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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 005020SUBJECT: BUNKER INVESTIGATION FALTERS, NATIONWIDEINSPECTIONS GATHER STEAM

REF: A. BAGHDAD 4745B. BAGHDAD 4921Classified By: Counselor for Political-MilitaryAffairs David C. Litt for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

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¶1. (S/REL GBR AUS) The committee appointed by PMJa'afari to investigate abuse discovered byCoalition Forces on November 13 at the Ministry ofthe Interior "Bunker" site in Jadiriyah has madelittle progress. On December 13, Deputy PrimeMinister Rowsh Shaways passed Post the committee'sfirst report, a slender two-page letter to the PMthat reflects little independent investigation,glosses over evidence of abuse presented by theUSG, and requests additional time to complete itswork.

¶2. (S/REL GBR AUS) Conversely, the joint ITG-USGcommittee established separately to inspect andreport on Iraqi detention facilities nationwide hasprepared substantive reports on its December 8inspection of the MOI Special Police Commandofacility at Site 4, which discovered 625 detaineesheld in overcrowded, filthy facilities, somesuffering from serious injuries. The committee willpresent their report to the PM and MOI in thecoming days; joint inspections will resume directlyfollowing the election.

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¶3. (S/REL GBR AUS) On December 9, Rule of LawCoordinator, MNF-I Deputy Chief of Staff forIntelligence and Pol-MilOff met DPM Shaways at hishome to discuss progress on investigations intohuman rights abuses at the MOI Bunker. The DPM,recently returned from the north, asked if the USGhad noticed any "irregularities" in the committeemeetings held in his absence, which were chaired byMinister of State for National Security AffairsSafa al Din al Safi.¶4. (S/REL GBR AUS) ROL Coordinator noted thatlittle effort had been made by the committee tomove forward. Shaways nodded. "I told you before,"he said, "that the composition of the committee maynot be neutral. The viewpoint of the PM himselfwill impact the ability of the committee to operatefreely. And with the situation of the election -

even if you put something down that is correct, itcan be made political."¶5. (S/REL GBR AUS) ROL Coordinator asked if DPMShaways was still considering, as he had previouslymentioned (see Reftel A), seeking the replacementof committee members. The DPM shrugged and spreadhis hands. "The committee was appointed by the PMby name," he said. "What we can do - what we havetried to do - is make the role of the Ministry ofHuman Rights stronger."¶6. (S/REL GBR AUS) The next day, ROL Coordinator,COS C2, and Pol-MilOff attended the first committeemeeting held since the DPM's return. No MoHRpersonnel were present. After a brief introductionby DPM Shaways, MoS for TNA Affairs al Safilaunched into a verbal attack on MNF-I's legalauthority to conduct the November 13 search of theMOI Bunker which led to the discovery of 168detainees, of whom more than 100 showed signs ofabuse.¶7. (S/REL GBR AUS) "When US officials entered theBunker," al Safi said, "they were looking for aspecific person. When they found that person wasnot there, it should have ended. Instead they tookinappropriate actions. They had no permission toenter, to open everything up, to talk to detainees,to take the evidence, to remove detainees withoutany official order. This was illegal."¶8. (S/REL GBR AUS) ROL Coordinator noted that