HUNDREDS OF KOREAN CHRISTIANS PLAN RALLY IN KABUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003320 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, S/CT, SCA/A, NSC FOR AHARRIMAN CENTCOM FOR POLAD, CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76 TREASURY FOR APARAMESWARAN, ABAUKOL STATE PLEASE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KIRF AF SUBJECT: HUNDREDS OF KOREAN CHRISTIANS PLAN RALLY IN KABUL Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD NEUMANN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The Embassy is tracking a potential rally of up to 2000 Christians flying in from Korea. The Korean Embassy has verified that Koreans involved with the group have already arrived in advance of the event slated for August 5-7. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) In April Embassy Kabul received notice from Embassy Seoul of attempts by the Christian Council of Korea to hold a Peace Festival in Kabul. The Korean Embassy told us the event had been cancelled due to security concerns on the part of their embassy and the GOA. ¶3. (C) PolOff recently received an email July 25 from a private security firm alerting the embassy to a potential rally of 2000 Korean Christians, suggesting that plans to move forward with the rally were still underway. The Korean Embassy said that the group is trying to hold the event August 5-7, including a "cultural festival", at the Olympic Stadium in Kabul. Participants are predominantly flying in from Korea to participate. They also said the GOA has revoked the permit to hold the rally and will not approve any other related requests. ¶4. (C) We have confirmed that an advance group of 50- 60 Koreans has arrived in Kabul. We have been told that may protest the denial of their permits in front of their embassy. The Korean Embassy is also concerned that groups (perhaps the Northern Alliance) may seek to gain political benefit by interfering with the event. NEUMANN