MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF: NO GAME PLAN IN SIGHT FOR GOI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002072

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2019
TAGS: PHUM PTER PGOV IR IZ
SUBJECT: MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF: NO GAME PLAN IN SIGHT FOR GOI

REF: BAGHDAD 2059 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: A/PMA W.S. Reid III for reasons 1.4(b)&(d).


1. (C) Summary. On August 2, USG officials met with GOI
Ashraf Committee Chairman Ali Abdul Amir al-Yassery to
discuss the GOI's near-future plans regarding the standoff
with the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) in Ashraf. (Note: The GOI
has changed the name of Ashraf to Camp New Iraq. End Note.)
Al-Yassery stated the situation remains calm with occasional
flare-ups by the MEK when they become aware there are media
on the scene. He informed USG officials that the GOI planned
to drop leaflets on Ashraf and use loudspeakers advising the
MEK residents that their treatment by the GOI will be in
accordance with Iraqi law, the Iraqi Constitution and the
GOI's international obligations. Al-Yassery further advised
that the GOI still intends to move the MEK residents to Camp
Echo (Diwaniya Province) in November, when the transfer from
the USG to the GOI is complete. Al-Yassery declined, on legal
grounds, the USG's offer of medical assistance to the 32 MEK
detainees currently in the GOI's custody, stating they had
refused medical care from the GOI and could not be moved due
to ongoing investigations by the Iraqi judge. Since neither
party is inclined to see the other as offering something it
desires, we see future violent clashes likely as the GOI and
MEK test each other's resolve. End Summary.


2. (C) On August 2, USG officials met with al-Yassery to
discuss the GOI's future plans in regards to MEK residents.
Al-Yassery asserted that the plans of the GOI had not changed
- they intended to relocate the MEK to Camp Echo, located in
Diwaniya Provence, once the camp has been vacated by U.S.
forces in November. Acting Pol-Mil Couns warned, "if this is
the extent of your future plans, you are underestimating the
resolve of the local MEK and their international political
arm, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)." USG
officials further stressed that, by sticking to this
ill-conceived plan, the GOI is risking more clashes with the
MEK residents.


3. (C) Al-Yassery did not appear to understand the
precariousness of the GOI's position, claiming the situation
at Ashraf had calmed. However, he noted that at times the MEK
has become agitated, only demonstrating when they see the
media in the Ashraf area. Al-Yassery appeared to believe that
information is all that is needed for the MEK residents to
agree to the GOI's plan for them, stating the GOI plans to
drop leaflets to the residents and use speakers to assure the
residents that the GOI will treat them in accordance with
Iraqi law, the Constitution and Iraqi's international
obligations.


4. (C) USG officials informed al-Yassery that of the initial
12 MEK residents transported to Balad Air Force Base for
treatment, one died enroute and three were returned on August
1 to the GOI's custody. They added that four additional MEK
residents had been transported to Balad, again on August 1,
with skull fractures, stating their conditions had
deteriorated. USG officials conveyed MNF-I CG Odierno's
offer to treat the injured MEK residents currently in the
GOI's custody. After treatment, they assured the GOI they
would be returned to the GOI's custody. However, GOI
officials rejected this offer, claiming the detainees are
refusing GOI medical treatment and, under Iraqi law, the
court will not allow the detainees to leave pending further
judicial review.


5. (C) Regarding the numbers of MEK residents allegedly
Q5. (C) Regarding the numbers of MEK residents allegedly
killed by the GOI, GOI officials stated that the MEK had
allowed them to see the remains of the MEK killed during the
clashes with the GOI. GOI officials alleged that five of the
seven remains had undergone proper Islamic burial preparation
(shrouded),while the other two remains appeared uncovered
and neglected and were lying on open gurneys in another room.
(Note: These two bodies were not shown to the visiting USG
team on July 31. End Note.) The GOI stated these two sets of
remains were not shrouded and displayed a note in Persian on
their heads. He claimed the note read "traitor," in
accordance with MEK treatment of past defectors, but admitted
he could not read FARSI. Al-Yassery advised that COL Sa'di
had allowed the MEK residents to bury two of their dead,
although it was against Iraqi law to bury remains without an
official death certificate. Ashraf Leader Madame Mojgan
Parsaie disputed this assertion in a letter to acting Pol-Mil
Couns, claiming the GOI had taken over the cemetery and were
preventing the burial of the MEK resident's remains.


6. (C) UNAMI on August 2 postponed its scheduled trip. GOI
officials did not agree to allow UNAMI officials access to
MEK residents for interviews. USG officials asserted they

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could provide transportation for UNAMI officials, if
requested. USG officials explained that the U.S. was abiding
by the GOI stipulation that the local TF-134 troops could
only take the UN representatives to the GOI's current
commander at Ashraf, COL Sa'di Habib Hussein al-Dulaymi. USG
officials informed al-Yassery that UNAMI officials were very
disappointed the GOI had not approved access to the MEK
residents and could return to speak with the GOI about this
issue. They advised al-Yassery to speak with the UNAMI and
other international organizations about the ground rules for
future trips to Ashraf. The GOI claimed the Minister of
Human Rights had already met with UNHCR and ICRC regarding
the MEK residents.


7. (C) Comment. The GOI continues down the path to further
clashes with the MEK residents. The PM's public rhetoric is
polarizing the situation further. Al-Yassery claims the
GOI's plan to relocate the MEK residents to Camp Echo is on
track, ignoring the likelihood that the MEK residents will
fight any forced relocation and some may prefer to die in
Ashraf rather than move. The GOI's rejection of USG medical
assistance for the MEK residents detained by the GOI is
worrisome. A number of the detainees have what appear to be
broken arms or elbows; others with claimed cardiac or
circulatory ailments appeared to be in need of regular
ongoing medical treatment. Al-Yassery's claim that the court
will not allow transfer for medical treatment was not
persuasive. Based on the MEK's continued dismissal of the
GOI dialogue overtures and the GOI's continuing plans to move
forward with eventual relocation, we see little likelihood of
a shift away from eventual renewed violent clashes. End
Comment.
FORD