WAY FORWARD ON AFGHAN JUDICIAL SECURITY INITIATIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003712 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/SRAP, SCA/A, AND INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KJUS EAID AF SUBJECT: WAY FORWARD ON AFGHAN JUDICIAL SECURITY INITIATIVE REF: A) Kabul 3185; B) Kabul 3419 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Afghan Judicial Security Unit (JSU) is closer to becoming operational within Kabul. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) has completed a security assessment of the Supreme Court and determined the number of JSU officers needed to secure the Counter-Narcotics Justice Center (CNJC) and the Afghan Supreme Court. Training is ongoing for unit members assigned to protect the CNJC. The USMS is developing planning documents and identifying immediate resource needs as well as possible funding sources to enable the JSU grow to accomplish the larger judicial security mission described below. As previously reported Ref A, strong USG support and significant funding is needed to fully implement this important Anti-Corruption/Rule of Law initiative. Post will outline specific requests for funding and material support in a future cable once Post completes a JSU mission and resource requirement analysis. As a judge assigned to the CNJC commented to a DOJ mentor: good judicial decisions are directly linked to good security. End Summary. ¶2. (U) With the completion of a preliminary security needs assessment for the Afghan Supreme Court and development of a list of needed security upgrades and equipment, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Department of Justice (DOJ),with support from INL, is moving forward with standing up the Afghan Judicial Security Unit (JSU). INL provided furniture, fixtures, and equipment valued at approximately $125,000 for the JSU housing compound, located next to the CNJC. Approximately 80% of the furniture was delivered and assembled during the last week of October. The remaining furniture is expected by mid-November. INL agreed to provide approximately $2.1 million annually for O&M funding for the housing compound for the next two years with a target start date of November 24. The French government provided initial protective services training to the current 54 members of the JSU, and will continue to do so as the JSU grows over time until the unit is fully manned and trained. Current Afghan JSU officers, with guidance from the USMS, are providing firearms training for all CNJC judges. Ministry of Interior Deputy Minister for Security Mangal and Deputy Minister for Counternarcotics Daoud support moving the JSU from Counternarcotics to the Special Operations Police Detachment supervised by DM Mangal. ¶3. (U) The USMS performed a preliminary assessment and estimated the minimum number of JSU officers needed to secure key judicial institutions in Kabul, namely the CNJC, the Supreme Court, and the Major Crimes Task Force compound (the total number will range from 245 to 760, depending on whether the judges are housed in compounds, or whether the JSU is directed to provide 24/7 personal protection). As a limited number of regional courts are identified to try anti-corruption and low-level insurgent cases, the USMS, together with Afghan JSU officers, will conduct additional assessments to determine the security needs of judges working there. These assessments will, in part, form the basis to request phased growth of the JSU. Action officer level discussions with CSTC-A indicate that any JSU growth must "fit" within the ANP growth plan currently under evaluation by the International Community (i.e. grow the ANP to a 160,000 person force by 2013). ¶4. (SBU) Post has identified the following actions necessary to advance and sustain the JSU initiative: (1) Obtain MOI and Supreme Court approval of the proposed multi-phased roll-out of the JSU expansion, and manage Afghan expectations of the size of the JSU force; (2) obtain approval from and U.S. and other donors for funding for additional housing for the enlarged JSU force; and (3) identify a location and U.S. or other funding for a Judicial Security Unit training facility. ¶5. (U) Post is also supporting MOI in its efforts to prepare documentation that: (1) immediately reassigns the 100 police officers designated by DM Mangal in August to the JSU forming a single unit under his command; (2) officially defines the JSU mission and authorizes JSU officers to wear appropriate civilian attire, i.e., "plain clothes;" and (3) changes the Tashkil (Afghan unit manning and equipment document) to place the JSU under the direct supervision of the Deputy Minister for Security and to provide the JSU with nationwide investigative authority, which is necessary for threat and fugitive investigations. ¶6. (U) Finally, Post has identified the following immediate resource needs: armored vehicles (for which INL has set aside $1.5 million), magnetometers, communications equipment, uniforms, including winter gear and plain clothes, and security upgrades for the CNJC, including a paved road. In addition to utilizing INL funding, the Embassy is exploring the possibility of obtaining funding for this equipment from other sources, including CSTC-A and international partners such as the UK. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: Post will continue to engage with Afghan and KABUL 00003712 002 OF 002 international partners to define the scope of the JSU, and to identify both immediate and long term sustainment needs and funding sources for both. Once mission analysis and resource requirements are finalized, Post will outline specific unfulfilled requests for funding and material support via cable. The JSU is designed to build an effective security unit that will protect facilities, judges and at-risk prosecutors and witnesses. It is a vital component of our Anti-Corruption and Rule-of-Law efforts. End comment. Eikenberry