Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL250
2009-02-03 10:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:  

Balkh Politicians Mix Politics into Memorial Service

Tags:  PGOV AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1549
RR RUEHPW
DE RUEHBUL #0250 0341002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031002Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7120
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS KABUL 000250 

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CG CJTF-101 POLAD

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV AF

SUBJECT: Balkh Politicians Mix Politics into Memorial Service

Summary
--------

UNCLAS KABUL 000250

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CG CJTF-101 POLAD

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV AF

SUBJECT: Balkh Politicians Mix Politics into Memorial Service

Summary
--------------


1. (U) At a memorial service in a remote district of Samangan
province for a slain member of parliament, Balkh Governor Mohammed
Atta Noor and Balkh Deputy Governor Abdo Wahdat engaged in some
pre-campaign rhetoric. Atta encouraged the crowd of 500 who had
gathered to listen to memorial speeches to vote for the "right"
candidate in the upcoming presidential election, although he did not
offer any hints. Wahdat, perhaps expecting Atta to slip in a
political message, had one of his own, which he used to criticize
the Karzai government. Both Atta and Wahdat, who are from different
political parties, provided glimpses into their own thinking about
the presidential race.

Memorial Ceremony with Political Overtones
--------------

2.(U) Balkh Governor Atta (Tajik, Jamiat party) and Balkh Deputy
Governor Abdo Wahdat (Hazara, Wahdat party) traveled to Rui do Ab
district, Samangan province on January 31, to participate in a
memorial service marking the one-year anniversary of the death of
Mallawi Mohammed Islam Mohameddi, an ethnic Sunni Hazara and Jamiat
Party-backed Member of Parliament from Rui do Ab district, who was
assassinated in Kabul last year. Both men used the occasion -
portions of which were broadcast on Balkh TV - to do some
politicking among Rui do Ab residents, who are a mix of Sunni and
Shia Hazaras.

Atta to Crowd: Choose the Right Candidate
--------------


3. (U) After praising Mohameddi's accomplishments fighting the
Soviets and later, the Taliban, Atta told his audience that they
"have the opportunity to shape their destiny by selecting the right
candidate at the time of elections, someone who has served better
than others." He didn't elaborate further on this point, nor did he
mention anyone by name.

Deputy Governor Criticizes Karzai on Television
-------------- --


4. (U) Deputy Governor Wahdat was less obtuse in his remarks. "We,
the people of Samangan, are not happy that the central government
has ignored us," the deputy governor said. "Samangan people are
underrepresented within the central government structure, even
within the Samangan provincial government," he added, provocatively.
(Note: Deputy Governor Wahdat is from Balkh province - not from
Samangan.) Balkh TV broadcast the deputy governor's remarks.

Balkh PC Member: Atta's Visit to Samangan Political
-------------- --------------


5. (U) Balkh provincial council member Sardar Saidi, who represents
the Hazara-based Wahdat Party (led by MP Mohaqqeq) in the north, was
unaware of the deputy governor's trip to Rui do Ab. Upon hearing of
the latter's comments, he said he was glad that Deputy Governor
Wahdat used the occasion to criticize Karzai. Saidi also noted that
Wahdat Party has yet to endorse a candidate. He believes that
Atta's motives for going to Rui do Ab were clearly political, and
pointed out that Atta did not bother to attend mourning ceremonies
for Mohameddi in Rui do Ab a year ago. Rui do Ab is one of the most
remote districts in Samangan - easily a 7 hour-long drive from the
provincial capital, Aybak.


Comment
--------------


6. (SBU) Governor Atta is laying the groundwork to sway Sunni
Hazaras to vote for the candidate the Jamiat Party - with his
blessing - eventually endorses. Atta told PRTOff only a few days
before making the Rui do Ab trip that the candidate he supports must
be (a) highly respected and (b) have the backing of the
international community. Deputy Governor Wahdat seemingly
anticipated that Atta would use the occasion in Rui do Ab to slip a
political message into his remarks, which would explain why Wahdat
was quick to seize the opportunity to criticize Karzai's government.
At the very least, the deputy governor's comments and those of
Wahdat party representative Saidi make it clear where they stand
with respect to any talk of Wahdat party support for Karzai's
reelection bid.

WOOD