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 -------------- -------------- ¶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 KABUL 00002992 002 OF 002 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