VZCZCXRO2647
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHGB #2072/01 2141559
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021559Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4167
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0323
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0845

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002072 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2019 
TAGS: PHUM PTER PGOV IR IZ
SUBJECT: MEK IN CAMP ASHRAF: NO GAME PLAN IN SIGHT FOR GOI 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 2059 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: A/PMA W.S. Reid III for reasons 1.4(b)&(d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary.  On August 2, USG officials met with GOI 
Ashraf Committee Chairman Ali Abdul Amir al-Yassery to 
discuss the GOI's near-future plans regarding the standoff 
with the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) in Ashraf.  (Note: The GOI 
has changed the name of Ashraf to Camp New Iraq. End Note.) 
Al-Yassery stated the situation remains calm with occasional 
flare-ups by the MEK when they become aware there are media 
on the scene.  He informed USG officials that the GOI planned 
to drop leaflets on Ashraf and use loudspeakers advising the 
MEK residents that their treatment by the GOI will be in 
accordance with Iraqi law, the Iraqi Constitution and the 
GOI's international obligations.  Al-Yassery further advised 
that the GOI still intends to move the MEK residents to Camp 
Echo (Diwaniya Province) in November, when the transfer from 
the USG to the GOI is complete. Al-Yassery declined, on legal 
grounds, the USG's offer of medical assistance to the 32 MEK 
detainees currently in the GOI's custody, stating they had 
refused medical care from the GOI and could not be moved due 
to ongoing investigations by the Iraqi judge.  Since neither 
party is inclined to see the other as offering something it 
desires, we see future violent clashes likely as the GOI and 
MEK test each other's resolve.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) On August 2, USG officials met with al-Yassery to 
discuss the GOI's future plans in regards to MEK residents. 
Al-Yassery asserted that the plans of the GOI had not changed 
- they intended to relocate the MEK to Camp Echo, located in 
Diwaniya Provence, once the camp has been vacated by U.S. 
forces in November.  Acting Pol-Mil Couns warned, "if this is 
the extent of your future plans, you are underestimating the 
resolve of the local MEK and their international political 
arm, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)."  USG 
officials  further stressed that, by sticking to this 
ill-conceived plan, the GOI is risking more clashes with the 
MEK residents. 
 
¶3.  (C) Al-Yassery did not appear to understand the 
precariousness of the GOI's position, claiming the situation 
at Ashraf had calmed. However, he noted that at times the MEK 
has become agitated, only demonstrating when they see the 
media in the Ashraf area. Al-Yassery appeared to believe that 
information is all that is needed for the MEK residents to 
agree to the GOI's plan for them, stating the GOI plans to 
drop leaflets to the residents and use speakers to assure the 
residents that the GOI will treat them in accordance with 
Iraqi law, the Constitution and Iraqi's international 
obligations. 
 
¶4.  (C) USG officials informed al-Yassery that of the initial 
12 MEK residents transported to Balad Air Force Base for 
treatment, one died enroute and three were returned on August 
1 to the GOI's custody.  They added that four additional MEK 
residents had been transported to Balad, again on August 1, 
with skull fractures, stating their conditions had 
deteriorated.  USG officials conveyed MNF-I CG Odierno's 
offer to treat the injured MEK residents currently in the 
GOI's custody.  After treatment, they assured the GOI they 
would be returned to the GOI's custody.  However, GOI 
officials rejected this offer, claiming the detainees are 
refusing GOI medical treatment and, under Iraqi law, the 
court will not allow the detainees to leave pending further 
judicial review. 
 
¶5.  (C) Regarding the numbers of MEK residents allegedly 
Q5.  (C) Regarding the numbers of MEK residents allegedly 
killed by the GOI, GOI officials stated that the MEK had 
allowed them to see the remains of the MEK killed during the 
clashes with the GOI.  GOI officials alleged that five of the 
seven remains had undergone proper Islamic burial preparation 
(shrouded), while the other two remains appeared uncovered 
and neglected and were lying on open gurneys in another room. 
 (Note: These two bodies were not shown to the visiting USG 
team on July 31. End Note.) The GOI stated these two sets of 
remains were not shrouded and displayed a note in Persian on 
their heads. He claimed the note read "traitor," in 
accordance with MEK treatment of past defectors, but admitted 
he could not read Farsi.  Al-Yassery advised that COL Sa'di 
had allowed the MEK residents to bury two of their dead, 
although it was against Iraqi law to bury remains without an 
official death certificate.  Ashraf Leader Madame Mojgan 
Parsaie disputed this assertion in a letter to acting Pol-Mil 
Couns, claiming the GOI had taken over the cemetery and were 
preventing the burial of the MEK resident's remains. 
 
¶6.  (C) UNAMI on August 2 postponed its scheduled trip.  GOI 
officials did not agree to allow UNAMI officials access to 
MEK residents for interviews. USG officials asserted they 
 
BAGHDAD 00002072  002 OF 002 
 
 
could provide transportation for UNAMI officials, if 
requested.  USG officials explained that the U.S. was abiding 
by the GOI stipulation that the local TF-134 troops could 
only take the UN representatives to the GOI's current 
commander at Ashraf, COL Sa'di Habib Hussein al-Dulaymi.  USG 
officials informed al-Yassery that UNAMI officials were very 
disappointed the GOI had not approved access to the MEK 
residents and could return to speak with the GOI about this 
issue. They advised al-Yassery to speak with the UNAMI and 
other international organizations about the ground rules for 
future trips to Ashraf.  The GOI claimed the Minister of 
Human Rights had already met with UNHCR and ICRC regarding 
the MEK residents. 
 
¶7.  (C) Comment.  The GOI continues down the path to further 
clashes with the MEK residents.  The PM's public rhetoric is 
polarizing the situation further.  Al-Yassery claims the 
GOI's plan to relocate the MEK residents to Camp Echo is on 
track, ignoring the likelihood that the MEK residents will 
fight any forced relocation and some may prefer to die in 
Ashraf rather than move.  The GOI's rejection of USG medical 
assistance for the MEK residents detained by the GOI is 
worrisome. A number of the detainees have what appear to be 
broken arms or elbows; others with claimed cardiac or 
circulatory ailments appeared to be in need of regular 
ongoing medical treatment.  Al-Yassery's claim that the court 
will not allow transfer for medical treatment was not 
persuasive.  Based on the MEK's continued dismissal of the 
GOI dialogue overtures and the GOI's continuing plans to move 
forward with eventual relocation, we see little likelihood of 
a shift away from eventual renewed violent clashes.  End 
Comment. 
FORD