My name is Sanjar Qiam, 26 years old Afghan citizen; I intended to marry Sofya Panova, 24 years old, Russian Federation citizen in Afghanistan. Afghanistan laws or at least officials and religion don’t allow our marriage. “Among all religions only a Jewish or Christian girl can marry a Muslim man, only if she converts to Islam” said a judge of sixth district court. “The first step to your marriage is Sofya conversion into Islam by chief justice and then processing your marriage documents” said secretariat of Supreme Court. This is unfair and against Universal declaration of human rights, article 16th of the declaration states: ‘Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family’
Sofya converted to Islam and we got married. Now, we are trying to get our marriage documents authenticated, making it a valid document internationally, so Sofya’s visa problem would be resolved in Afghanistan, similarly for me in Russia. Sofya has a three month visa and she has spent almost 85 days in Afghanistan. Our marriage certificate is issued in the office of Ayatollah Moahqqiq Kabuli. The Russian embassy in Kabul asked us to get our document authenticated by ministry of foreign affairs.
Marriage Certificate Authentication:
The purpose of the authentication process is to establish a chain of authentication with respect to the signatures and stamp on the document. The stamps and signatures on our marriage certificate are not recognizable for Russian Embassy. In the normal course of affairs, only signatures known to the Russian embassy will be accepted. Generally speaking, the signatures are those of competent officials of Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authentication is a formality by which Afghanistan consular agent certify the authenticity of the signature on our marriage certificate. by authenticating the marriage certificate, Afghan Authorities verifies that the signature which appears on the document is the true signature of who it purports to be. Authentication doesn’t mean that Afghan ministry of foreign affairs approve the content of marriage certificate.
'The Hague Convention (Apostilleverdrag, August - 1962) abolished the Requirements of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, in this case being marriage certificate. The simple formality which has replaced legalisation is the addition of a certificate, or 'apostille. This means that an Apostille is needed from ministry of foreign affairs to accompany our marriage certificate.
Since neither Russia nor Afghanistan is signatory to all legalization conventions, it is necessary for our marriage certificate to be legalised by a number of bodies, resulting in a long series of signatures, so that the embassy in Kabul can legalise a signature he is familiar with. The same process has to be conversely followed in Russia in order to use it for visa or any other purpose.
Afghan ministry of foreign affairs refused to authenticate or Apostille our marriage certificate. “Ministry of foreign affair only approves (Taheed) document with legal grounding. We can’t just approve anyone” said Mohammad Dawod Panjshiri head of consular department at ministry of foreign affairs.
To summarize I think there is a great gap what the law and requirements of the law, and the knowledge, attitude and behavior of those who implement it.
Farida (whose last name I didn’t get), head of legal affairs department at the ministry of women affairs said “I understand you have a marriage document and it should only be authenticated. It could only be authenticated if you follow the procedure, you can’t change the system ... what is your point?” When I was telling Dawod Panjshiri at the ministry of foreign affairs, what I thought authentication should be, he said “you are a grown up, you are a journalist, please try to understand”
Marriage is a law; an ambiguous law
while I was trying to figure out the account of authentication/ Apostille, in the offices of ministry of foreign affairs and other ministries I realized there wasn’t a good understanding of it, the word legalization, authentication, notarization, certification, validation were used interchangeably. This is where my curiosity aroused, why not to have a clear legal terminology. But I found the answer for it on Monday. Jabar Sabit, Afghanistan’s chief prosecutor was summoned by the national assembly for questioning over the fate of 4000 prisoners who whose fate is undetermined or has passed their sentence, Jabar said “we don’t have a good legal structure. We can’t process a suspect in less than nine months” when the MPs brought up the issue of torture and abuse in Poli-Charkhi jail, Sabit joked “shall I have the head of poli-charkhi arrested?”
Following the chain of signatures and in pursuit of assistance, our documents have been at least to three ministries and Supreme Court, and it’s been touched by at least 50 hands (50 pair of hands). But it’s not yet legalized.
Our marriage certificate is issued by Mohaqiq Kabuli office “Shias are still discriminate. I am going to write an article outlining all the cases of discrimination against shias, including this one. the only reason the ministry of foreign affairs is giving you trouble is because your document is Shia” said Kamran Mirhazar editor of internet based Kabul Press. “I have the same marriage certificate and my wife is Iranian, I had no trouble getting her a one year Afghan residency” he added. Dual behavior of state institution is a clear sign of discrimination and is enforcing Kamran’s point. I contacted Mr. Allemi, the Mullah at Mohaqiq Kabuli office and he was shocked when he heard the government refuses to certify our marriage registration “the marriage certificate we have issued for couples have been used in Afghan city and abroad” he said. Afghan constitution is ensuring religious freedoms for Shias and Shia courts and judicial “the marriage certificate you have is not official, it’s the judiciary which issues the official ones. In Takia Khana chindawal, we are issuing marriage certificate to and it was used abroad, in china and Europe, but not anymore” said Mohammad Baqir Sahibzada, mullah of chindawal taakiakhana and an MP.
First district, a shia part of Kabul, was the most helpful. Although, I am not living in the first district, they offered to put a lot of stamps on the marriage certificate. They supposed if the certificate is approved by first district, the ministry of foreign affairs might authenticate it.
The man in smart suit with a flag of Afghanistan on his chest, at the consulate department of ministry of foreign affairs told us to go to Supreme Court and they will instruct us how to get a legal marriage certificate. “the supreme court is not where the process starts, if you start at your district court, the procedures will bring you to the supreme court” said the marriage certificate section of supreme court. Abdul Matin Hamdam, director of investigation in Afghanistan’s prosecutor office explained the process as following “you go to district court on their office hours, he will send you to office of residence registration who will give you a form, you fill out the form and go to the court with the witnesses. After your registration at the district court they will send you to the provincial court where you’ll be referred to residence registration again. Then you’ll go to your local Mullah where you’ll get married again and the witnesses will sign again, you should preferably have the witnesses of first marriage. Then you bring the form back to provincial court where it will be stamped. Then you take the form to a ‘Darul Wakalla’ where it will be officially translated, from there it goes to ministry of justice who will approve the Darul Wakala, afterward you take the document to supreme court where the stamp approval of your marriage certificate and it’s translation. Then it goes to ministry of foreign affairs for legalization” I was quite confused I wrote this all down and called Faiz M. Nayab, editor in chief of Radio Salam Watandar, I asked Mr. Nayab to explain the process again, he said “Sofya has to convert to Islam again and this time most likely to Sunni Islam” what is Sofya’s muslim name? he asked “Fatima binta Evgeniy” I said. “She will probably get another name too” Nayab added. “What if Sofya doesn’t want to convert to Islam?” I asked Dawod Panjshiri, head of consulate department of ministry of foreign affairs “I don’t think you can get married. But just convert” he shrugged his shoulder and narrowed his eyes as a sign of ‘what is the big deal’! after few days I found my district court and told Mr. Abdul Haiy at six district court that we want to get married “does Sofya’s parents know about it?” he asked. i asked “why does that matter?” he give me a suspicious look and said “it doesn’t matter for the court. We have to send you to ‘Wakil Guzar’ head of the neighborhood and he might want to know” I was curious about the head of the neighborhood, I soon found out he is not part of the court system and he is a guy who acts on behalf of the neighborhood, although the system is called official but it’s a combination of official and unofficial system. The official system relies for information on unofficial system because there is no recording system at the official system. The unofficial system is based on favors and bribery if I pay Wakil Guzar he approves if not he send me to neighbor whom I absolutely don’t know. I came back to Mr. Nayab and told him my findings, he thought for awhile as he was rubbing his hand on his shaved chin and said “all this could be done without a headache if you bribe some judges”
I have been to several district courts in search to find one with the easiest process. The process could be made very easy with a little cash motivation but I am not going down that path. A friend of mine in district 3rd made it possible to go to the 3rd court, the judge said “this is weird, we haven’t had anyone yet marrying a non-Muslim, I will talk with the boss and come back in the afternoon” in the afternoon three of them were sitting in the office with very serious faces, the boss started “we need to have some formal request for arranging your marriage, we need a letter from Russian embassy in Kabul to say you guys are getting married” it was a waste of time I went to district court 6th and the judge said “you are going on the wrong path. i.e. bottom to up. It’s an up to down approach, you should go to supreme court office and file two separate requests, one for marriage and one for Sofya conversion” quite confused by courts I contacted a journalist friend, Asar Hakimi “marriage is a civil issue while we are not civilized people, 99% of our marriages are social” he said.
“marriage is my tradition; whoever turns away from my tradition is not among my followers” these are the words of Mohammad, prophet of Islam, I was listening to this on the radio, as the music was fading in a radio spot started, a judge was persuading a villager to register his marriage “registered marriages help with social benefits and the protection of husband and wife rights” this message was part of a multi-million dollar project by an NGO and ministry of women affairs. 99% of Afghan marriages are unregistered and there is a growing concern about the well being of women with multi-wives husband.
I decided to go to ministry of women affairs to seek their support in legalization of our marriage certificate. “why do you need to legalize this document? If Sofya is staying in Kabul, you should ask the president to give her Afghan citizenship” said Malia Sahak, deputy minister of women affairs. i told her the version of legalization I knew from the website of UK foreign office “Legalisation is the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine. Having a document legalised does not mean that the content of a document is accurate or that the Foreign office approves of it”
She asked Sofya why she is marrying me “because I love him” said Sofya in broken Farsi, she broke into laughter and started fumbling through papers she looked at me and said my husband has studied in Moscow “he must have enjoyed sweeties like her” I took that with a smile and translated a nicer version of it, to help Sofya join the laughter.
deputy minister of women affairs was making a phone call to help, when she found out that I am Sanjar Qiam, a journalist who did a piece on Massooda Jalal, former minister of women affairs who was beaten up by her husband so badly during her final months of pregnancy which resulted in miscourage; she put the phone down and said she couldn’t help us. Frankly, I was not particularly impressed by them either. I am wondering how a ministry could stand for women’s rights whose deputy believes ‘women are sweetie for men to enjoy’.
Why shouldn’t marriage be part of Judicial?
Judiciary is the most corrupted column of Afghanistan. Judiciary is not generally trusted by public, a recent study shows:
One-third had faith in local elders for resolving any problem …
Another 16% said they would approach government courts.
Marriage shouldn’t be a complicated judicial case. This will encourage marriage registration, marriages which are recognized by the civil authorities will protect women rights, children and their lives, it will eventually prevent men who engage in polygamy that is condoned under certain situation.
In many countries civil marriages are merely a registration. Civil marriage law made the declaration of the marriage before an official clerk of the civil administration (both spouses affirming their will to marry) the procedure to make a marriage legally valid and effective, and reduced the clerical marriage to an optional private ceremony.
A marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, and created as a contract. The marriage certificate we are currently holding is issued by a religious authority, but its not recognized by the government “this is a commercial document and has no basis for us” said the official in ‘Zatia’ (marriage document section of supreme court) department. This is while the government is recognized by religion and constitutionally nothing could be contrary to religion.
The most likely civil marriage process:
Civil marriage is not clear “the document you from Moaqiq office is Harfi (costumary), it’s not official, sharaie marriage document is only issued by the court” said the judge of first district. The term civil is referred to as Sharaie, perhaps based on the assumption that all afghan laws are based on sharia. The process is not clear at all, it’s random and at the mercy of the corrupt judge. What comes in civil marriage media spot is no where near reality. while I was attempting to try every single district court, to find the easiest. I went on the internet to find contacts for district court but there was nothing. Then I went to Kabul court, family court, penal court, Supreme Court in search of the number. “you know how dangerous its for judges in Afghanistan because of the serious security concerns, we can’t give you any number” said the head of Kabul court.
To marry a foreign citizen an Afghan citizen should follow the following steps, The process could take several months. This is only when it’s a Male Afghan citizen, the process is different when a female Afghan citizen is marrying a foreigner “when a foreign woman is marrying an Afghan, we find out through her embassy that she is not already married or criminally convicted” said at the fifth district court. I think this is bias and unfair.
A Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage ("marriage letter") should be prepared in the home country of the foreign partner. This form (partner’s language) contains basic information, marital statue, criminal record (and any other information which the judge wishes to have which I don’t know at this point). The letter comes to the respected embassy and from there it’s official translated in a ‘Darul Waqala’ the letter then goes to ministry of justice for endorsement of Darul Waqala. Then the letter comes to ministry of foreign affairs. the ministry of foreign affair give a copy to the relevant court. This is against the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. ideal, an international document destined for use in Afghanistan should be certified by one of the officials in the jurisdiction in which the document has been executed.
A letter of Non-impediment to marriage should be prepared by Afghan partner. After bringing a letter of criminal clearance from police, the neighborhood representative confirms of applicants good character. The neighborhood representative also confirms applicant’s martial statue.
take all the documents, including original passport (with a translation), the authenticated original death or divorce decree (if any) (with translation), and the authenticated Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage, with translation to supreme court.
A petition should be formed form Supreme court, with the approval of supreme court documents should be delivered to Kabul court. After the approval of Kabul court, I am referred to penal court. (court structure is confusing, I am trying to get an organogram, I have been to at least half a dozen).
Kabul court sent me to district court, I was sent to 5th district court, where my parents live because Kabul court considered it as my permanent court. Then I was to. The fifth district court referred me to sixth district court and that is where Sofya and I live. The sixth district court referred me to seventh district court, where the Russian embassy is. According to the head of sixth district court the marriage takes place in the area where the embassy of the wife is located.
The court gave me an application, application goes to municipality, the municipality asks the representative of the neighborhood to fill it out the representative of the neighborhood asks the neighbor to supply the information. Once I have the information I have to get approval of neighborhood representative and municipality and then bring it to district court.
The district court marries the couple again and sends the certificate to Kabul court, with the approval of Kabul court it goes to Supreme Court for final validation.
The marriage certificate should be translated by an official translator and then brought to ministry of justice.
The translated version is authenticated by ministry of foreign affairs.
Let’s do it, please:
Nothing could be passed in any court without bribery “if things go with you smoothly, give me a telephone top up card” mobile card has replaced tea, it’s the new bribe phrase for court cleaners. Once passed him, the judges, administrators and chiefs have a pact, in two district courts I have paid 6000 Afghanis “this money is not going to me, I feed the big fish and colleagues” told me the administrator in one of the courts. 6000 has only got part of my work done. Small bribes only move the process from one court to another. It’s cheaper to pay one lump sum amount of bribe for getting everything done. Its going to cost US$2000 in bribe, for me to get a marriage document “the court (first district) had similar cases where US$3000 or 4000 was paid, this is a reasonable amount to show a good gesture, it’s a matter of virtue, and make a good impression to your wife who has converted to Islam” was told in the first district court “god bless corrupt officials” said an old man waiting in a line in seventh district our “we would never get anything done in Afghanistan if they didn’t exist” I don’t believe in that, corrupt officials make the process complicated to get what they want, in a broader scenario they are harming the society, they are the public face of the government and they introduce government as a monster which can’t be changed and reformed and the public has no say in it’s affairs and how it conduct business. The injustice will continue as long as people pay, civil servants already think it’s their right to thief people. Sonia was very frustrated in seventh district court.
7th district staff started pouring into the yard, as our debate on corruption was warming up “this is not corruption, its assisting a Muslim who is paid 3500 AFs in a month, which is in not enough at all” said a Kabul municipality employee “I don’t think your government compelled them to take the job, they made a conscious choice” said Sonya, it’s unlikely that civil servants and especially the judges are told that they are paid 3500Afs plus they could rape off the public. “It’s your fault that you translated everything for Sofya, the Sharia commands to consensus and your action is unislamic” said another court staff when talking to me.
In the office of 7th district where Sofya and I were getting married the chief judge said “what is with your hair?” I pretended, I didn’t hear him, there was a look of suspicion and distrust in the eyes of judges “your hair style is girly and I don’t like it” the chief justice continued. it heathenly saddens me to hear anything like it, disregarding who it’s addressed to and especially when it comes from the head of a court, it reminds me Taliban, it reminds me that Taliban are at our door steps and waiting, we continue our mistakes so they could come back. It’s a human right and an Islamic notion that one shouldn’t be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, nor to be attacked upon his honour and reputation.
We can bring justice to judiciary. As an Afghan citizen I am fully prepared to go to many courts and fake a judicial case .i.e. my marriage, and gather evidence against corrupt officials. Through media we can launch a public campaign encourage the public to gather evidence against corrupt officials.
However this is not going to solve the problem, corruption starts from the top and the lower level staff is often a medium. Tackling top level corruption requires policy decision and that is not in the hands of citizen, eradicating top level as well as bottom level corruption also require reforming judicial system and the way government is run in Afghanistan.
Best,
Sanjar
April 23, 2007
Friday, May 04, 2007
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Marriage of Inconvenience
The case of a woman whose “husband” is a six-year-old child highlights the problems of childhood betrothals in Afghanistan. Gulghoti is a beautiful young woman of 25. Her dark eyes soften, then fill with tears as she looks at Hekmat, a quiet, skinny six-year-old who lives with her. “I have brought him up since he was three,” she said, her voice breaking. “I even used to feed him.” The boy is not her child, her brother, or even her stepson. He is her husband. “My life is just one big problem,” she said. “Please tell other people not to do this.” Six years ago, Gulghoti, who lives in southern Helmand province, married a young man to whom she had been betrothed since they were both children. Once the parents had agreed on the match and the terms, the deal was almost impossible to break, even after her fiancé was seriously injured in an accident. Her father died when she was young, and her widowed mother did not have the means to resist pressure to honour the contract. Gulghoti duly married her disabled fiance when she was 19, but he died after a year, leaving her a widow. According to custom in this predominantly Pashtun region, once a woman marries, she remains more or less the property of her husband’s family. If she is widowed, she will commonly be married off to a relative of her deceased husband. “I had to obey these rules, and marry my husband’s younger brother,” said Gulghoti. This happened despite the fact that Hekmat was only three at the time. “They forced me to marry this baby,” she said. “By the time he reaches adolescence, I will be an old woman.” Hekmat does not understand that the woman who bathes him, looks after him, and prepares his meals is actually his wife. He calls her “khala” - “auntie”. He is small and shy, and shrinks away from strangers. He does not attend school – no one in his family is literate. In Afghanistan, parents sometimes betroth their children almost as soon as they are born. There are cases of 10-day-old children being engaged or even married to each other, despite legal and religious prohibitions against underage marriages. In most deals, a significant amount of money changes hands. The groom’s family provides a bride-price, along with gifts of clothing, jewellery, sometimes livestock. The transaction makes it difficult to renege on the contract later on. The custom is dying out in certain parts of the country, but there are still many instances where people such as Gulghoti and Hekmat are caught in a situation they cannot control. “I will never be happy,” said Gulghoti. “I will never be a real wife.” The young woman lives in her husband’s home, as is customary, and trembles with fear that he father-in-law might hear that she has spoken to a reporter. “But please give my message to others,” she begged. “Tell parents not to arrange marriages for their children when they are babies. It only leads to this kind of catastrophe.”
