Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3535
2006-09-21 05:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
CIVIL SOCIETY NATIONAL RECONCILLIATION CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO5395 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3535/01 2640531 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 210531Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7022 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003535
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY NATIONAL RECONCILLIATION CONFERENCE
SPARKS IMPASSIONED DEBATE
Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003535
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY NATIONAL RECONCILLIATION CONFERENCE
SPARKS IMPASSIONED DEBATE
Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. The second of four national reconciliation
conferences was held in Baghdad September 16-17. The
conference, organized by the Ministries of State for National
Dialogue and Civil Society Affairs, focused on the importance
of civil society organizations in national reconciliation.
On the first day, GOI officials, including the PM, addressed
the approximately 800 attendees, emphasizing the need for
unity and cooperation. Day two sparked impassioned debate,
as Sunni and Shia argued over who should be included in
reconciliation efforts, but then got back on track and
produced a list of recommendations for civil society groups
and NGOs. Six subcommittees produced recommendations for
civil society organizations to use as guidance during the
national reconciliation process. Several participants
expressed disappointment with the conference for having too
many speeches and too little action. End Summary.
--------------
Day One: Civil, but Ceremonial
--------------
2. (C) PM Nouri Al-Maliki opened the conference and attended
the first day,s entire 2 hour and 20 minute session. He
called civil society organizations partners in the
reconciliation project, and asked them to share the
responsibilities of reconstruction and development of the
principles of freedom and democracy. Other speakers included
Iraqi government officials and representatives of the NGO,
Christian, Yazidi, Turkomen and Shabak communities.
3. (C) The first day's speeches were largely ceremonial, with
little substantive content. Only one speaker, Tawafuq (Sunni
bloc) CoR Member Hisham Al-Taiee, discussed concrete
measures, such as dissolution of militias and commencement of
constitutional review, needed to move the reconciliation
effort forward.
-------------- --
Day Two - Heated Exchange, Then Recommendations
-------------- --
4. (C) Day two featured more speeches, heavy on rhetoric and
light on substance, from civil society activists. However,
the conference took a dramatic turn when a panel convened to
select subcommittee members. One attendee, addressing the
panel, noted that before further discussion, the participants
should clarify with whom the nation is reconciling. The
panel dismissed the question on the grounds that such
determinations should be left to the National Reconciliation
Commission,s political parties subcommittee's future
conference. The crowd, unsatisfied with that answer, grew
agitated and began to push forward towards the microphones.
5. (C) One participant shouted that there needed to be a
differentiation between the "resistance8 and the terrorists.
This prompted a young Shia cleric to leap from his seat and
deliver an impassioned speech denouncing the resistance and
calling all insurgents terrorists. &We do not want
reconciliation with Baathists!8 he yelled. Responses to
this remark revealed that conference attendees had apparently
self-segregated, with Sunnis seated on one side and Shia on
the other. The two sides turned against one another, with
the Sunnis chanting &No reconciliation with killers!8 the
Shia chanting &No, no to Baathists!8 and both sides
denouncing &terrorists.8 Conference participants from both
sides surged forward, with the Shia cleric running onto the
stage and commandeering the panel,s microphone. Between 12
and 15 Iraqi police were called in to restore order.
6. (C) Minister of State for Civil Society Affairs Adel
Al-Assedy made his way up to the stage and angrily addressed
the crowd. He denounced behavior causing disorder, and
shouted that anyone who loved Iraq should stay in their
seats, but anyone who supported terrorists or the break up of
Iraq should leave the room immediately. His words did little
to calm the situation, and the room did not become quiet
until Deputy PM Salam Zawbai took the stage in an effort to
bring the conference back on track. After a 30 minute
speech, frequently interrupted by questions and comments from
the conference floor, the conference recessed for lunch.
7. (C) The conference got back on track after the break.
