Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KABUL3479
2006-08-03 16:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

KOREAN RALLY UPDATE, THURSDAY 08-03-2006

Tags:  CASC PGOV PHUM PREL PTER AF KS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9762
OO RUEHDBU
DE RUEHBUL #3479/01 2151628
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 031628Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1761
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0045
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
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 2717
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2861
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6194
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1545
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 003479 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
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: 08/02/2016
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL PTER AF KS
SUBJECT: KOREAN RALLY UPDATE, THURSDAY 08-03-2006

REF: A) KABUL 3320 B) KABUL 3455 C) KABUL 3456 D)

STATE 125681

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 03 KABUL 003479

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A, S/CRS, SA/PB, S/CT,
EUR/RPM
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: 08/02/2016
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL PTER AF KS
SUBJECT: KOREAN RALLY UPDATE, THURSDAY 08-03-2006

REF: A) KABUL 3320 B) KABUL 3455 C) KABUL 3456 D)

STATE 125681

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Norland, for reasons 1.4
b, d.


1. (C) SUMMARY: President Karzai has ordered the
"protection" of the estimated 1,200 ethnic Koreans
in Afghanistan as part of the Institution of Asian
Culture and Development,s (IACD) and Millennium
Pacific Icon (MPIG) groups' planned August 5-7 peace
rallies (reftels). According to Gen. Akhbar of the
MOI, the President has ordered the police to prevent
additional Koreans from entering the country and
also to keep those already inside Afghanistan from
moving to Kabul. Large groups of Koreans have
already been reported in Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat,
Kandahar, Bamyan, and Kabul. The MOI reports that
Koreans already in Kabul are being restricted to
their rented homes and only allowed out in small
groups for their own safety. The MOI and NDS have
created a plan to address potential problems this
weekend including demonstrations, IEDs, and other
violence. The IACD Representative Mr. Kang reports
that 20-30 Korean children are ill and that there
are some children in Herat but their parents are in
Kabul. End summary.

RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENTS
--------------

2.(C) POLoff received a call from IACD
representative Mr. Min (a confirmed AmCit) last
night, Aug 2, who reported that approximately 180
participants had been restricted to a guest house
last night; three of them are confirmed AmCits. Mr.
Min also complained that the house only has room for
approximately 75 persons and asked for assistance in
splitting the group between two homes. POLOff
advised Mr. Min to avoid the house as he may be
detained as well and that negotiations for transfer
would be unlikely until morning. Today the MOI

passed us the passport numbers of all of the persons
in the house. As all but three were Korean citizens
we have passed the list on to the Korean Embassy in
Kabul.


3. (C) Mr. Min also said that a bus containing 50
children was stopped outside of Kabul on its way
from Mazar-i-Sharif. The bus allegedly had three to
five Americans on board and was being prevented from
entering until morning by the ANP. POLOff contacted
the National Police Command Center and asked for
assistance in allowing the bus to enter Kabul and
travel to one of the vacant guest houses already
reserved by the Korean group. We later heard that
the bus was released and had been met by members of
the group. We received another call regarding the
children this morning and were requested to provide
medical assistance. We have asked for a list of
nationalities so that we are able to provide
assistance to AmCits as needed and coordinate with
other embassies to provide assistance to their
citizens.


4. (C) This morning, Aug 3, Mr. Kang, a Korean
citizen from IACD, called saying that all of the
Koreans in Kabul had been restricted to their guest
houses and that they were not being allowed to

KABUL 00003479 002 OF 003


leave. He also said that they were to be deported
today. POLOff contacted Gen. Akhbar at the MOI and
was told that this was not the case. Participants
were to be partially restricted to their
accommodations for security reasons. Under the terms
of their tourist visas, they would be allowed to
travel in small groups of five or less to get food
and water as well as to undertake "tourist"
activities. Akhbar also said that those carrying
American passports would not be allowed out with the
group because of security concerns. Kabul requested
guidance from CA on whether or not the Embassy
should protest to the GoA this singling out of
Americans. CA responded saying that if there is a
legitimate threat against the Americans and the
actions taken are for their protection, then no
demarche to the GoA is warranted. Post believes
safety concerns warrant ensuring that these AmCits
remain indoors.


