to congratulate him on his
appointment and to pledge ongoing U.S. support for the
ministry's efforts to combat terrorism and criminality.
EmbOffs emphasized the importance of enhancing public
confidence in the ministry and its forces. Bolani agreed and
added that his priorities for the ministry include promoting
respect for human rights, eliminating "bad" elements from the
ministry, and gaining the confidence of all Iraqis. END
SUMMARY.

ROL COORDINATOR'S REMARKS


2. (C) On June 18, PolOff, PolMilOff, and ROL Coordinator met
with the new Minister of Interior, Jawad al-Bolani. After
exchanging greetings, ROL Coordinator said that:

-- The U.S. recognizes al-Bolani has assumed heavy
responsibilities and will support his efforts to combat
terrorism and criminality and help establish security for all
Iraqis.

-- We agree with the Prime Minister that the Minister of
Interior must be above sectarian politics and act in a way
that inspires the confidence of all Iraqis, regardless of
ethnic group or sect.


3. (C) ROL Coordinator said that some of the most important
things al-Bolani can do to enhance public confidence in the
ministry are to:

-- Punish in accordance with the law members of the ministry
and its forces who commit or order violations of law,
including human rights abuses and corruption;

-- Eradicate militia influence within the ministry by
removing personnel who belong to or owe allegiance to any
militia;

-- Delete from the ministry payroll ghost employees and
people with criminal records; and,

-- Treat Ministry of Interior detainees humanely, prepare an
accurate census of the detainees, and facilitate the work of
investigative judges.

BOLANI'S REPLY


4. (C) Al-Bolani said that the ministry has a long way to go
to gain the confidence of Iraq's many different groups. He
added that his priorities are to:

-- Fight terrorism;

-- Promote respect for human rights;

-- Gain the confidence of all Iraqis by reassuring them that
the ministry seeks to promote the country's collective
interests; and

-- Eradicate the influence of "bad" elements from the
ministry.


5. (C) When ROL Coordinator asked what he meant by "bad"
elements, al-Bolani said supporters of the former regime,
corrupt officials, and militia sympathizers. When asked
which militias have supporters within the ministry, al-Bolani
avoided providing specifics, saying that some police in
Ramadi have links to Sunni extremist groups and that some
police in Basra have ties to local militias.


6. (C) Al-Bolani said that he plans to work primarily from
the main MOI building in the red zone rather than from Adnan
Palace in the International Zone, stating that there is a
difference between a minister who works among his employees
at the ministry and one who works from the safety of Adnan
Palace. (COMMENT: This was an implicit swipe at former
Minister of Interior Baqir Jabr, who worked out of Adnan
Palace and rarely visited the main MOI building. END
COMMENT.)

DETAINEE ISSUES


7. (C) Regarding detainee issues, al-Bolani said that:

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-- At his request the Prime Minister recently agreed to form
a committee composed of representatives from the MOI,
Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense, and Higher
Juridical Council to investigate conditions at Iraqi
detention facilities and prisons.

-- He expects a statement within a week or two from the Prime
Minister ordering the transfer of all detainees in Iraqi
custody and all Iraqi detention centers to MOJ control.

ABUSE AT DETENTION FACILITIES


8. (C) In response to our questions, Bolani said that he has
formed an investigative committee headed by the MOI inspector
general to investigate human rights abuses at Site 4. He
added that the transfer of MOI detainees from Site 4 to a
Baghdad facility called Baladiyat is underway.


9. (C) By way of background, Site 4 is an MOI detention
facility in Baghdad where a joint U.S.-Iraqi team found
cramped, squalid conditions and detainees who had been
severely abused (see reftel). At U.S. urging, the Iraqis
have agreed to transfer the adult detainees from MOI custody
to MOJ custody at a Baghdad facility called Baladiyat. The
juvenile detainees, some of whom complained of sexual abuse,
are being screened for transfer to a juvenile detention
facility.


10. (C) ROL Coordinator noted that some MOI personnel
implicated in human rights abuses at the MOI detention
facility known as the Bunker continue to work at the
ministry, including Bashir al-Wandi, aka Engineer Ahmad.
Bolani said that if we would provide full names and positions
of such people he would investigate. We promised to provide
him with names.

COMMENTS


11. (C) Bolani made a favorable first impression. He said
the right things regarding protecting the interests of all
Iraqis, eradicating militia influence within the ministry,
and protecting human rights. We will monitor closely,
however, whether he makes progress in dealing with these
problems.


12. (C) We agree that it is better from a leadership and
managerial perspective for Bolani to work from the ministry
rather than from Adnan Palace in the green zone, but the
security risks are high. He will face additional risks if he
confronts malefactors in the ministry and its forces.
SPECKHARD