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Shamilla: in the prison of conspiracies
“I run off from home in a rented-car with my step son, it was around 12:30 pm, he brought me (to Kabul), my step son had killed another wife of my husband. We are at five (pm) in Kabul. My dad and mom were expecting me in Kampani (district). My husband committed the tyranny of nine worlds on me, when I was ill (or giving birth) he even didn’t get me a tablet. he made me run away” Those are Shamilla’s words. Shamilla is 19, she is imprisoned in Kabul jail with her a year and half year old child. According to shamilla, under Taliban when she was only 12, in exchange for his brother life she was married to a 42 years old Taliban. She continues “my husband is influential, he is rich, I have nothing other than God. He took our dossier down to Kandahar (from Kabul), the verdict was in his favor, he informed Kabul and they put me in jail, while he is enjoying his freedom. After he relocated the dossier to kandahar, where he has connections, I refused to go, then they put me in prison”
Shamilla’s family are from Kabul, when Taliban captured Kabul her brother was took in custody for having weapons, the family bought some guns for Taliban in exchange for the release of the brother, but Taliban wanted Shamilla “my husband was a Taliban, their check point was across our house, he was eyeing me when I was leaving the house and eventually he jailed my brother. My brother still suffers feet injuries. Taliban accused him of being a commander. When the elders delivered the rifles, they asked for me.
My husband took me to Kandahar where I lived for seven years, I haven’t been to Kabul in five years, my weak dad came to kandahar with my aunt and humbly demanded my husband to allow me to go to Kabul for ten days, but he didn’t he told them: ‘imagine Shamilla is dead’. ”
Prosecutors and the relevant courts are not keen to reveal much of her story. Disregarding the accuracy of all what Shamilla says, the question is whether Shamilla’s relationship with her husband and the response of justice is fair. Since Shamilla is living in kandahar her case should be handled in Kandahar. Imprisoning Shamilla in Kabul is unlawful, the prosecutor office believes if shamilla goes to kandahar her life would be in danger and her husband might kill her; in which case the husband should be serving in jail instead of Shamilla, on charges of intention to murder and wives abuse. Shamila said “I can’t tell you what my husband has done to me. He did lots of bad things, which made me run away and I asked for justice, I asked for divorce, and it’s been eight months since my petition.
My husband took the dossier to Kandahar and I was told to go for adjudge, but I won’t go there, even if they kill me here”
Shamilla was twelve when she was married that is four years under the age of marriage fixed in constitution. Shamilla marries a 42 year old man who is from Kandahar under Taliban, who doesn’t have family connection with Shamilla, obviously, in such kind of marriage some force and oblige has been used. Shamilla was considered a child according the constitution; shamilla is 19 and as an adult she has the right to change what happened to her as a child.
Shamilla says a bit more about her husband “my husband had another wife, one year before me he killed her, he did horrible things to her and she suffered a heart attack. He is over 50, and I have two kids, he has 15 kids from other wives, 11 of which have died. I didn’t live with his other wives. Sometimes he was feeding me. Often he was telling me stories of being with other women”
Supreme Court prejudged another similar dossier sometime ago, a 16 year old woman was married at the age of 13 and she wanted divorce, but supreme court denied her request and adjured she should return to her husband.
Shamilla’s family are from Kabul, when Taliban captured Kabul her brother was took in custody for having weapons, the family bought some guns for Taliban in exchange for the release of the brother, but Taliban wanted Shamilla “my husband was a Taliban, their check point was across our house, he was eyeing me when I was leaving the house and eventually he jailed my brother. My brother still suffers feet injuries. Taliban accused him of being a commander. When the elders delivered the rifles, they asked for me.
My husband took me to Kandahar where I lived for seven years, I haven’t been to Kabul in five years, my weak dad came to kandahar with my aunt and humbly demanded my husband to allow me to go to Kabul for ten days, but he didn’t he told them: ‘imagine Shamilla is dead’. ”
Prosecutors and the relevant courts are not keen to reveal much of her story. Disregarding the accuracy of all what Shamilla says, the question is whether Shamilla’s relationship with her husband and the response of justice is fair. Since Shamilla is living in kandahar her case should be handled in Kandahar. Imprisoning Shamilla in Kabul is unlawful, the prosecutor office believes if shamilla goes to kandahar her life would be in danger and her husband might kill her; in which case the husband should be serving in jail instead of Shamilla, on charges of intention to murder and wives abuse. Shamila said “I can’t tell you what my husband has done to me. He did lots of bad things, which made me run away and I asked for justice, I asked for divorce, and it’s been eight months since my petition.
My husband took the dossier to Kandahar and I was told to go for adjudge, but I won’t go there, even if they kill me here”
Shamilla was twelve when she was married that is four years under the age of marriage fixed in constitution. Shamilla marries a 42 year old man who is from Kandahar under Taliban, who doesn’t have family connection with Shamilla, obviously, in such kind of marriage some force and oblige has been used. Shamilla was considered a child according the constitution; shamilla is 19 and as an adult she has the right to change what happened to her as a child.
Shamilla says a bit more about her husband “my husband had another wife, one year before me he killed her, he did horrible things to her and she suffered a heart attack. He is over 50, and I have two kids, he has 15 kids from other wives, 11 of which have died. I didn’t live with his other wives. Sometimes he was feeding me. Often he was telling me stories of being with other women”
Supreme Court prejudged another similar dossier sometime ago, a 16 year old woman was married at the age of 13 and she wanted divorce, but supreme court denied her request and adjured she should return to her husband.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
شمیلا در زندان توطئه ه
"از خانه فرار كردم، ساعت دوازده ونيم بجه روز بود، بچه اندرم كورولا را كرايه كرد، و مرا (به کابل) آورد ، بچه اندرم يك انباغم را كشته بود.
ساعت 5 بجه (عصر) به كابل رسيديم. باز پدرم همراه مادرم به (ساحه) كمپني آمد.
شوهرم ظلم و ظالمي 9 دنيا را سرم مي كرد، وقتي ناجور مي بودم حتي يك تابلت هم به مه نمي آورد. من مجبور شدم كه فرار كنم"
این حرف های شمیلا است. شمیلا 19 سال دارد، اکنون در نظارتخانه ی ولایت کابل با کودک یک ونیم ساله اش زندانی است. به گفته ی شمیلا، در زمان طالبان، که وی 12 سال داشت، در برابر رهایی برادرش از قید طالبان، تبادله شده بود. یک سرباز 42 ساله ی طالب، شمیلا را در قید نکاح خویش آورد. شمیلا می افزاید: "شوهرم زورمند است، و پيسه دارد، ما به غير خدا ديگر كس را نداريم. دوسيه را قندهار برد، فیصله به نفع او شد، اطلاع داد (به کابل) و مرا هم اينجا زندانی كردند و خودش آزاد مي گردد.
دوسيه را كه (شوهرم) قندهار برد، (در کندهار) واسطه دارد و گفتند كه بايد قندهار بروم، و وقتي كه من نرفتم مرا اينجا بندي كردند."
خانواده، شمیلا اهل کابل میباشند، زمانی که طالبان کابل را اشغال نمودند، برادر شمیلا به جرم داشتن سلاح توسط طالبان زندانی گردید، خانواده شمیلا به خاطر رهایی وی، چند میل سلاح خریداری کردند تا در مقابل فرزند خویش تبادله نماید، اما طالبان از سلاح صرف نظر نموده و خواهان شمیلا شدند.
"شوهرم طالب بود، و روبروي خانه ي ما پوسته داشت، وقتي من بيرون مي رفتم، او به من نگاه ها می انداخت، و بلاخره برادر مرا بندي كرد، وفعلا برادرم پاهايش زخمي است، ادعا کردند که وی قوماندان است. در مقابل رهایی برادرم خواهان سلاح و تفنگچه شدند، وقتي ريش سفيدان را جمع كرديم تا سلاح بديم، گفتند كه ما سلاح كار نداريم ما دختر را كار داريم.
در قندهار 7 سال را همرايش تير كرديم ، 5 سال مرا كابل نياورد، پدرم آمد - ريش سفيد - به پاهايش افتاد وگفت: در كابل خبرآمده بود كه شميلا مرده.
پدرم همراي شوهر خاله ام به پاهايش افتاد، عذر كرد كه دخترم را فقط براي ده روز اجازه بده، به كابل بيايد ولي او نماند، گفت اين طور فكر كنيد كه شميلا مرده است."
سارنوالی و محاکم مربوطه در مورد دوسیه ی شمیلا، از دادن پاسخ ابا ورزیدند،. ولی بدون در نظر داشت صحت ادعا وی، سوال پیدا میشود که آیا این رابطه ی شمیلا با شوهرش و برخورد قضا با شمیلا ،عادلانه است.
از انجایی که محل اصلی سکونت شمیلا کندهار است، پرونده وی باید به محکمه مربوطه کندهار محول گردد. حبس شمیلا در کابل و تعقیب پرونده وی در کابل کاریست غیر قانونی، سارنوالی به این باور است، اگر شمیلا به کندهار برود، حیات اش در خطر خواهد بود و شوهرش ممکن اقدام به قتل وی کند، که در این صورت شوهر شمیلا، به جرم قصد قتل و تهذیب شمیلا، باید به زندان افگنده شود. شمیلا میگوید: "بسيار به من ظلم مي كرد، من حتی آنها را به شما گفته نمي توانم، بسيار كارهاي خراب مي كرد، كه من هم گريختم، همين جا سرش عريضه كردم، و خواهان طلاق شدم، و فعلا 8 ماه مي شود كه همراي او دعوا داريم،
خودش آمد و دوسيه را با خودش قندهار برد و سرم چپه كرد، با دادن رشوه، حالا اينجا بندي ام کرد. او دوسيه را قندهار برده، به من ميگوید؛ کندهاربرو دعوا كن، ولي من انجا رفته نمي توانم، من همين جا به مرگ خود راضي هستم، ولي حاضر نيستم كه به کندهار بروم چرا كه آنجا من در خطر هستم، و قوماندانها مرا مي زنند."
شمیلا در زمان عروسی 12 سال داشت که این خود چهار سال، پائین تر از سن ازدواج است که قانون اساسی تعیین نموده است. عروسی شمیلا با مرد 42 ساله صورت میگیرد، که در زمان طالبان اهل کندهار میباشد، و دوستی یا شناخت خانواده گی با شمیلا ندارد.اشکاراست که در اینجا از زور و اجبار کار گرفته شده است. و حتی اگر نشده باشد، شمیلا به اساس قانون اساسی کودک پنداشته میشود و حالا که 19 ساله است منحیث شخص بالغ حق دارد که از تصمیم کودکانه خود منصرف شده و با شوهر خود زنده گی نکند. اما قضا به عوض پاسخ به خواست مشروع شمیلا و ترتیب طلاق وی، شمیلا را به زندان می اندازد.
پرونده مشابه یی چند قبل مورد فیصل ستره محکمه قرار گرفت، دختر 19 ساله ی در 13 ساله گی به ازدواج داده شده بود، میخواست از شوهر طلاق بگیرد، اما ستره محکمه درخواست اش را رد نمود، وی را در قید شوهر قرار داد.
شمیلا در مورد شوهرش میگوید: "شوهرم یک خانم (دیگر) داشت، يك سال پيش از من اورا كشته بود. كارهاي بد همرايش مي كرد و فشارش بلند رفت. فعلا تريا ك كار مي كند، 50 يا 55 ساله باشد، خودم دو اولاد دارم و از انباغم 11 تا (طفل اش) مرده و 4 تايش زنده است .
من همراه زن ديگر اش زندگي نكردم، او يك سال قبل از من مرده بود. من را كه دلش مي شد نان و چاي مي داد وخودش مي رفت در هوتل (رستورانت) نان مي خورد، باز مي آمد و قصه مي كرد، كریم و پودرها را در موتر مي ماند، و به من مي گفت، شميلا بيا ببين كه من زنها را امروز برده بودم . همراه من همه بي انصافي (ها) را مي كرد كه من گفته نمي توانم"
ساعت 5 بجه (عصر) به كابل رسيديم. باز پدرم همراه مادرم به (ساحه) كمپني آمد.
شوهرم ظلم و ظالمي 9 دنيا را سرم مي كرد، وقتي ناجور مي بودم حتي يك تابلت هم به مه نمي آورد. من مجبور شدم كه فرار كنم"
این حرف های شمیلا است. شمیلا 19 سال دارد، اکنون در نظارتخانه ی ولایت کابل با کودک یک ونیم ساله اش زندانی است. به گفته ی شمیلا، در زمان طالبان، که وی 12 سال داشت، در برابر رهایی برادرش از قید طالبان، تبادله شده بود. یک سرباز 42 ساله ی طالب، شمیلا را در قید نکاح خویش آورد. شمیلا می افزاید: "شوهرم زورمند است، و پيسه دارد، ما به غير خدا ديگر كس را نداريم. دوسيه را قندهار برد، فیصله به نفع او شد، اطلاع داد (به کابل) و مرا هم اينجا زندانی كردند و خودش آزاد مي گردد.
دوسيه را كه (شوهرم) قندهار برد، (در کندهار) واسطه دارد و گفتند كه بايد قندهار بروم، و وقتي كه من نرفتم مرا اينجا بندي كردند."
خانواده، شمیلا اهل کابل میباشند، زمانی که طالبان کابل را اشغال نمودند، برادر شمیلا به جرم داشتن سلاح توسط طالبان زندانی گردید، خانواده شمیلا به خاطر رهایی وی، چند میل سلاح خریداری کردند تا در مقابل فرزند خویش تبادله نماید، اما طالبان از سلاح صرف نظر نموده و خواهان شمیلا شدند.
"شوهرم طالب بود، و روبروي خانه ي ما پوسته داشت، وقتي من بيرون مي رفتم، او به من نگاه ها می انداخت، و بلاخره برادر مرا بندي كرد، وفعلا برادرم پاهايش زخمي است، ادعا کردند که وی قوماندان است. در مقابل رهایی برادرم خواهان سلاح و تفنگچه شدند، وقتي ريش سفيدان را جمع كرديم تا سلاح بديم، گفتند كه ما سلاح كار نداريم ما دختر را كار داريم.
در قندهار 7 سال را همرايش تير كرديم ، 5 سال مرا كابل نياورد، پدرم آمد - ريش سفيد - به پاهايش افتاد وگفت: در كابل خبرآمده بود كه شميلا مرده.
پدرم همراي شوهر خاله ام به پاهايش افتاد، عذر كرد كه دخترم را فقط براي ده روز اجازه بده، به كابل بيايد ولي او نماند، گفت اين طور فكر كنيد كه شميلا مرده است."
سارنوالی و محاکم مربوطه در مورد دوسیه ی شمیلا، از دادن پاسخ ابا ورزیدند،. ولی بدون در نظر داشت صحت ادعا وی، سوال پیدا میشود که آیا این رابطه ی شمیلا با شوهرش و برخورد قضا با شمیلا ،عادلانه است.
از انجایی که محل اصلی سکونت شمیلا کندهار است، پرونده وی باید به محکمه مربوطه کندهار محول گردد. حبس شمیلا در کابل و تعقیب پرونده وی در کابل کاریست غیر قانونی، سارنوالی به این باور است، اگر شمیلا به کندهار برود، حیات اش در خطر خواهد بود و شوهرش ممکن اقدام به قتل وی کند، که در این صورت شوهر شمیلا، به جرم قصد قتل و تهذیب شمیلا، باید به زندان افگنده شود. شمیلا میگوید: "بسيار به من ظلم مي كرد، من حتی آنها را به شما گفته نمي توانم، بسيار كارهاي خراب مي كرد، كه من هم گريختم، همين جا سرش عريضه كردم، و خواهان طلاق شدم، و فعلا 8 ماه مي شود كه همراي او دعوا داريم،
خودش آمد و دوسيه را با خودش قندهار برد و سرم چپه كرد، با دادن رشوه، حالا اينجا بندي ام کرد. او دوسيه را قندهار برده، به من ميگوید؛ کندهاربرو دعوا كن، ولي من انجا رفته نمي توانم، من همين جا به مرگ خود راضي هستم، ولي حاضر نيستم كه به کندهار بروم چرا كه آنجا من در خطر هستم، و قوماندانها مرا مي زنند."
شمیلا در زمان عروسی 12 سال داشت که این خود چهار سال، پائین تر از سن ازدواج است که قانون اساسی تعیین نموده است. عروسی شمیلا با مرد 42 ساله صورت میگیرد، که در زمان طالبان اهل کندهار میباشد، و دوستی یا شناخت خانواده گی با شمیلا ندارد.اشکاراست که در اینجا از زور و اجبار کار گرفته شده است. و حتی اگر نشده باشد، شمیلا به اساس قانون اساسی کودک پنداشته میشود و حالا که 19 ساله است منحیث شخص بالغ حق دارد که از تصمیم کودکانه خود منصرف شده و با شوهر خود زنده گی نکند. اما قضا به عوض پاسخ به خواست مشروع شمیلا و ترتیب طلاق وی، شمیلا را به زندان می اندازد.
پرونده مشابه یی چند قبل مورد فیصل ستره محکمه قرار گرفت، دختر 19 ساله ی در 13 ساله گی به ازدواج داده شده بود، میخواست از شوهر طلاق بگیرد، اما ستره محکمه درخواست اش را رد نمود، وی را در قید شوهر قرار داد.
