NAJAF'S ZURFI PLEADS FOR US AID

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000010 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/25/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IZ SUBJECT: NAJAF'S ZURFI PLEADS FOR US AID HILLAH 00000010 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, RC, REO Al Hillah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b) ¶1. (U) This is a SET Najaf Cable. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY. On January 21, SET Najaf met with former Najaf Governor and head of the Loyalty to An Najaf party, Adnan Al Zurfi. The meeting covered a wide range of subjects. Zurfi expressed his view that the recent December 15 national election, while not perfect, was a step towards democracy. He repeated his call for the United States to "choose sides" in the future of Iraq. He said he is hopeful that the US will support its "friends" both financially and rhetorically, in the coming provincial elections and beyond. END SUMMARY. -------------- COMPLAINTS OF UIA/555 INTIMIDATION -------------- ¶3. (C) Zurfi criticized the security measures taken during the December 15 election. He noted that a number of his election workers were prevented from reaching the polls. Some, he asserted, were even detained. Accompanying Zurfi to the January 21 SET Najaf meeting was Ahmed Kadum, a Loyalty to An Najaf election worker. Kadum explained that he was taken into custody on the day of the election. He said that he and three other workers were accused of having counterfeit "election monitor" badges. Kadum said he was in custody for 22 days. Other detained election workers were released immediately. He claims that during this time he was beaten and the police attempted to coerce him to make statements prejudicial to Adnan Zurfi. He refused, he said. Kadum declined to specify who detained him for fear of reprisal. ¶4. (C) The sheer number of United Iraqi Alliance workers at the polls influenced the voting in Najaf, according to Zurfi. He asserted that having UIA workers in every polling place is tantamount to campaigning. He noted that his workers were present in less than one quarter of the polls, thus giving UIA an unfair advantage. Zurfi said that the UIA is a threat to national stability and their propaganda thwarts free and fair elections. Foreign influence, specifically from Iran, has bored its way into the political process, Zurfi said. The only way to stem this tide is for the US to support secular, proven parties, noted Zurfi. ¶5. (C) Asked what impact he feels Ayatollah Al Sistani has in the political process, Zurfi said after meetings with Sistani and his office manager that he is convinced the Ayatollah does not intend to take part in politics. In fact, Zurfi noted, "the Ayatollah is from the "quiet" Hawza and according to the former Governor, will not issue any future Fatwas regarding elections. Asked about a potential power vacuum caused by this withdrawal, Zurfi said that UIA would absolutely use this to their advantage by claiming to have a special relationship with the Ayatollah and knowledge of which party he supports; namely the UIA. -------------- THE ROAD AHEAD -------------- ¶6. (C) Zurfi said that he wants only peace and stability for Najaf, "This election is over. It's time to move on." He offered that "it would be easy for the situation in Najaf to deteriorate into chaos". He claimed to have the support of many tribal leaders and, if he chose to do so, could confront UIA, not just with his politics, but with force. "This is not at all, what I want", he stated. It is time, however for the US to make public statements in support of Loyalty to An Najaf and parties like his, according to Zurfi. He asserted that the time of the US to be an impartial observer is over. He also requested that the US government and Coalition Forces provide grants and award projects to himself and his allies so that he might be able to help Najafis. He would also, he posits, be able to utilize these projects to win the favor of the citizenry and show them that good works can come from secular organizations. This is necessary, according to Zurfi, because the present SCIRI controlled provincial government is attempting to use local projects to consolidate its hold on power. ¶7. (C) There is, according to Zurfi, an active campaign to marginalize and eventually eliminate his political party. The arrest of his security chief and office manager last fall, along with the abduction of his brother in December 2005, are clear indicators that the Provincial Government is leading a campaign to silence him and his popular party, according to Zurfi. "With nothing, said Zurfi, "but our dreams and hard work, we were able to get five thousand votes". He considered this as vindication for himself and his party and a sign that his campaign should continue. He noted that the Iraqi National Congress received only 700 votes. HILLAH 00000010 002.2 OF 002 ¶8. (C) COMMENT. Zurfi's call for the US to endorse his party is not new. Each successive plea, however has carried greater urgency. The last, best hope for a "true democracy" in Iraq is with the active support of the United States for secular parties, Zurfi stated. It is also true that the local government would rather Zurfi withdraw into obscurity. His tenacity in campaigning-even after consecutive defeats at the ballot box--ensures, however, that provincial elections will be contested. For Zurfi and his secular brethren to return to political influence, coalitions and compromise will be necessary. This is something that, to date, secular forces in Najaf have been unwilling or unable to do. When offered this suggestion, Zurfi indicated that he agrees that it is time for just such a relationship. It will not be a surprise to see Loyalty to An Najaf Party and the Iraqi National Accord form just such a coalition in attempt to gain even a modicum of power in Najaf. END COMMENT. FONTENEAU