MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF: DETAINEES MOVED; RUMORS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002093 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019 TAGS: PHUM PTER PGOV IR IZ SUBJECT: MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF: DETAINEES MOVED; RUMORS OF MASS GRAVES AND MEK RELOCATION SWIRL REF: BAGHDAD 2072 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: A/PMA W.S. Reid III for reasons 1.4(b)&(d). ¶1. (C) Summary. According to TF-134 local military officials, on August 2, the GOI relocated 36 Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) detainees to a facility in Khalis, making it more difficult for USG officials to ensure that the GOI are abiding by the assurances to treat the MEK in accordance with Iraqi law, the Constitution and Iraq's international obligations. Diyala Province's Police Chief Major General Abdul Hussein al-Shimari (MG Abdul Hussein) was quoted in the press stating that the MEK residents had one month to leave Iraq, either returning to Iran or relocating to a third country. MG Abdul Hussein also claims to have been informed there are mass graves of Kuwaiti nationals, remnants of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, in Ashraf, according to PressTV (an Iranian news outlet). GOI Ashraf Committee Chairman Ali Abdul Amir al-Yassery claimed the statement by MG Abdul Hussein was false, claiming MG Abdul Hussein was referencing earlier plans that were no longer in place. Al-Yassery assured USG officials that the GOI now intends to relocate the residents to Camp Echo, once it has been vacated by U.S. forces. Al-Yassery also stated the GOI had heard rumors about the mass graves at Ashraf, but had been unable to verify their existence. USG officials will travel to Ashraf on August 4 to meet with COL Sa'di Habib Hussein al-Dulaymi and speak with U.S. forces about the alleged mass graves. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On August 2, according to U.S. forces, the 36 MEK detained by the GOI were transferred to a facility in Khalis. The Iraqi army (IA) filmed the MEK detainee transfer to the Iraqi police (IP). The GOI did not inform the USG and they gave no reason for this relocation. The GOI's relocation of the detainees will make it more difficult for USG officials to conduct future visits to the MEK detainees, thereby preventing the USG from ensuring the GOI abides by its own assurances to treat the MEK in a humane manner, consistent with Iraqi laws, the Iraqi Constitution, and Iraq's international obligation. (Comment. This raises concerns that the GOI will continue to try to engineer defections through the exploitation of MEK detainees. End Comment.) ¶3. (C) Iraqi Major General Abdul Hussein al-Shimari, Diyala Province's Police Chief, told reporters on July 31 that the GOI gave the MEK residents of Ashraf a one-month timeline to leave Iraq, stating the MEK should either return to Iran or seek asylum in a third country. MG Abdul Hussein was also quoted by PressTV (an Iranian news outlet) as having been informed about mass graves of Kuwaiti nationals in Ashraf. (Note: A cemetery is located in Ashraf; however, we are unsure if this is the site of the mass graves alleged in the news report. End Note.) GOI Ashraf Committee Chairman al-Yassery denied the claims of the one-month timeline for relocation, stating MG Abdul Hussein was confused, using the original timeline for relocation and not the revised timeline to relocate the MEK to Camp Echo once U.S. forces have vacated Camp Echo. Al-Yassery also claimed MG Abdul Hussein was merely referring to the rumors of mass graves at Ashraf and claimed the GOI had no evidence of their existence. USG officials will visit Ashraf on August 4 and speak with COL Sa'di Habib Hussein al-Dulaymi and U.S. forces to determine whether there is validity to these rumors and whether the Qwhether there is validity to these rumors and whether the location of the alleged mass graves can be determined. ¶4. (C) Comment. Diyala Police Chief MG Abdul Hussein, whom al-Yassery has told EmbOffs Baghdad deeply distrusts, appears to be turning up the rhetorical heat on the GOI to do something quickly about the MEK situation. Al-Yassery denied a one-month timeline for removal of MEK from Iraq, but this timeline could be reinstated if the PM becomes impatient with or is further provoked by future MEK resistance (and Iranian pressure). The rumor of mass graves may be an attempt by the GOI to influence public opinion against the MEK. However, public opinion is strongly running in support of GOI activities to date and shows little sign of needing bolstering. End Comment. FORD