NAJAF MACHINATIONS BEFORE SELECTION OF NEW GOVERNOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001167

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI IZ
SUBJECT: NAJAF MACHINATIONS BEFORE SELECTION OF NEW GOVERNOR

Classified By: Senior Advisor Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) Amid uncertainty over the election of the next
governor, Senior Advisor for Southern Affairs Gordon Gray and
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) leader Fred Fonteneau on
April 27-28 met the newly elected chairman of the Najaf
Provincial Council Shaykh Fayad al-Shimmeri (State of Law)
and later Assad Gelal al-Tai (ISCI),who remained the
governor until factions within the Provincial Council (PC)
negotiated a new selection. Fayad and the nine other PC
members who circled into his office were eager for technical
and development assistance from PRT Najaf, especially to
improve the province's electricity and water provision.
Gelal, who seemingly expected he would be reelected governor,
said religious clerics are concerned about his rival
candidate, Loyalty to Najaf leader Adnan al-Zurfi (who would
be elected governor May 1). Both Fayad and Gelal said
political uncertainly and Deputy Governor Abtan's departure
are causing minor security lapses in the province. End
summary.

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Background
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2. (C) PC members from Da'wa (State of Law),ISCI, and the
Sadrists each had pushed their own preferred candidate for
governor. In early April, Da'wa and ISCI national-level
leaders struck a "grand bargain" to allocate provincial
leadership jobs, according to our contact in Baghdad. This
deal called for retaining the ISCI-affiliated current
Governor Gelal. ISCI members in Najaf rebelled and instead
demanded for governor the more stalwart Deputy Governor Abd
Badir Abtan, who wields strong influence among the
ISCI/Badr-dominated local police commanders. The Sadrists
also pushed their own candidate, Liwa al-Sumaysim. On May 1,
Adnan al-Zurfi, the Loyalty to Najaf candidate (Ministry of
Interior intelligence official and former Najaf governor
under the CPA),was elected governor by a majority of the new
PC. The PC also selected Razaq Mohammad Sharif (Sadrist
Trend) as first deputy governor and Hassan Hamza Mosa (Reform
Trend) as second deputy. More on all officials to be
reported septel. End background.

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New Chairman Fayad Readies Priorities
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3. (SBU) Senior Advisor Gray and PRT Najaf Team Leader
Fonteneau on April 27 visited the Najaf Provincial Council
building to visit the newly elected PC chairman and Da'wa
party leader in Najaf, Shaykh Fayad al-Shimmeri. Nine other
new PC members from all parties represented in the council
also attended, including the Sadrist Trend list. Fayad said
his priorities as PC Chairman will be to encourage investment
and business in Najaf, continue to fight terrorism in
coordination with the Iraqi Army, police and U.S. forces, and
to counter corruption. Fayad praised the PC's good
relationship with PRT Najaf.


4. (SBU) Fayad and most other PC members cited Najaf's lack
of electricity and water as the province's main problem; they
roundly blamed the latter on Turkey's refusal to send more
river water south and asked the U.S. to pressure Turkey on
the issue. Fayad also complained that southern Iraq's
suffering is in contrast to the Iraqi Kurds in the North, who
take 17 percent of the federal budget. He predicted that the
Independent High Electoral Commission would have to delay
planned district and sub-district elections and acknowledged
that Najaf's civil society organization are either weak or
attached to political parties.

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Gelal's Concerns about the Incoming Governor
QGelal's Concerns about the Incoming Governor
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5. (C) On April 28, Senior Advisor and Team Leader visited
outgoing Governor Assad Gelal al-Tai (ISCI affiliated),who
clearly expected to be reelected. Gelal, referring to himself
in the third person, said he was accepted as governor by
Prime Minister Maliki and his Da'wa Party, the Sadrists, and
the Reform Trend, but that he faced opposition within his own
ISCI camp in Najaf. Gelal claimed that the marja'iyah (top
religious clerics) had unspecified concerns about Loyalty to
Najaf candidate Adnan al-Zurfi (who would be elected governor
three days later). Gelal also expressed concern that if Zurfi
was elected, Da'wa would in effect control the PC
Chairmanship and governorship in Najaf because Zurfi is close
to Maliki. Despite these concerns, Gelal praised provincial

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elections and the transfer of power in Najaf. All parties,
except the Ba'th and Sadrists, believe in Iraq's political
process, Gelal said. As evidence that Sadrists in Najaf are
becoming productive, Gelal said Sadrist PC members
volunteered to chair committees dealing with service
provision.

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Minor Security Concerns amid Political Uncertainty
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6. (C) Political uncertainly and the non-ISCI PC members'
rejection of former governor Abd Badr Abtan--who wields
strong influence among the ISCI/Badr dominated local
police--has raised security concerns in Najaf. According to
Fayad, police commanders told him the security services have
become more "relaxed" given the delay in selecting a new
governor. Fayad said there has been an increase in criminal
activity, but not organized militia violence. Fayad reported
(and Emboffs observed) more police and Iraqi ARMY on Najaf's
streets. Gelal complained that the Provincial Director of
Police had failed to brief the PC on the recent attacks,
hinted the police were complicit in the attacks, and said he
has sought the Director's replacement with someone not
beholden to "parties" (i.e., ISCI/Badr).

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Comment
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7. (C) Despite the minor delay in deciding on the leadership
posts in Najaf, there has been little friction during the
transfer of power from ISCI to Da'wa. The rejection of Gelal
by local ISCI members in favor of Abtan demonstrated the
loyalty the latter had gathered. Without a leadership
position, however, Abtan may be inclined to stir trouble.
But the attention paid to Najaf by national Shi'a leaders and
local clerics probably will help temper the reaction of those
who have lost influence in the province. End comment.
HILL