PRT/BAMYAN: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL PUSHES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003100 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, SCA/CR, EUR/RPM, EAP/ANP NSC FOR HARRIMAN STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG OSD FOR BREZEZINSKI REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 SENSITIVE AND SIPDIS E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID AF SUBJECT: PRT/BAMYAN: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL PUSHES DEVELOPMENT, KHALILI AS PRIORITIES FOR BAMYAN KABUL 00003100 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) The Provincial Council (PC) is finding its voice for Bamyans people, but also for VP Khalili. The PC is pressuring the international community to provide more assistance in Bamyan, through an aggressive project monitoring effort and through increasingly inflammatory rhetoric. The PC is slanting its efforts towards Khalili supporters, freezing others out of the process. The PCs push to support Khalili could shift the balance of power in the province as their efforts gain traction. End Summary. Full Court Press -------------- ¶2. (SBU). The PC is exerting itself to bring more assistance to Bamyan. First, the Council traveled throughout the province assessing needs and monitoring project progress. In March, the PC braved snowbound passes to evaluate projects in the southern Panjab and Waras districts. (Note: Most international staff depart Bamyan at the onset of winter, and often do not return until April or May.) The PC visited over 20 projects in four days in their two Russian jeeps (provided by Governor Sarabi),according to PC Director Nawroz Etemadi. PC members have made three additional assessment trips, again to Panjab and Waras, as well as Yakawlang districts. ¶3. (SBU) Armed with information from their visits, the PC is harshly criticizing the slow pace of development in Bamyan, rife with waste and greed and fraud, according to PC member Ishaq Poya. PC Member Haji Mussini has leveled strong criticism at the international community during Friday afternoon prayer, accusing it of lining its own pockets with limited Bamyan funds. PC Director Etemadi, on June 30 at a public meeting of over 400 local shura chiefs, provincial directors and international representatives, called NGOs dens of vice and prostitution,with international staff allegedly making salaries of USD 18-25 thousand a month. PC Member Mohd. Hussain Wafayee was just as blunt on June 26, accusing the PRT of bringing nothing to benefit Bamyans people. (Note: Bamyan Wolesi Jirga members criticism of PRT and USG efforts in Bamyan, reported septel, has been equally pointed. End Note.) ¶4. (SBU) The PCs squeaky wheel approach has forced a response (of sorts) from the international community. mmunity. Since that first visit, UNAMA, the PRT and NGOs are giving the PC comprehensive information on ongoing projects in Bamyan. Several NGOs have begun new, quick-impact projects to quell criticism. The Aga Khan Foundation, hoping to blunt future complaints, is providing training to the PC on conducting project evaluation. The PC has since formed a Provincial Assessment Team composed of provincial department directors and PC members. PCs Uneven Focus Slanted Towards VP Khalili -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The PC is not giving equal focus to all of Bamyan, however. The PCs visits are limited to a select group of villages and towns, predominately in the southern districts and in western Yakawlang. Governors aide Amir Fooladi explained to PRToff these villages are populated by members and supporters of Second Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili and his faction of Hezb-e-Wahadat. Fooladi explained that PC KABUL 00003100 002.2 OF 002 Director Etemadi, along with Wafayee and Mohammad ad Ehsani, are strong supporters of Khalili. Northern Saighan and Khamard districts, with their predominately Tajik populations, have been completely shut out, Fooladi noted. ¶6. (SBU) The increasingly partisan PC even appears to be ignoring its own members who fall outside Khalilis camp. UNAMA officers shared rumors with PRToff that female Council member Aarifa Aabid, whose family is affiliated with Haji Mohaqiqs faction of Hezb-eWahadat, had quit her PC position. (Mohaqiq is Khalilis chief political rival among the Hazara.) National Director of Security Deputy Director Col. Adell confirmed the NDS had not seen Aabid at any PC event in over three months; Khalilis people have frozen her out, he explained. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The PC believes that Bamyan province, and by extension all of the Hazarajat, is getting short shrift from the international community. While its approach lacks sophistication, it is heartening to see the PC begin to develop its own voice. Its proactive ctive approach to what it perceives as its functions stands in marked contrast to provincial department directors, who lack the capacity or will to take independent action. ¶8. (SBU) The PCs apparent favoritism of Khalili supporters is understandable, if unfortunate, given their allegiances. Its calculated indifference towards non-supporters is more disturbing, however, transforming the PC into another cog in Khalilis political machine. Such blatantly partisan activity could back-fire, and risks diminishing the institution in all voters eyes. Any gains in the PCs legitimacy in its current pro-Khalili form will likely be at the expense of an already-isolated Governor Sarabi. NORLAND ND