SUCCESSFUL ICRC VISIT TO CAMP BUCCA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000298 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2018 TAGS: MOPS PHUM PREL PTER ICRC IZ SUBJECT: SUCCESSFUL ICRC VISIT TO CAMP BUCCA REF: A. 07 BAGHDAD 3996 B. 07 BAGHDAD 3748 C. 07 BAGHDAD 3480 D. 07 BAGHDAD 3003 Classified By: ACTING POL-MIL COUNSELOR KAREN H. SASAHARA, REASONS 1.4( B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) An ICRC inspection team visited the MNF-I Theater Internment Facility at Camp Bucca January 8-28. This trip, the first major ICRC inspection of Camp Bucca since November 2006, came after several months of high-level pressure on the ICRC, including direct requests from Ambassador Crocker and MNF-I Commanding General Petraeus. ICRC inspectors expressed appreciation for the openness of Camp staff and said that they gained a great appreciation for the operation through widespread interaction with MNF-I personnel at Bucca. Tension within the detainee population, an issue during the previous inspection, is no longer an issue despite its doubling in size in the last year to the current level of approximately 20,000. ¶2. (C) The inspection assessed Camp Bucca under the standards of Geneva IV (the relevant Geneva Convention which covers the protection of civilians in armed conflict). There were no allegations of abuse, misbehavior or mistreatment against any U.S. personnel, a major achievement given the size of the facility. The ICRC felt the three allegations of misbehavior or mistreatment made against Iraqi Corrections Officers during their inspection were taken seriously and investigated appropriately by MNF-I. Minor issues for resolution such as the number of hours of access to toilets, amount of clothing, and thickness of blankets available to some detainees were addressed during the inspection or are being worked on by MNF-I. MNF-I is taking under consideration the perceived shortcomings of the Modular Detainee Housing Units. ¶3. (C) Future ICRC visits to Camp Bucca are expected to take place every 3-4 months, and logistical planning to support them is already underway. BUTENIS