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

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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.

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HILL