Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HILLAH66
2008-07-02 14:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
REO Hillah
how-toVZCZCXRO8222 PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHIHL #0066 1841417 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 021417Z JUL 08 FM REO HILLAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1099 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 1165
UNCLAS HILLAH 000066
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ IR PGOV PINR
SUBJECT: BABIL PC ENDS BOYCOTT OF U.S.G.
REF: Hillah 00059
UNCLAS HILLAH 000066
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ IR PGOV PINR
SUBJECT: BABIL PC ENDS BOYCOTT OF U.S.G.
REF: Hillah 00059
1. (U) This is a PRT Babil cable.
2. (U) SUMMARY: Babil Provincial Council Chairman Muhammad Ali
Hussayn al-Massudi (PCC) and Governor Salam Salih Mahdi
al-Muslimawi agreed to end a two-week boycott of all U.S.
entities working out of the al-Hillah Regional Embassy Office
(REO) during a June 30 meeting with the Babil Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) and REO-based Coalition Forces (CF).
The REO received unofficial word that the PC passed a resolution
effectively boycotting the REO during its June 17 meeting.
Despite dozens of attempts over the ensuing two weeks, said
resolution was not delivered to the PRT or CF until it was
deemed moot by the PCC and Governor at the end of the June 30
meeting. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) In a drawn out, and at times heated discussion, the PCC
and Governor finally agreed to terminate a two week-old boycott
of the REO during a June 30 meeting in the Governor's office.
During their June 17 meeting the Babil PC resolved to boycott
the REO and CF indefinitely in response to recent CF operations
in the province. The PC resolution: "1) suspended all PC
activities for the ensuing three days in protest of recent CF
raids in al-Hillah and mortar fire originating from the REO
compound; 2) declined cooperation with the "American side" until
the outcome of an investigation of previous CF raids, including
one conducted in the al-Askari neighborhood on June 14, are made
public; and 3) demanded compensation for all Babil citizens who
fell victim of the aforementioned raids."
4. (U) Despite dozens of requests by the PRT and CF, the PC
refused to furnish the REO with a copy of the resolution.
Instead the PCC insisted that this protest was voted for by a
clear majority of PC members following the June 14 raid, a CF
raid on April 3rd that resulted in IP and civilian casualties
and damage to the Hillah Teaching hospital, and the regular
outgoing mortar fire originating on the REO compound. He said
that the PC members "feel pressure from the citizens to take
this position to stop these repeated assaults and to apply
pressure on friendly forces to halt these attacks." According
to the PCC, the only way to end the boycott was to provide a
condolence letter and financial compensation to the family of
the deceased. An official letter was sent on June 24 and a
condolence payment was made by CF on June 26, yet the boycott
persisted.
5. (SBU) Following several instances of various PC members and
directors general cancelling meetings with the "American Side",
the PRT reached out yet again to the PCC and Governor to ask why
they continued to insist on boycotting the REO. [Note:
Ironically CF continued to meet with all of their ISF
interlocutors despite the boycott. Additionally, some PC
members continued to meet with the PRT, but explained that they
were violating the resolution. End note.] The PCC blamed the
Governor and vice versa. They both finally agreed to the June
30 meeting - everyone sitting together in one room. After an
hour of belabored discussion on the responsibilities of the CF
vice the PRT, the Governor finally said he thought the
resolution was clear; the REO needed to submit a letter and
condolence payment to the families of any civilian victims.
Shocked, the PRT iterated that this was completed nearly a week
prior, which was documented in letters to both the Governor and
PCC. The Governor and PCC then conceded to ending the boycott.
[Note: There was discussion as to the innocence of another of
the "civilians" killed in the April 14 raid. The CF commander
recommended that the PCC provide some evidence that he could
take back to the investigating body for further review. The PCC
agreed. End note.] Prior to departing the meeting, the PCC
handed the PRT officers a copy of the original resolution as
passed on June 17.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: As the provincial election campaign season
heats up, the PRT expects more political posturing similar to
the boycott. Both provincial leaders are eschewing the
"American Side" out of fear that close association with the PRT
will not help the governor in his on-going attempts to secure a
slot on any ISCI-affiliated slate (reftel),or the PCC in his
efforts to raise funds to support his own start-up political
entity. END COMMENT.