شمیلا در مورد شوهرش میگوید: "شوهرم یک خانم (دیگر) داشت، يك سال پيش از من اورا كشته بود. كارهاي بد همرايش مي كرد و فشارش بلند رفت. فعلا تريا ك كار مي كند، 50 يا 55 ساله باشد، خودم دو اولاد دارم و از انباغم 11 تا (طفل اش) مرده و 4 تايش زنده است .
من همراه زن ديگر اش زندگي نكردم، او يك سال قبل از من مرده بود. من را كه دلش مي شد نان و چاي مي داد وخودش مي رفت در هوتل (رستورانت) نان مي خورد، باز مي آمد و قصه مي كرد، كریم و پودرها را در موتر مي ماند، و به من مي گفت، شميلا بيا ببين كه من زنها را امروز برده بودم . همراه من همه بي انصافي (ها) را مي كرد كه من گفته نمي توانم"
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Free media on the verge of a larger pitfall
Afghan conflict, like any other conflict offers chances for the media to grow and improve as well as restrictions and dangers. Because of the nature of Afghan crisis people need to know both the good news and the bad news, media disseminate information on reconstruction and development as well as on how the insurgency expands. But Afghan media is not alone, Foreign media has a great interest because they either have troops here or ideological allies. The war on terror is a global phenomenon, but it has it’s critics too, quite some resources has been allocated by foreign media for the coverage of what is happening here. Westerners and NATO came here to defeat Taliban and extremism, clearly they are failing, people back home want to know what is going to happen to their troops in the face of a brutal war and what is going to happen at home as consequences. Afghan journalists are also a victim of the conflict. Afghan reporters has been detained and abused by Afghan Armed Forces, international troops and Taliban. Tawab Niazi is in government detention for maintaining contact with Taliban, without proofs of the nature of contacts. Journalists do get in touch with Taliban for collecting information. Duilio Giammaria, a reporter for Italian TV said “I have learned that journalists in Kabul have been threatened for having contacts with Taliban, we should stand for the freedom of contacts with anyone. Speaking with Taliban doesn’t mean you take sides. We should ask for the right to perform our work freely” Ajmal Naqshbandi is in Taliban custody for reporting in their area of control with an Italian journalist, while Taliban set the Italian free. International forces confiscated reporters’ equipment and barred them from gathering information after a shooting spree where NATO troops killed 16 and wounded 32 civilians last month.
Censorship exists in three forms, direct, indirect and self-censorship. Discussion around any Islamic concept is taboo and it’s directly censored by the government. TV stations are monitored by ministry of information and culture, not to broadcast scenes of Bollywood and western dances with women skin. Afghan TV was penalized by ministry of information and culture for broadcasting bad Bollywood dances. In a music and entertainment dominated media environment, all TV stations are dominated by such dances curtaining it reflects the identity of a confused and scared society. Ismael Khan, minister of water and energy, stated in a gathering in Hirat city, his home town last week “Afghan government is not implementing Islamic rules, even though it is legally bound to do so. Afghan television stations showing programmes of dancing women is a sign of government not implementing Islamic rules” Music content is not something that the government should regulate; it’s a matter of taste and decency and it’s usually covered by TV station editorial policy.
Izatullah wasifi head of counter corruption in a public hearing of his work criticized the media and said “unfortunately, some of our journalists are the source corruption, I don’t say they should be imprisoned, I say we should hang them”
When posed to an unwanted question authorities instead of not denying to comment they threaten journalists. Zahir Azimi, spokesperson for ministry of defense had an interview with a colleague of mine, when asked an unwanted question he had his bodyguards throw out the journalist. Questions about corruption, nepotism, strategies and plans are not welcomed by authorities. It seems these issues are going to remain untouched for some while. Jabar Sabit, chief prosecutor, in a conference summoned everybody in the room to laugh at a colleague of mine for a question involving him in nepotism.
Creating media outlet is easy, establishing a radio station which is the most common medium in Afghanistan, is very easy today. Technology allows us to broadcast from our living room using a PC and a transmitter and it’s going to become even easier, but important is the content. Producing good content is not easy; competing with quality content of other stations is even more difficult. Content is the central issue in building Trust Bridge between audience and outlet. The last five years experience shows, media outlet, resources and technology influences little the content. RTA has received millions of dollars from EU, Japan, Germany and other donors, broadcasting with a staff of 1800. content still remains poor, 19:00 news service, the main news bulletin, is interrupted with what is perceived as breaking news but the event took place before 09:00 in the morning and people has already found out about it through foreign media. If Afghan media is not writing on the situation, then audience has to get that same information from foreign media. Although Afghanistan has 400 of publications hundreds of TV and radio stations but foreign media remain number one source when it comes to current affairs and analysis. Afghan media is still a medium of entertainment, predominantly radio stations at local and national level play music and entertainment. TV, the newest growing medium, has already started to be a rebroadcast machine of Indian dramas, most of the dramas take place inside one house with very little connection of any sort of reality. Too much entertainment on broadcast media is why people feel detached. Inclusive doesn’t mean only local content but also accuracy. The reason an Afghan still tunes into BBC Farsi is because we don’t double check our sources.
The government has well realized the fact that Afghan media is populist and don’t pay enough attention to accuracy. Inaccurate information harms the government and media. The central reason for government crack down on free media is not the quality of media but the principle disagreement of some hardliners in the regime, Karzai and NATO turn a blind eye on it because they want media nose out of security, corruption, secret deals and counter drug strategies.
Afghan parliament has a very similar view of the media to that of the state, views has been brought even closer when Karzai appointed Ab. Karim Khoram as minister of information and culture. Khoram has sacked the reformist head of RTA and in a parliamentary hearing he suggested journalists should wear a special uniform. In most democratic societies the parliament is more supportive of media and state has just to accept free media – in most cases. Parliament is pressuring state radio and TV to give extensive coverage of the parliament. RTA parliamentary coverage is not according to journalistic standards but the way parliament wants it. MPs from religious and cultural committee of the parliament whom I met are mad at media because they are not getting enough coverage. “When we (members of religious and cultural committee) were meeting with the minister of higher education, we didn’t have TV camera to report. We were discussing issues of public interest, state radio and TV doesn’t know what is to public interest. We need to bring state radio and TV under control” said the deputy for religious and cultural committee of the parliament.
Even if foreign media is based on accuracy, they serve a foreign agenda and they are bias. Through the wars we have witnessed how foreign media has conducted a psychological warfare. Heavy investment has been made in foreign media after 9/11 to deliver “information” for Afghans. i popped the question to some people in Kabul, Abdul Hakim a 45 years old, who has been doing business in Iran said “for five years I was listening to BBC and RFE, everyday they were reporting on changes and improvement, I was convinced it’s the time to return, but now I have returned to my village, nothing has changed”
Professional and plural media is an insurance for the government, a trustworthy outlet could be handy for the government in crises, a situation where people need some advice and information. Foreign media wouldn’t describe a government perspective. Foreign media has a foreign way of looking into things.
We have let the initiative slip into the hands of foreign media. Afghan media is following the trends of global gossip village, we are translating foreign reports. “Poetry, carpet weaving and masonry is among our professions but journalism is not, we have learned it from westerners, we have to become professional through learning from their experience. Content selection of journalism then could be our choice” said Baqir Moheen a BBC journalist. A responsible media is painting social problems along with potential solutions, it’s possible in Afghanistan, the country has a strong political culture, it’s oral but it’s pretty strong. For instance if we compare the audience of an Afghan radio station with the readers of a popular western newspaper, people in the west don’t have to think about a lot of the issues but they do in Afghanistan.
The tribal nature of Afghan society is prohibiting to forge a nation. Loyalty and values are divided along tribal lines; Afghanhood is a challenge to promote. Ahmad Shah Massood is constitutionally national hero for some but a war criminal for the others. Zahir shah is constitutionally father of nation for some but an old dictator for others. Reporting on Massood and Zahir Shah is always going to be unacceptable for some no matter how unbiased the report is. National media ought to broadcast for a nation, media creates a trust link with the nation. Without this link media will remain vulnerable.
An Afghan joke goes “two Afghans have three views” media is addressing an audience with various values and standards. Human rights and modern concepts of state and nation is a hard sell for an audience of tribal society who is committed to thousand year old tradition. Wars and betrayal of interventionists made people so cynical that they don’t believe in anything anymore. A Pashto proverb, commonly used in political context, goes “if you fool me once you shall be damned if you fool me twice I shall be damned”.
Censorship exists in three forms, direct, indirect and self-censorship. Discussion around any Islamic concept is taboo and it’s directly censored by the government. TV stations are monitored by ministry of information and culture, not to broadcast scenes of Bollywood and western dances with women skin. Afghan TV was penalized by ministry of information and culture for broadcasting bad Bollywood dances. In a music and entertainment dominated media environment, all TV stations are dominated by such dances curtaining it reflects the identity of a confused and scared society. Ismael Khan, minister of water and energy, stated in a gathering in Hirat city, his home town last week “Afghan government is not implementing Islamic rules, even though it is legally bound to do so. Afghan television stations showing programmes of dancing women is a sign of government not implementing Islamic rules” Music content is not something that the government should regulate; it’s a matter of taste and decency and it’s usually covered by TV station editorial policy.
Izatullah wasifi head of counter corruption in a public hearing of his work criticized the media and said “unfortunately, some of our journalists are the source corruption, I don’t say they should be imprisoned, I say we should hang them”
When posed to an unwanted question authorities instead of not denying to comment they threaten journalists. Zahir Azimi, spokesperson for ministry of defense had an interview with a colleague of mine, when asked an unwanted question he had his bodyguards throw out the journalist. Questions about corruption, nepotism, strategies and plans are not welcomed by authorities. It seems these issues are going to remain untouched for some while. Jabar Sabit, chief prosecutor, in a conference summoned everybody in the room to laugh at a colleague of mine for a question involving him in nepotism.
Creating media outlet is easy, establishing a radio station which is the most common medium in Afghanistan, is very easy today. Technology allows us to broadcast from our living room using a PC and a transmitter and it’s going to become even easier, but important is the content. Producing good content is not easy; competing with quality content of other stations is even more difficult. Content is the central issue in building Trust Bridge between audience and outlet. The last five years experience shows, media outlet, resources and technology influences little the content. RTA has received millions of dollars from EU, Japan, Germany and other donors, broadcasting with a staff of 1800. content still remains poor, 19:00 news service, the main news bulletin, is interrupted with what is perceived as breaking news but the event took place before 09:00 in the morning and people has already found out about it through foreign media. If Afghan media is not writing on the situation, then audience has to get that same information from foreign media. Although Afghanistan has 400 of publications hundreds of TV and radio stations but foreign media remain number one source when it comes to current affairs and analysis. Afghan media is still a medium of entertainment, predominantly radio stations at local and national level play music and entertainment. TV, the newest growing medium, has already started to be a rebroadcast machine of Indian dramas, most of the dramas take place inside one house with very little connection of any sort of reality. Too much entertainment on broadcast media is why people feel detached. Inclusive doesn’t mean only local content but also accuracy. The reason an Afghan still tunes into BBC Farsi is because we don’t double check our sources.
The government has well realized the fact that Afghan media is populist and don’t pay enough attention to accuracy. Inaccurate information harms the government and media. The central reason for government crack down on free media is not the quality of media but the principle disagreement of some hardliners in the regime, Karzai and NATO turn a blind eye on it because they want media nose out of security, corruption, secret deals and counter drug strategies.
Afghan parliament has a very similar view of the media to that of the state, views has been brought even closer when Karzai appointed Ab. Karim Khoram as minister of information and culture. Khoram has sacked the reformist head of RTA and in a parliamentary hearing he suggested journalists should wear a special uniform. In most democratic societies the parliament is more supportive of media and state has just to accept free media – in most cases. Parliament is pressuring state radio and TV to give extensive coverage of the parliament. RTA parliamentary coverage is not according to journalistic standards but the way parliament wants it. MPs from religious and cultural committee of the parliament whom I met are mad at media because they are not getting enough coverage. “When we (members of religious and cultural committee) were meeting with the minister of higher education, we didn’t have TV camera to report. We were discussing issues of public interest, state radio and TV doesn’t know what is to public interest. We need to bring state radio and TV under control” said the deputy for religious and cultural committee of the parliament.
Even if foreign media is based on accuracy, they serve a foreign agenda and they are bias. Through the wars we have witnessed how foreign media has conducted a psychological warfare. Heavy investment has been made in foreign media after 9/11 to deliver “information” for Afghans. i popped the question to some people in Kabul, Abdul Hakim a 45 years old, who has been doing business in Iran said “for five years I was listening to BBC and RFE, everyday they were reporting on changes and improvement, I was convinced it’s the time to return, but now I have returned to my village, nothing has changed”
Professional and plural media is an insurance for the government, a trustworthy outlet could be handy for the government in crises, a situation where people need some advice and information. Foreign media wouldn’t describe a government perspective. Foreign media has a foreign way of looking into things.
We have let the initiative slip into the hands of foreign media. Afghan media is following the trends of global gossip village, we are translating foreign reports. “Poetry, carpet weaving and masonry is among our professions but journalism is not, we have learned it from westerners, we have to become professional through learning from their experience. Content selection of journalism then could be our choice” said Baqir Moheen a BBC journalist. A responsible media is painting social problems along with potential solutions, it’s possible in Afghanistan, the country has a strong political culture, it’s oral but it’s pretty strong. For instance if we compare the audience of an Afghan radio station with the readers of a popular western newspaper, people in the west don’t have to think about a lot of the issues but they do in Afghanistan.
The tribal nature of Afghan society is prohibiting to forge a nation. Loyalty and values are divided along tribal lines; Afghanhood is a challenge to promote. Ahmad Shah Massood is constitutionally national hero for some but a war criminal for the others. Zahir shah is constitutionally father of nation for some but an old dictator for others. Reporting on Massood and Zahir Shah is always going to be unacceptable for some no matter how unbiased the report is. National media ought to broadcast for a nation, media creates a trust link with the nation. Without this link media will remain vulnerable.
An Afghan joke goes “two Afghans have three views” media is addressing an audience with various values and standards. Human rights and modern concepts of state and nation is a hard sell for an audience of tribal society who is committed to thousand year old tradition. Wars and betrayal of interventionists made people so cynical that they don’t believe in anything anymore. A Pashto proverb, commonly used in political context, goes “if you fool me once you shall be damned if you fool me twice I shall be damned”.
Ajmal: a radical new bias treatment
Ajmal Naqshbandi and Daniel Mastrogiacomo, an Italian citizen, were reporting in Helmand province when they were detained by Taliban. Afghan government released five Talib prisoners for Daniel ransom, but Ajmal was forgotten in Taliban graze. Inspired by Italian civil society and efforts of positions and opposition in light of their fruitful efforts for release of their compatriot; we are setting up a rally-tent next to the national assembly building on Wednesday March 28, the aim of the rally and tent-discussion is to attract support for release of Ajmal Naqshbandi. Journalists tent will remain in front of the parliament until Ajmal is released.
The concept behind choosing national assembly for the rally is to gather support of MPs to demand from the government to do more for Ajmal release, in the hope that we could avoid any hazard to Ajmal. In the face of Ajmal Naqshbandi not returning safely to his family, Afghan government would be facing a major political mistake. Public reluctance has expanded largely, Afghans are gradually joining other political structures, most of whom were abandoned and decadent such as Taliban and warlords. Support of National Assembly for the release of Ajmal is a sign of the parliament valuing the life of its citizens. Now is the time to demonstrate a political value so we could avoid further national and international grievances. We have two concerns: we are disturbed that five Taliban leaders have been released by Afghan government in exchange for a foreign reporter, although we are happy that Mr. Daniel Mastrogiacomo has returned home safely. Secondly, the life of an Afghan journalist was not taken into account, and that freedom of information is not supported in Afghanistan. Daniel is released as a result of his respective government attempts, it reveals the power of citizen-state and support for freedom of expression, the fact Ajmal stays in custody is an evidence of lack of support from Afghan government to protect journalists while it’s obliged by law. We warn if the situation continues like this Afghanistan is fast-becoming a “no-go” area for news media.
A spokesperson for Romano Prodi, Italian prime minister after the release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo said “person life is very precious for us. Mastrogiacomo was released in this line, nothing more” Although this is the official statement of Italian government but once again we can see that politics is a secret game; euphemism and hypocrisy clouds the truth. If really human life mattered for the Italian government, then why Ajmal was left in the “merciful” hands of Taliban? This is when we know Taliban style mercy. When Ajmal, Daniel and the driver were detained by Taliban, the Taliban made Daniel watch the decapitation of his driver. If individual life mattered to Italian government why would they release people who promise to kill more people and have done it? We appreciate the rally of Italians in support of Ajmal but we are sad that Mr. Mastrogiacomo hasn’t publicly appealed for Ajmal’s release. We are also troubled by quotes associated to him in media, on his release he supposedly said “today is the happiest day of my life” how could it be while your colleague is in custody and your driver is dead.
Taliban behavior is against their apparent slogans and values. Taliban on one hand declare Jihad against unbelievers and foreign invaders, but in practice they negotiate with them while they keep their compatriot in captivity or kill brutally. Media is one of Taliban’s essentials for some Afghans and international community Taliban presence is not very tangible, their actions and aims are only projected by media. Media and journalists to cover all angles of a story they travel to Taliban controlled areas. Now that Taliban are holding an Afghan reporter prisoner who has traveled many times to Helmand province is a questions, there are a lot of speculations and debate in media about what really happened and why is Ajmal in captivity, these debates questions the fundamentals of international community, Taliban and Afghan government.
