GOI ACTS DECISIVELY TO PROTECT DISPLACED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003365

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PTER PREF IZ
SUBJECT: GOI ACTS DECISIVELY TO PROTECT DISPLACED
CHRISTIANS IN NINEWA

REF: BAGHDAD 3314

Classified By: By Acting Political Counselor John Fox for reasons 1.4(b
) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: At the October 19 Iraqi National Security
Council meeting, Prime Minister Maliki demanded quick action
to end the intimidation and fear that had driven thousands of
Christians from their homes in Ninewa and said he wanted
measures taken to ensure that this would not happen again.
He ordered the immediate formation of a committee to
investigate claims from Christians in Mosul that some Iraqi
Security Forces officers had played a role in the involuntary
displacement of Christians. The Ministry of Interior has
also sent a committee to Ninewa to work closely with MNF-I to
review security force deployments. In addition, the Ministry
of Defense has deployed an additional brigade to Ninewa to
augment troops already there. Most recent estimates of
displaced families range from 1,235 to 1,884. UN, NGOs and
the Ministry of Displacement and Migration are effectively
delivering humanitarian assistance that is adequately
addressing immediate needs. End summary.

-------------- --------------
Latest IDP Numbers, Location, Assistance Response
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) According to the Ministry of Displacement and
Migration,s (MoDM) most recent figures (October 19),1,884
Christian families had fled Mosul. The USAID/OFDA-funded
U.S. NGO International Medical Corps, which works closely
with the MoDM, put this number at 1,235 on October 15. The
Christian Director of the GOI,s Non-Muslim Endowments Office
reported to Poloff that over 1,500 families had left Mosul.
The GOI is providing short-term compensation of 300,000 Iraqi
dinars (about $250.00) to displaced families and KRG Minister
of Finance Sarkis Agaghan has independently paid 250,000
Iraqi dinars to IDP families. In addition, the MoDM has
pledged to pay one million Iraqi dinars to displaced families
who return to Mosul (this is the standard GOI payment for
returning IDPs).


3. (SBU) UNHCR reported on October 14 that humanitarian
response efforts have been coordinated effectively, with the
MoDM taking the lead on the national side. UNHCR and NGOs
are assessing needs and increasing supplies of food and
non-food items by drawing on the resources of the ICRC and
IOM. The World Food Program (WFP) is monitoring the
situation and will provide assistance if the displacement is
prolonged. On October 9, USAID/OFDA partner IMC received a
request from MoDM to provide food, non-food and hygiene items
to those who had been displaced. OFDA approved the purchase
and distribution of the items on the same day; and on October
10 IMC responded with the initial assistance distribution.


4. (SBU) Embassy assesses the humanitarian response as
strong and adequately addressing immediate needs, and that
humanitarian organizations will remain engaged. With such
large concentrations of people in small areas, however, it is
likely the longer term capacity of local health facilities
will be overtaxed. The ICRC met with the KRG authorities on
October 14 to discuss the possibility of supplying extra
medical items to local facilities, and will look into the
possibility of setting up a mobile clinic to supplement
Directorate of Health efforts.

--------------
PM Concerned Over Plight of Christians
--------------


5. (S) Prime Minister Maliki opened the October 19 meeting
of the Iraqi National Security Council by expressing concern
about the plight of Christians in Ninewa, stating that he had
received several letters that charged that local ISF
commanders were at best criminally negligent, and probably
complicit, in the violence and forced displacement of
Christians that had occurred there. Maliki said that the GOI
must launch an investigation immediately and that if his
government failed to take action, the Christians would never
return to their homes. He was vehement in his demand that
precautions be put in place to assure that this could never
occur again.


6. (S) In response to Maliki's remarks, Minister of Defense
(MoD) Abdul Qadir Muhammed al-Mufraji said that, of the more
than 1,000 Christian families that had fled, most had left
their homes from fear rather than actual acts of
intimidation. He noted this fear was real and said the MoD
and MoI were working together to respond. The MoD was
deploying an additional IA brigade to the area to augment
troops already there; these new troops would complete their
movement within 72 hours. He expected that most of the

BAGHDAD 00003365 002 OF 002


displaced Christians would return in the wake of the rapid
GOI response that was already underway, and said that some 20
families had reportedly returned in the past 48 hours.
(Comment: We have not heard reports of returns, and see no
indications that the Christians who have fled fearing their
lives will return to their homes any time soon. We believe
most families will want to see tangible signs of lasting
security improvements before they will feel secure enough to
return. End Comment.)


7. (C) The Prime Minister reacted sharply to the
Minister,s presentation, pointing to several letters he had
received from Christians in Mosul complaining about the
situation and naming military officers they accused of being
involved in allowing the intimidation of Christians. Abdul
Qadir replied that an investigating committee had been formed
and was being dispatched. Maliki retorted "so we wait?" The
MoD responded that no, the GOI would not wait; new troops
were the answer because police were more susceptible to
infiltration by insurgents responsible for the threats to
Christians. He said that the investigation was already under
way, and the entire Second Iraqi division would be
scrutinized. The only thing to wait for would be the
committee's final report. Minister of the Interior Jawad
al-Bulani interjected that the MoI had sent a committee to
Ninewa that would work closely with Multi-National Force Iraq
(MNF-I) to look at changing the placement of security forces
in the province. The MoD added that the field commanders in
Ninewa would have to be replaced as well. The PM called for
quick action to investigate and deal with any inappropriate
behavior by the military.

-------------- --
GOI Delegation to Assess Security, IDP Situation
-------------- ---


8. (C) In an October 18 meeting with Political Minister
Counselor, the Prime Minister,s Advisor on Christian
Affairs, George Bakoos, reiterated Maliki,s concern about
the campaign of harassment and violence against Christians in
Mosul. He said the Prime Minister has stressed that Iraq,s
Christians comprise an original and essential part of Iraqi
society that he is determined to protect. Bakoos said Maliki
fears the political process will be derailed if
anti-Christian terrorists gain the upper hand in Mosul.


9. (C) Bakoos related that Minister of Defense Abdul Qadir,
Minister of Interior Jawad Bulani, Minister of Migration
Abd-Al-Samad Sultan, and Minister of Planning Ali Baban flew
to Mosul October 15 to review and strengthen ISF operations
in the area, visit IDPs, and assess humanitarian assistance
needs. The delegation stayed in Mosul until October 17; MoD
Qadir remained there through October 19 to oversee security
operations. A committee of high-level intelligence officials
was established to determine who is responsible for the
terror campaign against the Christians. Bakoos said that
four suspects had been detained and had admitted to
instigating the attacks, but that nothing would be confirmed
until the investigation was complete.


10. (C) Comment: Displaced Christian families, most of
whom have sheltered with friends, relatives or Christian
institutions in nearby villages, are safe and their immediate
humanitarian needs are being met by assistance from the UN,
NGOs and GOI. The Prime Minister is clearly seized with the
plight of Mosul,s Christians, as reflected in the deployment
of an additional brigade to Mosul and his order that claims
of ISF involvement in intimidation of Christians be
investigated. We have heard reports that some in the GOI are
planning to use this opportunity to sack or reassign the ISF
Commander in Ninewa, LTG Riyadh, a Sunni Arab with whom
Coalition Forces work well. Whether GOI security measures
result in the speedy return of the displaced families remains
to be seen. If the displacement is protracted, there will be
a need for shelter and infrastructure improvements in the
host villages. Embassy Baghdad, PRT Ninewa, and PRT Erbil
continue to track developments.












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