hd
	Indicators of the situation in Mosul Translated by Valerie and Ghazi Sabir-Ali 8 April 2008 The majority of Mosul’s inhabitants feel great disappointment at the lack of any changes taking place since the ‘Nineveh Operations Room’ was set up. This has had a negative impact on the security situation in Mosul. 1. The inhabitants of Mosul initially felt positive when the ‘Mosul Operations Room’ was set up. When volunteering became possible large numbers headed for the volunteer centres, contradicting previous claims that the people of Mosul avoid joining the army or police force, whereas it is actually the authorities who do not want the people of Mosul to join the army and consequently many forces have appeared to prevent Mosul officers returning to the army. 2. No salaries have been paid and no emergency funds have been granted to members of the former army. In fact, for several months over the past 6 months, an emergency fund has only been granted for one month to members of the former army. 3. Several bridges and many roads leading to some residential areas have been closed, as well as entire commercial and industrial zones, with the needs of residents to move around or get to work being totally ignored. This situation has been the same for a very long time and has affected economic and social life in Mosul, with not the slightest glimmer of hope that the situation will improve.  4. There has been enormous media alarmism surrounding the so-called operation without there being an authority in charge to clarify the matter and calm the people of Mosul. This has resulted in heightened unease and preparations by the people of Mosul to deal with terror and future difficulties. 5. Units of the 2nd Division, made up of Peshmerga, have been attached to the Iraqi army and continue to roam and patrol the city and arrest people without any legal grounds for such activities. Recently, special offices have appeared in Erbil and Dhouk which act as mediators to secure the release of detainees in return for money paid by relatives of the detainee.  6. Small towns within the Mosul administrative province (Telkaif, Bartulla, Sinjar, Zamar, Ainzala, Sed Mosul, Makhmour, Al-Hamdaniyah) are under the control of the Asaish (Kurdistan Security) who have offices implanted everywhere so that people cannot process their business without the agreement of Kurdistan Security.  7. The people of Mosul have started to feel that the security apparatus is carrying out a campaign of arrests and assassinations against prominent personalities who might be or actually are involved in local elections.  8. Human rights violations, torture and killing in prisons and camps have become an everyday occurrence carried out by certain members of the army intelligence in the province of Nineveh. The citizens of Nineveh are in no doubt about the hundreds of cases where arrests have been made and then, over the next day or two, the bodies are found dumped in the street or near to army units outside of Mosul. There are even cases where it has been proved that detainees are killed inside the intelligence headquarters. Orders have been issued against a number of intelligence officers but not a single army or administrative unit in the province implements these judicial orders. A copy of one of these cases is attached to this document. 9. Collective punishment methods against the residents of areas where there is an attack on a member of the army or police are widespread. An example of this is what happened in the Mosul Al-Jadidah area two weeks ago where police were abusive towards hundreds of local dignitaries and elderly people and arrested dozens of young men in a commercial area then released them after insulting and assaulting them. 10. It is a common practice to blow up houses in residential or commercial areas if they are thought to be weapon stores or hideaways used by fugitives, without any concern about the effect of this on neighbouring houses and shops.  11. It is the practice by the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Sinjar Branch, to bring in Kurdish families from Kurdistan to live in Sinjar. 12. Kurds from Turkey, who previously lived in camps where they were issued with ration books, have been officially registered by the Kurdistan regional authorities, brought in to live in mixed areas and, as a result of having ration books, added to the electoral register so that they can vote.  13. Many sides, including the Province Council and Governor, are trying to ensure that the ‘Nineveh Operations Room’ fails. This is also happening because of the non-execution by most units of the orders of the Operations Commander. The Commander of the 2nd Division receives his orders directly from the army Chief-of-Staff and refuses to implement the orders of the Operations Commander. This is also true of the majority of battalion commanders. No sooner does the Operations Commander issue an order then it is cancelled by the army Chief-of-Staff who then issues an order compatible with the interests of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Mosul. Documents are attached in support of this.  Translated by Valerie and Ghazi Sabir-Ali
	top