The concept behind choosing national assembly for the rally is to gather support of MPs to demand from the government to do more for Ajmal release, in the hope that we could avoid any hazard to Ajmal. In the face of Ajmal Naqshbandi not returning safely to his family, Afghan government would be facing a major political mistake. Public reluctance has expanded largely, Afghans are gradually joining other political structures, most of whom were abandoned and decadent such as Taliban and warlords. Support of National Assembly for the release of Ajmal is a sign of the parliament valuing the life of its citizens. Now is the time to demonstrate a political value so we could avoid further national and international grievances. We have two concerns: we are disturbed that five Taliban leaders have been released by Afghan government in exchange for a foreign reporter, although we are happy that Mr. Daniel Mastrogiacomo has returned home safely. Secondly, the life of an Afghan journalist was not taken into account, and that freedom of information is not supported in Afghanistan. Daniel is released as a result of his respective government attempts, it reveals the power of citizen-state and support for freedom of expression, the fact Ajmal stays in custody is an evidence of lack of support from Afghan government to protect journalists while it’s obliged by law. We warn if the situation continues like this Afghanistan is fast-becoming a “no-go” area for news media.
A spokesperson for Romano Prodi, Italian prime minister after the release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo said “person life is very precious for us. Mastrogiacomo was released in this line, nothing more” Although this is the official statement of Italian government but once again we can see that politics is a secret game; euphemism and hypocrisy clouds the truth. If really human life mattered for the Italian government, then why Ajmal was left in the “merciful” hands of Taliban? This is when we know Taliban style mercy. When Ajmal, Daniel and the driver were detained by Taliban, the Taliban made Daniel watch the decapitation of his driver. If individual life mattered to Italian government why would they release people who promise to kill more people and have done it? We appreciate the rally of Italians in support of Ajmal but we are sad that Mr. Mastrogiacomo hasn’t publicly appealed for Ajmal’s release. We are also troubled by quotes associated to him in media, on his release he supposedly said “today is the happiest day of my life” how could it be while your colleague is in custody and your driver is dead.
Taliban behavior is against their apparent slogans and values. Taliban on one hand declare Jihad against unbelievers and foreign invaders, but in practice they negotiate with them while they keep their compatriot in captivity or kill brutally. Media is one of Taliban’s essentials for some Afghans and international community Taliban presence is not very tangible, their actions and aims are only projected by media. Media and journalists to cover all angles of a story they travel to Taliban controlled areas. Now that Taliban are holding an Afghan reporter prisoner who has traveled many times to Helmand province is a questions, there are a lot of speculations and debate in media about what really happened and why is Ajmal in captivity, these debates questions the fundamentals of international community, Taliban and Afghan government.
اجمل: یک داستان جدید از تبعیض رفتاری
اجمل با دانیل مستروجیاکومو، شهروند ایتالیا مصروف تهیهء گزارش در هلمند بود که از جانب طالبان دستگیر گردید. در مقابل دانیل دولت افغانستان پنج طالب را رها نمود اما اجمل در چنگ طالبان فراموش شده است. با الهام از جامعه مدنی ایتالیا و تمام نیرو های پوزیسون و اپوزیسون در ایتالیا و تلاش های ثمربخش شان جهت رهایی یک هموطن شان ما هم خیمه یی را در کنار ساختمان مجلس ملی جهت ایجاد یک گردهمایی بروز چهارشنبه 28 مارچ می افرازیم، منظور از این بحث و نشست ها، جلب حمایت جهت رهای اجمل نقشبندی است.
هدف از انتخاب جوار مجلس ملی جذب حمایت وکلا مردم است تا از دولت بخواهند تا راه هایی را جهت رهایی اجمل جستجو نمایند، این اقدام از رسیدن صدمه یی به اجمل جلوگیری خواهد نمود. در صورتی که اجمل به خانواده اش برنگردد، دولت افغانستان باخت واشتباه بزرگ سیاسی را متقبل خواهد شد. نارضایتی از دولت دامنه وسیعی کسب نموده است و مردم رفته رفته به روند های سیاسی بازنده و کهنه همچو طالبان و جنگ سالاران میپیوندند.
ما دو انتقاد داریم: یکی این که آزادی پنج رهبر طالبان از طرف دولت افغانستان در برابر یک خبرنگار خارجی، قابل پذیرش نیست و جامعه بین المللی هم از این سخت انتقاد دارد و دوم اینکه به یک خبرنگار افغانی هیچ توجه نمیشود و آزادی بیان در افغانستان ازحمایت لازمی برخوردار نیست.
حمایت مجلس نماینده گان افغانستان از رهایی اجمل نقشبندی، نشان دهنده ارزش دهی پارلمان نسبت به زنده گی هموطنانش است. اکنون زمان آن فرارسیده که یک ارزش سیاسی واضح گردد تا از نارضا یتی های بیشتر ملی و بین المللی کاسته شود.
آقای سیفیو سیرکانه : یک سخنگوی صدراعظم ایتالیا، بعد از آزادی جیاکومو گفت: "ما به این باوریم که حیات یک انسان بسیار با ارزش است. و اگر کدام راه برای حفظ حیات انسانی باشد، به آن راه میرویم. این خط ما بود و هیچ هدفی دیگری نداشتیم" اگر چه این حرف رسمی دولت ایتالیا میباشد، اما بار دیگر دیده میشود که سیاست ، یک بازی پنهانی است و واقعیت ها و اهداف اصلی همیشه ، در عقب پرده ها باقی میمانند. اگرواقعا حیات یک انسان، هدف اصلی دولت ایتالیا می باشد، پس چرا مترجم اقا ی جیاکومو را درچنگال به اصطلاح" پر عطوفت" طالبان گذاشتند؟ درحالی که ما ترحم طالبانی را میدانیم. چنانچه طالبان بعد ازبه اسارت گرفتن جیاکومو و همراهان، جیاکومو را مجبور کردند تا ببیند که طالبان چگونه سر رانندهء وی را قطع میکنند و بعد از قطع کردن سر راننده، جسد وی را در ریگ مدفون نموده و سر وی را به دامن جیاکومو انداخته و چاقوی خون آلود را با لباس جیاکومو پاک نمودند. اگرواقعا حیات انسانی نزد دولت ایتالیا اهمیت میداشت، چرا کسانی را از زندان آزاد کرد که خود میگویند: " ما انسان های زیادی را خواهیم کشت" و این که حکومت ایتالیا از انسان و انسان دوستی حرف میزند،شاید مقصدشان از افغان ها نیست؟
روش طالبان خلاف شعارها و ارزش های ظاهری شان میباشد. طالبان از یک سو میگویند که ایشان برضد کفار و اشغال خارجیان میجنگند، ولی در عمل با آنها مذاکره ومعامله نموده و هموطنان خود را به اسارت گرفته و یا به طوربیرحمانه به قتل میرسانند، در حالی که به گفته شان با "کفار" از در سازش پیش میایند. رسانه ها یکی از نیاز های مهم طالبان میباشد، برای جهانیان و بعضی افغانها موجودیت طالبان امر محسوس نیست، اما وجود شان صرف توسط رسانه ها شناسانیده میشود. خبرنگاران و رسانه جهت پوشش همه جانبه مسایل به مناطق تحت نفوذ طالبان سفر نموده است و پوشش طالبانی قضیه را هم داده اند. اینکه چرا طالبان یک خبرنگار افغان را که بار ها به هلمند سفر نموده بود اسیر نگهداشته است سوالی است که تصورات زیادی را برانگیخته است.
این پنج تن رها شده گان که شامل شخضی مشهور به" استاد یاسر" میشود، هفته گذشتهء از زندان رهایی یافتند. به اساس، یک پیام انترنیتی که به یاسر نسبت داده شده، آمده است که او به زود ترین فرصت به جبهه افراطیون خواهد پیوست و "با دو سلاح جهاد را برضد اشغالگران و کافران آغاز خواهد کرد". آزادی این پنج تن در برابر خونبهای یک خبرنگار ایتالیائی گرفته شد، این خبرنگار، بعد از پانزده روز حبس نزد طالبان، تبادله گردید. در گزارش هایی که به ملا دادالله، یکی از فرماندهان مشهور طالبان نسبت داده شده است، او رضایت اش را از این تبادله ابراز نموده و تهعد نمود که تلاش های رباینده گی را افزایش خواهد داد. او افزود حالا که برادرش به او پوسته است او مدتی چندی را مرخصی خواهد نمود.
این نخستین باریست که آشکارا زندانیان با طالبان تبادله میگردد. این تبادله، برمبنای فشارشدید دولت ایتالیا بالای حکومت کرزی، صورت گرفته است. خط مشی دولت افغانستان تا حال این بوده که " ما با دهشت افگنان و طالبان مذاکره نمیکنیم" اما این خط مشی، مثل خود حکومت کرزی، لرزان، است. امید ما اینست که از هیچ تلاشی، همان طور که در رهای دانیل دریغ نشد، در قسمت اجمل هم نگردد.
پنج زندانی طالب، از قید دولت افغانستان، آزاد گردیدند
این پنج تن که مشمول یکی از افراطیون خشن – مشهور به استاد یاسر میشود هفته گذشتهء از زندان رهایی یافتند. به اساس، یک پیام انترنیتی که به یاسر نسبت داده شده، آمده است که او به زود ترین فرصت به جبهه افراطیون خواهد پیوست و "با دو سلاح جهاد را برضد اشغالگران و کافران آغاز خواهد کرد". آزادی این پنج تن در برابر خونبهای یک خبرنگار ایتالیائی گرفته شد، این خبرنگار، بعد از پانزده روز حبس نزد طالبان، تبادله گردید. در گزارش هایی که به ملا دادالله، یکی از فرماندهان مشهور طالبان نسبت داده شده است، او رضایت اش را از این تبادله ابراز نموده و تهعد نمود که تلاش های رباینده گی را افزایش خواهد داد.
این نخستین باریست که آشکارأ زندانیان با طالبان تبادله میگردد. این تبادله، زیر فشار زیادی دولت ایتالیا بالای حکومت کرزی، صورت گرفته است. خط مشی دولت افغانستان تا حال این بوده که ما با دهشت افگنان و طالبان مذاکره نمیکنیم، اما این خط مشی، مثل خود حکومت کرزی، لرزان، است. فاضل سانچارکی مسوؤل اتحادیه ملی خبرنگاران گفت: "ما دو انتقاد داریم – یکی این که آزادی پنج رهبر طالبان از طرف دولت افغانستان در برابریک خبرنگار خارجی، این اقدام قابل پذیرش نیست و جامعه بین المللی هم از این سخت انتقاد دارد. و دوم به یک خبرنگار افغانی هیچ توجه نمیشود. آزادی بیان در افغانستان حمایت لازمی را ندارد."
کشمکش های داخلی ایتالیا در این معامله، نقش داشته است. ایتالیا در افغانستان 1900 سرباز در قالب نیروهای همکاری بین المللی دارد که موجودیت شان از طرف اکثریت پارلمان و مردم ایتالیا رد میگردد، ایتالوی ها خواهان برگشت سربازان شان از افغانستان هستند. با همچو مو قف ضعیف، دادن تلفات برای دولت ایتالیا در حفظ حضورش در افغانستان، گران تمام خواهد شد. ربودن ایتالیایی ها در گذشته هم، با مداخله مستقیم دولت ایتالیا پایان یافته بود. خانم، کلمنتینا شهروند ایتالوی که در سال 2005 در کابل ربوده شده بود در بدل پول رها گردید. تا چند روز دیگر پارلمان ایتالیا،روی حضور نظامی شان در افغانستان رای گیری خواهد نمود و این رای به گمان زیاد، منفی خواهد بود اگر دانیل (مستروجیاکومو) آزاد نمیگردید. آزادی خبرنگار ایتالیایی ارزش زیادی برای مناسبات ایتالیا دارد، طوریکه کریم رحیمی، سخنگوی حامد کرزی اظهار نمود "عمل فوق العاده بود، زیرا که ما به مناسبات خود با ایتالیا، ارج قایل هستیم.: یونس قانونی رئیس مجلس ملی افغانستان گفت : در آغاز، نظر رئیس صاحب بسیار خوب بود. اینها میخواهند یک تبادله صورت بگیرد و این تبادله باعث تشویق طالبان جهت گروگان گیری میگردد، مگر زمانی که ما با صدراعظم نشستیم – مسـله را مطرح ساخت و گفتیم که ما طرفدار رهایی خبرنگار هستیم اما تبادله مشکل ایجاد میکند، چون: کشور های دیگر نیز در افغانستان حضور دارند و غیر مستقیم این عملکردبه معنی تشویق طالبان است. و قرار بود همان روز با رئیس صاحب هم صحبت صورت گرفته میشد و در نتیجه : به هر حال اگراین ژورنالست رها نمیشد ،سقوط حکومت ایتالیا هم مطرح بود، من شاهد صحنه بودم و آدم باید واقع بین باشد. چرا مخالفین از این زاویه استفاده میکردند. اما بهتر بو،د راه های دیگر در نظر گرفته میشد. بهتر بود فرض بفرمایید اگر بحث تبادله هم مطرح بود همین افغان خود ما – ژورنالست ما- در بدل هر دوی اینها، ما اسرا، را رها میسازیم"
این عمل دولت افغانستان یک تاثیر منفی روی روحیه خبرنگارانی خواهد گذاشت که آماده اند خطر را متقبل شوند، طالبان تلاش خواهند کرد تا گروگان گیری را توسعه داده و در نتیجه امنیت کاری موسسات، خبرنگاران و کارمندان دولت به مخاطره می افتد. با مثال قرار گرفتن این سابقه ،برای دولت بسیار گران تمام خواهد شد اگر طالبان گروگان گیری را یک را هبرد نظامی خود قرار دهند. از این راه طالبان خواهند توانست، اسیر های شان را رها نموده و هم پول گزافی را به حیث خونبها بدست آورند تا حملات شان را تمویل نمایند. این تبادله "پیام اشتباهی را برای گروگان گیران در آینده خواهد فرستاد" یک سخنگوی وزارت خارجه انگلیس به اژانس خبری رویترز گفت.
آقای سیفیو سیرکانه : یک سخنگوی رومانو پرودی صدراعظم ایتالیا بعد از آزادی دانیل مستروجیاکومو گفت "ما به این باوریم که زنده گی یک انسان بسیار با ارزش است. و اگر کدام راه برای حفظ زنده گی انسان باشد و به آن راه میرویم. این خط ما بود و هیچ هدفی دیگر نداشتیم" اگر چه این حرف رسمی دولت ایتالیا میباشد اما بار دیگر دیده میشود که سیاست ، یک بازی پنهانی است و واقعیت ها و اهداف اصلی همیشه ، در عقب پرده باقی میماند. اگر زنده گی یک انسان هدف اصلی دولت ایتالیا میبود، پس چرا مترجم اقا ی دانیل مستروجیاکومو را درچنگال رحم به ،اصطلا طالبان گذاشتند زمانی که ما ترحم طالبانی را میدانیم. بعد از اسارت دانیل مستروجیاکومو، طالبان دانیل را مجبور کردند که تماشا کند که آنها چگونه سر رانندی وی را قطع میکنند. بعد از قطع سر رانند، جسد وی را در ریگ مدفون نمود، و سر وی را به دامن دانیل مستروجیاکومو انداختند و چاقوی خون آلود را با لباس دانیل مستروجیاکومو پاک نمودند. اگر زنده گی انسان، به دولت ایتالیا اهمیت میداشت، پس چرا کسانی را از زندان آزاد کرد که خود میگویند که ما انسان های زیادی را خواهیم کشت؟ و یا این که حکومت ایتالیا از انسان و انسانیت حرف میزند،شاید مقصدشان از افغان ها نیست؟
یک پیام تلویزیونی، اجمل نقشبندی" مترجم دانیل را نشان میداد. او از خبرنگاران افغان خواست تا در رهایی وی کمک نمایند. "امروز آخرین قرار ما در نشست مجلس این بود که حکومت افغانستان در جهت رهایی خبرنگار عزیز افغانی ما، اقدامات عاجل نماید" یونس قانونی رئیس مجلس ملی گفت
روش طالبان خلاف شعارها و ارزش های ظاهری شان میباشد. طالبان از یک سو میگویند که ایشان برضد کفار و اشغال خارجیان میجنگد، ولی در عمل با آنها مذاکره نموده و هموطنان خود را اسیر و به قتل میرسانند.
این تبادله پیام ،اشتباهی را برعلاوه رباینده گان آینده، به ماجراجویان خارجی نیز میفرستد. تعداد از ماجراجویان خارجی اکنون در افغانستان، در قالب موسسات خیریه و رسانه های بین المللی کار میکنند. ایشان با خطرات بی موردی میخواهند مقابله نمایند، از جمله این ماجراجویان یکی هم خود آقای" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" میباشد. در حالی که ما هم میدانیم که در ولایت هلمند، بی قانونی مطلق تسلط دارد و در اکثر نقاط آن، دولت حکمرانی ندارد. با وصف آن" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" به هلمند میرود. به اساس معیار های امنیتی که برای خارجیان وضع گردیده است ،اکثر شان اجازه ندارند از محوطه های دارای سیم خاردار شان خارج شوند"
دانیل مستروجیاکومو، به یک روزنامه چپی ایتالوی بنام "له ریپابلیکه" گزارش میدهد. این روزنامه، مخالف حضور نیرو های ایتالوی در افغانستان است. آقای" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" میخواست ماجرا های را ترتیب دهد که یک زاویه چپی مسایل افغانستان راتحت پو شش قرارمی دهد. که با به اسارت کشیدن خود توانست یک نمایشنامه دلخواه را برای ایتالیایان چپی ترتیب دهد
" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" توانست از این طریق، به شهرت خوبی برسد. طالبان بارها اعلان داشته که آنها مخالف آمدن خبرنگاران" غربی به ساحه های تحت اداره شان نیستند، به شرط آنکه به طالبان ازنحوه کار خود اطلاع دهند. در گذشته خبرنگاران الجزیره و بی بی سی به ولایت هلمند سفر نموده بودند. درآینده ماجراجویان زیادی از 36 کشوری که در افغانستان سربا دارد" سرازیر میشوند و زمانی که به اسارت در بیایند دولت های شان توقع مشابهی را خواهند داشت.در مظاهرای که از طرف اهالی هلمند، چندی پیش در لشکرگاه برگزار گردیده بود، اشتراک کننده گان از عدم توجه تولت افغانستان به مصئونیت شهروندان شان اعتراض نمودند. "به هر وجه که میشود باید اجمل نقشبندی از چنگال طالبان آزاد گردد، ولو که در بدل آزادی پنج تن طالب دیگر باشد" فهیم دشتی مسئوول هفته نامه کابل در نشست خبری گفت.
