The Afghanistan NGO Safety Office Issue: 57 1-15 September 2010 ANSO and our donors accept no liability for the results of any activity conducted or omitted on the basis of this report. THE ANSO REPORT -Not for copy or sale- Inside this Issue COUNTRY SUMMARY Central Region 2-6 The ill-advised plan of a mi- and formulaic, with night assessed central command 6-11 Northern Region nority group in the US to letters and verbal intimida- and control of AOGs in Eastern Region 11-13 mark the anniversary of Sep- tion the primary vehicles. the region. tember 11 by burning the While some groups, like the Western Region 14-15 Contravening the popula- Holy Quran became the im- Hezb-e-Islami, are more tion centric nature of Southern Region 16-19 petus for a widespread civil invested in this process, the COIN, the use of airstrikes reaction. The emotive nature IEA and others have a ANSO Info Page 20 is steadily increasing. With of this issue coupled with the more limited investiture and 13 reported this period, relentless national and inter- as such have expended little September is set to well national media coverage re- tactical effort. As for the exceed figures from 2009. YOU NEED TO KNOW sulted in demonstrations actual election day (18 Sep- While the use of these in countrywide, with an esti- tember), it is expected that the South and East is a • Anticipated increase in at- mated 30 separate occur- there will be a renewed em- tacks on election day regular feature of the land- rences reported between the phasis on attacking the elec- scape, the increased use in • NGO abductions in the 9th and 15th of September. tions infrastructure (as seen the North is a testament to North Opportunistic agitators also in the Presidential Elec- growing scope of the con- utilised this opportunity, en- tions). This will likely in- flict there. • Increase use of IMF air- couraging crowds to voice volve a combination of in- strikes broader concerns regarding direct fire and direct fire For most parts of the country this period noted a • Widespread civil unrest ISAF and the elections. Of (small arms) as well as a note, demonstrations in widespread deployment of decreased momentum in Badakhshan and Kabul re- IEDs. These attacks, how- AOG activity, though the sulted in violence with 8 ci- ever, will be more about province of Paktika (in the vilians killed and 16 wounded media coverage rather than south) was an exception. This downturn can be par- ANSO is supported by and in Kapisa, NGO staff an actual disruption of the were accosted and their of- democratic process. tially attributed to the in- fice damaged. clusion of the end of The regularity of NGO Ramadan and Eid in this As campaigning for the im- staff abductions in the period along with standard minent parliamentary elec- Northern Region continues seasonal downturn pat- tions winds down, so has the to shape the operating envi- terns. That being said, in- volume of incidents directly ronment there with inci- cident volumes for Septem- related to these efforts. dents in Balkh and Faryab ber are still expected to Though campaign measures this period. While the scope eclipse those from last year, of a more violent nature still of these incidents range attesting to the armed op- occurred (direct attacks & from temporary detentions positions operational ca- IEDs), at this stage the major to standard abductions, all pacity and leaving little rivalries are more or less set- have concluded with a posi- room for optimism. tled. AOG opposition to the tive resolution, speaking to election has remained steady the professionalism and THE ANSO REPORT Page 2 NGO Incidents KABUL KABUL Year to Date 5 50 This Report Period 1 An attempted robbery targeting 40 an INGO car passing by the Kote with attacks being recorded on the 30 Sangi traffic circle in PD 5 was 2nd, 6th and 13th. NGO should 20 recorded on 4 September. An ex- note that stand-off rocket attacks 10 patriate driver and two other ex- will most likely remain the AOG 0 patriates on board were transiting tactical method of choice for dis- in an unmarked white Ford ruption of the Election Day in Ranger thru the traffic circle in Kabul City. KABUL AOG KABUL ACG the afternoon peak hours when AOGs intent and capacity to stage two men in local dress jumped in close-range attacks in Kabul City robust movement control by ANSF inside Ka- front of the car in order to stop it, remain of concern; though ANSF bul City. upon which a third man ap- and INF have attempted to main- The ultimate stages of the pre-election period proached the car from behind and tain pressure on AOG networks were overshadowed by spontaneous protests stabbed the back right tyre four in the capital during the past pe- and organized demonstrations