Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD851
2008-03-20 11:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PRT SALAH AD DIN: ANXIETIES BUILD AMID QUESTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO0357 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #0851 0801156 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201156Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6352 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000851
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS IZ
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: ANXIETIES BUILD AMID QUESTIONS
AS DEBAATH APPLICATION LOOMS
REF: BAGHDAD 636
Classified By: PRT Salah ad Din Team Leader Rick Bell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000851
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS IZ
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: ANXIETIES BUILD AMID QUESTIONS
AS DEBAATH APPLICATION LOOMS
REF: BAGHDAD 636
Classified By: PRT Salah ad Din Team Leader Rick Bell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din reporting cable.
Summary
--------------
2. (C) With anxieties building as the April 14 application
deadline set in the Justice and Accountability Law
approaches, Salah Ad Din (SaD) provincial officials have
begun to collect data on former Firqah and Shuba level
Baathists. However, many former Baath Party members who
could benefit from the law have expressed concern that
identifying themselves on applications is potentially a form
of entrapment that will lead to their exclusion from public
life. SaD officials complain that the GoI is failing to
provide guidance but feel compelled to move the process
forward locally. End Summary.
3. (C) With the April 14 deadline nearing for former Firqah
and Shuba level employees to apply for reinstatement to their
positions or to receive a pension, and absent guidance from
Baghdad, Provincial officials, including Deputy Governor
Abdullah Jabara (who is Firqah-level himself) have begun to
gather names and related information in order to prepare for
the April 14 deadline. The Province has developed
application forms for those seeking reinstatement, continued
service, or pensions as envisioned in the Accountability and
Justice Law. While that law, which came into force on
February 14, directed the Council of Representatives (CoR) to
name a seven-member committee to promulgate rules to meet the
law's requirements, with less than one month to go before
applications are due, the CoR has not even named the panel.
In previous discussions with the National De-Baathification
Commission (reftel),Provincial leaders were told that no
action in developing implementing regulations would be taken
prior to the naming of the seven-member committee.
Province Tries to Prepare
--------------
4. (C) On March 19, Jabara expressed to us his deep concern
that the GoI has not yet provided any guidance on the
process. He gave PRTPolOff forms that the Province has
developed for those who stand to benefit from the law. These
forms request basic information about the applicant The
Province hopes to gather this information before the April 14
application deadline so provincial officials will have
sufficient time to submit these applications in case the
deadline is not extended. Jabara also noted that he had
received calls from colleagues in Ninewah and Kirkuk
requesting his advice on how they should proceed. (Note:
PRTPolOff promised to forward the Salah Ad Din-developed
application forms to the PRTs in those Provinces. End Note.)
Suspicion of New De-Baath Law Remains
--------------
5. (C) There is an undercurrent of suspicion in the Province
about the true motivation behind the Accountability and
Justice Law and the lack of instructions from Baghdad.
Tikrit Law School Dean Amer Ayesh and Provincial Council (PC)
Member Yousif Suleiman visited Baiji to brief former Baath
Party members on their Baghdad meetings. The consensus of
those in attendance was that the application process was a
trap to get the names of former Baath Party members in order
to continue their exclusion from public life. None thought
that they would receive jobs or pensions. Jabara confirmed
that this sentiment is shared by others in the Province,
though he agreed with us that the biggest blunder would be to
miss the application deadline.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) To accommodate its large population of former Baath
Party members, Salah Ad Din has decided to work proactively
to prepare for what could be a mad dash to get applications
of former Baath Party members to Baghdad. In Salah Ad Din,
the treatment of former Baathists is the key measure among
many of whether the GoI is truly serious about
reconciliation. The current lack of GoI progress on
implementing the Accountability and Justice Law is viewed in
this Province as a very negative signal. End Comment.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS KCRS IZ
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: ANXIETIES BUILD AMID QUESTIONS
AS DEBAATH APPLICATION LOOMS
REF: BAGHDAD 636
Classified By: PRT Salah ad Din Team Leader Rick Bell
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din reporting cable.
Summary
--------------
2. (C) With anxieties building as the April 14 application
deadline set in the Justice and Accountability Law
approaches, Salah Ad Din (SaD) provincial officials have
begun to collect data on former Firqah and Shuba level
Baathists. However, many former Baath Party members who
could benefit from the law have expressed concern that
identifying themselves on applications is potentially a form
of entrapment that will lead to their exclusion from public
life. SaD officials complain that the GoI is failing to
provide guidance but feel compelled to move the process
forward locally. End Summary.
3. (C) With the April 14 deadline nearing for former Firqah
and Shuba level employees to apply for reinstatement to their
positions or to receive a pension, and absent guidance from
Baghdad, Provincial officials, including Deputy Governor
Abdullah Jabara (who is Firqah-level himself) have begun to
gather names and related information in order to prepare for
the April 14 deadline. The Province has developed
application forms for those seeking reinstatement, continued
service, or pensions as envisioned in the Accountability and
Justice Law. While that law, which came into force on
February 14, directed the Council of Representatives (CoR) to
name a seven-member committee to promulgate rules to meet the
law's requirements, with less than one month to go before
applications are due, the CoR has not even named the panel.
In previous discussions with the National De-Baathification
Commission (reftel),Provincial leaders were told that no
action in developing implementing regulations would be taken
prior to the naming of the seven-member committee.
Province Tries to Prepare
--------------
4. (C) On March 19, Jabara expressed to us his deep concern
that the GoI has not yet provided any guidance on the
process. He gave PRTPolOff forms that the Province has
developed for those who stand to benefit from the law. These
forms request basic information about the applicant The
Province hopes to gather this information before the April 14
application deadline so provincial officials will have
sufficient time to submit these applications in case the
deadline is not extended. Jabara also noted that he had
received calls from colleagues in Ninewah and Kirkuk
requesting his advice on how they should proceed. (Note:
PRTPolOff promised to forward the Salah Ad Din-developed
application forms to the PRTs in those Provinces. End Note.)
Suspicion of New De-Baath Law Remains
--------------
5. (C) There is an undercurrent of suspicion in the Province
about the true motivation behind the Accountability and
Justice Law and the lack of instructions from Baghdad.
Tikrit Law School Dean Amer Ayesh and Provincial Council (PC)
Member Yousif Suleiman visited Baiji to brief former Baath
Party members on their Baghdad meetings. The consensus of
those in attendance was that the application process was a
trap to get the names of former Baath Party members in order
to continue their exclusion from public life. None thought
that they would receive jobs or pensions. Jabara confirmed
that this sentiment is shared by others in the Province,
though he agreed with us that the biggest blunder would be to
miss the application deadline.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) To accommodate its large population of former Baath
Party members, Salah Ad Din has decided to work proactively
to prepare for what could be a mad dash to get applications
of former Baath Party members to Baghdad. In Salah Ad Din,
the treatment of former Baathists is the key measure among
many of whether the GoI is truly serious about
reconciliation. The current lack of GoI progress on
implementing the Accountability and Justice Law is viewed in
this Province as a very negative signal. End Comment.
CROCKER