VZCZCXRO1799
OO RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #3508/01 2181656
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061656Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1788
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 0051
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1636
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFIUU/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2724
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2868
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 6201
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1554
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003508
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT), SCA/A, S/CRS,
SCA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/CDHA/DG
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN, KAMEND
OSD FOR BREZINSKI
CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD
REL NATO/AUST/NZ/ISAF
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: CASC PREL PGOV PTER PHUM AF KS
SUBJECT: Korean Rally Update, Sunday 08-06-2006
REF: A) Kabul 3320 B) Kabul 3345 C) Kabul 3456 D)
State 125681 E) Kabul 3479
KABUL 00003508 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: There have been no incidents of
violence in connection with the Korean rally
participants so far. Hundreds of participants have
left Kabul over the last two days, including many
Americans. The situation appears to have largely
been defused and the remaining Koreans are mostly
event organizers who are likely to depart the
country once they are confident that the other
participants have left safely. The MOI continues to
be cooperative and the Ministry of Transportation
provided additional flights to help expedite
departures. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) The Embassy has received confirmation that
hundreds of Koreans and Korean-Americans left
yesterday and today. PolOff and Vice Consul met with
a group of 50-60 Americans this morning and outlined
GOA options aimed at ensuring their security. Some
members of the group expressed hostility towards the
GoA and GoK for their roles in pressuring their
departure and demanded an apology from the GoA.
PolOff agreed to pass on their concerns but asked
the group to focus on assessing security and
deciding whether to leave or stay. After a short
deliberation, most members of the group decided to
depart today. Vice Consul collected names and
passport information from the Americans who wished
to leave and passed the information to the GoA so
appropriate arrangements could be made. Vice Consul
also advised the group that those in need of further
assistance once they reached Dubai should contact
the U.S. Consulate.
3. (SBU) When the Vice Consul called an Amcit
yesterday, August 5, he said that they would think
about leaving, but they might stay to "restore their
honor and integrity". He said they wanted to
confront the "rumors" about the organization and
prove that they were only here to help Afghan
people, and were being "detained" unjustly. The
Amcit also said that a group might try to leave the
compound. Vice Consul warned him of the security
and safety repercussions of such action and asked if
he wanted to take such a risk, for himself and his
family. He said they were willing to take the risk.
The group reiterated this threat several times today
but eventually decided the wisest course of action
was to leave, including the two most vocal
participants.
4. (SBU) There are still a few participants who
remain in country, and their freedom of movement
continues to be limited by the GoA. Post learned,
however, that some Koreans are still being let into
the country. EmbOffs had contact with 12 Korean-
Americans who entered Afghanistan Saturday, August 5
and were planning to tour the country. Vice Consul
advised them of the situation, and the GOA's
restrictions, and offered assistance if they chose
to leave. They said that they would consider leaving
on Monday, August 7. Post was told by a ConOff in
Dubai that Korean-Americans there (some of whom were
refused entry to Afghanistan) told the Consulate
KABUL 00003508 002.2 OF 002
that Korean-Americans were being allowed to enter
Afghanistan if they were born in the USA but
naturalized citizens were not.
5. COMMENT: The situation appears to be settling and
Embassy does not expect any violence associated with
the Korean rally group. Most of the participants
have left and the government continues to provide
opportunities for departure to those who remain. The
situation, thus far, though unorganized, has been
handled effectively by the Afghan authorities.
NEUMANN