CHALABI AIDE DISCUSSES RECONCILIATION IN KARKH,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001525

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS PINR IZ
SUBJECT: CHALABI AIDE DISCUSSES RECONCILIATION IN KARKH,
ADHAMIYA WALL

REF: BAGHDAD 1479

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Charles Blaha for reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary: An aide to Ahmad Chalabi, chairman of popular
mobilization for the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP),told PRToff
May 1 that Chalabi,s staff met this week with Jaysh Al-Mehdi
(JAM) and Sunni extremist elements from the Karkh district to
promote reconciliation. The aide, Sermad Al-Qaisy, said
Chalabi secured pledges from both sides to shun violence and
facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs)
to the area. Al-Qaisy added that Chalabi is continuing his
efforts to re-open mosques and husseiniyas (Shia houses of
worship) in cooperation with the Sunni and Shia Waqf. End
summary.

Chalabi Promotes Reconciliation in Karkh
--------------


2. (C) An aide to Ahmad Chalabi, chairman of popular
mobilization for the BSP, told PRToff May 1 that Chalabi,s
staff met this week with JAM and Sunni extremist elements
from the Haifa and Rahmaniya neighborhoods of the Karkh
district to promote reconciliation. The aide, Sermad
Al-Qaisy, said other community leaders and representatives
from the Iraqi Army and Iraq Police attended the meeting. He
said that both JAM and Sunni extremist elements agreed to
shun violence and sectarianism in order to pacify the
neighborhood, facilitate the return of both Sunni and Shia
IDPs (most IDPs who fled the area are Sunni),and re-open
closed mosques and husseiniyas. Al-Qaisy also said that both
sides agreed to identify criminal elements from within their
ranks operating in the Karkh area to Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) and assist in bringing them to justice.


3. (C) Al-Qaisy said another meeting including more
participants from the community will eventually be held at
the Mansour Media Hotel to follow up and identify other areas
for improvement.


4. (C) PRToff asked Al-Qaisy if he believed average Sunni
residents who had fled the area will be willing to return
just because JAM elements have provided promises to guarantee
their safety. Al-Qaisy replied that he believed JAM elements
might keep their word because they know Sunni extremists will
retaliate against Shia residents if they do not. He added
that ISF will monitor both sides. Provincial Council members
who work with IDPs told PRToff that Sunni IDPs are unlikely
to return to an area where JAM still exerts influence.

Chalabi to Coordinate Mosque Re-Openings with Waqf
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Al-Qaisy said Chalabi has started working with the
Sunni and Shia Waqf to facilitate the re-opening of mosques.
He said that to date Chalabi,s mosque re-opening efforts
have concentrated on private mosques not belonging to the
Waqf. (Comment: In previous meetings Chalabi aides have said
they avoided coordinating efforts to re-open mosques with the
Waqf because the Waqf was unhelpful. End comment.)

Chalabi Promotes Support for Adhamiya Security Wall
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Al-Qaisy said Chalabi recently met with community
leaders from Adhamiya to promote local support for the
security wall being built there. Al-Qaisy claimed that most
residents oppose the wall, which he said they view as a jail
rather than a security measure for their protection. He said
average Baghdad residents reject the building of security
walls due to the perceived likeness with Israel,s security
barrier and fears that Baghdad will become broken into a
series of walled communities isolated from each other. He
added that average residents say security walls will
exacerbate sectarian polarization.


8. (C) Comment: Baghdad Provincial Chairman Mueen Al-Kadhemi
has publicly criticized the wall, but some local officials
and Adhamiya residents have told PRToffs that the wall is a
welcome measure that is improving security in their area
(reftel). Other residents have told PRToffs that they
believe building walls will only exacerbate sectarian
tensions and will not improve security. End comment.


9. (C) Al-Qaisy said Prime Minister Maliki and others
approved the building of security walls and should explain
their utility to the public rather than fueling the
perception that the walls are an American plot to inflame
sectarian tensions. He added that Chalabi will promote
support for security walls by explaining their benefits in
his media engagements.

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PM Asks Chalabi Aide to Report on Other BSP Committees
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Al-Qaisy claimed that Prime Minister Maliki asked
him in private meeting to monitor the progress of other
Baghdad Security Plan committees and report whether they are
making the progress they claim. He added that Maliki is
particularly concerned that the economic and essential
services committees are making false claims about their
progress. Al-Qaisy said Chalabi was not present at the
meeting.

Security Problems in the IZ due to Iraqi Blue Badge Holders
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Al-Qaisy said Iraqis holding blue International Zone
(IZ) badges are responsible for a recent spike of security
problems in the IZ. (Note: Blue badge holders can enter the
IZ without personal or vehicle searches and may carry
weapons. End note.) Al-Qaisy, himself a blue badge holder,
said he regularly sees Iraqi blue badge holders escort others
in and leave them unsupervised (rules dictate that escorts
should remain with their guests at all times). Al-Qaisy said
many Iraqi blue badge holders, including Iraqi officials,
have known ties with militias and insurgents and should not
be allowed to enter the IZ unsearched.


11. (C) Al-Qaisy, a resident of the IZ, said rumors have been
circulating that civilians will be targeted for kidnapping in
the IZ. He said &everyone knows how easy it would be to
snatch an unarmed civilian, throw him in the trunk of a car
of a blue badge holder, and drive him out of the IZ.8
Al-Qaisy, himself a resident of the IZ, said he no longer
feels safe letting his wife and children leave the house
without him inside the IZ.
SPECKHARD