Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CANBERRA947
2008-09-19 08:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA TO INVESTIGATE SHOOTING OF AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO6544 PP RUEHPW DE RUEHBY #0947/01 2630822 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 190822Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0208 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 5582 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 3855 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 3784
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000947
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, EUR, PM AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA TO INVESTIGATE SHOOTING OF AFGHANISTAN
DISTRICT CHIEF ROZI KHAN
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole. Reasons: 1.4(b)(d)
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000947
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, EUR, PM AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA TO INVESTIGATE SHOOTING OF AFGHANISTAN
DISTRICT CHIEF ROZI KHAN
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole. Reasons: 1.4(b)(d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The Australian government maintains that
responsibility for the death of Chora District Governor Rozi
Khan, killed during a September 18 shooting incident that
involved Australian Special Forces in southern Afghanistan,
has not yet been determined. The GOA announced it is
cooperating with ISAF and Afghan authorities, who are
launching a joint investigation, and that the Australian
Defence Force (ADF) will launch its own investigation into
the matter. Local media has carried several stories with
differing details. Public reaction has been muted so far.
End summary.
2. (U) The Australian Department of Defence released a
statement September 19 with few details but emphasizing that
the Australian forces acted in accordance with their rules of
engagement and that their actions were appropriate and
proportionate to the circumstance. The text of the release
follows at para 5, below.
3. (C/NF) Jon Merrill, Afghanistan Director, Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, told us the media coverage had
unhelpfully conflated what may have been different accounts
or perhaps different incidents. He reiterated that the GOA
was not yet in a position to confirm responsibility for any
of the deaths involved in the shooting, including that of
Rozi Khan, and noted that other entities, including the
Afghan National Police, had been in the vicinity of the
incident.
4. (U) Most Australian media carried accounts of the incident
on the September 18, with somewhat less coverage during the
morning of September 19, but pubic reaction has been muted so
far.
5. (U) Text of the Australian Department of Defence media
release follows:
Begin text:
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 19 September 2008
AUSTRALIAN FORCES UNDER FIRE IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN - UPDATE
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is working closely with
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan
authorities who will launch a joint ISAF / Afghan Government
investigation into the incident that occurred on 18
September. The ADF will also conduct a full investigation.
Initial ADF reporting indicates that the Special Operations
Task Group (SOTG) patrol was moving on foot towards a
subsequent activity when they were fired on from a number of
locations by unknown attackers. The SOTG patrol returned fire
in self-defence.
Initial assessment indicates that the SOTG personnel acted in
accordance with their Rules of Engagement and that their
actions were appropriate and proportionate in what was a
complex and lethal environment.
The ADF can confirm that Chora District Governor and tribal
leader, Rozi Khan, was among those killed. It is not possible
at this time to determine that he was killed by ADF fire.
A number of groups, including Afghan National Police
personnel, were in the vicinity of the incident. No ADF
personnel were wounded, however initial reporting indicates
that a number of local nationals were killed or wounded in
the exchange of fire. The identity of these additional
personnel will be determined as part of the investigations
that are now underway.
Australian Forces make every effort to minimise the risk of
any damage, injury or loss of life to non-combatants in the
course of its operations. However, the ADF reserves the right
to protect its own people.
Qto protect its own people.
The ADF will not release additional information on this
matter until the ADF and ISAF / Afghan Government
investigations are complete.
End text.
CANBERRA 00000947 002 OF 002
MCCALLUM
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/A, EUR, PM AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA TO INVESTIGATE SHOOTING OF AFGHANISTAN
DISTRICT CHIEF ROZI KHAN
Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole. Reasons: 1.4(b)(d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The Australian government maintains that
responsibility for the death of Chora District Governor Rozi
Khan, killed during a September 18 shooting incident that
involved Australian Special Forces in southern Afghanistan,
has not yet been determined. The GOA announced it is
cooperating with ISAF and Afghan authorities, who are
launching a joint investigation, and that the Australian
Defence Force (ADF) will launch its own investigation into
the matter. Local media has carried several stories with
differing details. Public reaction has been muted so far.
End summary.
2. (U) The Australian Department of Defence released a
statement September 19 with few details but emphasizing that
the Australian forces acted in accordance with their rules of
engagement and that their actions were appropriate and
proportionate to the circumstance. The text of the release
follows at para 5, below.
3. (C/NF) Jon Merrill, Afghanistan Director, Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, told us the media coverage had
unhelpfully conflated what may have been different accounts
or perhaps different incidents. He reiterated that the GOA
was not yet in a position to confirm responsibility for any
of the deaths involved in the shooting, including that of
Rozi Khan, and noted that other entities, including the
Afghan National Police, had been in the vicinity of the
incident.
4. (U) Most Australian media carried accounts of the incident
on the September 18, with somewhat less coverage during the
morning of September 19, but pubic reaction has been muted so
far.
5. (U) Text of the Australian Department of Defence media
release follows:
Begin text:
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, 19 September 2008
AUSTRALIAN FORCES UNDER FIRE IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN - UPDATE
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is working closely with
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan
authorities who will launch a joint ISAF / Afghan Government
investigation into the incident that occurred on 18
September. The ADF will also conduct a full investigation.
Initial ADF reporting indicates that the Special Operations
Task Group (SOTG) patrol was moving on foot towards a
subsequent activity when they were fired on from a number of
locations by unknown attackers. The SOTG patrol returned fire
in self-defence.
Initial assessment indicates that the SOTG personnel acted in
accordance with their Rules of Engagement and that their
actions were appropriate and proportionate in what was a
complex and lethal environment.
The ADF can confirm that Chora District Governor and tribal
leader, Rozi Khan, was among those killed. It is not possible
at this time to determine that he was killed by ADF fire.
A number of groups, including Afghan National Police
personnel, were in the vicinity of the incident. No ADF
personnel were wounded, however initial reporting indicates
that a number of local nationals were killed or wounded in
the exchange of fire. The identity of these additional
personnel will be determined as part of the investigations
that are now underway.
Australian Forces make every effort to minimise the risk of
any damage, injury or loss of life to non-combatants in the
course of its operations. However, the ADF reserves the right
to protect its own people.
Qto protect its own people.
The ADF will not release additional information on this
matter until the ADF and ISAF / Afghan Government
investigations are complete.
End text.
CANBERRA 00000947 002 OF 002
MCCALLUM