12.1 |
Security Sector Reform
762.
On 13
November, the US military visited an MOI‑controlled detention
facility in
Baghdad,
known as the Jadiriyah bunker, to facilitate the release of a
detainee.717
Upon
entering
the facility they discovered “around 170 detainees” in an emaciated
state.
Instruments
of torture, including belts, rubber hoses, electrical cable and
truncheons
were
recovered and there was evidence of links to the Badr Corps
militia.
763.
The following
day, Gen Casey and Mr David Satterfield, the US Deputy
Chief
of Mission,
made a strong demarche718
to
Mr Jabr, and demanded both a full criminal
investigation
and a nationwide audit and inspection of MOI facilities conducted
by Iraqi
and US
officials.
764.
In the
Chairman’s brief for DOP(I) to be held on 15 November,
Mr Blair
was advised
that Mr Patey should raise the issue “in the strongest terms”
with
Prime Minister Ja’afari
and Mr Jabr.719
765.
A note from an
IPU official to Mr Straw on 22 November stated that Prime
Minister
Ja’afari
had announced on 15 November that a full investigation into the
matter would
766.
The official
advised Mr Straw that the Embassy had “first picked up
suspicions
about
maltreatment” at the facility on 4 and 5 September in “an
uncorroborated informant
report to a
police adviser”. The Embassy’s Senior Police Adviser had
accompanied the
US military
to the location on 24 October but saw no evidence of abuse in the
areas
where he
was allowed access. The official wrote that before follow‑up action
could be
taken, the
US had “stumbled” upon the mis‑treated detainees.
767.
There were
indications that Mr Jabr had “been in direct contact with
MOI
operatives
at the Bunker” and that there were “suspicions of other illegal
detention
centres”.
The media had reported Mr Jabr was “playing down the incident
significantly”.
768.
The IPU would
“instruct Baghdad to maintain pressure” on Prime Minister
Ja’afari
to address
the issues.
769.
Mr Straw
issued a statement the same day, welcoming this decision
and
condemning
illegal detention and torture.
717
Telegram
18170 Baghdad to FCO London, 14 November 2005, ‘Iraq: Detainees
Found in Bunker’.
718
Demarche is
the term used to describe a protest by diplomats.
719
Letter
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 14 November
2005, ‘DOP(I) – Chairman’s Brief’.
720
Minute IPU
[junior official] to Foreign Secretary, 22 November 2005, ‘Iraq:
Abuse at Ministry of Interior
Detention
Facility – follow up’.
229