US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4960

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004960 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PNAT, PHUM, IZ, Elections 
SUBJECT: VIOLENT ACTS OF INTIMIDATION MARR THE  ELECTION 
CAMPAIGN 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  During early December we heard 
reports of blackmail, kidnapping and murder of 
political candidates and campaign workers in the run- 
up to the national elections.  Numerous incidents have 
been reported to the Senior Representative of the 
United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) and 
Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) and 
have reportedly received no response. Political 
contacts seek USG assistance and to apply pressure to 
the IECI to act. With our encouragement, IECI 
Commissioner Safwat Sidqi held a press conference 
December 8 in which he condemned campaign violence. 
The Ambassador issued a statement condemning violence 
against those working on election campaigns on 
December 10.  We are urging political parties to make 
similar statements and act upon them.  These incidents 
of violence, while reprehensible, are not preventing a 
serious political campaign or robbing Iraqis of real 
choices at the ballot box.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) In a December 2 letter addressed to Senior 
SRSG Ashraf Qazi, Operations Deputy for Allawi's Iraqi 
Patriotic List Azzam al-Wash identified 6 counts of 
violent campaign intimidation against coalition 
members: 
 
--  Iraqi Communist Party (ICP) members Abdel al-Azziz 
Jasim Hassan and Yass Khidhir Hayder al-Lammi killed 
in Sadr City on November 22 following a campaign 
rally. 
 
--  ICP supporter Rassoul Salman al-Shummari killed 
while hanging campaign posters in Ammeria on November 
22. 
 
--  Number 2 candidate in Maysan Ahmad Sha'alan 
Mustashar Albo Darraji and his assistant Hayder 
Khaydoon killed on November 30 following a campaign 
rally.  Darraji's son was also shot and is in critical 
condition. 
 
--  Iraqi National Accord (INA) member Muhamad Lazim 
killed by an IED in Baghdad on November 27. 
 
--  INA member Rasheed Atia Muhamad kidnapped while 
hanging campaign posters in the Rusafa District of 
Baghdad on November 27. 
 
--  Four campaign workers were severely beaten while 
hanging posters in the Yarmook District of Baghdad on 
December 1. 
 
3.  (C) Dr. al-Wash told PolOffs on December 7 that he 
sent another letter to SRSG Qazi citing 10 additional 
incidents.  He added that everyone needs to respect 
the sanctity of the election process and hopes the 
United Nations will bring pressure to bear on the IECI 
to act. 
 
4.  (C) National Democratic Alliance (List 78) leader 
Faisal al-Sahlani told PolOff on December 5 that he 
continues to fear for his daughter's safety. Al- 
Sahlani recounted that one of his security detail had 
been compromised by men he asserted came from the 
Ministry of Interior (MOI).  One of his most-trusted 
guards was taken, beaten and shot twice in the 
shoulder and threatened with the murder of his wife 
and children unless the guard promised to cooperate 
with them after the elections. The bodyguard alleged 
that they demanded he start guarding Sahlani's 
daughter, woman activist Abeer al-Sahlani.  Sahlani 
said he has noticed MOI car (MOI license plates) 
following his movements and believes that they plan to 
kidnap his daughter in order to blackmail him. Sahlani 
said he believes that Badr Corps is behind the 
kidnapping plot.  Sahlani wants this situation 
investigated but not by MOI. 
 
5.  (C) On December 6, Liberal Republicans Party 
(List 517) leader Hussein Mussawi (the LRP itself is 
part of the Sun of Iraq Coalition, List 652) recounted 
to PolOffs the November 17 kidnapping of the Sun of 
Iraq's Coalition leader Tewfik al-Yasiri.  According 
to Mussawi, the mid-afternoon kidnapping started when 
6 armored cars (BMWs and Landcruisers) parked in front 
of al-Yasiri's home. According to Mussawi, a Second 
Commando Brigade (Wolf Brigade) Lieutenant Colonel and 
his team forcibly entered the home, seized the guards' 
weapons and took al-Yasiri.  They handcuffed him, tied 
his legs together and threw him in the back of the 
Landcruisers. The officer demanded USD 500,000. In the 
end, Al-Yasiri's wife paid a USD 220,000 ransom, 
Mussawi stated.  The Wolf Brigade returned al-Yasiri 
on November 19.  Mussawi said that the Wolf Brigade is 
full of Islamists and he believes either Badr or Sadr- 
related militia planned the kidnapping. Mussawi urged 
American intervention as well as support to smaller 
centrist liberal political parties that lack financial 
resources to make an impact in the elections. 
 
6.  (C)  In a December 7 press conference, UN 
Secretary-General's Special Representative Ashraf Qazi 
 
SIPDIS 
highlighted his concerns on campaign violence and 
called on political leaders to discourage such 
tactics.  During a December 8 IECI press conference, 
Commissioner Safwat Sidqi called for an end to 
campaign violence.  He noted that the IECI had been 
receiving many complaints, some relating to violence. 
 
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COMMENT 
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7.  (C) In response to these incidents, as well as the 
attack on the Kurdish Islamist Union (ref), the 
Ambassador on December 10 issued a statement 
denouncing acts of campaign violence around the 
country as well as efforts to bribe voters.  He urged 
Iraqi political parties to join with him in condemning 
such acts of violence.  Political parties, meanwhile, 
also want the Iraqi electoral commission to take a 
stronger public stand on campaign violations.  Poloffs 
have been urging IECI Commissioners to speak publicly 
about these incidents and invoke sanctions against 
political parties determined guilty of abusing 
election regulations against violence and 
intimidation.  These incidents of violence, while 
reprehensible, are not preventing a serious political 
campaign or robbing Iraqis of real choices at the 
ballot box. 
KHALILZAD