PRT TIKRIT: JUDICIAL CONFERENCE SUPPORTS MAJOR

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000970 SIPDIS SBU SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KCRM IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: JUDICIAL CONFERENCE SUPPORTS MAJOR CRIMES COURT IN SALAH AD DIN ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable. ¶2. (SBU) On March 14 the PRT Rule of Law Team hosted the province's first judicial conference since the fall of the former regime. 25 of Salah ad Din's judges, prosecutors, and high ranking police officials gathered in Tikrit for a day-long discussion on judicial issues in the province. Both SaD Governor Hamad Hamoud al Shakti and Deputy Governor Abdullah Ajabarah spoke at the conference about their support for improving the personal security for judges and for establishment of a Major Crimes Court in the province. ¶3. (SBU) The discussions moderated by Acting Chief Judge Sadoon al Azzawi and Chief Prosecutor Tariq Najim focused primarily on security in the province and preparations for the establishment of Salah ad Din's Major Crimes Court (MCC). Highlighting the need to improve security province-wide, the Acting Chief Judge discussed his experiences when he was kidnapped in October 2006. ¶4. (SBU) The conference's participants, from townships throughout the province, showed great interest in the MCC, which will establish a venue for proceedings against insurgents arrested by the Iraqi Police (IP) and Army (IA) in Salah ad Din. Over the past year, one judge has been assassinated and two have been kidnapped. The MCC, located on an IA-secured compound in Tikrit (formerly U.S. Forward Operating Base Danger),will co-locate detention facilities and courtrooms as well as provide secure housing for judges. When functional, the MCC will have visiting judges from other provinces throughout Iraq investigate and try the terrorism-related cases from Salah ad Din for 30 day periods, similar to the MCC in Ninewa Province. The MCC is slated to open in April 2007. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The first gathering of its kind since 2002, this PRT-initiated conference succeeded in bringing together the judicial community and putting momentum behind the establishment of Salah ad Din's Major Crimes Court. Though much work still needs to be done on the MCC facility, it is clear that the province's judicial community supports the initiative and wants to see it succeed. END COMMENT. ¶6. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Tikrit. KHALILZAD