

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05WELLINGTON363, IS NEW ZEALAND AWASH IN BAATHISTS?
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05WELLINGTON363.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05WELLINGTON363 | 2005-05-05 03:05 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Wellington |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 WELLINGTON 000363
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR EAP/ANP, SA/PB, NEA/NGA, AND S/CT
DHAKA FOR AMBASSADOR THOMAS AND DCM CHAMMAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SMIG NZ
SUBJECT: IS NEW ZEALAND AWASH IN BAATHISTS?
REF: A. HADDA/DEPARTMENT/DHAKA MAY 1 E-MAILS (NOTAL)
¶B. AMBASSADOR THOMAS/DEPARTMENT 04 OCTOBER E-MAIL
(NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM David Burnett,
For Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: An opposition politician threatened early
this week to reveal the identity of a member of Saddam's
regime who is reportedly seeking residence in New Zealand.
The Government responded by revoking the visitor's permit...
of the wrong Iraqi. The Government's action was taken
against former Iraqi Diplomat Zuhair Mohammed Al-Omar, whose
background we had disclosed to NZ officials half a year ago.
But the Iraqi whose name was revealed by the opposition
yesterday is an alleged former cabinet official, Amer Mahdi
Saleh Khashaly (AKA Amer Mahdi Alkashali) who arrived in New
Zealand only last month.
¶2. (S/NOFORN) The media has played up the fact that there
could be as many as five more Baathists on the loose in New
Zealand, and the Government's humiliation over the incident
is palpable. The anti-immigration party that revealed the
name of the cabinet official will milk the story for all it's
worth in the run up to elections later in the year. The fact
that both men received visas from New Zealand's embassy in
Bangkok, already cited for consular impropriety, will
increase the Government's woes and could lead to career
trouble for the head of Immigration and others. Blame may
also eventually fall on Prime Minister Clark in her role as
Minister in charge of the Security Intelligence Service
(SIS). The possibility is clearly not lost on her and she
has reportedly hounded the SIS head daily for updates.
¶3. (C) Under NZ immigration law, classified information to
be used to bar entry to visa applicants judged to be security
risks, but hearings to determine refugee status -- an
entirely separate process -- are open and can therefore not
include classified evidence. An ongoing case has already
allowed a former Algerian politician with reported terrorist
links to take advantage of this loophole. Ironically, having
been drawn into the spotlight the Iraqis may now be more
likely to apply for refugee status, especially if the
Government withdraws their right to stay here as the result
of the opposition's claims. This could be the real election
issue, as liberal voters tend to see the asylum seekers as
victims of bad intelligence while more conservative voters
accuse the Government of providing an open door to
terrorists.
¶4. (C) If the Iraqis ask for refugee status, we expect our
New Zealand counterparts will ask us for any open source
information we can provide that would enable to enable the
Kiwis to show the gentlemen the door. NZ officials plan to
brief us fully on the cases over the next few days. End
Summary.
----------
BACKGROUND
----------
¶5. (C) We were called over the weekend by a contact in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) who asked
whether the NZ Government could release publicly information
that we had shared with them last October about Z.M. Al Omar,
a former Iraqi Ambassador to Bangladesh. MFAT told us that
the head of the anti-immigration New Zealand First Party,
former Prime Minister Winston Peters, had threatened to
reveal that an Iraqi official was in the country and the NZ
authorities were doing nothing about it.
¶6. (C) The information we had passed along in October, which
noted that Al Omar was an unreconstructed Baathist who had
tried to organize Islamic extremists to foment violence
against U.S. facilities in Dhaka, had been provided to
Ambassador Thomas by Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary (Ref B).
The Foreign Secretary also claimed that Al Omar was seeking
political asylum in New Zealand.
¶7. (S/NOFORN) SIS has the power to declare any alien in New
Zealand a Security Risk based on classified information, but
New Zealand officials are extremely wary to use this option
now that the Government is engaged in a high-profile,
embarrassing court battle in connection to a former Algerian
MP, Ahmed Zaoui. The Government claimed he presented a
security risk, and sought to expel him based on classified
evidence. His lawyers demanded to see the intelligence,
claiming it was spurious, but the third country provider of
the information refused to declassify it. Meanwhile, Zaoui
was determined to be a refugee under the entirely separate
refugee process. Zaoui claims his human rights have been
violated by the use of the intelligence that he cannot see.
His lawyers, the media, and much of the public regard him as
a persecuted martyr, and he has even been granted safe haven
by a monastery as his case slogs through the courts.
Government officials, who have told us they expect to lose
the Zaoui case, have not yet revised the laws to close the
loophole. In the meantime they want to avoid similar
situations, which is why MFAT asked us if they could
publicize the information that we had provided to them on
Al-Omar.
¶8. (S/NOFORN) After receiving the weekend's request from
MFAT, we asked Embassy Dhaka to seek GOB approval to release
the information (Ref A) and asked Embassy Baghdad if the GOI
had any information about Al Omar. We also suggested that NZ
law enforcement officials look into Al Omar's financial
arrangements, as he may be using Hussein government funds to
cover his costs.