از سویی حضور اشخاصی مانند" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" هم برای افغانستان و هم برای مشروعیت نظام دموکراسی کشور های شان لازمی است. کشور های غربی، مبالغ هنگفتی را در افغانستان به مصرف میرسانند و موجودیت اشخاصی همچو" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" لازمی است. این خبرنگاران معلومات دست اول را به شهروندان خود، مستقل از دولت ترتیب میدهند. این به مردم اطمینان میدهد پولی را که به دولت خود و از طریق دولت خود به حکومت افغانستان میپردازند به جا به مصرف میرسد.
این پنج تن که مشمول یکی از افراطیون خشن – مشهور به استاد یاسر میشود هفته گذشتهء از زندان رهایی یافتند. به اساس، یک پیام انترنیتی که به یاسر نسبت داده شده، آمده است که او به زود ترین فرصت به جبهه افراطیون خواهد پیوست و "با دو سلاح جهاد را برضد اشغالگران و کافران آغاز خواهد کرد". آزادی این پنج تن در برابر خونبهای یک خبرنگار ایتالیائی گرفته شد، این خبرنگار، بعد از پانزده روز حبس نزد طالبان، تبادله گردید. در گزارش هایی که به ملا دادالله، یکی از فرماندهان مشهور طالبان نسبت داده شده است، او رضایت اش را از این تبادله ابراز نموده و تهعد نمود که تلاش های رباینده گی را افزایش خواهد داد.
این نخستین باریست که آشکارأ زندانیان با طالبان تبادله میگردد. این تبادله، زیر فشار زیادی دولت ایتالیا بالای حکومت کرزی، صورت گرفته است. خط مشی دولت افغانستان تا حال این بوده که ما با دهشت افگنان و طالبان مذاکره نمیکنیم، اما این خط مشی، مثل خود حکومت کرزی، لرزان، است. فاضل سانچارکی مسوؤل اتحادیه ملی خبرنگاران گفت: "ما دو انتقاد داریم – یکی این که آزادی پنج رهبر طالبان از طرف دولت افغانستان در برابریک خبرنگار خارجی، این اقدام قابل پذیرش نیست و جامعه بین المللی هم از این سخت انتقاد دارد. و دوم به یک خبرنگار افغانی هیچ توجه نمیشود. آزادی بیان در افغانستان حمایت لازمی را ندارد."
کشمکش های داخلی ایتالیا در این معامله، نقش داشته است. ایتالیا در افغانستان 1900 سرباز در قالب نیروهای همکاری بین المللی دارد که موجودیت شان از طرف اکثریت پارلمان و مردم ایتالیا رد میگردد، ایتالوی ها خواهان برگشت سربازان شان از افغانستان هستند. با همچو مو قف ضعیف، دادن تلفات برای دولت ایتالیا در حفظ حضورش در افغانستان، گران تمام خواهد شد. ربودن ایتالیایی ها در گذشته هم، با مداخله مستقیم دولت ایتالیا پایان یافته بود. خانم، کلمنتینا شهروند ایتالوی که در سال 2005 در کابل ربوده شده بود در بدل پول رها گردید. تا چند روز دیگر پارلمان ایتالیا،روی حضور نظامی شان در افغانستان رای گیری خواهد نمود و این رای به گمان زیاد، منفی خواهد بود اگر دانیل (مستروجیاکومو) آزاد نمیگردید. آزادی خبرنگار ایتالیایی ارزش زیادی برای مناسبات ایتالیا دارد، طوریکه کریم رحیمی، سخنگوی حامد کرزی اظهار نمود "عمل فوق العاده بود، زیرا که ما به مناسبات خود با ایتالیا، ارج قایل هستیم.: یونس قانونی رئیس مجلس ملی افغانستان گفت : در آغاز، نظر رئیس صاحب بسیار خوب بود. اینها میخواهند یک تبادله صورت بگیرد و این تبادله باعث تشویق طالبان جهت گروگان گیری میگردد، مگر زمانی که ما با صدراعظم نشستیم – مسـله را مطرح ساخت و گفتیم که ما طرفدار رهایی خبرنگار هستیم اما تبادله مشکل ایجاد میکند، چون: کشور های دیگر نیز در افغانستان حضور دارند و غیر مستقیم این عملکردبه معنی تشویق طالبان است. و قرار بود همان روز با رئیس صاحب هم صحبت صورت گرفته میشد و در نتیجه : به هر حال اگراین ژورنالست رها نمیشد ،سقوط حکومت ایتالیا هم مطرح بود، من شاهد صحنه بودم و آدم باید واقع بین باشد. چرا مخالفین از این زاویه استفاده میکردند. اما بهتر بو،د راه های دیگر در نظر گرفته میشد. بهتر بود فرض بفرمایید اگر بحث تبادله هم مطرح بود همین افغان خود ما – ژورنالست ما- در بدل هر دوی اینها، ما اسرا، را رها میسازیم"
این عمل دولت افغانستان یک تاثیر منفی روی روحیه خبرنگارانی خواهد گذاشت که آماده اند خطر را متقبل شوند، طالبان تلاش خواهند کرد تا گروگان گیری را توسعه داده و در نتیجه امنیت کاری موسسات، خبرنگاران و کارمندان دولت به مخاطره می افتد. با مثال قرار گرفتن این سابقه ،برای دولت بسیار گران تمام خواهد شد اگر طالبان گروگان گیری را یک را هبرد نظامی خود قرار دهند. از این راه طالبان خواهند توانست، اسیر های شان را رها نموده و هم پول گزافی را به حیث خونبها بدست آورند تا حملات شان را تمویل نمایند. این تبادله "پیام اشتباهی را برای گروگان گیران در آینده خواهد فرستاد" یک سخنگوی وزارت خارجه انگلیس به اژانس خبری رویترز گفت.
آقای سیفیو سیرکانه : یک سخنگوی رومانو پرودی صدراعظم ایتالیا بعد از آزادی دانیل مستروجیاکومو گفت "ما به این باوریم که زنده گی یک انسان بسیار با ارزش است. و اگر کدام راه برای حفظ زنده گی انسان باشد و به آن راه میرویم. این خط ما بود و هیچ هدفی دیگر نداشتیم" اگر چه این حرف رسمی دولت ایتالیا میباشد اما بار دیگر دیده میشود که سیاست ، یک بازی پنهانی است و واقعیت ها و اهداف اصلی همیشه ، در عقب پرده باقی میماند. اگر زنده گی یک انسان هدف اصلی دولت ایتالیا میبود، پس چرا مترجم اقا ی دانیل مستروجیاکومو را درچنگال رحم به ،اصطلا طالبان گذاشتند زمانی که ما ترحم طالبانی را میدانیم. بعد از اسارت دانیل مستروجیاکومو، طالبان دانیل را مجبور کردند که تماشا کند که آنها چگونه سر رانندی وی را قطع میکنند. بعد از قطع سر رانند، جسد وی را در ریگ مدفون نمود، و سر وی را به دامن دانیل مستروجیاکومو انداختند و چاقوی خون آلود را با لباس دانیل مستروجیاکومو پاک نمودند. اگر زنده گی انسان، به دولت ایتالیا اهمیت میداشت، پس چرا کسانی را از زندان آزاد کرد که خود میگویند که ما انسان های زیادی را خواهیم کشت؟ و یا این که حکومت ایتالیا از انسان و انسانیت حرف میزند،شاید مقصدشان از افغان ها نیست؟
یک پیام تلویزیونی، اجمل نقشبندی" مترجم دانیل را نشان میداد. او از خبرنگاران افغان خواست تا در رهایی وی کمک نمایند. "امروز آخرین قرار ما در نشست مجلس این بود که حکومت افغانستان در جهت رهایی خبرنگار عزیز افغانی ما، اقدامات عاجل نماید" یونس قانونی رئیس مجلس ملی گفت
روش طالبان خلاف شعارها و ارزش های ظاهری شان میباشد. طالبان از یک سو میگویند که ایشان برضد کفار و اشغال خارجیان میجنگد، ولی در عمل با آنها مذاکره نموده و هموطنان خود را اسیر و به قتل میرسانند.
این تبادله پیام ،اشتباهی را برعلاوه رباینده گان آینده، به ماجراجویان خارجی نیز میفرستد. تعداد از ماجراجویان خارجی اکنون در افغانستان، در قالب موسسات خیریه و رسانه های بین المللی کار میکنند. ایشان با خطرات بی موردی میخواهند مقابله نمایند، از جمله این ماجراجویان یکی هم خود آقای" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" میباشد. در حالی که ما هم میدانیم که در ولایت هلمند، بی قانونی مطلق تسلط دارد و در اکثر نقاط آن، دولت حکمرانی ندارد. با وصف آن" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" به هلمند میرود. به اساس معیار های امنیتی که برای خارجیان وضع گردیده است ،اکثر شان اجازه ندارند از محوطه های دارای سیم خاردار شان خارج شوند"
دانیل مستروجیاکومو، به یک روزنامه چپی ایتالوی بنام "له ریپابلیکه" گزارش میدهد. این روزنامه، مخالف حضور نیرو های ایتالوی در افغانستان است. آقای" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" میخواست ماجرا های را ترتیب دهد که یک زاویه چپی مسایل افغانستان راتحت پو شش قرارمی دهد. که با به اسارت کشیدن خود توانست یک نمایشنامه دلخواه را برای ایتالیایان چپی ترتیب دهد
" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" توانست از این طریق، به شهرت خوبی برسد. طالبان بارها اعلان داشته که آنها مخالف آمدن خبرنگاران" غربی به ساحه های تحت اداره شان نیستند، به شرط آنکه به طالبان ازنحوه کار خود اطلاع دهند. در گذشته خبرنگاران الجزیره و بی بی سی به ولایت هلمند سفر نموده بودند. درآینده ماجراجویان زیادی از 36 کشوری که در افغانستان سربا دارد" سرازیر میشوند و زمانی که به اسارت در بیایند دولت های شان توقع مشابهی را خواهند داشت.در مظاهرای که از طرف اهالی هلمند، چندی پیش در لشکرگاه برگزار گردیده بود، اشتراک کننده گان از عدم توجه تولت افغانستان به مصئونیت شهروندان شان اعتراض نمودند. "به هر وجه که میشود باید اجمل نقشبندی از چنگال طالبان آزاد گردد، ولو که در بدل آزادی پنج تن طالب دیگر باشد" فهیم دشتی مسئوول هفته نامه کابل در نشست خبری گفت.
از سویی حضور اشخاصی مانند" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" هم برای افغانستان و هم برای مشروعیت نظام دموکراسی کشور های شان لازمی است. کشور های غربی، مبالغ هنگفتی را در افغانستان به مصرف میرسانند و موجودیت اشخاصی همچو" دانیل مستروجیاکومو" لازمی است. این خبرنگاران معلومات دست اول را به شهروندان خود، مستقل از دولت ترتیب میدهند. این به مردم اطمینان میدهد پولی را که به دولت خود و از طریق دولت خود به حکومت افغانستان میپردازند به جا به مصرف میرسد.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
برگشت سیاسی طالبان
طالبان روزبه روز، نیرومند تر می شوند وولسوالی های بیشتری را به دنبال هم متصرف می گردند. باوجودی که نیروهای دفاعی افغانستان هم قویتر می گردد و نیروهای ناتوهم افزایش یافته است، طالبان ضعیف نشده ؛ بلکه قوی تر می شوند. این وضعیت متناقض پرسش هایی را برای هرکس بوجود می آورد. اخیرأ تعداد زیاد از گروه ها و اشخاص، اعم از رهبران مجاهدین، چپی ها و مقامات دولتی بشمول معاون اول رئیس جمهور و رئیس شورای ملی، تحت چتر جبهه متحد ملی، گرد هم آمده، تا تغیراتی در نوع نظام افغانستان بیاورند. ایجاد جبهه متحد ملی از جمله یک سلسله از واکنش های است که در مقابل تغیرات اخیر سیاسی نظامی دیده میشود. مهمترین این تغیرات ظهور دوباره طالبان میباشد. "یک واقعیت انکار ناپذیر است که، طالبان فعلأ قدرتمند هستند، و فراموش نکنید که قدرتمندی طالبان بخاطر ضعف اینطرف است، یعنی اینطرف ضعیف شده نه اینکه طالبان قوی شده باشد، به هر حال من میگویم که مذاکر باید کرد، جنگ راه حل نیست، ولی این مذاکرات باید شفاف و روشن باشد" قسیم اخگر تحلیلگر سیاسی گفت. ضعف دولت، گروه های سیاسی – مدنی و جامعه بین المللی منجر به قوت طالبان میگردد. کرزی سفارت خانه های خارجی را متهم به دست داشتن در ایجاد جبهه متحد ملی نمود که این خود هم نشانه ضعف دولت و هم جبهه متعد ملی میباشد، این اظهارات کرزی معاون اول رئیس جمهور و رئیس شورای ملی را متهم به جاسوسی مینماید. از سوی دیگر تحلیلگران به این نظر اند که کرزی شواهد کافی کمک خارجی در ایجاد جبهه متحد ملی دارد. گفته میشود که ایران و روسیه در تشویق ایجاد جبهه ملی نقش داشته اند.
تحریک طالبانی پدیده مهمی است، در تاریخ روابط بین المللی، با تاثیرات ژرف بر افغانستان و فراتر از آن. طالبان تمثالی جدید از حکومت داری است، که در حال جدید بودنش، بسیار کهنه است. تحمیل ارزش های طالبی در نبود دولت صورت گرفته است. اما عدم موجودیت دولت، یگانه دلیل بوجود آمدن طالبان نیست، کشتار، چپاول و جنایات مجاهدین اذهان عامه و شرایط سیاسی را آماده پذیرش طالبان نموده بود، کشور های مغرض که دست آورد هايی بعد از اشغال شوروی در افغانستان داشتند، افغانستان را میدان می دانستند، برای منافع قراردادی خود، از جمله پاکستان و عربستان سعودی دست به کار شدند، تا بازیگر دیگری را به میدان بیاورند، که مشروعیت بیشتری نظر به مجاهدین داشته باشند.
تندروی طالبان امروز یگانه مظهر و راهی جهت مقابله با موقف چیره امریکا در جهان است. تا حال هیچ شیوه جدیدی مبارزه در مقابل امریکا موثرتر از افراط گرایی طالبان ثابت نگردیده است. جنبش طالبانی، با استفاده از زمینه موجود توانست، اسلوب جدید فرهنگی و ارزشی را به جامعه افغانی معرفی کند، که پنج سال بعد از زوال شان افغانستان از آن فرهنگ متاثر می باشد، انعراف ناپذیری یکی از خصوصیات طالبانی، در اعمال اسلوب ارزشی- فرهنگی شان بر کشور می باشد، البته که این کار به بهای از دست دادن هر نوع منفعت مالی بین المللی در زمان تسلط شان بر افغانستان بود، که در صورت سازش طالبان با جامعه بین المللی، بدست میاوردند. اگر مردم افغان از این سیاست ضرر بردن طالبان منفعت عظیمی کمایی کردند، عدم سازش طالبان با کمک ها و خواست های جامعه ی بین المللی طالبان را در مقابل غرب آسیب ناپذیر ساخته بود. در صورت برگشت طالبان انعراف ناپذیری آنها چی تاثیری را بر جامعه ما خواهد گذاشت؟ قسیم اخگر تحلیلگر سیاسی میگوید "در سیاست داخلی خود طالبان ضد ارزش های مطرح در قانون اساسی هستند، ارزشی های را که مردم افغانستان پذیرفته اند، دموکراسی پدیده است کافرانه، حقوق بشر: مثلآ حقوق زن، آزادی های انسانی و موضوعات دیگر. من فکر می کنم شما در آن صورت با یک گروه مذاکره نمیکنید، بلکه به یک جهت گیری امتیاز میدهد، که خود جهت گیری ها آنرا نفع میکند"
طالبان توانستند احساسات ضد امریکایی مردم افغانستان و جهان اسلام را آبکاری نماید. از آنجایی که طالبان یک عضو فعال جامعه جهانی نبود و از آنکه جامعه بین المللی هیچ تصمیمی را بر طالبان نمیتوانست تحمیل کند، طالبان توانستند اردوگاه های برای پارتیزانان و دهشت افگنان مخالف امریکا فراهم نمایند؛ این خود به طالبان قدرت عظیمی در صحنه ملی و بین المللی داد. این قدرت در اثر نارضایتی مردم از بعضی از دولت های معینی بوجود آمده است. که شامل سیاست های استخوان شکن امریکا در افغانستان و فعلأ حمایت یکجانبه آن از اسراییل در مقابل فلسطین میباشد؛ موجودیت سربازان امریکایی و انگلیس در کشور های اسلامی؛ استفاده از شیوه های سرکوبگر توسط روسیه در چیچین؛ برخورد استبدادی جمهوری های اسیا میانه و چین با مسلمانان است. طالبان هم از قدرت رو به افزایش گروه های اسلامی و حمایت دولت پاکستان از آنها توانست منفعت ببرد.
گرچه مسایل جهان اسلام و وضعیت کشور های اسلامی ایجاب تشکیل دولت مثل طالبان را می نمود اما مهم تر از همه انزجار مردم افغانستان از تنظیم های جنگی مجاهدین بود. اگر چنین نمی بود امارت طالبان هم مانند چند کشور دیگر تجرید شده از جانب جامعه بین المللی میبود، که دارای یک سابقه غیر قابل قبول حقوق بشر میباشد، و به صفوف کشور های همچو کیوبا و برما میپیوست، که در حاشیه اولویت های جامعه بین المللی قرار دارند. این در حالیست، که طالبان توانستند افغانستان را در محراق توجع جامعه بین المللی قرار دهند، و مساله افغانستان اولویت جهانی قرار گرفت. طالبان توانستند توجه جامعه بین المللی را به جنایات اضافه از دو دهه جلب کنند. خیلی کم اتفاق افتاده بود که کشور های مختلف دنیا چنین نظر مشترکی در مورد سیاست های اشتباه شان داشته باشند، مانند نظر، امروز جامعه کشور های جهان در مورد افغانستان دارند.
