Afghan Media Review
14 - 4 -2005
Are US allies growing poppy? ..................................................................................................... 1
ANA Accepts Responsibility for Western Provinces .................................................................. 3
Barrier is broken in Afghan province .......................................................................................... 4
by Rachel Morarjee ...................................................................................................................... 7
Headline: Hard times for Afghanistan's drug smugglers ............Error! Bookmark not defined.
ALM3a Program summary of Radio Afghanistan news in Pashto .............................................. 9
Headline: US troops ordered to take an active role in stopping drug trafficking and opium ... 11
Headline: Editorial - AFGHAN PAPER SAYS RECONSTRUCTION SHOULD NOT BE
LEFT TO NGOS ........................................................................................................................ 13
Headline: Third Phase of Disarmament Ends in West............................................................... 14
ALM1a Press selection list for Afghan newspapers 12 Apr 05 ................................................. 15
ALM2a BBC Monitoring quotes from Afghan press for 12 Apr 05 ......................................... 21
Afghan police arrest 3 men over attempted kidnap of American civilian ................................. 23
Headline: Editorial - Afghan Paper Urges Government To Recover 'Hidden' Weapons From
Public ......................................................................................................................................... 25
ALM1a BBC Monitoring quotes from Afghan press for 13 Apr 05 ......................................... 26
ALM3a BBC Monitoring: Review of Afghan Press Commentaries for 11-13 Apr 05 ............. 28
The boy singers of Kabul ........................................................................................................... 31
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April 03, 2005-- Safar 23, 1426 A.H.
ISSN 1563-9479
Capital Suggestion
Are US allies growing poppy?
Dr Farrukh Saleem
The News International, Pakistan
Taliban-ruled Afghanistan had 4,163 acres planted with poppies. Under
General John Abizaid, 510,766 acres in Afghanistan are being used for
poppy cultivation (both figures from the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy). The Taliban produced 40 metric tons of
opium, or the equivalent of five metric tons of heroin. Under the
Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Central Command, Afghanistan produces
5,000 metric tons of opium, or the equivalent of 600 metric tons of
heroin.
In 2001, Afghanistan's entire heroin stock was worth $600 million on
the streets of Frankfurt and Rotterdam. Last year's crop could fetch
upwards of $50 billion on the same streets (roughly two-third of
Pakistan's annual GDP).
Afghanistan has six neighbours; Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran,
Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China. Of the six, the Pak-Afghan
border — at 2,430 km — is the longest and the most porous. According
to Major-General Nadeem Ahmed, DG Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force
(ANF), some "70 percent of the narcotics manufactured in Afghanistan
[are] either smuggled to, or transited through Pakistan."
Poppy is cultivated across the border in Afghanistan but most labs
are at the border on Pakistani territory. The `Opium Expressway' has
three corridors: The Southern Corridor of the `Golden Crescent' is
through Islamabad, Sialkot, Sukkur, Karachi and into the Arabian Sea
(there is a fork that goes into India). The Western Corridor takes a
route between Tehran and Esfahan and further West or through Turkey
and into Europe. The Northern Corridor is into Turkmenistan and
through the Caspian Sea.
In 1979, Pakistan had a near zero heroin-addict population. Our
current annual consumption is estimated at 100 metric tons with a
million chronic heroin addicts (some estimates have up to three
million drug addicts). The price at Rs50 a gram is cheap; our rate of
addiction is double that of the U.S. and most Pakistani addicts are
between the ages of 20 and 35.
General Tommy Franks, General Abizaid's predecessor, recruited every
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Afghan warlord he could rent, bigger ones at up to a million dollars
a month. The warlords took Tommy's dollars, bought more guns,
increased the size of their militia and brought more territory under
their control. They took the dollars, fought the Taliban and then
went for even more dollars by growing tons of poppies on territory
under their control. Most CIA human assets in Afghanistan also went
into the business of sowing seeds. America's `war on drugs' became
subordinated to her `war on terrorism' and what we have is a record
high opium production (America's budget for the `war on drugs' is $19
billion while Congressional Budget Office's estimate for the `war on
terrorism' falls in the neighbourhood of $200 billion).
Afghanistan's heroin is the purest there is and it remains
Afghanistan's alternative currency. Warlords, farmers and traders all
store heroin as others around the globe stash money in the bank. If
the world produces a thousand metric tons of pure heroin at least 600
metric tons of that is produced in Afghanistan and some 400 metric
tons of that passes through Pakistan. That's the equivalent of Euro
30 billion (European retail price) worth of product passing through
Pakistan (our annual GDP is roughly Euro 60 billion).
