Posted on 06/17/2009 4:51:54 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) and the Government of Iraq (GoI) Monday moved closer to ending the Coalition detainee operations mission as the total detainee population decreased to 10,956 for the first time since October of 2005.
In accordance with the Security Agreement between the GoI and the U.S., all detainees in Coalition custody will be released or transferred to the Iraqi legal system.
Iraqi authorities review the files for every detainee and determine who to release and who to transfer to Iraqi custody. In accordance with the Security Agreement, an Iraqi detention order or arrest warrant is required to transfer a detainee to Iraqi custody.
Since January 1, MNF-I has transferred nearly 700 detainees to Iraqi facilities after receiving more than 800 arrest warrants or detention orders. In addition, MNF-I has released 3,682 detainees this year. Joint Task Force 134 Detainee Operations is releasing and transferring detainees at a rate of approximately 750 per month.
Once the total detainee population drops below 8,000, the Theater Internment Facility at Camp Bucca will close and Camps Cropper and Taji will hold all detainees. Currently, the Camp Bucca detention facility is scheduled to close in mid-September. Military officials are still determining when to transfer the Camp Bucca Forward Operating Base over to the GoI.
The Camp Taji Theater Internment Reconciliation Center is scheduled to be turned over to the GoI in early 2010. Camp Cropper will be the last detention facility turned over to Iraqi control, currently scheduled for August 2010.
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