HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIRWOMAN: CONCERNED BUT STAYING THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002173 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS, DRL NSC FOR JWOOD OSD FOR SHIVERS CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICCENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018 TAGS: PGOV AF PHUM PREL SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS CHAIRWOMAN: CONCERNED BUT STAYING THE COURSE REF: KABUL 310 Classified By: Ambassador William Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In an August 12 meeting with political counselor, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights (AIHRC) Chairwoman Sima Samar expressed strong support for on-schedule Presidential elections, stating that she did not want Afghanistan to develop into a "Pakistan-type democracy," where leaders serve beyond their terms of office. She agreed that Afghan political and civil society leaders will need to speak regularly to the public to reaffirm their support for the electoral process and timely elections, especially when problems arise over the course of the coming year. ¶2. (C) Samar stated that she has spoken to President Karzai three times in reference to AIHRC,s deep concerns about the Kambakhsh case, which she characterized as a human rights issue of top importance in Afghanistan (Ref). She said that President Karzai urged her to say nothing publicly about the case while he tries to resolve it behind the scenes. She has complied, despite pressure from others in the human rights community to speak publicly. She said that AIHRC has provided discreet support to Kambakhsh including facilitating the transfer of his case from Mazar-e-Sharif to Kabul, assisting his defense lawyer, and drafting one of his court statements. Samar said that she was increasingly worried about the lack of POSITIVE developments in the case. She stated that if the final resolution of Kambakhsh's case is that he is to be executed, she and the entire AIHRC will resign. Polcouns told Samar that the Embassy is following the case closely and is also taking up the case quietly with senior officials. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador raised the Kambakhsh case with NSA Rasool on August 13. Rasool informed the Ambassador that SRSG Kai Eide had pressed President Karzai earlier that day to resolve this long-running case. Karzai told the SRSG that he was working on the situation and expected a resolution soon. ¶4. (C) Samar also expressed her deep disappointment with the recent Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) appointment of Bashir Chahabi as Governor of Sar-e-Pul Province. The AIHRC had collected sufficient evidence to have Chahabi disqualified as a candidate for the Constitutional Loya Jirga on grounds of past human rights abuses. Samar stated that Chahabi,s appointment undermines the credibility of the IDLG, and she plans to raise the issue with President Karzai. ¶5. (C) Finally, Samar welcomed the focus of Afghan and international government officials on strengthening governance, achieving stability and pursuing economic growth, but lamented what she saw as increasing avoidance of public discussion of human rights issues. She encouraged more robust support from the international community for raising human rights concerns including women's rights and freedom of expression with the Afghan Government. Polcouns affirmed the USG,s strong commitment to the advance of human rights in Afghanistan, adding that we have found our discreet approach with Afghan leaders and officials, as we have taken in the Kambakhsh case, to be the most effective way to achieve our shared goals. WOOD