GHAZNI CITY CALM AFTER VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002992

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV ASEC AF
SUBJECT: GHAZNI CITY CALM AFTER VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS OVER
MULLAH'S MURDER

Classified By: Interagency Provincial Affairs Deputy Coordinator Hoyt Y
ee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Ghazni City remains calm following the
violent September 10 demonstrations in response to the death
of Mullah Shams, a prominent local cleric. In the aftermath
of the demonstrations, Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF)
moved to control the situation and arrest those responsible
for the violence. Governor Usmani convened a meeting of
local leaders on September 15 to discuss the incident, and
believes he has secured their pledge to refrain from inciting
further demonstrations against the government. It remains
unclear, however, why Mullah Shams was killed and who was
behind the violence. The government and police have advanced
two conflicting narratives regarding the incident. In one
version, Mullah Shams was an independent religious figure who
fell victim to Taliban violence, and in another, his death
was linked to his own affiliation with the Taliban. The PRT
continues to monitor the situation closely, and will maintain
its engagement with local leaders to better understand the
sources of the violence in this episode. End Summary.

BACKGROUND: VIOLENCE BREAKS OUT AFTER MULLAH KILLED
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2. (C) On the evening of September 9, Mullah Shams (or
Shamshuddin),a prominent local cleric, was taken from his
mosque in Ghazni City by four armed men allegedly wearing
Afghan National Army uniforms. Mullah Shams, body was found
the following morning, riddled with bullets. Following news
of Mullah Sham,s death, supporters of the Mullah gathered at
approximately 0800 in Ghazni City and began a large
demonstration that lasted through the morning. (Note:
According to the ANP, many of those gathered were considered
"Taliban." End Note.) The demonstration turned violent, and
shots were fired from inside the crowd of demonstrators,
killing at least four individuals and wounding at least 14.
Some protestors moved into central Ghazni City, and allegedly
threw at least three hand grenades at the provincial HQ of
the Afghan National Police. Protestors also moved to the
street in front of Provincial Governor Usman Usmani,s
residence, and fired one rocket or mortar round outside the
gates. By the evening of September 10, the ANP had the
situation under control and had arrested 2 individuals for
their role in the violence. Governor Usmani told us that a
further 17 instigators had fled and were in hiding in the
village of Qal-e-nau.
TWO CONFLICTING STORIES
--------------

3. (C) In the week since the protests, the situation has
remained calm in Ghazni City. Governor Usmani and the Afghan
National Security Forces (ANSF) have advanced two conflicting
narratives for the reason behind Mullah Sham,s murder. For
most of the past week, Usmani has told us that Mullah Shams
was "a good Mullah" who in the week before his death had
received a letter from the Taliban demanding that he choose
to support either the government or the Taliban. Mullah
Shams allegedly announced that he supported "neither the
government nor the Taliban, but God and the people."
Governor Usmani said that the Taliban then had him killed.
Governor Usmani told us September 15 that the National
Directorate of Security (NDS) believes that Mullah Shams was
killed in a revenge killing by the family of an ANA officer
killed last week. Usmani said that the NDS had evidence
that Mullah Shams had asked the Taliban to kill the ANA
officer.
USMANI SPEAKS WITH ELDERS
--------------

4. (C) On September 15, Usmani invited over 100 tribal elders
to his residence to discuss the demonstrations and violence
of September 10. Usmani told us that the elders were "crying
and begging forgiveness" for their roles in encouraging
people to go into the streets. Usmani told them that those
who had actively encouraged the protestors had direct
responsibility for the deaths of innocent people and that
they were beyond forgiveness. The only way they could redeem
themselves, Usmani said, would be to show complete loyalty to
the government from this point forward. Usmani told us he
was pleased with his performance, and believed the
&troublemakers8 were now afraid and would be under control
for the near-term.
( WHO BLAME COALITION FORCES
--------------

5. (C) Usmani also told us that many of the elders believed
that U.S. Special Forces had killed Mullah Shams. The
governor said it proved difficult to convince the elders that
the coalition forces played no role in the Mullah,s death.
Usmani said he finally deployed &logic8 on the elders, and
told them that &the Special Forces brothers don,t kill
their enemies, they send them to Guantanamo.8 Usmani

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claimed that this seemed to deflect the allegations of U.S.
involvement.
COMMENT: INCONSISTENT INFORMATION CLOUDS STORY
-------------- --

6. (C) The events surrounding Mullah Sham,s death and the
demonstration of September 10 remain murky. The PRT Team has
spoken with numerous senior government and security officials
and has yet to receive a consistent narrative regarding the
background of Mullah Shams or the forces behind the
demonstration. Even the two rationales put forward for the
killing of Mullah Shams are contradictory. Governor Usmani
and the ANSF have also sought to establish a clear
&Taliban8 link to the violence. However, at different
times Usmani has used the term &Taliban8 to claim the
involvement in the demonstration of such diverse groups as Al
Qaeda, the Tajik Shura of Ghazni City, and pro- Dr. Abdullah
political operatives. (Note: On the day of the
demonstration, we had to convince Usmani from announcing to
the press that Abdullah,s surrogates were behind the
violence. End Note). What is clear, however, is that a
demonstration that began as popular outrage at the killing of
Mullah Shams, quickly turned into an extremely violent
episode that targeted two of the centers of government
authority in Ghazni: the governor and the ANP. The PRT will
continue to monitor the situation closely and maintain its
engagement with local leaders to better understand the
sources of the violence in this incident. End Comment
EIKENBERRY