Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL2990
2006-07-05 06:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
FIRST MEETING OF POLICE PROBATION BOARD
how-toVZCZCXRO8834 OO RUEHDBU DE RUEHBUL #2990/01 1860601 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050601Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1178 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//JF/UNMA// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J3// RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2659 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2803 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6112 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1484
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002990
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SA/A, S/CR, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM, INL
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER AF
SUBJECT: FIRST MEETING OF POLICE PROBATION BOARD
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Norland, for reasons 1.4
(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002990
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SA/A, S/CR, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM, INL
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER AF
SUBJECT: FIRST MEETING OF POLICE PROBATION BOARD
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Norland, for reasons 1.4
(B),(D)
1. (C) The first meeting of the police probation
board was held July 3. The Afghan side was
represented by senior generals in the MOI. German
Ambassador for Police Affairs Frick, CSTC-A, U.S.
Embassy (polmiloff),EU, and UNAMA constituted the
international participants. Minister of Interior
Zarar Moqbil opened the session by saying that MoI
fully supports the probation process and wants
qualified and honest generals for the ANP.
2. (C) Ambassador Frick introduced the concept of
the board by noting that the 14 individuals subject
to probation are those whose names were added to the
list of senior police officers after the Selection
Board had made its decision, and not in accordance
with agreed rules. He noted that the Probation
Board plan has been briefed to President Karzai and
he has agreed.
3. (C) Minister Zarar said that General Nasri, who
had chaired the Selection Board, would serve as
chairman of the Probation Board. The Board will
report its findings to Zarar, who will make the
final decision. General Nasri then assumed charge
of the meeting. In his opening remarks he said he
was committed to the process, and gave his assurance
that the Board would not be politicized in its
decisions.
4. (C) The only substantive debate in this first
meeting concerned whether letters of warning should
be sent to the 14 individuals. The MoI officials
warned that if they knew they were in danger of
being fired, they would either temporarily refrain
from any unacceptable behavior, or conversely they
would redouble their criminal activity knowing their
time was short. (Comment: The latter thought
reflects a culture lacking accountability, since it
presumes the perpetrators would not be brought to
justice. End comment.) German Ambassador Frick and
EU representative Michael Stemple argued strongly
that a warning letter was necessary for purposes of
transparency and in accordance with legal
principles. They also pointed out that the
existence of the Probation Board will inevitably
become public knowledge, so the people under
scrutiny would know they were being evaluated even
though they had not been informed. Ambassador Frick
noted that both President Karzai and Minister Zarar
had agreed to the warning letter. (Comment: This
issue was not resolved and may arise at the next
meeting.)
5. (C) The Board members will meet on July
6 to finalize details. It is hoped that the letters
will be sent immediately afterwards. Under the
proposed timeline, the first evaluation of the 14
individuals will occur on August 1, and continue
monthly thereafter until November 1 when the process
will be completed. Information will come from a
variety of sources, including embedded police
mentors and UNAMA offices; however post will work
with PRT officers to assess police chiefs in
provinces where we have a PRT State presence.
KABUL 00002990 002 OF 002
NEUMANN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SA/A, S/CR, SA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM, INL
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
CENTCOM FOR CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER AF
SUBJECT: FIRST MEETING OF POLICE PROBATION BOARD
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Norland, for reasons 1.4
(B),(D)
1. (C) The first meeting of the police probation
board was held July 3. The Afghan side was
represented by senior generals in the MOI. German
Ambassador for Police Affairs Frick, CSTC-A, U.S.
Embassy (polmiloff),EU, and UNAMA constituted the
international participants. Minister of Interior
Zarar Moqbil opened the session by saying that MoI
fully supports the probation process and wants
qualified and honest generals for the ANP.
2. (C) Ambassador Frick introduced the concept of
the board by noting that the 14 individuals subject
to probation are those whose names were added to the
list of senior police officers after the Selection
Board had made its decision, and not in accordance
with agreed rules. He noted that the Probation
Board plan has been briefed to President Karzai and
he has agreed.
3. (C) Minister Zarar said that General Nasri, who
had chaired the Selection Board, would serve as
chairman of the Probation Board. The Board will
report its findings to Zarar, who will make the
final decision. General Nasri then assumed charge
of the meeting. In his opening remarks he said he
was committed to the process, and gave his assurance
that the Board would not be politicized in its
decisions.
4. (C) The only substantive debate in this first
meeting concerned whether letters of warning should
be sent to the 14 individuals. The MoI officials
warned that if they knew they were in danger of
being fired, they would either temporarily refrain
from any unacceptable behavior, or conversely they
would redouble their criminal activity knowing their
time was short. (Comment: The latter thought
reflects a culture lacking accountability, since it
presumes the perpetrators would not be brought to
justice. End comment.) German Ambassador Frick and
EU representative Michael Stemple argued strongly
that a warning letter was necessary for purposes of
transparency and in accordance with legal
principles. They also pointed out that the
existence of the Probation Board will inevitably
become public knowledge, so the people under
scrutiny would know they were being evaluated even
though they had not been informed. Ambassador Frick
noted that both President Karzai and Minister Zarar
had agreed to the warning letter. (Comment: This
issue was not resolved and may arise at the next
meeting.)
5. (C) The Board members will meet on July
6 to finalize details. It is hoped that the letters
will be sent immediately afterwards. Under the
proposed timeline, the first evaluation of the 14
individuals will occur on August 1, and continue
monthly thereafter until November 1 when the process
will be completed. Information will come from a
variety of sources, including embedded police
mentors and UNAMA offices; however post will work
with PRT officers to assess police chiefs in
provinces where we have a PRT State presence.
KABUL 00002990 002 OF 002
NEUMANN