Not too long ago, two tons of heroin hidden in footballs was seized
in Sialkot. And residential land in Islamabad is now more expensive
than Beverley Hills. Is there a connection between the record high
opium production across the border and Islamabad prices going through
the roof?
Hamid Karzai may be the president of Kabul but drug barons closely
allied to American forces are the real rulers of Afghanistan. Is
Afghanistan about to become a narco-state? Why should General John
Abizaid worry? The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
(a component of the Executive Office of the President) says, "little
Afghan heroin has ended up on U.S. streets, with most Afghan heroin
marketed to neighbouring countries and Europe." Once again, as was
the case during the war against the Soviets, CIA assets in
Afghanistan now control the Golden Crescent's heroin trade.
JoPIC assessment:
CN article implicating Warlords in the business
Top
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ANA Accepts Responsibility for Western Provinces
Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan
Coalition Press Information Center (Public Affairs)
April 10, 2005
HERAT, Afghanistan – In a ceremony held here Thursday, the remaining members of the
Afghan Militia Force’s 4th Corps handed over official authority for the protection of Herat,
Badghis, Farah and Ghor provinces to the 207th Regional Corps of the Afghan National Army.
The 207th Regional Corps was actually commissioned Sept. 28, 2004, and, as far as the
Ministry of Defense is concerned, this exchange had happened months before, but, according
to Maj. Michael Perry, an operations advisor to the 207th, it was an important ceremony
nonetheless. “Basically, it was an acknowledgement by the AMF that they no longer exist,”
Perry said.
During the ceremony, the commanders of both units exchanged flags, signifying the ANA’s
acceptance of the responsibility for western Afghanistan. “The exchange of flags between the
old army and the ANA was done very enthusiastically and very patriotically,” said Maj.
Mohammad, a member of the regional command’s staff.
Sgt. Abdul Quduz, who returned from Pakistan to “take responsibility for (his) nation,”
believes that the passing of the AMF serves as a sign of a new stability for Herat and all of
Afghanistan. “Now we have a president who is the head of the new army and we are under the
command of one person,” he said. “We will act according to the law and the rules.”
Capt. Mahboub Bullah, a former member of the AMF, said that the time had come for the
nation to unify under a national authority and this handover was another sign that it was taking
place.
The AMF, he said, had been too segregated—units were made up of single ethnic groups and
fell under the control of warlords, acting at their whims. In fact, the first ANA soldiers to arrive
in Herat Province were sent in August 2004 to quell fighting between AMF troops under the
control of local commanders.
Bullah said this kind of fighting could not happen with a national army. “The new army, the
ANA, is based on all Afghan ethnicities,” he said. “It belongs to all Afghans.”
JoPIC assessment:
Press release on the handover of responsibility for Herat from the AMF’s 4th Corp to the
ANA
Top
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Barrier is broken in Afghan province
Habiba Sorabi, the nation's 1st female governor, confronts varying expectations in Bamiyan
region
By Kim Barker
Chicago Tribune
Published April 10, 2005
BAMIYAN, Afghanistan -- The new governor sounds like a typical politician, promising
paved roads, electricity, jobs and water, just like the last governor.
But the new governor of Bamiyan is anything but ordinary. Habiba Sorabi is a woman, the first
female provincial governor in Afghanistan's tortured history. Her appointment by the president
marks a step forward for Afghan women, oppressed even before the Taliban forced them to
stop working and beat them for showing skin.
"Thank God a thousand times," said Massoma, a woman of about 40, who like many Afghans
does not have a last name, as she sat near an unpaved road in Bamiyan, hoping that someone
would give her a ride.
"Women are more powerful than men in this country," added her daughter, Marzia, 22. "If God
wills it, they'll do better things."
Long way to go
Although the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, women still suffer in Afghanistan. Most, like
Massoma and Marzia, are illiterate. Many die in childbirth. Teenage girls are still forced to
marry old men. Many women are not allowed to work. One educated woman in Kabul recently
complained to a visitor that her husband never let her leave home, even to visit family.
But the new constitution declares the sexes are equal, and several women in Kabul have been
pushing for more rights.
