STUDENT TAKES RISK TO DISCUSS LIFE IN BASRAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000039

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/13/2017
TAGS: SCUL ECON PHUM PREL IZ IR
SUBJECT: STUDENT TAKES RISK TO DISCUSS LIFE IN BASRAH

CLASSIFIED BY: Louis L. Bono, Director, Basrah Regional Embassy
Office, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) A Basrah Student Union leader met the Regional Embassy
Office (REO) director on May 7, to talk about Basrah University
and life in general for the educated and moderate citizens of
Basrah. The director noted the risk involved in visiting the
REO and asked the student why he came in. The student, who is
about 20 years old, replied that the risk was indeed great. He
was aware that the gate to the REO is watched, but he was also
aware that REO staff could not travel into Basrah. He thus felt
it important "to tell the Americans what is happening in the
city." He said most people still appreciate the Americans for
ridding Iraq of Saddam, but life in the city has become much
more difficult. There are few jobs and few prospects for
students, the cost of consumer goods has risen, and most people
live in fear of the militias. He said militias such as JAM
continue to terrorize students and professors, and many students
join political parties for protection. (Note: A Sunni lecturer
at Basrah University was assassinated this past week. End
note.)


2. (C) He also derided the election process. He said people
vote on lists based on their religion or provincial ties,
without any concern for the candidates or their platforms. The
director noted that universities and students play an important
role around the world bringing political issues to the forefront
and suggested the student union sponsor political debates. The
student replied to do so would be life threatening.


3. (SBU) As for Basrah University, he said that the students had
recently lodged a series of complaints with the University's
administration regarding, inter alia, the lack of laboratories,
the increase in fees, the poor state of the facilities, and the
lack of qualified instructors, particularly in the English
Department. He said fees are currently 550,000 to 750,000 Iraqi
dinars ($400 - $600) per semester, a significant increase from
the 2004 tuition of 100,000 dinars ($80). He said Basrah
University is not as good as it once was, but he still considers
it to be one of the most prestigious, saying it is ranked 16th
in the world.


4. (C) When asked about job prospects, the student said he knows
many engineers and lawyers who take menial jobs as mechanics or
taxi drivers because there are no jobs available in their field.
He estimated that only 10% of his friends are employed in their
profession. (Note: Many of the REO laborers have professional
degrees. End note.) When asked about civil service jobs, he
said you must pay a bribe to obtain one and in any event those
normally go to party members, which is another reason why
students are joining political parties.


5. (C) Despite the bleak prospects, he still holds out hope:
"without hope, you have nothing" he said. He believes it is
important to for the United States to maintain close ties with
the people of Basrah to help nurture democracy and the economy
and to offset the Iranian influence, which he fears is becoming
too pervasive. He said university and cultural exchanges are
important to improving relations. He agreed that a roundtable
discussion between students and REO staff would be beneficial
for all involved, but said the students would not want to be
seen traveling to the REO. Nonetheless, he will try to convince
his fellow students to participate.


6. (SBU) Comment: It took a lot of courage for this young man
to walk into the REO during the middle of the day, but his visit
underscores our belief that the most people in Basrah share our
vision of a stable, free, and prosperous Iraq.

BONO