MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF:MEK DETAINEES VISITED; STILL NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002186 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019 TAGS: PTER PHUM PGOV IR IZ SUBJECT: MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF:MEK DETAINEES VISITED; STILL NO GOI RELOCATION PLAN REF: BAGHDAD 2093 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM Robert Ford for reasons 1.4(b)&(d). ¶1. (C) Summary. A U.S. military medical team, with the consent and coordination of the GOI, visited Khalis detention facility in Diyala Province August 11 to perform a welfare check on the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) detainees currently in GOI custody. TF-134 reported that the MEK detainees appeared to be in "adequate" condition, with injuries. The MEK detainees have been on a hunger strike for 14 days, but are still accepting water and tea. The ICRC visited the MEK detainees on August 12 and reported that two MEK detainees are in need of urgent medical care, requesting coordination between the GOI and the USG for transport to Balad Air Force Base. The USG is coordinating with the GOI to transfer these two MEK detainees to Balad. GOI Ashraf Committee Chairman Ali Abdul Amir al-Yassery on August 12 asked for help in developing a plan that would include forcibly relocating Ashraf residents, and the American officials rejected this request. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On August 11, a U.S. military medical team visited MEK detainees at the Khalis detention facility, after receiving permission from site commander COL Sa'di Habib Hussein al-Dulaymi. According to TF-134, the MEK detainees appeared to be in "adequate" condition, suffering from injuries that they sustained during the clash with GOI forces on July 28-29. The MEK detainees are still on a hunger strike (reftel),but are drinking tea and water. (Note: An ICRC medical team traveled to Khalis on August 12 to visit the MEK detainees. On August 13, the ICRC informed USG officials that two of the MEK detainees need urgent medical care. The ICRC claimed one is suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, and the other is suffering from respiratory distress. The ICRC requested the USG coordinate with the GOI for possible transport of the two MEK detainees to Balad Air Force Base medical facilities. The USG is coordinating with the GOI. End Note.) ¶3. (C) On August 12, USG officials requested future USG access to the MEK detainees. Al-Yassery claimed he had overstepped his authority by approving the August 11 visit and that TF-134 local commanders should now request access through COL Sa'di to the investigative judge overseeing the MEK detainees' cases in Diyala Province. USG officials informed al-Yassery that TF-134 local commanders will work with COL Sa'di and the investigating judge to continue monitoring the MEK detainees' welfare. ¶4. (C) Al-Yassery assured USG officials that the GOI is working with UNHCR on a relocation plan for Ashraf residents. When pressed on the specifics of the relocation plan, al-Yassery asserted that the GOI has the right to forcibly relocate the Ashraf residents inside Iraq and requested assistance from the USG to formulate such a plan. USG officials rejected this request, stating that the GOI must continue to treat Ashraf residents in a humane manner in compliance with their assurances to the USG. U.S. officials stressed that there would be no joint relocation plan. HILL