¶9. (C) On Monday, May 2, MFAT informed us that NZ
Immigration had determined that they could cancel Al Omar's
visitor's permit on the basis of his application form. He
had not in fact applied for asylum or refugee status. News
that the Government had revoked the permit of an Iraqi
diplomat (but which did not reveal his name) hit the media
that night, following reports that Peters was to reveal the
Iraqi's name in Parliament the next day.
----------------------
IT'S THE "WRONG" IRAQI
----------------------
¶10. (SBU) On Tuesday, May 3, Peters revealed to Parliament
the identity of the Iraqi official, as promised. To the
government's chagrin, the name he cited was not Al-Omar but
Amer Mahdi Saleh Khashaly (AKA Amer Mahdi Alkashali), an
alleged 1980s Iraqi Cabinet Minister who arrived in New
Zealand last month. Apparently, Khashaly entered New Zealand
on an Iraqi passport but used a UN passport to support his
visa application. Incredibly, his current whereabouts are
unknown, and Peters roundly criticized the Government for
failing to track him down.
¶11. (SBU) The press, already tipped off by government
officials about Al-Omar's identity,
gave wide play to the story that Peters had forced the
government's hand into revealing the identity of the "wrong"
Iraqi. The media also reported that Al-Omar lives in New
Zealand with his son, a New Zealand citizen. Despite the
information we have heard about Al-Omar, his son insists his
career pre-dates the Baathists and that he has police
clearance from the current Iraqi regime. Peters declared that
the Government went looking for a wolf and found a rabbit.
¶12. (SBU) The Government's problems have been compounded by
the fact that both Iraqis were issued visas by New Zealand's
Embassy in Bangkok, where an employee was fired in 2003 after
being accused of selling visas. Al-Omar reportedly received
his visa even though the issuing officers knew of his
background. The officers had failed to do the right
background checks on Khashaly. Immigration Minister Paul
Swain declared that he had lost all confidence in Bangkok,
and ordered that from now on all visa applications involving
nationals from "high risk" countries are to be processed in
New Zealand. The Government's embarrassment has increased,
as a search through Immigration files has revealed that "many
more" Iraqis associated with the Hussein regime -- the press
says five so far -- may have been allowed entry into the
country.
-------------------
Something is Broken
-------------------
¶13. (SBU) So far, the focus of media attention has been on
Labor Department Workforce Deputy Secretary May Ann Thompson
(who used to be advisor to the Prime Minister) and
Immigration Minister Swain. Peters claimed Swain, "... does
not have the remotest idea of which Arab -- Osama bin Laden
or anybody else -- may be in the country and what he is doing
here." It seems more and more likely that Swain and others
may pay for the embarrassment with their jobs. As of now,
the Prime Minister has been spared from strong criticism, and
she even managed a joke at Peter's expense, chiding him for
his hyperbolic claim during his presentation to Parliament
that half the Iraqi cabinet was in New Zealand.
¶14. (S/NOFORN) Behind the scenes, however, there is less
levity. The Prime Minister is reportedly hounding the head
of SIS daily for updates. Our MFAT source tells us a
Government task force is meeting daily, and ministries have
said they will brief us about the controversy within the next
few days.
¶15. (C) As we have often remarked, the Prime Minister has
proven herself capable time and time again of distancing
herself from the scandals that have arisen during the past
months, such as the financial questions surrounding outspoken
Labour MP John Tamihere. But this latest dust-up could have a
real negative impact on both her (as Minister in charge of
Intelligence) and the Labor government in the run-up to the
elections. Even if all Iraqis are declared not to be
security risks, the fact that both were able to enter and
live in New Zealand without detection may raise concerns
among voters. If they apply for refugee status, the
government faces months of embarrassing trials that will
expose them to criticism from liberals, who will regard the
Iraqis as innocent victims of U.S. and other countries'
intelligence, and conservatives, who will declare New Zealand
a haven for terrorists. Law and order is already a campaign
issue here. Adding lax immigration controls could prove a
volatile mix.
¶16. (C/NOFORN) Elections aside, the incident raises real
questions about New Zealand's border controls and
coordination among ministries involved with immigration.
MFAT has admitted to us that despite their and SIS's repeated
prodding, Immigration failed to look into Al-Omar until
Peters' threat. We have heard that Immigration may also have
been the source of Peter's revelation. If so, there may be
dissatisfaction within the ranks about the agency's
performance.
-----------------------
INFORMATION APPRECIATED
-----------------------
¶17. (C) MFAT tells us that at this point they do not need any
information from us about either Iraqi already named because
neither has asked for refugee status. But it seems likely
that one or both may. Al-Omar, having had his visa revoked,
would have no other way of staying with his son here over the
longer term. The Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary had also
reported that Al-Omar would ask for asylum. News reports
claim Khashaly arrived in New Zealand to ask for help from
Zaoui's lawyers in getting political asylum for him and his
son.
¶18. (C) In anticipation that Government officials will ask us
for open source information in the event that Al-Omar and or
Khashaly ask for refugee status, post would appreciate any
information that agencies/Embassy Dhaka/Embassy Baghdad could
provide. We will also provide more names if and when they
arise.
19: (U) Minimize Considered.
Swindells