In Kabul, women broadcast the news and run for political office. Three of the 30 Cabinet
members are women, in charge of minor ministries.
"I want women to have confidence that they can have high positions in the government," said
Sorabi, a former women's affairs minister. "Women in Afghanistan have been isolated. Men
don't allow women to do things. Men want to have all the power."
Sorabi, 48, will be the first woman to leave relatively progressive Kabul to run the remote
province to the west. She hails from the same ethnic Hazara minority as most of Bamiyan, but
she still faces a huge challenge. She worries that some people will expect too much, believing
that her international appeal will bring more aid to one of the poorest provinces in Afghanistan.
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She also faces problems from people who expect too little. They do not think she can do the
job.
"You say women's rights are equal to men's," said Ziauddin, 25, a farmer in Watapor, a village
in Bamiyan province. "But it's not happening outside the cities. Men are losing their skin to
work hard. Women are just sitting at home."
"For men, it's shameful to see our women work," added Hafizullah, 26, another farmer.
If Sorabi does not deliver on her promises, this will have bigger implications than on her
political career. Some people will blame any shortcoming on her sex.
After she was appointed, about 200 people showed up in the town of Bamiyan to protest her
selection. Three Afghan newspapers ran editorials questioning whether the country was ready
for a woman governor. One suggested that the government would be better off fighting
violence against women than naming a token woman governor.
Why not a woman?
But Bamiyan province has been friendlier to women than most. A few days after the antiSorabi protest, a few hundred people rallied in support of her.
Almost half the Bamiyan voters in the presidential election last fall were women. A couple
dozen women were seen walking on a recent afternoon on the main streets of Bamiyan town-many more than in other provinces. Some even wear simple head scarves, instead of the burqa,
which covers a woman's face and is worn through much of the countryside.
Many men in Bamiyan also welcome the change. They complain about the past governor, a
former militia commander who they say did nothing. These men are also practical, reasoning
that the international community will be more likely to send money to the country's first female
governor than to a minor warlord. Nothing else has worked--why not a woman?
"Women are very kind, very nice," said Mohamadullah, 50. "Maybe they can bring lasting
peace."
Since the fall of the Taliban, this central province has been relatively peaceful, except for
security problems with drug traffickers.
But the people demand a lot. Many like to say they have lost everything. Scores were killed by
the Taliban and buried in mass graves. Even the giant Buddhas that once brought tourists here
were destroyed.
The town of Bamiyan is nothing but dusty, bumpy roads, small beige homes and sleepy stores.
Fields are plowed by cattle dragging large pieces of wood. Farmers travel on the backs of
burros. Much of Bamiyan looks as if the 19th Century never arrived, let alone the 21st.
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"Anything that people need to live, the people of Bamiyan do not have," said Abdulkhalegh
Zaligh, the deputy governor. "We don't have roads. We don't have schools. We don't have
electricity. We don't have doctors. We don't have engineers."
Sorabi will live in a modest home of three rooms, plus a room to wash herself, an outhouse and
a guard house. There is no running water, no electricity. Many other provincial governors live
in nice homes, even mansions, with manicured lawns.
She has spent only a week in Bamiyan since being named to the post early last month. Now,
Sorabi is in Kabul, getting ready to move and waiting for her house to be finished.
Her two sons and husband will stay in Kabul. Her daughter is in college in India. "Gender
equality," Sorabi said.
JoPIC assessment:
Article comparing the benefits of appointing a new female governor to the legacy of a
previous Warlord
Top
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by Rachel Morarjee
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 11 (AFP) - Rivers flooding, US soldiers at the border and
corrupt militias losing their jobs and weapons -- life as a drug smuggler in southern
Afghanistan isn't what it used to be for Ahmed Jan.
Getting convoys of 60 or 70 off-road vehicles, each filled with a ton of dry opium resin,
through a day's drive from southern Kandahar city to the border with Iran has become
complicated in recent months, he tells AFP.
"It is much more difficult to get stuff out of the country so it's only a few secret routes that are
running, like rivers of drugs," says Jan, a rotund man in his 40s using a pseudonym.
His problems are an indication that Afghanistan's fight against narcotics is paying off.
President Hamid Karzai came to office last year pledging to wage a 'jihad' or holy war on
drugs, backed by the US and other western governments.
With between 40 to 60 percent of Afghanistan's economy generated by opium in 2004, both the
US and the UN have warned that the country is tottering on the brink of becoming a "narcostate".
