KHOST MOURNS MANDOZAI DISTRICT BOMBING VICTIMS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000060 SENSITIVE SIPDIS KABUL FOR USFOR-A COS, DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA NSC FOR WOOD OSD FOR WILKES CG CJTF-101 POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER AF SUBJECT: KHOST MOURNS MANDOZAI DISTRICT BOMBING VICTIMS Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) Tribal leaders and government officials joined in a show of unity against terrorism as Khost province mourned the victims of the December 27 Mandozai District Center suicide bombing at two separate events inspired by TF Currahee - a January 1 funeral ceremony and a January 4 provincial shura. Both events were well-attended and featured strong condemnations of the attack, which killed as many as 14 children and five adults. ANSF and Coalition Forces (CF) coordinated to provide extensive security. At the GIRoA-hosted funeral, Minister of Education Farooq Wardak railed against suicide bombers and the trainers who convince them to carry out such "un-Islamic" acts. Media coverage was good, though weather interfered with TF Currahee and Embassy plans to transport reporters from Kabul. Funeral For Children Brings Community Together -------------- - ¶2. (U) Following the December 27 suicide bombing at Mandozai District Center (DC) that killed as many as 14 children and 2 adults and wounded scores more, Khost officials organized a traditional funeral ceremony (khattum)January 1 at the DC. Deputy (Acting) Governor Tahir Khan Sabari, Khost ANP Chief and the Mandozai sub-governor joined victims, families, along with the head of the Ulema shura and several tribal elders, in a show of unity against terrorism. Readings from the Koran and a prayer for the victims and their families emphasized the un-Islamic nature of the attack. ¶3. (U) Minister of Education Farooq Wardak mourned the loss of the third graders, who were on their way to school to receive their Certificates of Completion when the truck exploded. Wardak strongly condemned suicide bombers and those who convince them to carry out such heinous acts. He reportedly paid the victims' families condolence money on behalf of the Afghan government (no further information). Participants later shared a meal provided by the provincial government and funded by TF Currahee. ANA Hosts Provincial Shura -------------- ¶4. (U) At the January 4 condolence shura hosted by the ANA at Camp Clark, provincial officials and tribal elders denounced the bombing and called for a unified approach to improving �0A;security. Speaking to a crowd of about 175 people, the provincial education minister railed against insurgents who want to shut the door on education. Nothing in Islam or Sharia permits killing or suicide, he said, adding, "We must pray to God to remove those who don't want Afghanistan to move forward." Shura Speakers Call on Citizens to Act -------------- ¶5. (U) Many speakers, especially government officials, bemoaned Khostis' failure to take action to improve security and pleaded for citizens to help GIRoA, ISAF and Coalition Forces (CF). "If tribal elders want to stop these attacks, they can. It's our fault if these continue; if we take action, things will improve," the Tani sub-governor said, noting the enemy would not come to Khost if the people stopped feeding and sheltering them. He added that most of those supporting the enemy are Pashtuns, but Pashtun elders are not speaking out. He also blamed the government for sending dual-citizen officials to the province, a complaint the audience roundly applauded. (Former Governor Jamal, a Canadian-Afghan, resigned in early December and returned to Canada). A Tani elder echoed the sub-governor's call for unity and action. "If tribal elders have good relationships with each other and the ANP, we can make the province more secure." ¶6. (U) Some tribal elders responded by accusing the government of being disconnected from the people and not understanding Pashtun culture, despite its predominance in Afghanistan. A Matun elder, also calling for citizens not to support insurgents in their villages, added that government officials must then do their jobs properly and not kill civilians, comments the crowd loudly applauded. Noting that the upcoming presidential election is the time to make changes, a Zani Khel elder said, &We need to elect a good person who understands Afghan pain.8 ¶7. (U) Several speakers urged greater support for the ANA, ANP and the Afghan Border Police (ABP). Khost University's KABUL 00000060 002 OF 002 Director asked UNAMA, ISAF and CF to invest more in building a stronger army and encouraged elders first to educate their sons and then send them to the ANA and ANP. "If not, we'll never see better security." He advocated talking with government opponents and inviting them to join in the effort to build a better country. ABP General Kochi also called for more ANSF recruits, describing the bombing as "an earthquake" that must never happen again. Noting Hazara, Tajik, Turkmen and Uzbek ANA worked tirelessly to save the wounded at the site, without regard to ethnicity, Kochi said, &Let's come together and decide not to let anyone do these things again; this shura should be for making decisions about the development of Khost, not just for talk." A Zadran elder heading the Mujahideen shura asked audience members to support cross-border shuras or jirgas with Pakistani tribal leaders to jointly resolve security conflicts. Condolence Payments to Victims' Families -------------- ¶8. (SBU) At the shura's conclusion, the ANA announced victims' families would receive condolence payments from the ANA. In front of the audience, the Deputy Governor, Mandozai sub-governor and other speakers each handed an envelope of cash, provided to the ANA by TF Currahee, to a family representative. The crowd then moved to lunch, hosted by the ANA and funded by TF Currahee. Peaceful Protests -------------- ¶9. (U) A crowd of about 500 protested the bombing January 3 in Khost City. Waving banners and chanting slogans such as, "Death to Terrorists," "We Strongly Condemn these Attacks" and "Death to those who killed our children," the crowd demonstrated peacefully without interference from the ANP or others. Some participants also reportedly protested against Israeli actions in Gaza. It was not clear who organized the rally. ¶10. (U) Local media covered both events and the protest. Khost TV ran video of the attack showing the children walking next to the truck, followed by the blast, and reported that the seriously wounded were treated at FOB Salerno. Despite TF Currahee and Embassy arrangements, Kabul-based journalists were unable to cover the funeral or the shura due to weather conditions. Comment -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Khostis' anger over the slaughter of 14 children may be the catalyst needed to unite fractious tribes against insurgents in the province. TF Currahee worked behind the scenes with local officials to encourage and support public displays of outrage and opposition to the enemy's continued presence in Khost. Many at the funeral and shura praised the ANSF and CF, a welcome counterbalance to heavy media coverage of a controversial December 16 night raid by CF that killed three Afghans with reported al-Qaida ties. The tragedy offers the newly-named governor, expected to arrive in Khost this week, an opportunity to spur tribal elders to do more than talk in the province's fight against terrorism. ¶12. (U) TF Currahee Commander, Col. Johnson, has reviewed this cable. WOOD