NINEWA VICE GOVERNOR REQUESTS MORE AUTHORITY FOR PROVINCIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSUL 000007

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/3/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ MARR PINT
SUBJECT: NINEWA VICE GOVERNOR REQUESTS MORE AUTHORITY FOR PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS

REF: MOSUL 005

CLASSIFIED BY: H. Carl Gettinger, Team Leader, Provincial
Reconstruction Team Ninewa, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)



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SUMMARY
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1. (C) PRT TL and REO Poloff met with Vice Governor Khessro
Goran and KDP headquarters in Mosul in February 1. Goran
believes the new federal government should "give more authority"
to provincial governments to help address the needs of the
people. Goran spoke at some length about an increase in
criminal activity in Mosul and surrounding villages, such as
kidnappings and extortions. These, he said, are believed to be
mainly against Christians and Kurds. He claims the perpetrators
of these crimes are "former Baathists," who are not content with
their victories after the December national election. Goran
claims such persons desire to "move [non-Sunni Arabs] out of the
province." Goran also said Coalition Forces should allow the
Iraqi Army (IA) "more flexibility" to respond to intelligence
information and install more checkpoints within Mosul. Goran
also called for resolution to Article 58 of the constitution to
finally decide border disputes for cities along Iraqi Kurdistan
and other provinces. End Summary.

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CRIME ON THE RISE IN MOSUL
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2. (C) Goran welcomed TL to his office where the conversation
quickly turned to security issues in the province, especially
regarding an increase in kidnappings and extortions. TL asked
if Goran believed criminals were taking advantage of terrorism
and insurgent activity to conduct their operations. Goran sees
a recent spike in crime as being perpetrated mostly by Sunni
Arabs against Christians and Kurds. He believes the Sunnis, not
content with their strong performance during the national
election, are now trying to "push" minorities and Kurds "out of
Ninewa" to control the province. And that the real culprits
behind the crimes are "former Baathists" who cannot get over
"not being in power."


3. (C) Goran handed TL several letters as evidence of threats
against Kurds (reftel). He spoke of recent extortion attempts
and kidnappings against citizens and businessmen in Mosul.
Goran claims a number of KDP employees in Mosul had been
murdered, "just for being Kurds." He said that since the
December national election, 600 Kurd families have fled to
neighboring Erbil and Dohuk provinces, Christians are leaving
the country, and Shias have fled such areas as Tal Afar for
southern Iraq. Goran said there are many good Sunnis who could
help but they are "afraid to speak out" against terrorism and
crime for fear of attack.

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SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
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4. (C) Goran said there should be more Iraqi Army (IA)
checkpoints in Mosul. He claims five to six checkpoints in
"hot" locations in the city, such as the industrial and mosque
areas, would be a good start. He believes more troop presence
on the streets will make the citizens more comfortable.
However, Goran claims Coalition Forces (CF) has turned down
requests by the provincial government, IA and Iraqi Police (IP),
since CF leaders "do not like the idea" of having IA checkpoints
in the city. Goran said the IA is "limited by [CF]" in other
areas as well. He claims CF does not permit the IA "sufficient
space to do their job." Goran said CF should allow "more
flexibility" for IA to respond immediately to intelligence
information. He said sometimes CF "take too long to prepare,"
and by the time the soldiers arrive to a location the
"information has passed."


5. (C) TL asked why Goran believes the IA and not IP should man
such checkpoints, to which Goran replied, "Not all police are
good." He believes IA should operate checkpoints since they are
"better organized and trained," and have experience with similar
checkpoints in Erbil and Dohuk. Goran said for many reasons
people still do not trust the IP, and as a result are not
sharing information with them. He claims some officers are
"working with terrorists," and that there have been reports from
citizens of IP cars rolling around town shouting, "Long live
Saddam [Hussein]" over their loud speakers. He said, however,
the Provincial Chief of Police (Wathiq Al Qadir),for all of his
good work, has not been able to control such officers. Goran
believes these trouble-causing IP were hired by the former PCOP,
Ahmed Mohammed Al Juburi.

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SOLUTIONS TO THE CITY'S WOES
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6. (C) TL said although there have been many improvements in
Mosul over the past year, he asked Goran what solutions the
provincial government has to address lingering problems with
security, the economy, and a lack of basic services. Goran
replied that any key to improving conditions in Ninewa centered
on how strong the new central government would be, since only
they could grant the governates more authority to address
issues. Goran believes success also depends on how well the
central government improves the economy, by providing jobs,
housing, and services such as electricity and water. Clearly
frustrated, Goran said so far all that has happened is that the
provincial government has "talked and not done" for the people
of Ninewa. He claims the provincial government has gone several
times to former and current Iraqi administrations for
assistance, from Allawi to Jafari, but has "received no
response."


7. (C) Goran said further complicating governance issues
nationwide is how Article 58 of the constitution would be
implemented. He claims solving this issue would resolve many
provincial border disputes in the country, especially in Ninewa.
Goran claims areas, such as Makhmour, Shekhan, and Faydah,
which "originally belonged to Kurdistan" but were "moved by
Saddam Hussein" should be decided with whom they belong. He
said these areas have been "neglected" since provincial
governments have limited resources and do not know "who belongs
where."

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COMMENT
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8. (C) We can glean several things from Goran's comments and
his obviously elevated level of frustration. Tensions between
the Sunni Arabs and the Kurds are rising. Kurdish efforts to
broaden and fortify their positions in northern and eastern
Ninewa are encountering difficulties as the Sunnis (especially,
but not exclusively) push back. To have Kurds leaving the area
from fear of attack runs directly counter to Kurdish designs on
the zone. Frustration is mounting among Kurdish leaders because
they are unable to utilize the military power they have
(subsumed though it may be under the Iraqi national banner) to
defend their interest and must depend on what they see as a weak
police force that is inherently unsympathetic to the Kurds. For
the moment, the Kurds are pushing back with a sort of charm
offensive. Goran mentioned (KRG) President Barzani's meeting
the Arab sheikhs from Mosul at the beginning of the year in
Erbil where Barzani called for brotherhood and understanding.
Goran said more than once that the Kurds cannot go after Arabs
in retribution for the crimes committed against them. But
underlying this there appeared to be the message that there is a
limit to Kurds' willingness to turn the other cheek. As Captain
Renaud pointed out to Major Strasser, "We are trying to
cooperate with you, major, but we cannot control the feelings of
our people."
GETTINGER