After three years of focusing on battling the Taliban as the Afghan opium industry spiralled,
the US has pledged 780 million to battle narcotics in the country over the next year, and
tightened security along the border.
Border checkpoints in Afghanistan, previously staffed by militia commanders in the pockets of
the smuggling mafia, are now manned by US forces and American-trained soldiers from the
fledgling Afghan army.
Opium prices have dropped sharply because traffickers can't move their vast stocks out of
Afghanistan.
Last year, dry opium resin was selling for 142 dollars per kilo at the farm gate at harvest,
according to UN figures.
Now it sells for around 100 dollars, according to Attatullah, an opium grower in Zhare district,
about 30 minutes' drive outside Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement.
"The American soldiers are blocking the routes," 36-year-old Attatullah tells AFP, standing
knee-deep in a field of poppies which are beginning to burst into flower.
Afghanistan's extreme weather has also helped stem the drug trade. After seven years of
drought, the landlocked nation has finally seen rain and many smuggling routes which crossed
dry riverbeds en route to Pakistan and Iran are now blocked by flowing water.
A third factor has been the disarmament of militias, which after fighting the Soviets and then
joining the US against the Taliban have now been removed from their posts as part of a UNbacked drive.
"People who were disarmed had a very good business running checkpoints so now they will be
compelled to find other forms of income like drug-running," Jan says.
"Because of disarmament it's much harder to get enough guns for our convoys."
The convoys are always heavily armed. Each of the 60 or so 4x4s travels with five to 10 people
who are paid between 1,600 and 2,200 dollars each for the risk involved.
As a lower-ranking smuggler, Jan equips four or five vehicles to travel with the larger convoy
while the bigger operators provide up to 10 vehicles each.
"There is over a ton of opium in each Land Cruiser, and we expect them to defend the cargo
with their lives," said Jan.
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But for all the inconveniences now facing smugglers and the corrupt officials who help them, it
is farmers used to planting nothing but opium who stand to lose out most from the crackdown.
An internationally backed eradication team arrives in Kandahar province in mid-April to tackle
the poppy fields.
According to a joint UN-Afghan government survey Kandahar is one of five provinces where
opium cultivation has risen since the new year, despite plummeting production in the rest of
the country.
New police chief Lieutenant General Mohammed Ayoub Salangi, installed by Karzai last
month to stem the province's drugs trade and growing lawlessness, said an eradication strategy
was being worked out.
"We will have a meeting with government officials, the army and the eradication force to
decide whether and how much to eradicate," he told AFP.
However the farmers will lose a year's income if their crops are wiped out, while a government
strategy to provide them with alternative livelihoods is only in its infancy.
Smuggler Jan warned that widespread eradication could fuel support for the Taliban
insurgency in the south.
"People can't rise up themselves if their fields are destroyed but they can lend support to the
Taliban who are all still living in the suburbs of Kandahar," he said.
JoPIC assessment:
Report – highlighting positive issues of DDR – from a smugglers view point.
Top
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ALM3a Program summary of Radio Afghanistan news in Pashto
A. News headlines
B. Home news
1. Second Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili and elders of northern Balkh Province
discuss the implementation of the disarmament programme at a meeting today.
2. Karim Khalili and elders of Daikondi Province discuss education problems at meeting
yesterday.
3. Eight officials of the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs were given prison terms in
Kabul today. (Tolu Television, 1330 gmt 11 Apr 05)
4. On the proposal of the Commerce Ministry and approval of the Afghan president,
Mohammad Amin Tarakhel is appointed as the head of the Licensing Department.
5. Finance Minister Dr Anwar-ul Haq Ahadi leaves for America today to participate in the
annual meeting of the World Bank. Ahadi and the president of the World Bank will also
discuss the bank's assistance to Afghanistan.
6. Women's Affairs Ministry encourages competent women to apply for women-related posts.
7. A reconstruction organization opens 18 wells in eastern Nangarhar Province today.
8. Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz says
that Afghan traders can export their commodities to India via Pakistani ports.
9. A mine explosion wounds four children in Behsud District of Nangarhar.
10. Afghan and Tajik representatives sign an agreement on the construction of five bridges
over the Amu River.
11. Police destroy forty-seven heroin laboratories in Nangarhar last year.
12. A coalition military commander says that US Defence Department will spend 800m dollars
on reconstruction activities in Afghanistan this year. (See separate report)
13. Afghan border police arrest two people with some explosives near the Afghan border with
Pakistan.