بعد از کودتا هفت ثور جامعه جهانی و سازمان ملل، کرارأ از سابقه حقوق بشر دولت کابل، انتقاد میکرد. بعد از خروج سربازان شوروی جامعه جهانی در برابر تختی های مجاهدین (که به تناسب شوروی کوچکتر بود) خاموش ماند، و آنرا خسارات جانبی اجتناب ناپذیر یک جنگ داخلی فرقه ای میدانست. زمانی که طالبان کابل را تصرف نمودند و دو سوم کشور را در دست داشتند سوال متفق بودن کشور با معیار های بین المللی حقوق بشر مطرح گردید. زمانی که جامعه بین المللی از روند های جنسیتی طالبان انتقاد میکرد، طالبان بل مقابل جامعه جهانی را متهم به داشتن برخورد دوگانه وسیاسی مینمود، دفاعیه طالبان برای توجیح اعمال ضد بانویی شان سکوت جامعه بین المللی در مقابل جنایات تنظیم های جهادی بود. علاوتأ، طالبان توانستند با اشاره به نقص حقوق بشر از طرف کشور های غربی خصوصأ ایالات متحده امریکا، که به پیمانه وسیعتر صورت میگیرفت، اعتبار انتقادات جامعه بین المللی را کاهش دهند. داکتر مهدی سخنگوی شورای متحد ملی میگوید" ممیزه اول طالبان تعصب شان بود، چی تعصب دینی و چی تعصب قومی، در برابر اقلیت های قومی و دینی دیگر، ممیزه دیگر طالبان وابسته گی بسیار اشکار شان بود، و ممیزه سومی شان زمان ستیزی و مدنیت ستیزی شان بود، فراموش نمیکنیم که تلویزیون ها را به شاخه های درختان اویخته بودند؛ و یا بت های بامیان را (تخریب نمودند)، اندیشه مختلط وهابی گری و طالب گری و مخالفت پاکستان به آنچه که سبغه تاریخی کشور را نشان دهد، مجموع این فکر ها بود که بت های بامیان را به خرابی کشید. من گمان میکنم که واهمه برگشت طالبان با همین سه چهره که من عرض کردم امر بعید است"
عمل کرد سیاسی - نظامی دولت افغانستان در پنج سال اخیر و مصلحت اندیشی های جامعه بین المللی منجر به ظهور دوباره طالبان گردیده است. شکست ناتو در مقابل طالبان در جنوب کشور دلیلیست بر ظهور دوباره تحریک طالبان. پالیسی های جامعه بین المللی و تحمیل آن بر دولت افغانستان مفاد سؤ داشته است، پدیده طالبانگرایی به افغانستان مختص نمانده است، به اثر پالیسی های نادرست جامعه بین المللی این پدیده به غرب هم انتقال یافته است که باعث ایجاد تعصب در مقابل اسلام، نژادپرستی در جامعه غربی گردیده است.
اسلوب ارزشی و فرهنگی طالبان تنها در مقابله و مناقشه با ارزش های دیگر اجتماعی میتواند بقا کند.
جامعه طالبانی در مناقشه با دیگران باید قرار داشته باشد، اگرنه یگانه مفاد طالبان برای اجتماع فقر، بدبختی، محکومیت و مرگ میباشد.
فرهنگ طالبانی استعداد استفاده از بعضی روند ها و ارزش های اجتماعات دیگر را به نفع خود دارد. رسانها یکی از جمله ارزشهای است که طالبان توانسته اند از آن به نفع خود استفاده کنند. طالبان اصولأ مخالف آزادی بیان، یا هر گونه آزادی اجتماعی دیگر میباشد. اما طالبان با رسانه های افغان و خارجی رابطه دارند، انعکاس اهداف و فعالیت های طالبان از طریق رسانه های افغانستان صورت میگیرد. رسانه ها یگانه مرجع معلومات برای شهروندان غرب و خاصتأ امریکا میباشد، خطر آن است که نظر غربی ها، خصوصأ امریکایی ها در باره مسلمانان افراطی تر گردد. بعد از وقایع 11 سپتامبر غربی ها افراطی شدند، و اگر وضعیت و مناسبات اسلام و غرب به شکل فعلی آن پیش برود افراطی تر خواهند شد، و این بر سیاست امریکا تاثیر مستقیم دارد. افزایش احساسات ضد اسلامی، تبعیض نژادی و تجدید مذهب در غرب از نشانه های افراطی شدن غرب در مقابل طالبان است. یا به عباره دیگر طالبان توانستند یک نوع طالبگرایی دیگررا در امریکا ایجاد کند، که اگر چه با طالبگرایی افغانستان متفاوت است، اما در اصل، اساس آن بر افراط گرایی استوار است.
حل مسـله افغانستان در سرکوب نظامی طالبان نبوده بلکه پاسخ دادن به خواست های مشروع مردم افغانستان است، که حقوق سیاسی شان پامال گردیده است. جامعه جهانی به جای اتکاء به نیروی نظامی باید که از نیرو های میانه رو در افغانستان حمایت کند. ظهور دوباره طالبان، بدلیل استفاده زیرکانه شان از رنجش عوام میباشد، حمایت مردم از دو لت روز به روز کاسته میشود، مردم موجودیت عناصر جنایتکار و فاسد، در دولت را، منحیث مانع به هرگونه پیشرفت میبینند.
درمورد بازیگران بیرونی درتشکیل جبهه ی ملی می گویند که سفارت جمهوری اسلامی ایران درکابل ، نقش اساسی را داشته است. ولی نقش روسیه را هم رد نمی کنند. تاحدی که من باحلقات گوناگون درتماس هستم ، نقش ایران درتشکیل این جبهه ، توجیه پذیراست؛ به چند دلیل که برای خود ایران وجبهه ی ملی موجود است:
دولت ایران درسقوط طالبان با ایالات متحده امریکا هم سنگر شد؛ ولی بعدازآمدن آمریکا درافغانستان ، آنچنانکه پیش ازآن درافغانستان دخالت داشت ؛ دخالت نتوانست. نقش ایران درسیاست های افغانستان خیلی ضعیف ترازگذشته شد. درحالیکه دربازسازی نقش عمده را دارد. دولت ایران بارهااز سوی سیاستمداران منتقد مورد انتقاد قرارگرفته که چرا ایران بامصرف های گزاف درافغانستان دوران جنگ ، اکنون نقش بسیار ضعیف دارد.
ایران مشکل هسته ای با آمریکا وجامعه ی جهانی دارد. به خاطر این موضوع ، تحت فشاربین المللی قرارگرفته است. ایران که دربرابر جامعه ی جهانی درمورد فعالیت های هسته ای اش به این اندازه زورگویی می کند، دلیل اش این است که این کشور می تواند که جامعه ی جهانی وبه ویژه آمریکا را دردرون دو همسایه اش ( عراق وافغانستان) با مشکل مواجه کند . ایران می خواهد به آمریکا وهم پیمانهای او نشان بدهد او می تواند که درعراق وافغانستان برای آنها مشکل ایجاد کند. واین مشکل زایی را چنان ادامه خواهد داد تا آمریکا مجبور گردد که دست ازتهدید وتحریم ایران ، به خاطر فعالیت های هسته ای اش بردارد.
حکومت افغانستان هم نتوانسته است که با کسانی که مخالف مذاکره باطالبان اند، به تفاهم برسد. هنوز جبهه ی متحد شمال از طالبانی شدن دولت هراس دارد وحتا دربعضی محافل خصوصی ، رهبران شمال سخن ازآمادگی ها برای مبارزه باطالبان می زنند. حکومت افغانستان وگروه آقای کرزی درسیاست های داخلی اش برای جلب توافق رهبران سابق جهادی - درچگونگی برخورد باطالبان وغیره مسائل عمده- نتوانسته است که به هدف برسد. حداقل ، بودن معاون اول رییس جمهمور، چند وزیرو رییس ولسی جرگه درجبهه ی ملی بیانگر این است که سیاست آقای کرزی دربرابررهبران مجاهدین ناکام است. اینکه رییس جمهور کرزی باصراحت کامل می گوید که درتشکیل جبهه ملی سفارت های کشورها نقش داشته اند، بیانگر این است که تشکیل جبهه ی ملی برای آقای کرزی بسیارتکان دهنده بوده واورا با مشکل بسیاربزرگ مواجه ساخته است. سخنان آقای کرزی درباره ی جبهه ی ملی ، به طور غیرمستقیم به این معناست که این اشخاص بلند پایه چون: رییس ولسی جرگه ، معاون اول رییس جمهور وچند وزیر جاسوس اند. به همان لحاظ من فکر می کنم که این سخن درمشوره با مشاوران آمریکا وجامعه ی جهانی ، خلاف مصلحت های دایمی - که معمولا درنظر گرفته می شود- بیان گردیده است.
به هرحال من فکر می کنم که رهبران جبهه ی ملی به حد کافی دارای قدرت اند؛ ولی این تلاش ها، به خاطر حفظ قدرت شان است. قدرت آنهارا طالبان ، گروه های مدافع حقوق بشر ودستگاه اداری دولت تهدید می کند. اوضاع داخلی کشور ووضعیت بین المللی کشورهای ایران وروسیه (چنانکه پیشتر واضح شد) باهم سازگارشده وموجب تشکیل جبهه ی ملی شده است.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Most of aid gets pocketed by Afghan leaders
Corrupt police and tribal leaders are stealing vast quantities of reconstruction aid that is intended to improve the lives of ordinary Afghans and turn them away from the Taliban.
In some cases, all the aid earmarked for an area has ended up in the wrong hands. Defence officials in the United States and Britain estimate that up to half of all aid in Afghanistan is failing to reach the right people.
At least five people in Takhar have been murdered in family disputes this month. Homayoon 31 was the last killed in Yangi Qalah district of Takhar province. He was killed by police; the government has arrested three people including two police in connection with the murder. But in a demonstration yesterday around 200 people cried for justice. Farooq 28 said “we want justice. The killing has been going on for too long. Now we know the killers and they should be prosecuted”
Takhar is a province in the north of the country where its considered safe, even in the safe environment of Takhar justice is an illusion.
A joint report by the Pentagon and the US state department, circulated to congressional committees last month, concluded that the Afghan police force was corrupt to the point of ineffectiveness. One Pentagon official told The Sunday Telegraph that police officers had stolen and sold at least half of the equipment supplied by the US, including thousands of cars and trucks.
Among the projects funded by the UK department for development are the purchase of uniforms and winter coats for the Afghan police, a hospital generator and a mortuary.
But it confirmed that some of the US $4 million allocated to projects intended to help internal refugees had been diverted to build vehicle checkpoints.
Niaz Mohammad Sarahadi, governor of Panjwaye district of Kandahar province said “of course thievery happens and it’s a problem and we have recognized the problem. We fired all members of Aid distribution commission and has appointed New members from community elders but since then there has been no assistance. Almost half of displaced people, who left their homes in the last summer clashes between Nato and Taliban, have returned to their home. We want to attract more aid and assist refugees to return to their homes”
There are 42000 Afghan police, equipped by international aid to provide security to around 25 million Afghan people. This is while a handful government officials and MPs have more than 15000 body guards, in addition to hundreds of illegal weapons and expensive cars. We asked Shakir Ahmad of Nangarhar province how leaders could afford the security and why they need it “authorities get their money from foreigners. foreigners only give the money to the leaders not to people just like the past thirty years.” Shakir added “they have bodyguards to be protected from each other, leaders are all involved in dirty businesses and they are all after killing each other”
Nato forces in the south of the country say some Afghan police are guilty of corruption and will steal aid if it is handed out. Tribal and mosque elders have also been accused of seizing goods, including building materials and fuel, and selling them in markets. A Pentagon official said thousands of cars and trucks intended for use by the Afghan police had been sold instead.
Noorulhaq Ullomi an MP heading national security committee of the parliament told us “local leaders are contracted by foreigners to build their bases and implement their projects; local leaders even provide logistic support. Local leaders in some areas have changed to service contractors. There are several military bases around the country the construction of which only worth four million dollar each but NATO says they have built each for up to US $400 million” he continue “there is no way to hold foreign aid nor local leaders accountable for what they do with money”
On Friday, Nato foreign ministers signalled that they would boost their military and economic contributions amid calls for more investment in development projects to win the support of the Afghan population. Liam Fox, the Conservative defense spokesman, said he had heard first-hand of corruption affecting the reconstruction programmes when he visited Afghanistan last summer. “There is increasing corruption from top government officials down, which is making efforts to get reconstruction off the ground much more difficult,” he said.
In some cases, all the aid earmarked for an area has ended up in the wrong hands. Defence officials in the United States and Britain estimate that up to half of all aid in Afghanistan is failing to reach the right people.
At least five people in Takhar have been murdered in family disputes this month. Homayoon 31 was the last killed in Yangi Qalah district of Takhar province. He was killed by police; the government has arrested three people including two police in connection with the murder. But in a demonstration yesterday around 200 people cried for justice. Farooq 28 said “we want justice. The killing has been going on for too long. Now we know the killers and they should be prosecuted”
Takhar is a province in the north of the country where its considered safe, even in the safe environment of Takhar justice is an illusion.
A joint report by the Pentagon and the US state department, circulated to congressional committees last month, concluded that the Afghan police force was corrupt to the point of ineffectiveness. One Pentagon official told The Sunday Telegraph that police officers had stolen and sold at least half of the equipment supplied by the US, including thousands of cars and trucks.
Among the projects funded by the UK department for development are the purchase of uniforms and winter coats for the Afghan police, a hospital generator and a mortuary.
But it confirmed that some of the US $4 million allocated to projects intended to help internal refugees had been diverted to build vehicle checkpoints.
Niaz Mohammad Sarahadi, governor of Panjwaye district of Kandahar province said “of course thievery happens and it’s a problem and we have recognized the problem. We fired all members of Aid distribution commission and has appointed New members from community elders but since then there has been no assistance. Almost half of displaced people, who left their homes in the last summer clashes between Nato and Taliban, have returned to their home. We want to attract more aid and assist refugees to return to their homes”
There are 42000 Afghan police, equipped by international aid to provide security to around 25 million Afghan people. This is while a handful government officials and MPs have more than 15000 body guards, in addition to hundreds of illegal weapons and expensive cars. We asked Shakir Ahmad of Nangarhar province how leaders could afford the security and why they need it “authorities get their money from foreigners. foreigners only give the money to the leaders not to people just like the past thirty years.” Shakir added “they have bodyguards to be protected from each other, leaders are all involved in dirty businesses and they are all after killing each other”
Nato forces in the south of the country say some Afghan police are guilty of corruption and will steal aid if it is handed out. Tribal and mosque elders have also been accused of seizing goods, including building materials and fuel, and selling them in markets. A Pentagon official said thousands of cars and trucks intended for use by the Afghan police had been sold instead.
Noorulhaq Ullomi an MP heading national security committee of the parliament told us “local leaders are contracted by foreigners to build their bases and implement their projects; local leaders even provide logistic support. Local leaders in some areas have changed to service contractors. There are several military bases around the country the construction of which only worth four million dollar each but NATO says they have built each for up to US $400 million” he continue “there is no way to hold foreign aid nor local leaders accountable for what they do with money”
On Friday, Nato foreign ministers signalled that they would boost their military and economic contributions amid calls for more investment in development projects to win the support of the Afghan population. Liam Fox, the Conservative defense spokesman, said he had heard first-hand of corruption affecting the reconstruction programmes when he visited Afghanistan last summer. “There is increasing corruption from top government officials down, which is making efforts to get reconstruction off the ground much more difficult,” he said.
رهبران افغان پول کمک را به جیب میزنند
در یک گزارش مشترک وزارت دفاع امریکا و وزارت داخله آن کشور که به کمیته کانگرس توضیع گردیده است امده است که پولیس افغانتسان تا به حدی فساد دارد که موثر نمیباشد. یک مقام پنتاگون به روزنامه تیلگراف گفته است که مقامات پولیس اقلا نصف از وسایلی را که از طرف حکومت امریکا اهدا گردیده است دزدیده ان که شامل هزار ها موتر و نفربر میشود.
در جمع پروژه های که از طرف اداره انکشافی برطانیا تمویل گردیده است خریداری لباس و بالا پوش زمستانی برای پولیس و جنراتور شفاخانه و مورده شویی میباشد. مگر تائید گردید که از جمله 4 میلیون دالر که برای کمک به معاجرین داخلی اختصاص یافته بود به ساختن پوسته های کنترول پولیس اختصاص یافت.
تحقیق سندی تیلیگراف به این نتیجه رسیده است که افراد پولیس و رهبران قومی یک مقدار زیاد از امداد بازسازی را میدزدند. این پول به مقصد بهبود وضع زنده گی افغانان عادی اختصاص یافته است تا آنها به طالبان نپیوندند.
در بعضی از قضایا تمام پولی امداد به مقصدس نرسیده است. مقامات وزارت دفاع امریکا و انگلیس به این نتیجه رسیده اند که تا نصف از کمک ها در افغانستان به مقصد نمیرسد.
مقامات ناتو هم در جنوب کشور به این باورند که پولیس افغان گنهکار فساد میباشد و کمک ها را اگر بدست شان برسد خواهند دزدید. رهبران محلی و قومی متهم به غصب اموال به شمول مواد ساختمانی، مواد سوخت میباشند که انها این مواد را بعدآ در بازار به فروش میرسانند. مقامات پنتاگون میگویند که هزار ها موتر امداد شده به پولیس به عوض به فروش رسیده است.
تا حال حدود 42000 پولیس در سراسر کشور به مقصد فراهم اوری امنیت به حدود 25 میلیون افغان توسط کمک های بین المللی تجهیز گردیده اند. در حالی که یک تعداد دست شمار مقامات و سران افغان اضافه از 15000 محافظ شخصی در پهلوی صد ها میل اسلحه غیر قانونی دارند.
