Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD1684
2008-06-03 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PRT SALAH AD DIN: GOVERNORATE ELECTION OFFICER
how-toVZCZCXRO9971 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #1684 1551353 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031353Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7645 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
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
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