The six subcommittees ) trust building between NGOs and
society, displacement issues, human rights awareness,
rehabilitation of martyrs families and victims of violence,
media and national dialogue and reconciliation, and civil
society activities ) met to discuss their issues and draft
recommendations on the role NGOs can play in furthering
BAGHDAD 00003535 002 OF 002
national reconciliation.
--------------
Comments from Conference Participants
--------------
8. (C) Patience and Humanitarian Organization Chairwoman
Ibteesam Jabr called the conference "nothing but
decoration.8 She claimed that the lack of vision from the
politicians showed that they were not truly committed to
national reconciliation, and lamented the tremendous amount
of resources that had been expended for such an empty purpose.
9. (C) Baghdad University Political Science professor Dr.
Khamis Al-Badry told poloffs that the conference was
&useless.8 He noted that the national reconciliation effort
would never be successful while led by sectarian politicians
with sectarian agendas. Conference speaker and CoR member
Al-Taiee explained that the conference had invited &three
types of people: those who wanted to reconcile, those who
were ambivalent towards reconciliation, and those who wanted
to fight,8 and expressed doubt that the upcoming political
parties conference would be successful following this
conference,s failure.
--------------
Recommendations from the Subcommittees
--------------
10. (U) The final statement of the conference included the
following recommendations for civil society institutions and
NGOs:
- Work to establish symposiums and conference to
strengthen the bonds of unity
- Broaden participation in the protection of public
freedoms, human rights and promotion of concepts of
partnership and cooperation
- Adopt collective development projects
- Adopt unified national social message
- Call for weapons to be under exclusive control of
government apparatuses
- Activate Martyrs Foundation, Foundation of Prisoners
and Families of Victims of the Former Regime and Victims of
the Terrorist Operations
- Renounce forced displacement and adopt the return of
the displaced to their homes
- Call for adoption of peaceful mechanisms, activities
and objectives
- Seek to be an example of freedom and independence
- Reject fictitious organizations and organizations that
support or foster terrorism; expose these organizations to
the public and bring them to justice
- Call on international NGOs and human rights
organizations to support the people of Iraq and denounce
violence, extremism and terrorism.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY NATIONAL RECONCILLIATION CONFERENCE
SPARKS IMPASSIONED DEBATE
Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. The second of four national reconciliation
conferences was held in Baghdad September 16-17. The
conference, organized by the Ministries of State for National
Dialogue and Civil Society Affairs, focused on the importance
of civil society organizations in national reconciliation.
On the first day, GOI officials, including the PM, addressed
the approximately 800 attendees, emphasizing the need for
unity and cooperation. Day two sparked impassioned debate,
as Sunni and Shia argued over who should be included in
reconciliation efforts, but then got back on track and
produced a list of recommendations for civil society groups
and NGOs. Six subcommittees produced recommendations for
civil society organizations to use as guidance during the
national reconciliation process. Several participants
expressed disappointment with the conference for having too
many speeches and too little action. End Summary.
--------------
Day One: Civil, but Ceremonial
--------------
2. (C) PM Nouri Al-Maliki opened the conference and attended
the first day,s entire 2 hour and 20 minute session. He
called civil society organizations partners in the
reconciliation project, and asked them to share the
responsibilities of reconstruction and development of the
principles of freedom and democracy. Other speakers included
Iraqi government officials and representatives of the NGO,
Christian, Yazidi, Turkomen and Shabak communities.
3. (C) The first day's speeches were largely ceremonial, with
little substantive content. Only one speaker, Tawafuq (Sunni
bloc) CoR Member Hisham Al-Taiee, discussed concrete
measures, such as dissolution of militias and commencement of
constitutional review, needed to move the reconciliation
effort forward.
