Iraqi officials perform first unassisted, on-site detainee transfer at Cropper
By MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ, JTF 134 Detainee Operations
Jul 10, 2009 - 6:51:55 PM
Blackanthem Military News
CAMP CROPPER, Iraq - Iraqi officials traveled to the Remembrance II theater internment facility here July 6 to pick up detainees transferring to the custody of the Government of Iraq.
The trip marked the first time the Iraqi government executed the on-site detainee transfer without U.S. assistance. Assisted on-site transfers began in May of this year.
"The transfers have been going very well," said Lt. Col. John Jacobsen, chief of the release and reporting center for Task Force 134. "Monday, we were able to transfer 62 detainees into GoI custody."
Previously, detainees were transported to GoI facilities, which sometimes led to discrepancies causing detainees to remain in U.S. custody.
"Transfer paperwork and the actual transfers were done in two separate locations," Jacobsen said. "So, in some instances, a paperwork discrepancy would lead to GoI refusing a detainee transfer. With the GoI coming here to pick up their detainees, any paperwork issues can be handled on the spot."
The detainees are then transferred with less U.S. involvement and without the delays seen in the previous six months, he said.
Handling the transfers at Camp Cropper will also ensure compliance with the security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq.
"The Iraqis are more than capable of handling these detainee transfers, and we're happy to honor the security agreement," Jacobsen said. "We have a great partnership between our two governments, and it has allowed us to transfer detainees safely and efficiently."
Since the security agreement went into effect January 1, U.S. forces have released 3,884 detainees and transferred 835 detainees to GoI.