C. Sports news
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-Administrative Reforms and Civil Services Commission: Vacancies.
- Administrative Reforms and Civil Services Commission: Competent candidates can apply for
a post.
JoPIC assessment:
Pashtu Report – reporting on DDR discussions
Top
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ACN1 NPR
10 April 2005
Headline: US troops ordered to take an active role in stopping drug trafficking and
opium production in Afghanistan
Hosted by SHEILAH KAST
The US military has changed its policy in Afghanistan so that American troops can take a more
active role in fighting the country's illegal drug trade. US troops previously had orders to
destroy drugs or drug producing operations only when they stumbled across them. Now
American forces will become much more proactive in helping authorities in Afghanistan to
curb that country's expanding production of opium and heroin. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.
VICKY O'HARA reporting:
The US military has been under considerable pressure from Congress and the international
community to join the counternarcotics effort in the face of skyrocketing figures on heroin
production since the fall of the Taliban. Bernard Farhi of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime,
which surveys drug production, says the situation in Afghanistan was getting out of control.
Mr. BERNARD FARHI (UN Office on Drugs and Crime): The figures of opium cultivation
were extremely worrying, frightening. Last year it seems they reached a level never reached
before.
O'HARA: Under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the population was forbidden to grow
poppies, from which opium and heroin are made. But when US forces ousted the Taliban, the
lid came off. Jack Riley analyzes the narcotics trade for the RAND Corporation.
Mr. JACK RILEY (RAND Corporation): Over the last couple of years, starting roughly in
about 2002, the production of opium poppy has really skyrocketed. The latest figures that I saw
showed that there's been more than a doubling in poppy production over the last three years.
O'HARA: According to the UN, Afghanistan last year supplied 87 percent of the world's
opium. Mary Beth Long, the US deputy assistant secretary of Defense for counternarcotics,
says the military decided to change its policy and assist the counternarcotics effort after Hamid
Karzai was elected president of Afghanistan and appealed for help.
Ms. MARY BETH LONG (US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense For Counternarcotics):
Our policy has changed to the extent that we are now realizing that the drug network problem
in Afghanistan is a threat to the democracy-building as well as the economy there. And to the
extent that the development of a sovereign Afghan government has allowed us to re-direct
resources away from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, we are working with the
Afghans in addressing the drug problem.
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O'HARA: Some members of Congress have demanded that US military forces eradicate poppy
fields in Afghanistan. The military has resisted that on grounds that using US troops to destroy
the livelihood of farmers would fuel the insurgency. Mary Beth Long says American troops
will not go after the poppy farmers, but will provide a valuable support role to Afghan
authorities.
Ms. LONG: We will be providing some tactical airlifts and some transportation lifts to
counternarcotics forces. We're also going to be working with the Afghans in training their
police and enabling the police to do more outside of Kabul and other environs; going to be
working with them on border security. We're also providing them with equipment and training
that will help them expand not only their counternarcotics duties but their stability and security
missions as well.
O'HARA: Bernard Farhi of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime says he welcomes any
assistance to Afghan's fledgling government and police.
Mr. FARHI: The police departments are new. A lot of the force have been made over the past
three years now; however, it's still insufficient to tackle drug trafficking at the dimension it is
already in Afghanistan.
O'HARA: Mary Beth Long says that her office has requested $257 million in emergency
spending to fund the counternarcotics work in Afghanistan. It is included in a supplemental
spending bill that's now before Congress. Jack Riley of the RAND Corporation says the
biggest challenge in Afghanistan is extending the control of the central government to areas of
the country that are still dominated by warlords, some of whom, he says, promote the drug
trade.
Mr. RILEY: It's going to require, I think, a very integrated strategy, and one of the key pieces
that needs to be put in place is some kind of financial reward that can help break the link
between the warlords and the farmer-producers and help establish a link between the farmerproducers and the central government.
O'HARA: Jack Riley says that probably is doable, but he warns that if the US objective is to
permanently reduce worldwide heroin production, it probably will fail because, he says, it's so
easy to move production from Afghanistan to some other place. Riley notes that the US
military already assists the counternarcotics effort in Colombia, but that assistance, he said, has
failed to stem the flow of cocaine from Colombia to the United States.
Vicky O'Hara, NPR News, Washington.
