HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER ON MEDIA BAN, POLICE FORCES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003795 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2016 TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV IZ SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS MINISTER ON MEDIA BAN, POLICE FORCES, AND STAFFING Classified By: POLCOUNS MARGARET SCOBEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. In a wide-ranging discussion with EmbOffs October 7, Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Mikhail Salim confirmed that the Council of Minister's (CoM) ban on al-Arabia television station had been lifted October 6. In her discussion of the October 5 CoM meeting, Minister Wijdan complained about new efforts to make previously neutral director general positions subject to political appointment. She indicated that no resolution was reached on this discussion, and confirmed that no progress was likely in appointing a Human Rights Deputy Minister. In other topics, Minister Wijdan expressed pessimism about the Iraqi police (IP),blaming prior militia integration into police forces for much of the violence in Baghdad. She explained that the Ministry continued to receive numerous complaints about the IP and its involvement in kidnapping and other activities and asserted that further integration of militias into security forces would have dire consequences. End Summary. -------------- BAN ON AL-ARABIA OVER -------------- ¶2. (C) In an October 7 discussion, Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Mikhail Salim told EmbOffs that the month-long ban on al-Arabia television network in Iraq had been lifted. The September 7 ban had been imposed by a majority vote of ministers, ostensibly because the ministers considered al-Arabia's coverage to be biased towards the portrayal of violence. Minister Wijdan claimed that she had been one of the few Ministers opposed to such a ban, and was unclear why the other ministers had voted in favor of it. (Note: Post has confirmed with al-Arabia that they have in fact resumed operations in Iraq. End Note). -------------- DEPUTY MINISTER SLOT REMAINS UNFILLED -------------- 3.(C) Minister Wijdan reported that efforts to allocate Deputy Ministers positions based on political party membership had been suspended, leaving her ministry with an unfilled slot. She explained that the political parties committee tasked to do so had never reached resolution on this process and therefore had stopped its deliberations entirely. However, new efforts to make previously neutral director general positions subject to political appointment were underway. She explained that a large portion of October 5 Council of Ministers meeting was spent discussing this issue. The Minister, who opposed this idea, indicated that the debate did not reach any resolution. -------------- POLICE STILL A PROBLEM -------------- ¶4. (C) Minister Wijdan informed EmbOffs that the ministry was continuing to receive numerous complaints of apparent Iraqi police (IP) involvement in kidnappings and other activities. She linked police involvement to recent kidnapping reports of store owners on busy commerce streets in upscale Karada district, without providing further detail. She angrily blamed police corruption and the poor security situation on the past integration of militia members into the security forces, and stressed to Emboffs the that it was importan not to make the same mistake in the future. ¶5. (C) Minister Wijdan commented that she had decided not to publicly condemn apparent government involvement in human rights abuses, though she agreed that there was a role for her to condemn acts of violence in general. She explained that more harm than good would come of her actively denouncing the government and maintained that in the public eye it was better to support al-Malaki's government. She expressed favor towards al-Maliki as a Prime Minister, though noting that divisions existed within his party and staff. Minister Wijdan told EmbOffs that she continued to forward reports of human rights abuses, including those reportedly perpetrated by GoI actors, to the Prime Minister's office. She indicated tentative willingness to share reports of IP involvement in extrajudicial activities with EmbOffs. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Though initially expressing optimism following her trip abroad, Minister Wijdan was noticeably agitated when BAGHDAD 00003795 002 OF 002 discussing the police and her perception of their role in extrajudicial activities. Despite this, she was pleased with the multiple offers of assistance during her trip, particularly in relation to children education projects. She noted to EmbOffs that the ministry would be planning a week in December for Human Rights Day - including mural projects and an art contest. KHALILZAD