بروز جمعه وزرا خارجه ناتو ابراز داشتند که ایشان کمک های نظامی و اقتصادی شان را افزایش خواهند داد با وصف این که خواهش سرمایه گذاری در پروژه های انکشافی غرض بدست اوردن حمایت مردم افغانستان صورت گرفته است. لایم فاکس سخن گوی دفاعی گفته است که او در زمان بازدید از فغاناتسان از فساد در مقامات دست اول شنیده که این بر برنامه بازسازی تاثیر نموده است.
Monday, January 15, 2007
moral? credible? failure?
Failure and credibility
Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has admitted that his country has failed in Iraq and proposed a list of actions as a contingency plan. Mr Rumsfeld`s admission, latest in the series of confessions by prominent US officials, including US President George W Bush, is of critical importance as he is seen as the chief architect and mastermind of the Iraq war. Leave alone the political repercussions which the Iraq war has had on American domestic affairs, the defeat of the Republicans in the midterm congressional election being a major one, the admission sends a strong message to the global community.
The Iraqi quagmire has been accompanied by growing anti-American sentiment in countries closes to America. The example that comes to mind is Venezuela and the rise of Hugo Chavez, recently elected to a third term. This has also been followed by the North Korea defying international opinion and exploding a nuclear device and one can also see defiance of America is Iran`s refusal to scale back its uranium enrichment programme.
Given the bashing which America has received in Iraq, how true was the "bombing back to stone age" rationale which the Pakistani regime presented to its masses as an excuse to side with the US crusade on Afghanistan? Could America have dared attack a nuclear state? At the time of the Afghan war, President Musharraf gave the nation a new slogan of "Pakistan first". In his post 9/11 speech he promised an all-gain package in exchange for a U-turn on the Afghan policy.
The package included glorification of the Kashmir cause, safeguarding Pakistan`s nuclear assets and protection of the strategic assets and sovereignty of Pakistan. If it was fear which compelled the Pakistani government to side with the US, what justification remains to be part of the coalition against the so-called war on terror, when the US administration itself is admitting its failure to enforce its hegemony over the globe? Doesn`t the failure of the Pakistani policymakers to properly asses and analyse the ground realities after 9/11 pose a question about their credibility and sincerity?
Former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has admitted that his country has failed in Iraq and proposed a list of actions as a contingency plan. Mr Rumsfeld`s admission, latest in the series of confessions by prominent US officials, including US President George W Bush, is of critical importance as he is seen as the chief architect and mastermind of the Iraq war. Leave alone the political repercussions which the Iraq war has had on American domestic affairs, the defeat of the Republicans in the midterm congressional election being a major one, the admission sends a strong message to the global community.
The Iraqi quagmire has been accompanied by growing anti-American sentiment in countries closes to America. The example that comes to mind is Venezuela and the rise of Hugo Chavez, recently elected to a third term. This has also been followed by the North Korea defying international opinion and exploding a nuclear device and one can also see defiance of America is Iran`s refusal to scale back its uranium enrichment programme.
Given the bashing which America has received in Iraq, how true was the "bombing back to stone age" rationale which the Pakistani regime presented to its masses as an excuse to side with the US crusade on Afghanistan? Could America have dared attack a nuclear state? At the time of the Afghan war, President Musharraf gave the nation a new slogan of "Pakistan first". In his post 9/11 speech he promised an all-gain package in exchange for a U-turn on the Afghan policy.
The package included glorification of the Kashmir cause, safeguarding Pakistan`s nuclear assets and protection of the strategic assets and sovereignty of Pakistan. If it was fear which compelled the Pakistani government to side with the US, what justification remains to be part of the coalition against the so-called war on terror, when the US administration itself is admitting its failure to enforce its hegemony over the globe? Doesn`t the failure of the Pakistani policymakers to properly asses and analyse the ground realities after 9/11 pose a question about their credibility and sincerity?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Some misunderstandings could end up in Guantanamo
Faqeer Ahmadi was held captive in Guantanamo on terror connection allegations for over a year. He is 34 years old from Kharwar district of Wardak province. I am going to go back in the chain of events to tell you his story.
*******
The mug is on the small table next to my dad’s picture, the steam of hot tea is coming out dancingly and mixing with the air as it disappears.
I just sat down to taste the spicy green tea which I bought today, I was told a whole lot about it by the salesman, I am holding the mug with a lot of expectations.
The door was knocked as I had my first sip - it was good. Two cops are standing outside the gate, I heard them whispering when I was approaching the door.
“I have fresh spicy tea which I bought today, it’s suppose to be very good, do you want a cup of it?” I asked
They frowned at me “you have a gun, you were supposed to hand it over to the disarmament team!” said one of them.
“Yes but it’s for personal protection and I have a permit” I said.
“You either have to bring it now or we’ll come inside and take it” said the police.
They shoved me aside and were trying to come in. I pushed them back and locked the door, they were punching and kicking the door trying to break in.
I said “you can’t come in, how should I know you are not thieves”
“We have uniform”
“yes, but almost in all thieveries they had police uniform”
The knocking continued for some minutes and then they sat behind the door and told me if I was not going to open they will radio the station to ask for back up and commander to come and I will be arrested. they did so and after a couple of hours there were several more police outside.
One of them with a more authoritative voice introduced himself as the commander and said
- surrender your gun; you are not suppose to have it!
- I don’t have a gun.
- You do, the district chief of intelligence reported to us.
This rang a bill; this afternoon I visited him to tell him I have a rifle with a permit from Kabul for my family protection. He registered the permit and the gun and told me there should be no more paper work and I can take the gun home.
I am now thinking what shall I do, shall I open the gate or not. My brothers and cousins are already in the yard trying to think what to do, but my thought was disturbed by policemen over the walls shouting now I should open.
Didn’t have many choices, they came inside and took me and the gun to the district centre.
I am in the police station in Kharwar district of Wardak province and I am sitting in one room with the cops. To my surprise I saw the chief of intelligence, Mohammad Usman in the room too. I told him, I came to you this afternoon and showed you my permit and you are the one who came to my house after the thieves took everything a month ago, and you helped me prove to the police office in Kabul that you can’t protect me and I need to have a permit but the police now has intruded into my house, hassling me and my family at night. He was just nodding and said:
- there has been some problem with your permit; can I see it?
I give him the permit and he said he is going to keep the permit and the gun and will contact Kabul tomorrow and resolve the misunderstanding. He said I could go now and come tomorrow.
Came back home, my tea was cold now and I couldn’t bother to make new one, went to sleep and called my office first thing in the morning to let them know I had to take care of some stuff in the village and I would come in the afternoon.
I went to the police station the day and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and after that for several days. But Usman, the chief of intelligence had nothing to tell me yet. he was still waiting for the confirmation.
After a week he said, everything was fine with my permit and I could take the gun but I had to buy dinner for the cops and sign a letter that I received my gun back.
As I was walking out of the station I was stopped by two cops and they took my gun back.
i went back to the commander and Usman, they said, I was lying and they have a letter and they don’t have my gun anymore.
I came back home but I wasn’t feeling safe, I felt - if the cops are trying to steal there is no insurance that the thieves are not going to come back and there is for sure no faith in police that they could stop or catch them.
I decided to move in to town and found a flat in Kabul.
I have a small construction company specialising in building bridges and hand pump well.
I am not quite used to live in a flat but I had to learn and accommodate.
I woke up one morning and I couldn’t find my car in the parking place. the parking lot is protected by police who received some monthly fee for the service. But they couldn’t tell me where my car was and they were very sure it should be where I parked it.
I called the police station to tell them my car was stolen. They filed a report and referred me to their superior and the procession continued until I was in the office of Kabul chief criminal investigation office.
A man with thick moustache and a big camouflage jacket was sitting behind a big desk with Karzai and Massoud pictures hanging over his head. He is looking at a piece of paper which has my car specifications on it.
- so somebody stole your car
- seems like it, I don’t have it anymore
- can I see the key
- Why does that make a difference?
- It’s a prove of your ownership
- but you have all the documents in front of you.
Then he started to ask me if I am suspected of anyone I said No. he tried it for an hour but I really didn’t suspect anyone.
- who else was using your car
- sometimes friends and family
- what are the names and address?
I knew if I give him any name, they would be in trouble. He was starting to get edgy with me,
- if you don’t give me any suspects how the hell I am supposed to find the thieve. Have you ever repaired your car?
I told him no but of course I did, I had the car for two years and I was doing regular check ups. Then I saw a light on his eyes and he said here it says you have once made a replicant key,
- did you know the key maker could keep the sketch and can make one anytime.
We are going to bring in the key-man for investigation; he is the major lead we have at this point.
They called me after two days and I saw the keymaker behind the bars, I couldn’t recognise him first because I met him a year a go and it was for a few minutes. But he wasn’t alone. I asked the investigator, who are the other guys?
- they are all prime suspects they are all connected to the keymaker.
The key maker said, he wanted to see me in private.
“look I know it’s not your fault that we are here and you know I didn’t do it nor did these other guys. This entire case is a pretext for the police to make some money and I have talked with the investigator if you say we are not your suspects they will let us go we have paid them.”
Then the investigator came and said if he shall keep them until they talk. I said I don’t think it’s them. He said
-well if you don’t think they are your suspects then we should let them go.
I called the police a couple of weeks later and a colonel told me:
- You didn’t have any suspects and you know if you don’t have any we can’t find your car.
- You should do your job without my hint.
- You are very naïve. We all knew the car was in Pakistan before you know it was stolen.
A month was gone from my last day of visit to police. One day the police came to my office and arrested me along with NATO inspectors.
A British soldier from NATO told me there was a suicide car attacked on NATO troops in Kabul where two NATO soldier died and they found the number plate of the improvised explosive car, after they tracked it they found out I was the owner.
I said:
- But you know my car was stolen more than a month ago and I have reported it to the police.
- But you didn’t report to us. That is why we take you for questioning.
- I didn’t know you were running the country.
I think I said a few words which got me into trouble and I know I shouldn’t have said it.
I was kept in Kabul jail for a couple of days then they hand me over to Americans in Bagram airbase where I lived in a tent for a couple of days eating MREs and then according to my guardians they found enough evidence that me or my company has financed the attack and somehow they linked me to the suicider. One day they put a black sack over my head and when they took it off they told me I was in Guantanamo.
*****
My name is sanjar qiam I am a journalist. I met Faqeer Ahmadi in the ceremony held for prisoners release by Afghan Peace and Reconciliation commission. He was among eight Afghan men who were released from Guantanamo. He was sitting under the sun caressing his long beard when I came and sat next to him.
- Are you going to shave it?
- Shave what?
- Your beard
- Yeah sure, the peace commission give us 2000 Afghanis to buy razor blade
He showed me an envelope and burst laughing.
I was shaking my head and smiling, he asked me:
- why aren’t you recording the chairman
- I have it in archive; he says the same thing every time.
- I could guess but there is not much else he could say. I am just hoping it’s not going to be too long. Need to see my family - can’t wait.
Faqeer really stroke me, one would think he might be furious and pissed off with Americans. but he was very funny and took the whole thing as a misunderstanding.
*******
The mug is on the small table next to my dad’s picture, the steam of hot tea is coming out dancingly and mixing with the air as it disappears.
I just sat down to taste the spicy green tea which I bought today, I was told a whole lot about it by the salesman, I am holding the mug with a lot of expectations.
The door was knocked as I had my first sip - it was good. Two cops are standing outside the gate, I heard them whispering when I was approaching the door.
“I have fresh spicy tea which I bought today, it’s suppose to be very good, do you want a cup of it?” I asked
They frowned at me “you have a gun, you were supposed to hand it over to the disarmament team!” said one of them.
“Yes but it’s for personal protection and I have a permit” I said.
“You either have to bring it now or we’ll come inside and take it” said the police.
They shoved me aside and were trying to come in. I pushed them back and locked the door, they were punching and kicking the door trying to break in.
I said “you can’t come in, how should I know you are not thieves”
“We have uniform”
“yes, but almost in all thieveries they had police uniform”
The knocking continued for some minutes and then they sat behind the door and told me if I was not going to open they will radio the station to ask for back up and commander to come and I will be arrested. they did so and after a couple of hours there were several more police outside.
One of them with a more authoritative voice introduced himself as the commander and said
- surrender your gun; you are not suppose to have it!
- I don’t have a gun.
- You do, the district chief of intelligence reported to us.
This rang a bill; this afternoon I visited him to tell him I have a rifle with a permit from Kabul for my family protection. He registered the permit and the gun and told me there should be no more paper work and I can take the gun home.
I am now thinking what shall I do, shall I open the gate or not. My brothers and cousins are already in the yard trying to think what to do, but my thought was disturbed by policemen over the walls shouting now I should open.
Didn’t have many choices, they came inside and took me and the gun to the district centre.
I am in the police station in Kharwar district of Wardak province and I am sitting in one room with the cops. To my surprise I saw the chief of intelligence, Mohammad Usman in the room too. I told him, I came to you this afternoon and showed you my permit and you are the one who came to my house after the thieves took everything a month ago, and you helped me prove to the police office in Kabul that you can’t protect me and I need to have a permit but the police now has intruded into my house, hassling me and my family at night. He was just nodding and said:
- there has been some problem with your permit; can I see it?
I give him the permit and he said he is going to keep the permit and the gun and will contact Kabul tomorrow and resolve the misunderstanding. He said I could go now and come tomorrow.
Came back home, my tea was cold now and I couldn’t bother to make new one, went to sleep and called my office first thing in the morning to let them know I had to take care of some stuff in the village and I would come in the afternoon.
I went to the police station the day and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and after that for several days. But Usman, the chief of intelligence had nothing to tell me yet. he was still waiting for the confirmation.
After a week he said, everything was fine with my permit and I could take the gun but I had to buy dinner for the cops and sign a letter that I received my gun back.
As I was walking out of the station I was stopped by two cops and they took my gun back.
i went back to the commander and Usman, they said, I was lying and they have a letter and they don’t have my gun anymore.
I came back home but I wasn’t feeling safe, I felt - if the cops are trying to steal there is no insurance that the thieves are not going to come back and there is for sure no faith in police that they could stop or catch them.
I decided to move in to town and found a flat in Kabul.
I have a small construction company specialising in building bridges and hand pump well.
I am not quite used to live in a flat but I had to learn and accommodate.
I woke up one morning and I couldn’t find my car in the parking place. the parking lot is protected by police who received some monthly fee for the service. But they couldn’t tell me where my car was and they were very sure it should be where I parked it.
I called the police station to tell them my car was stolen. They filed a report and referred me to their superior and the procession continued until I was in the office of Kabul chief criminal investigation office.
A man with thick moustache and a big camouflage jacket was sitting behind a big desk with Karzai and Massoud pictures hanging over his head. He is looking at a piece of paper which has my car specifications on it.
- so somebody stole your car
- seems like it, I don’t have it anymore
- can I see the key
- Why does that make a difference?
- It’s a prove of your ownership
- but you have all the documents in front of you.
Then he started to ask me if I am suspected of anyone I said No. he tried it for an hour but I really didn’t suspect anyone.
- who else was using your car
- sometimes friends and family
- what are the names and address?
I knew if I give him any name, they would be in trouble. He was starting to get edgy with me,
- if you don’t give me any suspects how the hell I am supposed to find the thieve. Have you ever repaired your car?
I told him no but of course I did, I had the car for two years and I was doing regular check ups. Then I saw a light on his eyes and he said here it says you have once made a replicant key,
- did you know the key maker could keep the sketch and can make one anytime.
We are going to bring in the key-man for investigation; he is the major lead we have at this point.
They called me after two days and I saw the keymaker behind the bars, I couldn’t recognise him first because I met him a year a go and it was for a few minutes. But he wasn’t alone. I asked the investigator, who are the other guys?
- they are all prime suspects they are all connected to the keymaker.
The key maker said, he wanted to see me in private.
“look I know it’s not your fault that we are here and you know I didn’t do it nor did these other guys. This entire case is a pretext for the police to make some money and I have talked with the investigator if you say we are not your suspects they will let us go we have paid them.”
Then the investigator came and said if he shall keep them until they talk. I said I don’t think it’s them. He said
-well if you don’t think they are your suspects then we should let them go.
I called the police a couple of weeks later and a colonel told me:
- You didn’t have any suspects and you know if you don’t have any we can’t find your car.
- You should do your job without my hint.
- You are very naïve. We all knew the car was in Pakistan before you know it was stolen.
A month was gone from my last day of visit to police. One day the police came to my office and arrested me along with NATO inspectors.
A British soldier from NATO told me there was a suicide car attacked on NATO troops in Kabul where two NATO soldier died and they found the number plate of the improvised explosive car, after they tracked it they found out I was the owner.
I said:
- But you know my car was stolen more than a month ago and I have reported it to the police.
- But you didn’t report to us. That is why we take you for questioning.
- I didn’t know you were running the country.
I think I said a few words which got me into trouble and I know I shouldn’t have said it.
I was kept in Kabul jail for a couple of days then they hand me over to Americans in Bagram airbase where I lived in a tent for a couple of days eating MREs and then according to my guardians they found enough evidence that me or my company has financed the attack and somehow they linked me to the suicider. One day they put a black sack over my head and when they took it off they told me I was in Guantanamo.
*****
My name is sanjar qiam I am a journalist. I met Faqeer Ahmadi in the ceremony held for prisoners release by Afghan Peace and Reconciliation commission. He was among eight Afghan men who were released from Guantanamo. He was sitting under the sun caressing his long beard when I came and sat next to him.
- Are you going to shave it?
- Shave what?
- Your beard
- Yeah sure, the peace commission give us 2000 Afghanis to buy razor blade
He showed me an envelope and burst laughing.
I was shaking my head and smiling, he asked me:
- why aren’t you recording the chairman
- I have it in archive; he says the same thing every time.
- I could guess but there is not much else he could say. I am just hoping it’s not going to be too long. Need to see my family - can’t wait.
Faqeer really stroke me, one would think he might be furious and pissed off with Americans. but he was very funny and took the whole thing as a misunderstanding.
