PRT DIYALA - PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WEAKENED BY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004275 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL SOCI IZ SUBJECT: PRT DIYALA - PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WEAKENED BY SECURITY SITUATION Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Robert Gilchrist for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). This is a Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message. ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Diyala's reconstruction efforts and the provincial government?s ability to manage its affairs have been increasingly hindered as the province's security situation has worsened over recent months. Key Iraqi government personnel in various departments have been killed, kidnapped, left Diyala because of the security situation, or have simply been too afraid to travel to work. The security situation has particularly affected provincial Directors General (DGs), politicians, judges, teachers and businessmen. END SUMMARY. -------------- Provincial Departments Losing Key Personnel -------------- ¶2. (U) DGs are the national ministries' representatives to the various provinces and within Diyala they play a crucial role in reconstruction and development. Losing key personnel has reduced the provincial government's ability to provide essential services and delayed reconstruction projects badly needed throughout the province. The following are recent examples of departures from key provincial government posts: - In June, the DG of Health, Ali Mahdawi (Sunni),was kidnapped from the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Baghdad. - On or about October 19, the DG of Municipalities, Abd-al Karim Hussein Abbas (Sunni),was kidnapped. - In July, two Department of Water workers were killed. Since their assassinations the DG at the Department of Water, Mortada Hassan Hammoud (Shia),refuses to meet with PRT officers citing security concerns - The DG of Irrigation, Mohamed Mohsen (Shia),left his position because of threats. - Since August the DG of Sewers, Ali Muhammed Khadom (Sunni), has refused to meet with PRT officers also citing security concerns - In late October the DG of Electricity, Abd-al Latif Allo (Sunni),announced he is leaving his post, - The Deputy DG of Planning, Arkan Majed Ishamil (Sunni),the Senior Engineer in the Planning Department, is leaving due to security concerns. - The DG of the Public Distribution System (PDS) reports that many PDS drivers refuse to make deliveries to Diyala because of the security situation preventing residents from receiving essential items. - A PRT-planned conference for provincial veterinarians was cancelled when the DG of Veterinary Affairs reported that none of the provinces veterinarians, public or private, were willing to attend the conference because of security concerns. -------------- -------------- Educational and Business Institutions Negatively Impacted -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In early November, Diyala University's president, Dr. Alla Shakir, closed the institution after University Professor and Diyala Provincial Council member, Dr. Adnan Mahmoud Abbas al-Mahdawi (Sunni BAGHDAD 00004275 002 OF 002 IIP),received death threats. Prior to these threats Iraqi Army officers detained two other Sunni professors. These professors claimed that the IA officers had not only abused them, but had shown them a list of Sunni professors in the university who would also be detained and, according to one professor?s report, "humiliated." ¶4. (U) A planned Diyala Business Center (DBC) in Baqubah has also been affected. In July, Saleh Rasheed Hameed Adnan (Sunni), Manager of an al Rafadeen Bank branch, and intended DBC Board Member, was kidnapped. His current status is unknown. The intended Deputy Chairman of the DBC Board, Ahmed Ibrahim Ekab al-Dhalaki (Sunni) has subsequently left Iraq. Most recently another leading participant in the DBC's planning process told PRToff that "there aren't any businessmen in Diyala anymore" and that the Center, while a good idea, simply wouldn't succeed in the current climate. -------------- Provincial Government Officials Also Affected -------------- ¶5. (C) Provincial Government leaders have also been affected by the province?s deteriorating security situation. Examples include: -In July, Adnan Iskander Jassim Muammed al-Kurwi (Sunni),a PC Member, was assassinated. - The Deputy Governor's, 10 year old nephew, was kidnapped but, fortunately, was returned. - Several Government Center guards and employees of the Government Center have been killed. - On November 2, a prosecutor, Tarik Abid Ali, and his son were killed in Baqubah. As the violence has escalated there has been a noticeable decrease in attendance at the Provincial Council meetings. For example, the American monitored Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC),which had been meeting regularly in June and early-July, has had quorum only once since mid-September delaying progress on much needed reconstruction and development programs. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The worsened security situation in Diyala province has prevented growth and progress within both the private sector and public services. Until the security situation improves, it will become increasingly difficult for Diyala's much needed reconstruction projects to move forward while at the same time, the provincial government will face an increasingly difficult time providing basic services to their residents. In an effort to address the security situation, Diyala governor Ra'ad al-Tamimi recently traveled to Baghdad to meet with senior GOI officials, including the Minister of Interior, asking for more GOI security support. SPECKHARD