BASRAH GOVERNOR OPENS DIALOGUE WITH THE U.S. REGIONAL

S E C R E T BASRAH 000014 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/31/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL IZ SUBJECT: BASRAH GOVERNOR OPENS DIALOGUE WITH THE U.S. REGIONAL EMBASSY OFFICE AND SUGGESTS A WAY FORWARD REF: (A) BASRAH 0010 (B) BASRAH 0012 (C) BASRAH 0013 CLASSIFIED BY: Mark Marrano, Deputy Regional Coordinator, Basrah Regional Embassy Office, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: The Deputy Regional Coordinator (DRC) met with Basrah Governor Mohammed on January 30, to discuss the current political situation in Basrah (see refs) and to search for a way to move ahead. The Governor stated that the Provincial Council (PC) had voted to boycott the British until evidence was provided that proved the guilt of those arrested by the British military. The Governor stated that the boycott was still in effect since no evidence had been provided to the Provincial Council. The Governor stated that the issue was one of embarrassment for the entire Provincial Council. According to the Governor, if the British provided the evidence, they would accept the reasons behind the arrests by the British military. The British seem willing to consider the request. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) The Governor accepted the invitation of the DRC to meet at the REO to discuss the current political situation. The Governor arrived late in the afternoon on a local holiday to tell his side of the story. He began by denouncing the British for training the previous Governor, Hasan Kazeem Hasan Al Rashid (Badr),to work for British interests in Basrah. The Governor then proceeded to denounce the Iranians for training SCIRI to work for Iranian interests in Basrah. The Governor stated that he has reliable information regarding Iranian intentions to have him assassinated and will make it public soon. ¶3. (S/NF) The DRC asked the Governor if he was willing to meet with the British Consul General to open a dialogue with regards to the present situation. The Governor stated that he was bound by the decision of the Provincial Council to boycott the British until evidence was provided of the crimes of those arrested. When the DRC pointed out that the letter issued by the Provincial Council on January 25 only called for a boycott till 1500hrs that day, the Governor remarked that the intent of the PC members was to keep the boycott in place until the British complied with their request. When asked by the DRC to suggest a way forward, the Governor stated that the DRC should organize a committee with the PC to open a dialogue with the British. ¶4. (S/NF) The Governor stated that all Iraqis want security and agree that those who commit crimes should be arrested. However, according to the Governor, people must be informed of the reasons why others are arrested. The Governor stated that both the PC members and he were embarrassed by the arrests not only because of the manner in which they were done (the British military went to houses late at night and allegedly mistreated those arrested),but because the British have yet to provide the Provincial Council with evidence of the crimes of those arrested. The Governor stated that if evidence is provided to the PC members, they would accept the reasons why they were arrested. The DRC mentioned that he would reach out to the Chairman of the Provincial Council to form a committee and present the PC request to the British. ¶5. (S/NF) After the meeting, the DRC spoke with the British Consul General (CG) and provided a read out of the meeting. The British CG stated that the Governor's claims of a boycott still in effect were ridiculous. However, the CG did state that he was willing to consider providing evidence of the crimes of those who were arrested. He warned though that the evidence would be "blunt." Both the DRC and the CG agreed that the Governor was looking for a way out of the current situation by stating that the issue was one of embarrassment. In addition, the DRC and the CG both considered it significant that the Governor was not demanding the release of the individuals, only evidence of their crimes. The CG stated he was willing to consider providing such evidence and use the DRC as the means to communicate with the Governor. ¶6. (S/NF) Comment: The fact that the Governor accepted to meet the DRC on a local holiday at the REO shows his willingness to look for a way out of his current situation. The fact that the Governor is now spinning the issue as a matter of embarrassment for himself and the PC shows his eagerness to find an acceptable solution for all concerned. The British have little to gain from not allowing the Governor and PC members to save face and therefore appear willing to at least consider providing the evidence to show the crimes of those arrested. End Comment. MARRANO