US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3941

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003941 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, IZ 
SUBJECT: TURCOMAN TNA MEMBERS COMPLAIN ABOUT KURDS, 
CONSTITUTION 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford 
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Two Turcoman TNA members complained 
bitterly to PolOff September 22 about Kurdish 
machinations in Kirkuk -- from padding electoral lists 
to illegally settling Kurds on private Turcoman lands. 
They asserted that Article 136 of the draft 
constitution, about the future status of Kirkuk, 
should be deleted.  They said that some Turcoman 
parties might call for a boycott of the referendum and 
the election if their demands on Article 136 and voter 
lists were not met.  However, they both conceded that 
the Turcoman community was not united on this issue 
and the majority of Turcoman would vote for the 
constitution no matter what the parties said.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) PolOff met with Kirkuk TNA members Reyad 
Sarykahia, President of the Turcmaneli Party and Amal 
Anwar Arif Beirakdar, a Turcoman from the Shia 
Alliance List to discuss their views on the draft 
constitution.  They both claimed to have no objection 
to most parts of the Constitution, but complained over 
the absence of specific mention of the Turcoman people 
and their rights.  They said that Article 136 (on the 
status of Kirkuk) should be removed from the 
constitution.  Calling the matter a "U.S. 
responsibility", they demanded the Embassy help to 
make the necessary changes.  PolOff countered that the 
Constitution was a product of the Iraqi political 
process, and Sarykahia, as a member of the 
Constitutional Committee, had had the opportunity to 
contribute to the process.  The USG worked to ensure 
that minority rights were protected in the draft. 
 
It's all About Kirkuk 
-------------------- 
 
3. (C) Both TNA members complained bitterly about 
Kurdish activity in Kirkuk, the purpose of which, in 
their view, has been to ensure that the area becomes 
part of the Kurdish region.  Among the specific 
complaints, they charged that the Kurdish political 
parties to the Kirkuk electoral lists had added 
237,000 new names without vetQ.  Conceding that 
many Kurds had moved intoghe region, they insisted 
that many of the new names are of Kurds who reside in 
neighboring Irbil and Chamchamal (Sulaymaniayh 
goveH!orate).  Saykahi said that his party filed 
complaint with the IndependenAElectoral Comssion of 
Iraq (IECI) and had asked the UN to investigate.Q 
(Note:  TheQECI is investigating this large surge in 
newjvoters in Kirkuk.  End Note.)  Saykahia said that 
if this issue was notHesolved, his party would 
cnsider calling for a boycott of the referendum and 
withdrawing from the political process entirely. 
PolOff cautioned that the Sunni Arabs now bitterly 
regret just such a policy that left them at a 
significant disadvantage during the Constitutional 
drafting process.  He said it would be better to take 
part in the process and work for desired changes 
within the system. 
 
4. (C) The TNA members also complained about the 
massive migration of Kurds into Kirkuk, including many 
who have built houses on Turcoman or public land. 
They said that local authorities were all Kurdish and 
turned a blind eye to these illegal activities.  They 
further said the U.S. was responsible for helping the 
local authorities come to power.  They claimed that 
most government jobs in Kirkuk are reserved for Kurds, 
at the expense of the "Turcomen majority."  PolOff 
asked them to provide specific examples of the alleged 
expropriation. 
 
5. (C) Both Sarykahia and Beriakdar conceded that the 
Turcomen are not united on constitutional/political 
issues.  They said that of the 15 Turcomen in the 
National Assembly, Sarykahia is the only TNA member of 
his Party.  Beiakdar ran on the Shia Alliance list, as 
did 4 of her Turcomen colleagues.  Two others were in 
the Turcoman Front while six Turcomen were elected on 
the KDP ticket.  Many of their colleagues, they 
grumbled, cooperate with the Kurds because of fear or 
economic advantage.  In their opinion, most Turcomen 
will vote for the Constitution, no matter what the 
parties say. 
 
Khalilzad