JoPIC assessment:
CN article implicating Warlords
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AR8 BBC Monitoring (Eslah paper, Kabul)
11 April 2005
Headline: Editorial - AFGHAN PAPER SAYS RECONSTRUCTION SHOULD NOT
BE LEFT TO NGOS
It has been more than two decades since NGOs emerged in Afghanistan alongside the public
sector. They played both a positive and negative role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Many people have concerns about the work strategy of NGOs, and believe that NGOs are
embezzling and misusing [aid money] for their own interest, instead of being loyal to the
reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is for this reason that many experts believe that like warlords,
the increasing influence of NGOs in Afghanistan is harmful to the national interests of
Afghanistan, because NGO-lords live in the poshest areas and use the most modern equipment
and vehicles. The aid money, given by the international community to the poorest of the poor,
has been misused by those running NGOs to supply and equip NGO-lords and this shows that
NGOs are indifferent to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
It is also worth pointing out that there are also some NGOs who have a sense of responsibility
for the Afghan nation and for this reason they work under difficult circumstances in the
remotest parts of Afghanistan to serve the people and the reconstruction process.
Unfortunately, there are very few such NGOs throughout Afghanistan, and it is extremely
difficult to reconstruct the country through these NGOs.
In addition to these problems, NGOs caused the weakening of the public sector. By paying
salaries in dollars, they recruited professionals and experts from the government, causing a
shortage of professional people in the government.
More importantly, NGOs cannot give a transparent account of their performance and huge
expenses. For these reasons, if the reconstruction of Afghanistan is left to NGOs, it will grind
to a halt, and the large sums of aid money, intended for the poor, will go into the pockets of the
corrupt.
JoPIC assessment:
Article comparing NGO’s to Warlords
Top
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AR10 FBIS (Radio Sada-ye Jawan, Herat)
12 April 2005
Headline: Third Phase of Disarmament Ends in West
The last group of military officers, who previously worked for the Afghan Defense Ministry
in the west, has been disarmed. It was the third phase of the DDR [Disarmament,
Demobilization and Reintegration] process, which ended successfully. A total of 4,498 armed
personnel have been disarmed since the beginning of this process.
In the fourth phase, vocational institutions, such as hospitals and military departments,
including Military Division No 41 in Ghowr Province, will join this process.
JoPIC assessment:
Local Herat report on DDR
Top
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ALM1a Press selection list for Afghan newspapers 12 Apr 05
Newspapers published in Kabul
Hewad (State-run daily)
12 April
1. Editorial, entitled "The homeless are provided with housing", highlights returning refugees'
problems. It calls on the government to provide refugees and internally displaced persons with
housing and other basic needs. (p1, 450 words in Pashto, NPP)
2. Unattributed article, entitled "The government described the formation of the National
Understanding Front as a positive initiative", It is rumoured that the formation of the
opposition alliance is a cosmetic move by the government to fool the people. But it is an
encouraging step towards the implementation of democracy in Afghanistan. (p2, 1,100 words
in Pashto, NPP1)
3. Article by Gol Sayd, entitled "Discrimination should be eliminated", stresses the need for
national unity and national cohesion to tackle the current problems and difficulties. It calls on
the Afghan people to set aside their differences and act in unison to rebuild their war-ravaged
country. (p2, 700 words in Pashto, NPP)
4. Article by Abdolhai Moram, entitled "Our border forces should be strengthened and
equipped", emphasizes the need for reinforcing and equipping the border forces in order to
safeguard the country's territorial integrity. (p3, 1,000 words in Dari, NPP)
5. Report, quoting Vice-President Ahmad Zia Masud, who urged the Ministry of Health and
humanitarian aid organizations to deliver more health services to the Afghan people. (p4, 400
words in Pashto, NPP)
Arman-e Melli (Independent daily)
12 April
1. Editorial, entitled "Afghanistan is in dire need of security and stability", stresses the need to
maintain total security and stability so as to ensure the smooth implementation of the
reconstruction and development programmes. It describes the formation of the new
commission for national unity and peace led by Sebghatollah Mojaddedi as an encouraging
step to ensuring nationwide peace and security. (p2, 500 words in Pashto, PROCESSING)
2. The full text of the speech delivered by Dr Ramazan Bashardost, former planning minister,
at a press conference. He accused the nongovernmental organizations, the government and
some foreign diplomats of carrying out acts of conspiracy in Afghanistan. He expressed the
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concern that the government and the donor countries do not have a practical mechanism for
Afghanistan's reconstruction and economic development and that the aid money are wasted and
looted by NGOs and certain government officials. (p2, 1,400 words in Dari, NPP1) First
instalment, to be continued.
