PRT DIYALA: ONGOING CHALLENGES TO PROVINCIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002367 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2019 TAGS: IZ KDEM PGOV PINR PTER SUBJECT: PRT DIYALA: ONGOING CHALLENGES TO PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY REF: A. REFTEL A) BAGHDAD 02034 ¶B. B) BAGHDAD 1011 ¶C. C) BAGHDAD 0981 ¶D. D) BAGHDAD 0628 BAGHDAD 00002367 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Classified By: PRT Diyala Leader George White for reason s 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(U) This is a PRT Diyala cable. 2.(C) Summary: An ongoing effort by former Diyala Governor and current PC member Abdullah al-Jabbouri to unseat Diyala,s current Governor through a vote by the Provincial Council is unlikely to succeed. Most recently Jabbouri provoked a walkout by the majority Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) members at a Diyala Provincial Council (PC) meeting on August 25th. While unsuccessful, Jabbouri,s actions highlight an ongoing political tug-of-war that continues to distract the Diyala Provincial Government (PG) from the business of governing. Moreover, it adds to local suspicions that Prime Minister Maliki and the central government are seeking to undermine the Diyala PG. End summary. ¶3. (C) In an August 26 meeting, Provincial Council (PC) member Abdullah al-Jabbouri (Iraqi National List) told PRToffs that he was seeking to have the PC remove the Diyala Provincial Governor (Note: This requires 15 votes in the PC. End note). Describing the basis for his actions, Jabbouri said that the Governor,s appointment of Assistant Governors was &incorrect,8 that the Provincial Government (PG) had been ineffective in processing compensation claims for internally displaced persons (IDP) and that the Governor was &weak and inept.8 (Comment: Jabbouri,s real motivation may be more personal. He has previously stated that he was denied appointment as Provincial Governor because of ¢ral government meddling8 by President Talabani and Vice President al-Hashimi. In addition, he has pending IDP compensation claims for a house in Muqdadiya. End comment.) ¶4. (U) At an August 25 Provincial Council meeting, Jabbouri provoked a heated exchange with fellow PC members (including Omar al-Faruq Muhamed Mahmud, brother of the Governor) over Assistant Governor Ghadban Taha,s qualifications and the legality of his appointment by the Governor. The exchange resulted in a walkout by Mahmud and fellow Iraqi Islamic Party PC members which forced an adjournment due to lack of a quorum. ¶5. (C) Further to Jabbouri,s actions against the PG, Diyala Governor Abd-al-Nasr al-Muntsir Billah told PRToffs several weeks ago that he suspected Jabbouri of serious efforts to disrupt the PG. The Governor stated that he had an intelligence report from Iraqi Security Forces tying Jabbouri to an assassination attempt against the Governor during his first weeks in office. (Note: Jabbouri appears unaware that he still has an outstanding arrest warrant related to allegations of his involvement with Sunni militias. End note). ¶6. (C) Jabbouri lacks the necessary political support in the PC from his party,s two closest allies, the IFND and the Da,wa party, to remove the Governor. Basem Mohamed Ali, IFND member and Assistant Governor for Local Governments, told PRToffs that IFND national leader Salih al-Mutlaq did not agree with Jabbouri,s move against the Governor, noting that Mutlaq did not want Basem to give up his current position as Assistant Governor. Da,wa PC member Esam Shakir Mezhir Abud also opposed Jabbouri,s effort, stating that Da,wa preferred to battle the IIP in the courts and at the polls. Basem and Esam concurred with Jabbouri that two IIP members who have received arrest warrants, Dhyab Sa,ad Khalil and Ismai,l Ibrahim Farhan, should be dismissed from the PC for failure to regularly attend meetings. (Note: Jabbouri,s most recent appearance at the PC came after being QJabbouri,s most recent appearance at the PC came after being out of Diyala for seven weeks. End note). ¶7. (C) Comment: Jabbouri,s move against the Governor is just the latest in a series of challenges to the PG,s authority ) from political parties, Iraqi security forces, and the Central Government. These continuing challenges are distracting the Diyala PGOV from the business of governance and diminishing its effectiveness (See REFTELS A-D). End comment. ¶8. (C) BIO note: Abdullah Hasan Rashid Dakheel (Abdullah al-Jabbouri) is a current member of Diyala,s Provincial Council and former Governor of Diyala (2003-05). Jabbouri intends to run for election to the Council of Representatives during the 2010 national parliamentary elections. Jabbouri has a dental practice in Great Britain and spends considerable time there. He claims he uses his practice to financially support his election campaigns. His wife and children reside in Great Britain. He speaks excellent English. BAGHDAD 00002367 002.4 OF 002 HILL