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