-------------- --
Day Two - Heated Exchange, Then Recommendations
-------------- --
4. (C) Day two featured more speeches, heavy on rhetoric and
light on substance, from civil society activists. However,
the conference took a dramatic turn when a panel convened to
select subcommittee members. One attendee, addressing the
panel, noted that before further discussion, the participants
should clarify with whom the nation is reconciling. The
panel dismissed the question on the grounds that such
determinations should be left to the National Reconciliation
Commission,s political parties subcommittee's future
conference. The crowd, unsatisfied with that answer, grew
agitated and began to push forward towards the microphones.
5. (C) One participant shouted that there needed to be a
differentiation between the "resistance8 and the terrorists.
This prompted a young Shia cleric to leap from his seat and
deliver an impassioned speech denouncing the resistance and
calling all insurgents terrorists. &We do not want
reconciliation with Baathists!8 he yelled. Responses to
this remark revealed that conference attendees had apparently
self-segregated, with Sunnis seated on one side and Shia on
the other. The two sides turned against one another, with
the Sunnis chanting &No reconciliation with killers!8 the
Shia chanting &No, no to Baathists!8 and both sides
denouncing &terrorists.8 Conference participants from both
sides surged forward, with the Shia cleric running onto the
stage and commandeering the panel,s microphone. Between 12
and 15 Iraqi police were called in to restore order.
6. (C) Minister of State for Civil Society Affairs Adel
Al-Assedy made his way up to the stage and angrily addressed
the crowd. He denounced behavior causing disorder, and
shouted that anyone who loved Iraq should stay in their
seats, but anyone who supported terrorists or the break up of
Iraq should leave the room immediately. His words did little
to calm the situation, and the room did not become quiet
until Deputy PM Salam Zawbai took the stage in an effort to
bring the conference back on track. After a 30 minute
speech, frequently interrupted by questions and comments from
the conference floor, the conference recessed for lunch.
7. (C) The conference got back on track after the break.
The six subcommittees ) trust building between NGOs and
society, displacement issues, human rights awareness,
rehabilitation of martyrs families and victims of violence,
media and national dialogue and reconciliation, and civil
society activities ) met to discuss their issues and draft
recommendations on the role NGOs can play in furthering
BAGHDAD 00003535 002 OF 002
national reconciliation.
--------------
Comments from Conference Participants
--------------
8. (C) Patience and Humanitarian Organization Chairwoman
Ibteesam Jabr called the conference "nothing but
decoration.8 She claimed that the lack of vision from the
politicians showed that they were not truly committed to
national reconciliation, and lamented the tremendous amount
of resources that had been expended for such an empty purpose.
9. (C) Baghdad University Political Science professor Dr.
Khamis Al-Badry told poloffs that the conference was
&useless.8 He noted that the national reconciliation effort
would never be successful while led by sectarian politicians
with sectarian agendas. Conference speaker and CoR member
Al-Taiee explained that the conference had invited &three
types of people: those who wanted to reconcile, those who
were ambivalent towards reconciliation, and those who wanted
to fight,8 and expressed doubt that the upcoming political
parties conference would be successful following this
conference,s failure.
--------------
Recommendations from the Subcommittees
--------------
10. (U) The final statement of the conference included the
following recommendations for civil society institutions and
NGOs:
- Work to establish symposiums and conference to
strengthen the bonds of unity
- Broaden participation in the protection of public
freedoms, human rights and promotion of concepts of
partnership and cooperation
- Adopt collective development projects
- Adopt unified national social message
- Call for weapons to be under exclusive control of
government apparatuses
- Activate Martyrs Foundation, Foundation of Prisoners
and Families of Victims of the Former Regime and Victims of
the Terrorist Operations
- Renounce forced displacement and adopt the return of
the displaced to their homes
- Call for adoption of peaceful mechanisms, activities
and objectives
- Seek to be an example of freedom and independence
- Reject fictitious organizations and organizations that
support or foster terrorism; expose these organizations to
the public and bring them to justice
- Call on international NGOs and human rights
organizations to support the people of Iraq and denounce
violence, extremism and terrorism.
SPECKHARD