protecting westeners

Today 31^st of July is another day off for foreign aid workers. After the explosion east of Kabul the situation was assessed critical by foreign embassies and NGO security organization. NGOs have recruited security contractors to provide them security and advice. The security contractors have advised four NGOs I managed to get hold to go home for the afternoon and keep low profile.

This is only limited to foreign aid workers and Afghans remain in the offices and are working.

The security contractor assessed the situation not that bad for afghans.

The security contractors are quick when it comes to making decisions about foreigners.

Journalists of an international media organization are being followed by unknown people. The chasers are in plane cloth and have two private cars, while journalists went to ask them who they are and why they are being followed they were treated badly and were told its an issue of national security.

The issue was reported to the media organization management ten days ago and it was repeatedly brought to their attention but no decision has been made yet.

This once again tells us the mission of foreigners in Afghanistan. It’s about them, an organization with 5 foreign employees spend a million dollar on security. This won’t be acceptable anywhere else in the world either.

I have done several stories about security contractors. They are here to protect foreign security. i don’t see much difference between a security contractor and an alqiada fighter, in terms of legal statues. Neither of them could be trailed under Afghan law or any other law. Both have their own agenda, one ideological and not connected to Afghan interest. The other financial and steals Afghan money.

media power - kabul diary

i was just in the ministry of interior affairs, living a day of my life with Afghan bureaucracy.

afghan armed forces and afghan police is a great place to see how power is shared in afghanistan.

Billions of dollars have been invested in armed forces to make them an emblem of national unity and a power to keep the country national but they don't have the slightest character of nationalhood. power is shared along the undemocratic lines. the most powerful is the generals and commanders who are friends with Americans and ally with westerners. The second level of power is connection with the so called leaders, both tribal and mujahideen.

 

five years has passed since the so-called democratic intervention in Afghanistan but the country is undemocratic more than ever and politically corrupt than ever.

its very important to support social causes like radio watandar and other media and civil society representatives, as another power pillar. otherwise old same stuff would happen few people suppressing the rest of the soceity.

 

media hasn't proven yet as another power pillar and there is not yet that direct connection with people.

warlords and political groups have realsed the importance of media and today they have dozens of outlets. this is why internatioanl community has stopped their support for free media.

i think we can pretty much see where this country is going. down the same line it was ten years ago anarchy and warlordism. it's just a matter of time. 

 

 

HIV positive ban

There are sixteen countries with formal ban on HIV positive travelers, but in formally there are many more. A Senegal woman was test by polish authorities for HIV, according to an immigrant support organization. Below is the list of countries with formal ban:

Armenia

Bangladesh

Brunei

China

Iraq

Libya

Moldavia

Oman

Qatar

Russian Federation

Solomon Islands

Saudi Arabia

Sri Lanka

South Korea

Sudan

USA

When traveling to Russia I was made to get an HIV license. I didn’t want anyone to take my blood sample, but it’s a very persuasive document. See my HIV negative certificate ;-) i have delivered this certificate to many other countries and none said NO. this certificate helps anywhere.

HIV-related stigma refers to all unfavorable attitudes, beliefs, and policies directed toward people perceived to have HIV/AIDS as well as toward their significant others and loved ones, close associates, social groups, and communities. Patterns of prejudice, which include devaluing, discounting, discrediting, and discriminating against these groups of people, play into and strengthen existing social inequalities--especially those of gender, sexuality, and race--that are at the root of HIV-related stigma.

The UN decided to have a declaration on this too. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has developed a protocol for the identification of discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. I don’t know why the UN doesn’t condemn the above mentioned 16 countries; discrimination is now the official policy of these governments.

paghman

cold shower for boys in paghman, north west of kabul