MEK: GOI SEEKS TO ASSUME SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001889 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER IR IZ SUBJECT: MEK: GOI SEEKS TO ASSUME SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. Reasons: 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (S) The GOI has informed us over the past few days that it seeks to assume security responsibility for the MEK members located at Camp Ashraf. PM Maliki told MNF-I Commanding General Petraeus on June 15 the GOI's desire to see the MEK issue resolved, as their prolonged presence in Iraq would continue to be a political irritant. He stated that the GOI had no desire to harm the MEK members residing in Camp Ashraf, nor would it seek to forcibly return them to Iran. Rather, Maliki suggested a way ahead that would entail a joint security arrangement in which Iraqi army elements would join MNF-I in guarding Camp Ashraf, with the aim of eventually assuming full security responsibility. ¶2. (S) PM COS Tariq Abdallah also conveyed to MNF-I June 17 the GOI's desire to assume security responsibility for the MEK soonest, echoing the joint security arrangement proposal. Abdallah informed DCS for Strategic Operations Barbero that the Council of Ministers had decided that day that control of the MEK would be transferred to the GOI. Abdallah emphasized the GOI position that the MEK is a terrorist organization on Iraqi soil and that the GOI needed to find a solution to their presence in Iraq. ¶3. (U) That same day, the CoR debated the legal aspects of the MEK presence in Iraq, their actions during the Saddam Hussein regime, and their "interference with Iraqi sovereignty." The morning session was heated, if not hostile, as deputies expressed their objection to the MEK presence in Iraq, reiterating points of sovereignty and past crimes against the Iraqi people. Some deputies called for the removal of the MEK from Iraq, asking why the GOI should host an organization that is actively working against a neighboring country with which Iraq is trying to build a normal relationship. Defense and Security Committee Chairman Hadi al-Ameri (Badr Organization) called for the GOI to remove the MEK from Iraq, accusing some CoR members of collusion with the group. The sole dissenting view was Arab Bloc for National Dialogue member (and Maliki political rival) Saleh al-Mutlaq, who acknowledged that he had visited Camp Ashraf in order to "seek the truth" about the group and their situation there. He countered that there were CoR members who have visited the headquarters of Iranian intelligence in Iraq. 
¶4. (S) Igniting the uproar in the CoR was the MEK's annual commemoration of its "martyrs" held in Camp Ashraf last week over a four-day period. Al-Mutlaq's presence at the ceremony gave the event a particular sectarian, anti-Maliki flavor. D/FM Abbawi told Political Military MinCouns June 18 that the proceedings were carried live on Iraqi television. Angered by the conference, the Council of Ministers issued a statement (below) reiterating GOI opposition to the presence of the MEK in Iraq, the terrorist nature of the group, and called on MNF-I to turn over security responsibility to the GOI, and for the ICRC to assist in developing a solution to the problem and the removal of the group from Iraqi soil. ¶5. (S) In contrast to the emotional debate in the CoR, the GOI is talking quietly with the Embassy and MNF-I on a coordinated approach to resolve the MEK issue. The TF-134 Commanding General Rear Admiral Wright and Deputy Political Military Counselor met with Minister for Human Rights Wijdan al-Salim June 11, at which time she said that she wanted to visit Camp Ashraf. Her main goal was to ascertain the possible presence of some 300 Iranians who were held in Iraqi detention during the Iran-Iraq war and allegedly escaped into the Camp. Her other goal was to meet with the MEK leadership to lay the groundwork for visits between camp residents and their family members who would travel from Iran - absent the presence of the MEK leadership. Minister Salim was told that parcels and mail from family members were not reaching the residents, but were instead confiscated by the MEK leadership. ¶6. (S) RDML Wright suggested that a new census would be timely to assist in confirming the possible presence of the former Iranian POWs and to ascertain if the camp population has grown. MOHR Salim readily agreed that a census was needed. She would however, seek to visit Camp Ashraf in the coming weeks with MOI and ICRC. Planning and execution of the census would begin in the meantime, and she wants to be able to present a coherent plan of action to the CoR and the GOI. We also agreed that the ICRC had a role to play in assisting those MEK members who wished to voluntarily return to Iran. BAGHDAD 00001889 002 OF 002 ¶7. (S) Comment: While the subject of the MEK was definitely a topic of discussion during PM Maliki's recent trip to Tehran, the anti-GOI rhetoric and high-profile nature of the MEK conference were the sparks behind official and popular Iraqi fury, leading to this heretofore unseen GOI activism to resolve the issue once and for all. While there is no political downside for CoR members to make public statements calling for the removal of the MEK from Iraq, we expect the GOI to take a more measured approach based on applicable legal principles. The PM's remarks are a positive sign that he is aware of Iraq's obligations regarding treatment, protection, and non-refoulement. We will seek to obtain GOI assurances in writing as part of the way forward. End Comment. (Begin text) The Council of Ministers takes a series of decisions on the Terrorist MEK organization The official spokesman of the Iraqi government, Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh, announced that the Council of Minister studies during its normal session today, Tuesday June 17, 2008, that the presence of the terrorist organization MEK on Iraqi soil and its interference in the internal affairs and its encouragement of terrorism against the Iraqi people and decided the following: ¶1. Affirmation of the resolutions previously taken on the matter which considers the MEK a terrorist organization and in the matter of its removal from Iraq. ¶2. Putting the MEK organization located on Iraqi territory under the complete control of the Iraqi government with the purpose of removing it from Iraq and placing dealings with it in accordance with Iraqi law. ¶3. Preventing dealings with the terrorist organization MEK on the part of any organization or party or institution or people, Iraqi or foreign, inside Iraq, and considering anyone who deals with it to be subject to rulings under the counterterrorism law and to be referred to judicial authorities, per the mentioned law. ¶4. MNF-I must "lift its hand" from the aforementioned organization and turn over the checkpoints and other responsibilities to the competent Iraqi authorities. ¶5. Facilitate legal complaints raised against offenders of crimes against the Iraqi people by members of the MEK terrorist organization. ¶6. The Government of Iraq undertakes to coordinate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to find basic solutions to the problem of the presence of the aforementioned organization on Iraqi soil, and to implement the decisions taken regarding its removal from Iraq. (End text) CROCKER