PRT SALAH AD DIN: GOVERNORATE ELECTION OFFICER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001684 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS KDEM IZ SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: GOVERNORATE ELECTION OFFICER FEARS FOR SAFETY AS PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS PRESSURE HIM TO RESIGN Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Greg D'Elia for reasons 1.4 ( b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶2. (C) Salah ad Din Governorate Election Officer (GEO) Hatim Abdulhamid alleged in a May 22 conversation with PRTOffs that provincial leaders, including the Governor and Deputy Governor, have made veiled threats against him in the hopes that he will step down as GEO in Salah ad Din province. Governor Hamood has admitted to PRT that he wishes Abdulhamid's removal, alleging that Abdulhamid is stacking the GEO with Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) loyalists. PRT possesses no evidence of provincial interference or intimidation. Embassy will review the allegations with UNAMI. End Summary. ¶3. (C) Governorate Election Officer (GEO) Hatim Abdulhamid told PRT May 22 that provincial leaders, including Governor Hamad Hamood Shekti and Deputy Governor Abdullah Jabara, have threatened him in the hopes that he will resign from the GEO position in Salah ad Din (SaD) province. He noted those threatening him hinted that Abdulhamid may suffer the same fate as former GEO Salah Jalil Faraj, who was arrested on May 20, 2007 on theft and corruption charges. Faraj, according to Abdulhamid, is still in prison. ¶4. (C) Abdulhamid said that he feared for his own safety and requested security assistance from Coalition Forces (CF). PRTOff suggested Abdulhamid report these threats and accompanying evidence to the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). Abdulhamid claimed that he had contacted the IHEC, but was refused special protection or advice. Provincial Officials Accuse GEO of Partisan Ties to IIP -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Governor Hamood has admitted to PRT that he would like to see Abdulhamid removed as GEO. Hamood alleges that Abdulhamid is a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) and has hired mostly IIP loyalists to staff the GEO office. Abdulhamid freely acknowledges his association with the IIP, but says that he is committed to free and fair elections, and that employees of the GEO were largely selected by lottery. ¶6. (C) Comment: PRT reports there is no independent confirmation of threats by provincial officials against Abdulhamid, nor evidence that Abdulhamid is carrying out his duties in a partisan fashion. Abdulhamid is a willing interlocutor who has been responsive to various USG requests for information. In fact, on a recent trip to Tuz, one voter registration center official, a Shi'a Turkman said that Abdulhamid had been very responsive to his requests for information. Embassy will verbally confer with UNAMI on the allegations. End Comment. BUTENIS