FIRST MEETING OF POLICE PROBATION BOARD

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