PRT TIKRIT: TUZ PC BOYCOTT HIGHLIGHTS POSSIBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000380 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON PINR IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: TUZ PC BOYCOTT HIGHLIGHTS POSSIBLE KURDISTAN ASPIRATIONS AND BETTER PC GOVERNANCE REF: 06 BAGHDAD 4516 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din (SaD) cable. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY. Discontentment among the Salah ad Din (SaD) Provincial Council (PC) members from the predominately Kurdish and Turcoman city of Tuz has led to political disarray in the council's operations, delaying important reconstruction project and 2007 budget decisions. Since December 2006, 15 PC members from the eastern city of Tuz have been boycotting PC meetings. The Tuz members sent a letter to PC Chairman Sheikh Rasheed Ossman, complaining about, among other issues, the lack of security on the Tuz-Tikrit road and the provincial government's poor communication and cooperation with the Tuz members. The PC officially responded to the complaints in a January 8 letter, but did nothing to alleviate their concerns, which led to continuation of the boycott. A January 23 PRT-initiated trip by SaD Governor Hamad Hamoud al Shakti al Qaisi and PC Chairman Rasheed to Tuz led to an end to the boycott; on January 29, Tuz members attended the PC meeting with Coalition Forces' security assistance. COMMENT: While the Tuz PC members have legitimate concerns that the PC has largely ignored, it appears their disengagement from the SaD provincial government may be the start of a bid to associate itself with Kirkuk for possible inclusion in Kurdistan (reftel). End COMMENT and SUMMARY. -------------- The Tuz Members Begin a PC Meeting Boycott -------------- ¶3. (C) Since December 2006, 15 of the Salah ad Din (SaD) Provincial Council (PC) members from the predominately Kurdish and Turcoman city of Tuz have been boycotting PC meetings. In their letter to the PC, they indicated they intended to boycott PC meetings until there was a tangible increase in the security on the Tuz-Tikrit road, which crosses the Hamrin mountains and lies in between two Iraqi Army divisions' areas of operation, and improved cooperation and communication between the provincial government and the Tuz members. They also complained about the (potentially extralegal) election of two new PC members upon the assassination of the incumbents and a more equitable distribution of electricity equipment throughout the province. (NOTE: An analysis of the 2006 provincial reconstruction budget indicates that the Tuz District received approximately 13 percent of the budget's total spending, on par with the district's population of approximately 13 percent of the province. However, Tuz has a disproportionate number of members on the PC, 15 of 41 total members, because of the 2005 elections boycott in many areas in the rest of the province. END NOTE.) -------------- The PC Responds -------------- ¶4. (C) In a January 8 letter, PC Chair Sheikh Rasheed Ossman responded to the concerns outlined in the letter from the Tuz members, but largely dismissed the complaints as invalid. The letter claimed the Tuz-Tikrit road is "very safe" and the lack of communication and cooperation is a result of Tuz members not traveling to Tikrit on a more regular basis. -------------- The Provincial Government Visits Tuz -------------- ¶5. (C) In a January 23 PRT-initiated visit, SaD Governor Hamad Hamoud al Shakti al Qaisi, PC Chair Rasheed, and DG for Technical Affairs/Provincial Engineer Kahtan Hamadi Saleh traveled to Tuz to discuss the members' complaints. Security concerns dominated the meeting. The Tuz members agreed to return to the next PC meeting with the assistance of the Coalition Forces (CF). However, they clearly indicated that they saw CF security assistance as a temporary solution as it does not allow the general populace of Tuz to travel to Tikrit on a regular basis, many of whom work or attend university in Tikrit. (NOTE: CF based in Tuz validated the Tuz members' concerns regarding the safety of the Tuz-Tikrit highway. END NOTE) ¶6. (C) In sidebar conversations, several Tuz residents suggested that since Kirkuk was located closer to Tuz than to Tikrit and since the terrain was easier and safer to travel, Tuz should be governed out of Kirkuk. The Tuz Director of Education stated that it would also be easier to obtain BAGHDAD 00000380 002 OF 002 Kurdish and Turcoman language educational material from Kirkuk, which they were in need of. It was also mentioned that Kirkuk Province provides Tuz with the majority of its food and health needs. -------------- The Tuz Members Return, but to Little Avail -------------- ¶7. (C) With CF security assistance, the Tuz members returned to the PC on January 29. The principal agenda item at the meeting was to approve reconstruction projects to be supported by USD 7.5 million in ESF funding. When the Tuz members learned that only one percent of the projects where located in the Tuz area and that most of the projects would go to the home areas of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Provincial Council Chair, they blocked approval. Before the meeting's end, the PC was able to garner consensus and approve a province-wide electrical project to be supported by USD 3.5 million in ESF funds, though there is question if the Ministry of Electricity will support the projects as conceived. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) While the Tuz PC members have legitimate concerns that the PC has largely ignored, it appears their disengagement from the SaD provincial government may indicate a greater desire to associate the Tuz area with Kirkuk for possible inclusion in Kurdistan. The general sentiment in Tuz does seem to be a preference for governance out of Kirkuk, and the SaD provincial government may not necessarily be opposed to that. Thus far, it appears the provincial government has only been interested in engaging the Tuz members when forced to obtain votes in the PC. Although the Tuz members' boycott has derailed important reconstruction project and 2007 budget decisions, it does represent a greater understanding of the proper internal operation of the Provincial Council. Previously, the PC leadership would have rubber stamped unevenly distributed projects without a quorum. END COMMENT. ¶9. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Tikrit. KHALILZAD