HUNGER STRIKE BY AD-DUJAYL DEFENDANTS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002646 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016 TAGS: IZ KCRM KDEM KJUS PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: HUNGER STRIKE BY AD-DUJAYL DEFENDANTS Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: On July 8, 2006, Saddam Hussein began a hunger strike in response to the June 21, 2006 murder of one his defense attorneys. He also ordered Taha Yaseen Ramadan, Barzan al-Tikriti, and Awad al-Bandar (three co-defendants in the continuing Ad-Dujayl trial) to participate in this hunger strike. To date, Saddam Hussein has refused all meals, but has agreed to receive food through an esophageal feeding tube. On July 22, Saddam was hospitalized and the feeding tube was inserted. Saddam will leave the hospital when the feeding tube is removed; the feeding tube can be removed after 72 hours. The other three defendants are not eating regular meals but are ingesting food when not under observation. As such they do not require a feeding tube or any other medical treatment. The ongoing trial in the Iraqi High Tribunal -- slated to conclude with closing arguments this week -- is not expected to be significantly impacted by these events should Hussein continue to be treated. END SUMMARY -------------- - HUNGER STRIKE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN -------------- - ¶2. (S) On July 8, 2006, Saddam Hussein began a hunger strike. He initially began the hunger strike to protest the June 21, 2006 murder of his lawyer - Khamees Al-Obeidi. In addition, Saddam Hussein ordered Taha Yaseen Ramadan, Barzan al-Tikriti, and Awad al-Bandar (the other three high-ranking defendants in the Ad-Dujayl case) to participate in his hunger strike. The three other defendants, although refusing to eat regular meals, are ingesting food when not under observation by fellow inmates. ¶3. (S) Throughout his hunger strike Saddam Hussein has continued to drink water supplemented with salt and tea with sugar or honey. The purpose of this treatment was to keep his electrolytes balanced and to ensure that his condition did not deteriorate. Hussein consented to these measures. ¶4. (S) Hussein has been under constant medical supervision, to include laboratory monitoring. In the first 14 days of the hunger strike he was watched closely and lost approximately 4 percent of his body weight. This did not cause Hussein any significant medical problems, but around day 14 he began to have subtle changes in his well-being. On July 22 there were objective findings, to include diarrhea, edema in his lower extremities, dehydration, cognitive diminution, and a loss of 6.6 percent of his body mass since July 8, 2006. The consensus opinion of four physicians was that hospitalization was required. Therefore, Saddam was hospitalized during the evening of July 22. ¶5. (S) On July 22, MNF-I doctors counseled Hussein on the significant risks of continuing the hunger strike, and the relative risks and benefits of eating, intravenous nutrition, and feeding through an esophageal tube. Hussein made the choice to be fed through an esophageal tube. He also received intravenous fluid for rehydration. ¶6. (S) RCLO is advised that the treatment began to show immediate results, such that Hussein shows increased energy and MNF-I physicians now find him to be in good health. ¶7. (S) MNF-I doctors who performed this procedure have informed the Regime Crimes Liaison's Office (RCLO) that once a feeding tube is introduced, it cannot be removed until at least 72 hours after introduction, which means that the feeding tube will remain inserted until at least Tuesday evening. ¶8. (S) If Hussein's feeding tube is removed on Tuesday, MNF-I doctors have informed RCLO that he can leave the hospital immediately and attend trial on Wednesday. Because Hussein's privately retained lawyers have suspended cooperation with the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT),RCLO expects that public defenders will deliver the closing statement for Hussein on either Wednesday, July 26, 2006 or Thursday, July 27, 2006. Hussein is expected to be present. ¶9. (S) As all other defendants in the Ad-Dujayl trial are medically fit, the IHT intends to move forward with their closing statements beginning on Monday. SCOBEY