5. (SBU) The Vice Consul and POLoff have been in
contact with a group of three American passport
holders in Kabul. One of the members notified us
that his son was en route from Bamyan to Kabul with
a group of 50-80 Americans. We later received word
from the MOI that the bus had been turned back by
the police and that the Americans would be returned
to their hotel in Bamyan. Vice Consul contacted
PRTOff in Bamyan and asked her to meet the group to
provide information on departing Afghanistan and USG
assistance. We are encouraging all American citizens
associated with the groups to leave Afghanistan and
are offering assistance in making the appropriate
arrangements. Once they are in Kabul, Consular
Officers from the Embassy also plan to meet with
them.

THE MOI PLAN
--------------


6. (C) The MOI has developed a plan to try to
address potential incidents this weekend.
Translation is still underway but a preliminary look
has yielded some information. The plan has
identified the following threats: attacks against
GOA officials and buildings, suicide bombings, IEDs,
rockets, and/or demonstrations. The ministry intends
to use surveillance, traffic restrictions, and an
increased police presence to prevent and respond to
incidents this weekend. The plan details that 150
officers will be available at police HQ and 20-30 at
each police station. Additional officers will also
be provided: 250 from police reserves, 100 from the
border police, 250 from poppy eradication teams, 50
from the counternarcotics force, and 40 from the
highway police. The plan also stresses coordination
between the MOI, MOD, NDS, ISAF, and UNAMA. The ANP
will serve as the first line of defense to be
supported by the ANA and ISAF if they fail. Special
attention has been given to providing extra
resources to Kabul Stadium, crowded areas, and areas
in which there are high concentrations of Korean
group members. The Head of the MOI Crime Branch has
also been tasked to have provincial security
officials collect information on where the
participant's visas were issued and their point of
entry to facilitate their departure. The government
has also had frequent contact with the Ministry of
Religious Affairs and the Hajj to deliver pro-

KABUL 00003479 003 OF 003


government messages at Friday prayers. Lastly, the
MOI is deploying fire trucks and ambulances as well
as securing hospital beds in local hospitals.

NDS PREPARATIONS
--------------


7. (C) DCM on Aug 3 met with NDS Chief Amarullah
Saleh to reinforce ref (D) demarche urging the GOA
to develop a robust security contingency plan.
Saleh indicated that the GOA,s strategy is focused
on actions to prevent Korean demonstrations that
would likely prompt violent public reaction, but he
said measures were also being put into effect (along
the lines of para 6 above) to respond with an
effective security presence if needed. He affirmed
the IED threat noted by MOI as described above.
Saleh said that the Koreans were attempting to lease
two aircraft from Dubai to bring more demonstrators
to Kabul; these planes would either be turned around
or the passengers detained and deported upon arrival
at Kabul airport. Saleh criticized the Afghan MFA
for failing to heed his advice to stop issuing visas
to the Koreans two weeks ago. He said if the
Koreans try to carry out demonstrations, they will
be moved to a "guest house" in a "remote" part of
Kabul. At DCM,s request, he agreed to instruct
security forces to pass names and passport numbers
of AmCits to the Embassy, paying particular regard
to individuals who appeared to be in need of medical
assistance.

AMERICAN CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AND WELFARE
--------------


8. (SBU) From the beginning, the U.S. Embassy
received information that a number of Amcits, of
Korean descent and otherwise, planned to join the
events, but we had not been contacted directly by
any Amcits or received any confirmed names or
passport numbers. On August 3, Cons Asst called the
Consul to say he received a phone call from an Amcit
who was part of this group. The Vice Consul called
the Amcit back to inquire into his situation. The
Amcit -- Paul Kim, PPT 218191910 - was in a guest
house with two other Amcits -- Kristin Han, PPT
095152199 and Agnes Han, PPT 301402112. Mr. Kim said
he has been in Afghanistan for one week doing
"volunteer and peace work." He said he and the
others were brought by the GoA to Kabul from
Kandahar by bus and were being confined to the guest
house. PolOff, ConOff, and ConsAsst will go to the
guest house to meet with the three Amcits this
evening (details to follow septel).

NEUMANN