YANAWAY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: IZ IR PGOV PINR
SUBJECT: BABIL PC ENDS BOYCOTT OF U.S.G.
REF: Hillah 00059
1. (U) This is a PRT Babil cable.
2. (U) SUMMARY: Babil Provincial Council Chairman Muhammad Ali
Hussayn al-Massudi (PCC) and Governor Salam Salih Mahdi
al-Muslimawi agreed to end a two-week boycott of all U.S.
entities working out of the al-Hillah Regional Embassy Office
(REO) during a June 30 meeting with the Babil Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) and REO-based Coalition Forces (CF).
The REO received unofficial word that the PC passed a resolution
effectively boycotting the REO during its June 17 meeting.
Despite dozens of attempts over the ensuing two weeks, said
resolution was not delivered to the PRT or CF until it was
deemed moot by the PCC and Governor at the end of the June 30
meeting. END SUMMARY.
3. (U) In a drawn out, and at times heated discussion, the PCC
and Governor finally agreed to terminate a two week-old boycott
of the REO during a June 30 meeting in the Governor's office.
During their June 17 meeting the Babil PC resolved to boycott
the REO and CF indefinitely in response to recent CF operations
in the province. The PC resolution: "1) suspended all PC
activities for the ensuing three days in protest of recent CF
raids in al-Hillah and mortar fire originating from the REO
compound; 2) declined cooperation with the "American side" until
the outcome of an investigation of previous CF raids, including
one conducted in the al-Askari neighborhood on June 14, are made
public; and 3) demanded compensation for all Babil citizens who
fell victim of the aforementioned raids."
4. (U) Despite dozens of requests by the PRT and CF, the PC
refused to furnish the REO with a copy of the resolution.
Instead the PCC insisted that this protest was voted for by a
clear majority of PC members following the June 14 raid, a CF
raid on April 3rd that resulted in IP and civilian casualties
and damage to the Hillah Teaching hospital, and the regular
outgoing mortar fire originating on the REO compound. He said
that the PC members "feel pressure from the citizens to take
this position to stop these repeated assaults and to apply
pressure on friendly forces to halt these attacks." According
to the PCC, the only way to end the boycott was to provide a
condolence letter and financial compensation to the family of
the deceased. An official letter was sent on June 24 and a
condolence payment was made by CF on June 26, yet the boycott
persisted.
5. (SBU) Following several instances of various PC members and
directors general cancelling meetings with the "American Side",
the PRT reached out yet again to the PCC and Governor to ask why
they continued to insist on boycotting the REO. [Note:
Ironically CF continued to meet with all of their ISF
interlocutors despite the boycott. Additionally, some PC
members continued to meet with the PRT, but explained that they
were violating the resolution. End note.] The PCC blamed the
Governor and vice versa. They both finally agreed to the June
30 meeting - everyone sitting together in one room. After an
hour of belabored discussion on the responsibilities of the CF
vice the PRT, the Governor finally said he thought the
resolution was clear; the REO needed to submit a letter and
condolence payment to the families of any civilian victims.
Shocked, the PRT iterated that this was completed nearly a week
prior, which was documented in letters to both the Governor and
PCC. The Governor and PCC then conceded to ending the boycott.
[Note: There was discussion as to the innocence of another of
the "civilians" killed in the April 14 raid. The CF commander
recommended that the PCC provide some evidence that he could
take back to the investigating body for further review. The PCC
agreed. End note.] Prior to departing the meeting, the PCC
handed the PRT officers a copy of the original resolution as
passed on June 17.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: As the provincial election campaign season
heats up, the PRT expects more political posturing similar to
the boycott. Both provincial leaders are eschewing the
"American Side" out of fear that close association with the PRT
will not help the governor in his on-going attempts to secure a
slot on any ISCI-affiliated slate (reftel),or the PCC in his
efforts to raise funds to support his own start-up political
entity. END COMMENT.
YANAWAY