echoing the times before disappearing into the riod. A half dozen ANSF and planned, and cancelled, Quran-burning cere- crowd. Adhering to the INGO’s IMF operations resulted in arrests monies in the USA. The subsequent extensive policy, the driver did not stop and or killings of several prominent national and global media coverage paved the proceeded to a safe location in AOG leaders. For example, on 10 way for the message to be largely interpreted as Karte Seh before the tyre was September an AOG commander, an outrageous attack against Islamic values in changed. The incident is another known for his involvement in co- the mosques across the region. In total, 6 large variation in the series of “flat- ordination and execution of IED demonstrations in reaction to the news took tyre” schemes typical for organ- attacks in the capital, was killed place in Kabul Province from 9 to 15 Septem- ized groups active in PD 5 that together with another 2 AOGs in ber. The demonstrations typically featured be- specialize in the theft of valuables an IMF precision airstrike in tween 200 and 600 protesters voicing out their from higher-profile vehicles and Hasan Khel, Musaye. On 2 Sep- condemnation of the events in the USA, taxis. The usual methodology in- tember, three AOG, reportedly alongside with the appeals for the GOA to cludes pre-arranging a flat tyre, including a foreign national, in take action on the international level. The pro- following the vehicle till it stops possession of several BBIED tests sporadically provided ground for expres- to have the tyre changed, and ulti- rigged vests and other explosives sion of other grievances ranging from anti- mately distracting the driver’s and were apprehended in a combined IMF sentiments to condemnation of particular the occupants’ attention in order ANSF operation while in transit election candidates and political parties. Dur- to snatch valuables from inside thru Saraye Shomali, Kabul City. ing all but two of the demonstrations, ANP the vehicle. Despite the assumption that some showed restraint and prevented escalations of With the exception of two attacks of the election-related incidents, force. A demonstration in Qarabagh on 10 initiated by AOG in Musaye Dis- particularly intimidation cases, September, however, saw ANP units fire warn- trict, attributed to mobile units remain unreported, the province ing shots into the air in an attempt to contain operating alongside the Kabul – has seen little explicit election- the demonstration. A disconcertingly heavy- Logar highway, (an IED and a related incidents. Reports from handed ANP reaction was also recorded dur- SAF attack against ANP) overt Surobi District suggest an on- ing a demonstration staged in the morning AOG activity in Kabul City and going public campaign against the hours of 15 September in PD 5, when ANP its environs has remained limited elections carried out by local units fired into the crowd, reportedly provoked to IDF attacks. These are primar- AOG networks and the case of a by armed demonstrators. This resulted in the ily directed towards the city centre hand grenade tossed into the of- killing of three and wounding of eleven pro- fice of an election candidate in testers; while ANP confirmed thirty-four in- PD 9 are the exceptions. With the jured servicemen on ANP side. An investiga- KEY THREATS & CONCERNS election day approaching, NGOs tion has been launched by ANP to determine Violent demonstrations should expect increased enhance- the possible presence of AOG elements Spectacular attacks ment of security measures with among the demonstrators as claimed by the Criminality strict checks at entry points and ANP units on the ground. THE ANSO REPORT Page 3 NGO Incidents KAPISA KAPISA Year to Date 2 50 This Report Period 1 40 During a demonstration that was 30 sparked in reaction to the Quran- turning against the members of burning plans announced and the NGO community in the Cen- 20 lately abandoned in the USA, tral Region. 10 Mahmud Raqi DAC witnessed an The eastern districts continue to 0 INGO office being attacked and host numerous AOG and ACG an expatriate staff member ac- networks which enjoy consider- costed by passing-by protesters able freedom of movement in KAPISA AOG KAPISA ACG on 9 September. The demonstra- conjunction with only a limited tion originated after the prayers in imprint by ANSF and IMF. Com- patrols in Tagab and Qarghal. On 3 Septem- the early afternoon when a group bined to the low NGO presence ber, a PSC guard was shot and killed in the of circa 60 protesters made their in the East, the aforementioned bazaar in Tagab DAC by attackers recognized way from the mosque towards the factors seem to be the main rea- to be members of an AOG network.