TFAF01 AFGHAN ELECTION WATCH: SIT REP AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 086705 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PINR PREL PINR AMGT, XD, AF, KPAO, EAID, KDEM SUBJECT: TFAF01 AFGHAN ELECTION WATCH: SIT REP AND S/SRAP MEDIA MESSAGING REPORT #2 -------------- Operations Center Situation Report -------------- ¶1. Begin Sitrep: SECURITY INCIDENTS CONTINUE -------------- (SBU) Kabul: Embassy Kabul reports several incidents of IEDs and gunfire, without large-scale casualties or disruption of voting. (TFAF01/Embassy Kabul telcon) (SBU) RC-North Baghlan: ISAF reported a security incident that might have resulted in the death of a district police chief in the vicinity of a polling station. (TFAF01/Embassy Kabul telcon) (SBU) RC-East Parwan: Rumors continue to circulate that Abdullah supporters will take to the streets with weapons if he does not win. The sources tended to be Karzai supporters or those with relatively neutral political views. (Kabul 2432) (SBU) RC-East: PRT Panjsher investigated the disappearance of ballots and other sensitive materials bound for Mandol district in Nuristan. (Kabul 2432) (SBU) RC-East Ghazni: ISAF helicopters were sent to Mungur district to investigate armed men on rooftops. According to Governor Usmani, the men were local militia protecting polling centers. (Kabul 2432) (SBU) RC-Central Ghor: According to both the Independent Election Commission and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, 99 of the 250 polling stations in Ghor Province are without police presence. (Embassy Kabul Elections Database) UPDATE FROM OBSERVER GROUPS -------------- (SBU) Reports indicate international groups deployed as planned. (TFAF01/Embassy Kabul telcon) (SBU) Democracy International reports an IED hit its observer vehicle near a women's polling center in Helmand. There were no injuries. (Embassy Kabul Elections Database) (SBU) Observer groups report problems with hole punchers used to mark voter registration cards; poll station officials improvised by using scissors to clip off corners. (TFAF01/Embassy Kabul telcon) ELECTION DAY FRAUD ISSUES AND LEGITIMACY -------------- --- (SBU) As of 0100 EDT, over two hours after the polls opened, there were no reported issues of fraud. (TFAF01/Embassy Kabul telcon) -------------- S/SRAP Media Messaging STATE 00086705 002 OF 003 ¶2. Begin Messaging: Please find attached coordinated media messaging guidelines regarding the Afghan elections. This messaging has been cleared for public use throughout the Department and interagency. Updates will follow by 0600 and 1600 daily for the duration of the Department's Afghan Election Task Force. SRAP: SUMMARY OF UPCOMING EVENTS -------------- Aug 20, 0730 (EDT): Polling ends Aug 20, 0930 (EDT): FEFA press conference Aug 20, 1030 (EDT): NATO Secretary General Rasmussen press statement in Brussels SRAP: MESSAGING -------------- (U) MEDIA RESTRICTIONS: We are aware of the Afghan Government's statements calling on all media to refrain from reporting any incidents of violence during election day. While we recognize the sovereign rights of the Afghan Government and note their intention to encourage Afghans to turn out and vote, we believe that free media reporting is directly linked to the credibility of the elections and continue to support both the freedom of the press and responsible reporting. We are engaging with Afghan authorities on these concerns. (U) INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE: As expected, insurgents are attempting to intimidate voters and disrupt the process. The Afghan and international security forces are working closely together to provide voting site security on polling day. Conditions are challenging. We strongly support the rights of all Afghans to choose their own leaders. (U) ELECTION SECURITY: The Government of Afghanistan is the lead for election security, with over 160,000 police and army soldiers manning polling stations and travel routes. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) along with U.S. forcers support Afghan forces' security efforts. ISAF and USFOR-A have made these elections their primary mission and are working closely with their Afghan partners to enable the election day events. (U) JUDGING LEGITIMACY: Afghanistan's Independent Electoral Commission will publish preliminary results and there is a process in place to deal with any complaints. We look forward to reports from independent Afghan and international observer missions. (U) FRAUD/OBSERVERS: The international community will be watching closely as the voting and the election unfold. The U.S. is funding over 360 observers from independent, international NGOs and from Embassy Kabul. These international observers will be present in 29 0f Afghanistan's 34 provinces. (U) U.S. IMPARTIAL: The U.S. has been working to support credible, secure, and inclusive elections that STATE 00086705 003 OF 003 SUBJECT: TFAF01 AFGHAN ELECTION WATCH: SIT REP AND S/SRAP MEDIA MESSAGING REPORT are seen by the Afghan people and the international community as legitimate. The U.S. does not support or oppose any candidate in the upcoming elections in Afghanistan. We are impartial. ¶3. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. CLINTON