KIDNAPPING OF HCN EMPLOYEE AND THREATS TO OTHER HCN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BASRAH 000011 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA/NEA, DS/DSS, NEA/EX E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/27/2017 TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: KIDNAPPING OF HCN EMPLOYEE AND THREATS TO OTHER HCN EMPLOYEES REF: A) RSO BAHGDAD SPOT REPORT 01/24/2007, B) BASRAH 010 BASRAH 00000011 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Bryan T. Bachmann, RSO, REO Basrah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (g) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On January 24, at approximately 0630 hrs, a Host Country National (HCN) temporary KBR contract laborer was kidnapped and beaten by Jaish Al Mahdi (JAM) militia members. The laborer was released later that day. The laborer reported that the kidnappers were attempting to gain information on other employees at the REO, including HCN Political Assistant Eman Al-Timini. The local employees were notified not to report to report to work for a few days. Basrah EAC convened and discussed the threats. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) (Note: Details of this incident were related to the Regional Security Office by the victim's brother, Mustafa Turmah Abdellah al-Shebeeb, with the assistance of a Triple Canopy HCN interpreter. End note). On January 24, 2007, at approximately 0630, HCN temporary KBR contract employee Ouday Turmah Abdellah al-Shebeeb (born in 1977, in Iraq) was kidnapped in the al Amtahiya neighborhood of Basrah (IVO 38R QU 718760) while riding a motorcycle to the Basrah Palace compound. Abdellah was abducted by four masked men, one of whom was wearing a green sweat-suit. The men blindfolded Abdellah, and placed him in a Nissan pickup truck. The truck was white, with a red stripe, shaded windows, and no license plates. The abductors took Abdellah to the JAM headquarters in the Timinyah neighborhood of Basrah (IVO 38R QU 708802) for interrogation and torture. Several individuals, in turn, beat Abdellah, and threatened him with a pistol. Shortly into the interrogation, the abductors told Abdellah that they had originally intended to kidnap his brother instead of him (it is unclear if they mistook his identity, or if the kidnappers intentionally took Abdellah knowing he was related to their intended target). At approximately 0800, the abductors telephoned the victim's brother using Abdellah's cell phone, and told him that he (the brother, Mustafa Turmah Abdellah) was the intended target of the kidnapping, and that they would "get to him in the end". They did not make any other threats or demands. ¶3. (SBU) The kidnappers said that they wanted to question the victim's brother, Mustafa Turmah Abdellah, because he spoke English, and was known to have worked on the compound for a long time. According to Abdellah, the kidnappers were mostly interested in information regarding HCN Foreign Service National Eman Hafiz Fadel al-Kanaan al-Timimi. Al-Timimi is the only FSN currently working for the REO, and because of her interaction with almost all of the high-level visitors to the REO, she is known to have great access and influence inside the REO. Al-Timimi is a long-time and trusted employee, and she has been the subject of threats in the past. The abductors told Abdellah that they wanted to kidnap Timimi in order to question her about her duties at the "consulate", but made no threats against her. Abdellah, a laborer, with no access to REO offices, and little knowledge of Timimi, provided no information regarding Timimi. ¶4. (SBU) The RSO notified al-Timimi of the threat against her, and instructed her not to report to work for two weeks. Al-Timini has in the past refused to take refuge in the compound or to work temporarily at another REO. Al-Timini refused again to take refuge in the compound. ¶5. (SBU) In the course of the interrogation, the kidnappers stated that they were also targeting any Iraqis who worked for the "British forces," and that they will "get them soon." The kidnappers stated that an unnamed HCN contract laborer working for KBR on the Palace compound had provided them with the names of at least six HCN employees that they intended to kill (none of whom work for the British - all are KBR contract employees of the REO). They also indicated that they had photographs of these employees, but did not show them to Abdellah. The below employees were identified as targets of the militia: Mustafa Turmah Abdellah al-Shebeeb, KBR laborer (brother of Abdellah) Khalid Ali Atayah al-Ghazi, KBR security Ali Khalid, KBR laborer (son of Khalid, above) Jawdat Abdulsamad Mahmoud al-Timini, KBR cleaning Ni'ema Shaker Abdullalif el-Ghanem, KBR security Ahmed Kareem Kezsar, KBR vehicle maintenance Ahmed Abdulrahman Sultan, KBR fuel ¶6. (SBU) After torturing and interrogating Abdellah, the abductors told him that he had provided no useful information, and that he was of no use to them. They took Abdellah's mobile phone and Iraqi identification card, and released him at approximately 1500 hours. On January 25, the kidnappers contacted Abdellah (means of contact unknown),and informed him BASRAH 00000011 002.2 OF 002 that he could come to the JAM headquarters to pick up his mobile phone and identification card. They also told him that he would be expected to sign a statement denying that JAM had ever kidnapped or questioned him. The kidnappers again asserted that Abdellah was of no use to them, and that they would "get" his brother, Mustafa Turmah Abdellah. ¶7. (S) In 2006, three U.S. REO HCNs were murdered because of their employment at the REO. The U.S. REO is not the only organization to suffer from threats, beatings and murders. On December 15, 2006, a National Democratic Institute HCN employee was murdered. Recently, on January 19th, 2007, an employee of the British Foreign Commonwealth Office was kidnapped and shot in his legs and hands. He was reportedly left to live so that he could tell his story. Per Ref (B): At a recent meeting between the Regional Director and Mr. Nusay'eif Jasem, Basrah Provincial Council Deputy Chariman, Nusay'eif stated that JAM believes HCN employees provided the names of local individuals on a recent "Most Wanted" list published by the British military. HCN intimidation, coupled with the increased accuracy in IDF, is no doubt part of a coordinated effort to rid Basrah of coalition forces. BONO