INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS DEMONSTRATE FOR COMPENSATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000063 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/28/2019 TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK SUBJECT: INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS DEMONSTRATE FOR COMPENSATION AND SHARI'A LAW CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer, Peshawar, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) of Jalozai Camp near Nowshera led by Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, deputy chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI),conducted a demonstration that left at least one person dead, 10 more injured, including four police officers, shops and vehicles burned and 22 arrested March 25. The approximately three thousand IDPs who participated in the demonstration demanded compensation from losses incurred during the recent military campaign against militants in Bajaur and Shari'a law for Bajaur. They expressed concern they would be forced to return before it was safe. Their fears were fueled by a partially completed survey, by the UNHCR to ascertain relief package expectations, and a pamphlet by the office of the Bajaur Political Agent that made no mention of relief packages while trying to prepare IDPs for eventual return. The demonstration spurred on by JI, highlighted again, the need for better civilian-military cooperation on counter-insurgency operations and their aftermath. End Summary. IDPs Demonstrate -------------- ¶2. (C) Internally Displaced Persons (IDP),primarily from Bajaur, who have been living in the Jalozai Camp near Nowshera, were led by Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, deputy chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI),in a demonstration that left at least one person dead, 10 more injured, including four police officers, shops and vehicles burned and 22 arrested. The demonstration and clash with police blocked the Peshawar - Islamabad road until police fired tear gas and their weapons, initially into the air, to disperse the crowd. (Note: Rashid is a former Member of the National Assembly who resigned two years ago in protest over an alleged missile strike on a Madrassah in Bajaur Agency. End note). Why A Demonstration? -------------- ¶3. (C) The approximately three thousand IDPs who participated in the demonstration demanded compensation from losses incurred during the recent military campaign against militants in Bajaur. There was a general belief among the demonstrators that the planned compensation package was going to be lower than they had demanded in a to be completed survey UNHCR and widespread fear that the IDPs would be forced to leave the camp before it was safe to return. (Note: The anticipated compensation package has not been made public although figures have been circulating between the Provincial Relief Commissioner (PRC),the Federal Relief Commissioner (FRC),and some international relief NGOs. End note). Survey? -------------- ¶4. (C) In recent weeks UNHCR began a survey in IDP camps to determine what kind of "return package" the IDPs would be expecting when they returned to their villages in Bajaur. The survey, which focused on relief assistance, was begun shortly before a pamphlet was distributed by the Bajaur Political Agent that did not mention a relief package. A field officer working with the IDPs told post March 26 the pamphlets were designed to begin the preparation of IDPs for eventual return (NFI) but raised fears the government might force them to leave the camps without adequate compensation and before it was safe. He said neither of these fears were grounded in truth but were being fueled by Rashid for political purposes. Shari'a Law For Bajaur? -------------- ¶5. (C) An expatriate aid worker who had visited the camp March 24, told Acting Principal Officer that he witnessed JI party members "planting" the idea of Shari'a law in Bajaur among the IDPs and tribal Maliks. In his view JI had fomented the demonstration with the help of tribal Maliks who were feeling powerless in the camps and wanted to re-establish their PESHAWAR 00000063 002 OF 002 authority. What Is The Government Planning? -------------- ¶6. (C) According to GOP officials working to decide on a relief package, no final decisions have been made. However, current thinking is to provide a return package that provides funding for repair or replacement of homes damaged, transportation charges, tents, kitchen sets and a monthly stipend for six months. ¶7. (C) The government workers associated with the pamphlet claimed they were only attempting to mobilize the IDPs to get ready to return to their villages not forcing them to vacate the camps immediately. ¶8. (C) Multiple post contacts state the IDPs who are returning to Bajaur thus far are in most cases a single family member sent to determine if Bajaur is safe, assess the damage to and occupy the family property. Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) Claims by GOP officials that they were not going to force IDPs to leave Jalozai tracks with what Federally Administered Tribal Areas Additional Chief Secretary Khan told post March 19. Khan stated categorically that no IDP would be forced to leave a camp but that certain packages were being considered so as to support those who decided on their own to return. A more troubling sign than the demonstration is the demand that Shari'a law should be adopted in Bajaur agency and JI's willingness to foment trouble in the camps. VIA