PRT ANBAR: TENSION BETWEEN ANBAR POLICE AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000534

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2020
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: PRT ANBAR: TENSION BETWEEN ANBAR POLICE AND
JUDICIARY AS ELECTIONS NEAR

Classified By: PRT Leader Paul Fitzgerald for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (U) This is a PRT Anbar cable.


2. (C) SUMMARY: Tension between the Iraqi Police and the
judiciary was on display at the weekly Anbar Operations
Command meeting covering security issues. Similar feelings
were present at PRToffs meeting with Provincial Chief Judge
Mohammed Al-Kubaisi. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) On February 22, PRToff attended the Anbar Operations
Command (AOC) weekly security meeting at the Blue Diamond
Iraqi Army facility. Staff Major General (sMG) Aziz,
appearing vigorous and healthy, chaired the meeting for the
first time since his medical treatment in Turkey. Provincial
Chief of Police (PCOP) sMG Baha Al-Karkhi, Deputy Governor
Hikmat Jasim Zaidan and Investigative Judge (IJ) Ghanim
Al-Azawi were also present.


4. (C) The initial interchange at the meeting was
characterized by the usual Iraqi Police (IP) complaints of
judicial shortcomings and focused on the IP,s inability to
find an investigative judge over the weekend to approve
warrants. Investigative Judge Ghanim responded that an IJ
was always available and that police should "just knock on my
door." He explained that CPA Administrator Paul Bremer had
issued an order years earlier requiring a lawyer to be
present at the initial appearance of a suspect and said the
absence of a lawyer was the real impediment to prosecuting
cases. sMG Aziz countered that this law was enacted a long
time ago and that terrorist suspects should be treated
differently from other criminals since theirs was a special
crime against society. He asked that the laws be changed in
order to allow detention of terror suspects without a warrant
via a streamlined process. IJ Ghanim responded that the
existing judicial process was sound and provided a good
example of the rule of law to the citizenry.


5. (C) In closing remarks, Deputy Governor Hikmat said the IP
would be charged by the Independent High Electoral Commission
(IHEC) with guarding election polling centers. Claiming that
some IP showed loyalty to certain parties, he continued that
two vehicle passes would be issued to each political party
during the vehicle ban on election days in order to allow the
parties to move voters who are traveling great distances to
the polls.


6. (C) Comment: This AOC meeting was another example of the
tension between the IP and IJs. Yet the fact that IJ Ghanim
attended and was able to respond to IP complaints was a
positive development. The Deputy Governor was clearly
warning the police command to be alert to the possibility of
actual or apparent IP interference in the election process.
Through engagements with Provincial Chief Judge Mohammed
Al-Kubaisi and his IJ lecture to police investigation seminar
students, PRT ROL continues to encourage an ongoing
professional dialogue between the IP and IJs. End Comment.



7. (C) On February 24, PRToff met with Provincial Chief Judge
(PJC) Mohammed Al-Kubaisi at the Provincial Judicial Center
to discuss Rule of Law issues. Al-Kubaisi felt that the
recent exclusion of election candidates for Ba'athist ties
(including members of parliament) in the absence of any
criminal record was "not democracy." Al-Kubaisi said that he
nevertheless intended to vote and expected his vote to make a
difference if the right candidates won. He felt that Ayad
Allawi and his party would be the best for Iraq,s future,
citing Allawi's secular platform as a means to unify Iraq.
When asked about the security for polling stations, he said
QWhen asked about the security for polling stations, he said
that the Iraqi Army (IA) and not the IP would be the best
guarantors of security. He strongly believed that the IP
were in the employ of the tribal sheikhs and were not to be
trusted. He cautioned, however, that the deployment of U.S.
Forces to polling stations would give the appearance of
interference in the elections.


8. (C) Comment: The PJC,s low opinion of the IP tracks with
continued antagonism between the judiciary and IP over the
perceived failure to stop high profile terrorist attacks,
characterized by IP accusations of judicial corruption and
judicial claims of IP incompetence. End Comment.
HILL