Monday, January 08, 2007
تجربه تنظیم های اسلامی افغانستان، روش امریکا برای تصرف جهان اسلام
مراکز قرن بیستم قدرت در شرق میانه کم رنگتر می شود. بغداد، دمشق و قاهره قدرت خود را به تهران و ریاض می دهد. در این میان ایالات متحده امریکا نقش عمده را در توازن قدرت بازی می نماید، امریکا در حال بحث روی سياست جدیدی برای شرق میانه و دنیای اسلام می باشد. در یک بیانیه که در ماه جنوری در مقابل کمیته روبط خارجی مجلس سنا امریکا ارائه گردید، وزیر خارجه خانم کاندولیسه رایس گفت "در شرق میانه موقف های جدید راهبردی بوجود آمده است" که "اصلاح طلبان" را از "افراطیون" جدا می سازد. رایس با اشاره به کشور های سنی آنها را مراکز میانه روی خواند و افزود که ایران، سوریه و حزب الله "در انسوی خط قرار دارند". رایس افزود " ايران و سوريه گزینشی نموده اند و آن بی ثبات ساختن منطقه است"
راهبرد جدید یک تغیر بزرگی در سياست امریکا است. کشور های سنی " از ظهور شیعیان در هراس بوده، و خیلی ها متاثر از طرز برخود امریکا با شیعیان میان رو در عراق بودند" یک مشاور دولت امریکا دارای روابط نزدیک با اسرائیل است گفت. "ما نمی توانیم که دست آورد های شیعیان عراق را از آنها بگیریم اما ما میتوانیم که انرا متوقف بسازیم."
"به نظر میرسد که در داخل دولت امریکا بحثی جریان داشته که کدام روند خطرناکتر است – ایران و یا سنیان افراطی" ولی نصر یک دانشمند امریکایی در مجلس روابط خارجی امریکا گفت:"عربستان سعودی و یک تعداد از اراکین دولت امریکا به این باور اند که ایران یک تهدید بزرگتر است و افراطیون سنی خطری است کوچکتر. که این خود پیروزی شمرده میشود به عربستان سعودی و همقطارانش"
در معراق توجه روابط امریکا و عربستان سعودی بعد از مسـاله ایران، نفت، و عراق – لبنان قرار دارد. عربستان سعودی عمیقأ در کوشش های امریکا و اسرائیل جهت حمایت از دولت لبنان دست داشته است. صدراعظم لبنان فواد سینیوره در مقابل حزب الله مجادله می نماید تا بر اریکه قدرت باقی بماند، حزب الله که یک حزب شیعه میباشد ساختار های محکمی در لبنان دارد، حدود دو تا سه هزار جنگجو فعال و هزاران عضو دیگر دارد.
وضعیت فعلی حمایت عربستان سعودی و امریکا از سنی های افراطی مشابهات زیادی به حمایت امریکا و عربستان از سنی های افراطی در دهه های هشتاد و نود میلادی در افغانستان دارد.
ولی نصر وضعیت کنونی را با ظهور القاعده مقایسه می نماید. در آن زمان دولت عربستان سعودی پیشکشی به جنگ مخفی امریکا با شوروی ها در افغانستان نمود. صدها جوان سعودی به مناطق مرزی میان افغانستان و پاکستان ارسال شدند، این جوانان اقدام به ایجاد مدارس، مراکز اموزشی و محلات نفرگیری نمودند. در آن زمان همچون حالا اکثر کسانی که توسط سعودی ها تادیه می گردیدند سلفی ها بودند، که در میان شان اسامه بن لادن و همکاران او که القاعده را در سال 1988 بنا نهادند نیز شامل بود.
به گزارش گروه بین المللی بحران حلقات سنی در داخل دولت لبنان وجود دارد که به افراطیون سلفی پول می دهدند. این گروه که ارتباطاتی با اخوان المسلمین دارد در تلاش ایجاد یک کشور کوچک در شمال لبنان هستند. گروه بین المللی بحران گزارش می دهد که " این مردان در مراکز القاعده در افغانستان اموزش دیده اند"
امریکا در زمان بحران و تنش معمولآ، هم بشکل دپلوماسی علنی و هم به گونه عملیات سری، درب جنگ رو برو را باز می نماید که اکثرأ به شکل گشاد نمودن مخالفت های فرقه یی میباشد.
همچو جنگ افغانستان؛ در لبنان امریکا و عربستان تا حال میلیارد ها دالر در حمایت از گروه های خود پول سرازير کرده اند.
دیپلومات های امریکایی، اروپایی و عرب گفته اند که از جمله میلیارد ها دالر کمک شده به دولت لبنان، دولت اجازه داده است تا یک مقدار آن به دست گروه های افراطی سنی در شمال لبنان، در وادی بیکا و اردوگاه های مهاجرین فلسطینی در جنوب، برسد. این گروه ها اگر چه کوچک اند اما منحیث مخالفین حزب الله دیده میشوند که روابظ نزدیک با القاعده دارند. این پالیسی بود که امریکا و عربستان و پاکستان در افغانستان پیشه داشتند، هر زمانی که با مخالفین ایديولژیک خود سر می خوردند در سراغ حمایت از مخالفین ایشان از یک گروه افراطی می برامدند.
یک مقام استخباراتی امریکا گفت. " در این جریان، ما یک تعداد از مردان خراب را تمویل خواهیم کرد که همراه با یک سلسله از عواقب غیر قابل پیش بینی خواهد بود. " این مامور استخباراتی افزود" ما توانایی این را نداریم تا از پول خود رسید بدست بیاوریم و از کسانی که ناخواسته است جلوگیری شود" مانند تجربه که در افغانستان تکرار شد.
خانواده سعودی ترس از آن دارد که مبادا ایران توازن قدرت را نه تنها در منطقه بلکه در کشور خودشان نیز تغییر دهد. عربستان سعودی دارای یک اقلیت قابل ملاحظه شیعه در ولایت شرقی این کشور میباشد، این منظقه نفت خیز بوده و سابقه تنش های فرقه یی را دارد. مقامات خانواده سلطنتی سعودی به این عقیده اند که اعمال ایرانی در همکاری با شیعیان محلی مسوؤل چند حمله هراس افگنی میباشند.
امروز یگانه ارتش که قادر به متوقف نمودن ایران بود – ارتش عراق – توسط ایالات متحده از بین رفته است. ما ایرانی داریم که احتمالأ نیروی ذره وی خواهد داشت و دارای یک ارتش حاضر قریب به نیم میلیون سرباز میباشد در حالی که عربستان سعودی دارای ارتش حاضر هفتاد و پنج هزار نفر میباشد.
ولی نصر ادامه میدهد : "خانواده سعودی امکانات وسیع مالی در دست دارد و هم روابط بسیار نزدیک با اخوان المسلمین و سلفی ها دارد. بار اخری که ایران یک تعدید بود کشور عربستان توانست از خرابترین نوع افراطی گری اسلامی کار گیرد. مشکلی که با سلفی ها است که اگر انها را یک بار از صندوق کشید دوباره گذاشتن شان نا ممکن است" از همچو افراطی گرایی، در قالب تنیظیم های جهادی و طالبی، در جریان دهه نود میلادی عیله اقلیت های افغانستان نیز استفاده شده است که بلاخره خود امریکا و جهان مجبور به مداخله گردیدند تا گروه های افراطی را سر جایشان قرار دهند.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
what is happening in Mussa Qalla
Radio Salaam Watandar
By Zalmai Ahadi and Sanjar Qiam
“The Mussa Qalla fight in no way violates the agreement, the agreement holds firm despite some of the incidents that have happened so”
Said brigadier Richard Nugee, the spokesman for ISAF in a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday. Referring to the latest clashes between the insurgents and NATO troops in Mussa Qalla which resulted in more than 70 causalities.
“The recent incident south of Mussa Qalla is about 15 to 20KM away from the district center” Nugee added.
National Council representative from Helmand province Nassima Niazzi said the agreement is no longer in place and she added to the reasons “National council representative didn’t have any part in the agreement, and the agreement wasn’t transparent, and no insurance of peoples safety was made, and it wasn’t a substantial agreement, any agreement with above criteria wouldn’t last long in Afghanistan”
But the Helmand governor spokesperson says the agreement holds stiff and Mussa Qalla is open for people to go and come in safety.
Muheeddin Khan the spokesperson for Helmand governor added “we are trying to talk and negotiate with people and up until now the flow of traffic is normal. Security is firm in Mussa Qalla and there hasn’t been any incident which might cause the cease of the agreement. The people of Mussa Qalla have said if government is not holding to its word then we’ll leave our homes. At this moment the agreement is in place. There is nothing else – no problem”
Mattiaullah Khan who introduces himself as the ex-governor of Sangin district of Helmand was in Kabul a couple of weeks ago with another 260 representatives of Helmand, they were demanding the removal of Helmand governor, Dawod. He said about Mussa Qalla operation and displacement of residents.
“These people include 10-15 narcotic traffickers and have their own factories or those who has received cash from Taliban or are part of Taliban. NATO operation is a strike on Talibans sanctuary and it’s a good thing. Taliban were organizing there and they have been to establish nests there. Taliban has also had established opium refineries and Osama related Arabs were spotted in the district. Those who claim they will leave the area are not actually the residents; they are either Taliban or drug traffickers”
On the other hand Mallim Shah who claims to be former provincial chief of intelligence supports NATO operation, and claims there has been no harm to civilians in the operation.
“The battle took place in proximity of Landi Nawie called Lashkarak. Taliban were housed in two forts of 30 to 40 each. This place is where they were getting organized for operations. The presence of civilian in the area is a lie”
In the face of Mussa Qalla residence threat to leave their houses if any future operation take place and wide spread local discontent with the Helmand governor, Dawod, we asked general Nugee if NATO support and listen to local population.
“The bottom line is the president selects the governor, we support the president and the government of Afghanistan. And therefore if the president has selected the governor we’ll support him. We will support the president and the government in Mussa Qalla agreement”
By Zalmai Ahadi and Sanjar Qiam
“The Mussa Qalla fight in no way violates the agreement, the agreement holds firm despite some of the incidents that have happened so”
Said brigadier Richard Nugee, the spokesman for ISAF in a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday. Referring to the latest clashes between the insurgents and NATO troops in Mussa Qalla which resulted in more than 70 causalities.
“The recent incident south of Mussa Qalla is about 15 to 20KM away from the district center” Nugee added.
National Council representative from Helmand province Nassima Niazzi said the agreement is no longer in place and she added to the reasons “National council representative didn’t have any part in the agreement, and the agreement wasn’t transparent, and no insurance of peoples safety was made, and it wasn’t a substantial agreement, any agreement with above criteria wouldn’t last long in Afghanistan”
But the Helmand governor spokesperson says the agreement holds stiff and Mussa Qalla is open for people to go and come in safety.
Muheeddin Khan the spokesperson for Helmand governor added “we are trying to talk and negotiate with people and up until now the flow of traffic is normal. Security is firm in Mussa Qalla and there hasn’t been any incident which might cause the cease of the agreement. The people of Mussa Qalla have said if government is not holding to its word then we’ll leave our homes. At this moment the agreement is in place. There is nothing else – no problem”
Mattiaullah Khan who introduces himself as the ex-governor of Sangin district of Helmand was in Kabul a couple of weeks ago with another 260 representatives of Helmand, they were demanding the removal of Helmand governor, Dawod. He said about Mussa Qalla operation and displacement of residents.
“These people include 10-15 narcotic traffickers and have their own factories or those who has received cash from Taliban or are part of Taliban. NATO operation is a strike on Talibans sanctuary and it’s a good thing. Taliban were organizing there and they have been to establish nests there. Taliban has also had established opium refineries and Osama related Arabs were spotted in the district. Those who claim they will leave the area are not actually the residents; they are either Taliban or drug traffickers”
On the other hand Mallim Shah who claims to be former provincial chief of intelligence supports NATO operation, and claims there has been no harm to civilians in the operation.
“The battle took place in proximity of Landi Nawie called Lashkarak. Taliban were housed in two forts of 30 to 40 each. This place is where they were getting organized for operations. The presence of civilian in the area is a lie”
In the face of Mussa Qalla residence threat to leave their houses if any future operation take place and wide spread local discontent with the Helmand governor, Dawod, we asked general Nugee if NATO support and listen to local population.
“The bottom line is the president selects the governor, we support the president and the government of Afghanistan. And therefore if the president has selected the governor we’ll support him. We will support the president and the government in Mussa Qalla agreement”
Monday, December 04, 2006
NATO summit
"I am absolutely convinced that if we allowed Afghanistan to fall back into Taliban rule it would become a failed state again and a black hole for terrorism training," Scheffer told the Daily Telegraph last week.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair used NATO summit this week to press his allies to do more in Afghanistan, where British troops are on the frontline of bloody fighting with Taliban insurgents. "The credibility of NATO... rests on us doing everything we can to help the people of Afghanistan in their search away from the Taliban," he said, his message firmly in Riga summit.Blair has good reason to be worried: in recent months the death toll among British troops has surged upwards since they spearheaded NATO's move into the south in the middle of the year, and more than 40 have now died. "I don't believe there is an alternative but to fight this and to fight it for as long as it takes," British Prime Minister Tony Blair told troops in southern Afghanistan last week.
This is while NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai said “There will be no military solution, there has to be a political solution. How many more lives have to be lost before people realise it's time for dialogue?"Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has said that the British forces will never win in Afghanistan by military means, and that it should open negotiations with the Taliban. NATO was ignoring the realities on the ground, he said and added that the reason why Taliban numbers had swelled was because moderates were joining the militants. "Bring 50,000 more troops and fight for 10 to 15 years more and you won't resolve it. The British with their history in Afghanistan should have known that better than anyone else," the Dawn quoted Aurakzai as saying in an interview with Sunday Times reporter Christina Lamb. He added: "It is no longer an insurgency but a war of Pashtun resistance exactly on the model of the first Anglo-Afghan war. Then too (in 1839-42) initially there were celebrations. adding:
"A military mission alone will not succeed," U.S. Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland said."We must have security married to good governance and development, and that means the EU, U.N. and NATO working in harmony with Afghans," she wrote on NATO's Web site last week.Few and few Afghan children wave as foreign patrol passes dusty streets of Kandahar, and local men sipping tea in front of shops offer only a steely gaze, one of the tea drinkers said “foreign troops don’t know where they are and can’t tell a farmer from a militant.”
Although all 26 nations have troops serving with the mission, those in the southern front lines — mainly Canada, Britain, the United States and the Netherlands — are irked that others — primarily Germany, Italy, France and Spain — have restrictions limiting their troops to the relatively peaceful north and west."Putting caveats on operations means putting caveats on NATO's future," NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said.
France and the United States hold fundamentally different views of NATO's role. Paris is wary of what it sees as Washington's attempts to use NATO to expand its influence at the expense of a more independent EU. Many blame continued tension between France and United States for the relatively limited ambition of the Riga agenda and expect more for the next summit in 2008, when there'll probably be a new president in Paris, or the one after in 2009, when there will certainly be a new president in Washington.
"More and more capitals are reluctant to commit additional troops," said French lawmaker Pierre Lellouche, who recently chaired a session of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Quebec.
"Afghanistan has become a test case for whether we can overcome the growing discrepancy between NATO's expanding missions and its lagging capabilities,” NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said at the summit. The outcome of the summit is more time for NATO to adjust its strategy and minimise the discrepancy but failure for Afghanistan where bloodshed is on the rise. A terror war doesn’t give you time like a summit does.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair used NATO summit this week to press his allies to do more in Afghanistan, where British troops are on the frontline of bloody fighting with Taliban insurgents. "The credibility of NATO... rests on us doing everything we can to help the people of Afghanistan in their search away from the Taliban," he said, his message firmly in Riga summit.Blair has good reason to be worried: in recent months the death toll among British troops has surged upwards since they spearheaded NATO's move into the south in the middle of the year, and more than 40 have now died. "I don't believe there is an alternative but to fight this and to fight it for as long as it takes," British Prime Minister Tony Blair told troops in southern Afghanistan last week.
This is while NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai said “There will be no military solution, there has to be a political solution. How many more lives have to be lost before people realise it's time for dialogue?"Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has said that the British forces will never win in Afghanistan by military means, and that it should open negotiations with the Taliban. NATO was ignoring the realities on the ground, he said and added that the reason why Taliban numbers had swelled was because moderates were joining the militants. "Bring 50,000 more troops and fight for 10 to 15 years more and you won't resolve it. The British with their history in Afghanistan should have known that better than anyone else," the Dawn quoted Aurakzai as saying in an interview with Sunday Times reporter Christina Lamb. He added: "It is no longer an insurgency but a war of Pashtun resistance exactly on the model of the first Anglo-Afghan war. Then too (in 1839-42) initially there were celebrations. adding:
"A military mission alone will not succeed," U.S. Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland said."We must have security married to good governance and development, and that means the EU, U.N. and NATO working in harmony with Afghans," she wrote on NATO's Web site last week.Few and few Afghan children wave as foreign patrol passes dusty streets of Kandahar, and local men sipping tea in front of shops offer only a steely gaze, one of the tea drinkers said “foreign troops don’t know where they are and can’t tell a farmer from a militant.”
Although all 26 nations have troops serving with the mission, those in the southern front lines — mainly Canada, Britain, the United States and the Netherlands — are irked that others — primarily Germany, Italy, France and Spain — have restrictions limiting their troops to the relatively peaceful north and west."Putting caveats on operations means putting caveats on NATO's future," NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said.
France and the United States hold fundamentally different views of NATO's role. Paris is wary of what it sees as Washington's attempts to use NATO to expand its influence at the expense of a more independent EU. Many blame continued tension between France and United States for the relatively limited ambition of the Riga agenda and expect more for the next summit in 2008, when there'll probably be a new president in Paris, or the one after in 2009, when there will certainly be a new president in Washington.
"More and more capitals are reluctant to commit additional troops," said French lawmaker Pierre Lellouche, who recently chaired a session of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Quebec.
"Afghanistan has become a test case for whether we can overcome the growing discrepancy between NATO's expanding missions and its lagging capabilities,” NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said at the summit. The outcome of the summit is more time for NATO to adjust its strategy and minimise the discrepancy but failure for Afghanistan where bloodshed is on the rise. A terror war doesn’t give you time like a summit does.
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