ILLEGAL AFGHANS DEPORTED FROM IRAN FACE DIFFICULT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001594

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SA/FO, SCA/A, S/CT, S/CR, SCA/PAB, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
OSD FOR SHIVERS
CENTCOM FOR CJTF-82 POLAD
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2017
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV AF IR
SUBJECT: ILLEGAL AFGHANS DEPORTED FROM IRAN FACE DIFFICULT
CONDITIONS/TRIGGER POLITICAL CRISIS

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Classified By: PolCounselor SRosenberry for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Since April 21, Iranian authorities have deported
approximately 52,000 Afghans living and working illegally in
Iran. UNHCR estimates that there are as many as one million
illegal Afghans in Iran in addition to the approximately
920,000 Afghan refugees registered there. IOM conducted an
assessment mission to the transit center established by the
GOA near Zarany in Nimooz Province on May 11-12 and reports
that local mullahs along with provincial and central
government agencies are providing for the approximately 5,000
deportees in the center at any one time. According to IOM,
some deportees are arriving with signs of abuse. IOM reports
that mullahs and provincial and central government officials
are providing adequate shelter, food and health care at the
transit centers during the deportees, short stay (up to 48
hours),but there are serious concerns about where and how
they will be absorbed by communities in Afghanistan. While
the Government of Iran had signaled its intent to return the
illegal workers, the timing of the action and the methods
used invite speculation that it was intended as a message to
the Government of Afghanistan. End Summary.

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Fair Warning by Iran on Deportations
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2. (SBU) On January 21, Iranian authorities announced their
plan to "regularize" illegal Afghan nationals residing in
Iran. They made clear that this would not apply to the
920,000 Afghan refugees registered with UNHCR and the
government of Iran. Those Afghans residing illegally were
encouraged to return to Afghanistan before April 21 after
which they would be deported. During this period, a number
of consultations took place between the two governments.


3. (SBU) On April 21, the GOI did, indeed, begin to deport
large numbers of Afghan "illegals." As of May 6, 48,000
Afghans had been deported back to Afghanistan. Following a
joint UNAMA/UNHCR assessment mission in Farah on May 5-6, the
International Organization on Migration (IOM) was given
responsibility for the issue and conducted an assessment
mission in Nimooz on May 11-12.


4. (SBU) As of May 12, appoximately 32,000 Afghans had been
deported through the Milak/Zarani crossing point (Nimroz
province) and another 16,000 through the Islam Qala
checkpoint (Herat). As many as 50 percent of the deportees
going through the Milak crossing are reported to be families.
Those being deported through the Islam Qala are, by and
large, single males. The majority of the deportees ) as
high as 90 percent - are from Afghanistan's Farah province,
with the remainder mainly from Nimroz province.

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Leading to Rough Return for those Affected
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5. (SBU) The deportations have been executed by Iran's
Disciplinary and Special Forces. While some report being
taken from their homes at night, the bulk of the deportees
were reportedly rounded up at work. Often they had no time
to collect personal belongings and/or notify their families.
This has resulted in many families being left behind while
the principle "breadwinner" has been deported with nothing.
IOM reorts that many of the deportees are clearly traumatized

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by the experience they have been through, and there are clear
signs that some have been subject to excessive force.
Deportees have also been required to pay for a laissez-passer
and for their transport costs. There have been only two
reported cases of individuals holding refugee documents among
the deportees, but IOM reports that some legitimate refugees,
who were not carrying their documents, appear to be among the
deportees. IOM reports that some of those in the centers
acknowledge they had been warned of the pending deportations
but, after years in Iran, did not take the announcement
seriously. A few families complain about having left behind
buried family members, a principle which they claim violates
their religious rights.

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Transit Camps Coping for Now
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6. (SBU) On the Afghan side of the border, Afghan and
international agencies responded to the influx by
establishing transit centers. IOM reports that adequate, if
basic, shelter, food and health care is being provided to the
approximately 5,000 deportees in the the transit center near
Zarani at any one time. The returnees are allowed to spend
up to 48 hours in the camp and are, in most cases, moving on
by the deadline.


7. (SBU) According to the IOM, the conditions are adequate
for the short-run. The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS)
has provided 15 tents. Local authorities provide water to
the compound where 4 tankers (200-300 liters) have been
installed. Food is provided twice daily to deportees by
local communities, organized by mullahs. ARCS health staff
regularly visit the compound. Three doctors from the
Ministry of Public Heath are present and are providing good
care, including polio inoculations to all children. Four
latrines are available. According to the IOM, WFP is
prepared to provide foodstuffs, but the ANA may need help
moving portable kitchens to the center to allow for its
preparation.

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Long-Term Prospects
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8. (SBU) IOM expresses concern both about the ability of the
ability of Farah and Nimroz Provinces, two of Afghanistan's
poorest areas, to absorb the sudden influx of families and
workers. There is virtually no legitimate employment, and
the security implications of thousands of discontented
unemployed young men in these provinces is more than
troubling.

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Political Sub-themes and Fallout
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9. (C) Afghan Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Usted
Mohammad Akbar lost a no-confidence vote in parliament on May
10 following tough questioning on the government,s failure
to prevent or at least plan for the large-scale deportations.
The outcome of a no-confidence vote against Foreign Minister
Spanta, on the same issue, is uncertain pending a ruling by
the Supreme Court on possible procedural irregularities
(Septel). Members of Parliament and diplomatic colleagues
agree that the deportee issue, even if handled clumsily by
both Akbar and Spanta (especially in terms of the interaction
with Parliament) provided an excuse for domestic and foreign
opponents to go after Spanta in particular.


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10. (C) There is ongoing confusion in the Afghanistan
regarding the legal status of the deportees. They continue
to be referred to as "refugees" rather than economic migrants
or illegal residents. While Iran had the right to deport
most if not all of the Afghans who have been returned, the
timing and manner in which they did so fuels speculation that
it is meant as a tough message to the Afghan government (and
possibly particularly to Spanta) about Iran's ability to make
life more complicated and difficult.
WOOD