PRT SALAH AD DIN: GEO REPORTS VOTER REGISTRATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002204 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KDEM KCRS SOCI IZ SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: GEO REPORTS VOTER REGISTRATION ON TRACK REF: BAGHDAD 1684 Classified By: PRT Team Leader Richard Bell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Salah ad Din reporting cable. Summary -------------- ¶2. (C) During a July 14 meeting, Salah ad Din (SaD) Governorate Election Officer (GEO) Hatim Abdulhamid provided PRT/CF officials with an upbeat assessment of the state of voter registration readiness in the province. He also noted that he no longer felt threatened by provincial officials (reftel). End Summary. ¶3. (C) During a July 14 meeting with PRT/CF representatives, SaD GEO Hatam Abdulhamid painted an optimistic picture of the state of preparations for the opening of the voter registration period. Abdulhamid highlighted the excellent support he has received from the Iraqi Police (IP) and from the IHEC in Baghdad. He said that the voter registration lists had arrived at the voter registration centers (VRCs), and that he had all of the supplies he needed. Additionally, we have observed the various IHEC banners in downtown Tikrit, which Abdulhamid told us were posted throughout the province. ¶4. (C) Abdulhamid was confident that people would be able to report to their assigned VRC, which corresponds with the Public Distribution System. He told us that he had requested that the IHEC add another VCR in southern Samarra - he explained that those residents would need to cross the Tigris River to access their VRC - but that the IHEC had denied the request. However, General Rasheed, Commander of Iraqi Security Forces in Samarra, has assured Abdulhamid that he would facilitate movement of those wishing to use the VRC across the Samarra bridge. Operating Without Provincial Interference -------------- ¶5. (C) Reftel reported that Abdulhamid had received threats from Salah ad Din Governor Hamad Shakti al-Qaisi and other provincial officials. Abdulhamid told us that this was no longer an issue. He stated that provincial officials' attempts to pressure him to resign have subsided now that the Governor knows there is nothing he can do to have Abdulhamid fired from his position. Abdulhamid says that he operates throughout the province without fear. Note: Abdulhamid arrived at the meeting at COB Speicher escorted by an IP truck and several IP-provided bodyguards. End Note. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Abdulhamid seemed relaxed and confident during our discussion leaving us very little reason to doubt his positive assessment of the current state of elections preparation in Salah ad Din. In the past, he has not hesitated to complain to us about problems he has encountered. Especially encouraging were his positive comments on the performance of the Iraqi Police. End Comment. CROCKER