Korean Rally Update, Sunday 08-06-2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003508 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, S/CRS, SCA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/CDHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND OSD FOR BREZINSKI CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: CASC PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF KS SUBJECT: Korean Rally Update, Sunday 08-06-2006 REF: A) Kabul 3320 B) Kabul 3345 C) Kabul 3456 D) State 125681 E) Kabul 3479 KABUL 00003508 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: There have been no incidents of violence in connection with the Korean rally participants so far. Hundreds of participants have left Kabul over the last two days, including many Americans. The situation appears to have largely been defused and the remaining Koreans are mostly event organizers who are likely to depart the country once they are confident that the other participants have left safely. The MOI continues to be cooperative and the Ministry of Transportation provided additional flights to help expedite departures. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The Embassy has received confirmation that hundreds of Koreans and Korean-Americans left yesterday and today. PolOff and Vice Consul met with a group of 50-60 Americans this morning and outlined GOA options aimed at ensuring their security. Some members of the group expressed hostility towards the GoA and GoK for their roles in pressuring their departure and demanded an apology from the GoA. PolOff agreed to pass on their concerns but asked the group to focus on assessing security and deciding whether to leave or stay. After a short deliberation, most members of the group decided to depart today. Vice Consul collected names and passport information from the Americans who wished to leave and passed the information to the GoA so appropriate arrangements could be made. Vice Consul also advised the group that those in need of further assistance once they reached Dubai should contact the U.S. Consulate. ¶3. (SBU) When the Vice Consul called an Amcit yesterday, August 5, he said that they would think about leaving, but they might stay to "restore their honor and integrity". He said they wanted to confront the "rumors" about the organization and prove that they were only here to help Afghan people, and were being "detained" unjustly. The Amcit also said that a group might try to leave the compound. Vice Consul warned him of the security and safety repercussions of such action and asked if he wanted to take such a risk, for himself and his family. He said they were willing to take the risk. The group reiterated this threat several times today but eventually decided the wisest course of action was to leave, including the two most vocal participants. ¶4. (SBU) There are still a few participants who remain in country, and their freedom of movement continues to be limited by the GoA. Post learned, however, that some Koreans are still being let into the country. EmbOffs had contact with 12 Korean- Americans who entered Afghanistan Saturday, August 5 and were planning to tour the country. Vice Consul advised them of the situation, and the GOA's restrictions, and offered assistance if they chose to leave. They said that they would consider leaving on Monday, August 7. Post was told by a ConOff in Dubai that Korean-Americans there (some of whom were refused entry to Afghanistan) told the Consulate KABUL 00003508 002.2 OF 002 that Korean-Americans were being allowed to enter Afghanistan if they were born in the USA but naturalized citizens were not. ¶5. COMMENT: The situation appears to be settling and Embassy does not expect any violence associated with the Korean rally group. Most of the participants have left and the government continues to provide opportunities for departure to those who remain. The situation, thus far, though unorganized, has been handled effectively by the Afghan authorities. NEUMANN