3. Report on the formation of US military bases in Afghanistan. (p1, 140 words in Dari,
PROCESSING)
Anis (State-run daily)
12 April
1. Editorial, entitled "The practical implementation of the law", praises the government's firm
resolve to bring to court senior officials of the Endowment and Islamic Affairs Ministry
involved in bribery and embezzlement. (pp1, 8, 450 words in Dari, PROCESSING)
2. Report on a meeting between President Hamed Karzai and the Swedish defence minister.
(p1, 180 words in Dari, NPP)
3. Article by Asadollah Nawzad, entitled "Political parties' role in the forthcoming
parliamentary elections", comments on the formation of the new opposition alliance led by
Mohammad Yunos Qanuni, former education minister and a presidential candidate. It describes
the initiative as a positive measure to implement democracy and lead the country towards
democracy and development. It calls on the political parties to elevate national interest above
their personal benefits. (p2, 1,000 words in Dari, NPP)
4. Article by Abdol Rauf, entitled "It is the duty of every Afghan to help boost internal
revenue", stresses the need for boosting internal revenues to bolster the shattered Afghan
economy and help the country stand on its own feet. (p2, 350 words in Pashto, NPP)
Erada (Independent daily)
12 April
1. Editorial, entitled "Why are students subject to forced labour?", criticizes the Ministry of
Education for compelling the students, both boys and girls, to participate in national
ceremonies, irrespective of their will and their families' permission. (pp1, 4, 400 words in Dari,
NPP)
2. Report, that a number of females have joined the police force in the eastern provinces. It
describes the development as unprecedented in the region. (pp1, 4, 150 words in Dari,
PROCESSING)
3. Report on an armed clash between the police and robbers who were smuggling Afghan
historic artefacts in Khost Province. (p1, 100 words in Dari, NPP)
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4. Report, that the Taleban attacked a convoy of soldiers and officers who joined the
disarmament programme in Paktia Province. (pp1, 4, 120 words in Pashto, NPP)
5. Article by Ashraf, entitled "The forthcoming elections will be held in the climate of peace
and security", says that people are concerned that terrorists, the enemies of peace and stability
and the opposition will hamper the smooth implementation of the parliamentary elections. But
it assures people that the necessary arrangements are being made to hold the election in a fair
and peaceful atmosphere. (p2, 550 words in Pashto, NPP)
Eslah (State-run daily)
12 April
1. Editorial, entitled "Hundreds of light weapons are hidden in Afghanistan", shows deep
concern that and rogue commanders are still having light weapons and describes this as a
serious threat to security. The government in cooperation with disarmament authorities, the
community, influential personalities and religious figures should find the hidden weapons and
save the people the nightmare of warlordism for good. (p2, 300 words in Dari, PROCESSING)
2. Report, saying that President Hamed Karzai pledged that the refugees returning to
Afghanistan will be provided with housing. (p1, 250 words in Dari, NPP)
Cheragh (Independent daily)
12 April
1. Editorial, entitled "Corrupt officials should be identified and punished", comments on the
trial of the Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs' officials charged with bribery and
embezzlement. It praises the government for this bold initiative and says it will be a lesson for
other officials to abstain from corruption and bribery as well. (p2, 450 words in Dari,
PROCESSING)
2. Article by Barialai Rawan, entitled "Real representatives should be elected to parliament",
calls on the people to extensively participate in the parliamentary elections and vote for the
candidates who can honestly serve in the best interest of the nation. It calls on the government
to pave the way for the smooth implementation of the polls in a peaceful and fair climate. (p2,
700 words in Pashto, NPP)
3. Report on cases of human kidnapping in Afghanistan. Quoting a UN agency, it says human
kidnapping cases have dramatically increased recently. (p2, 600 words in Dari, NPP)
4. Report, saying that farmers in Fariab Province called on the government to provide them
with basic aid programmes so that they stop cultivating poppies. (p4, 450 words in Dari,
PROCESSING)
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5. Report: Snowfall leaves 21 children dead in northeastern Badakhshan Province. (p1, 140
words in Dari, NPP)
Mosharekat-e Melli (Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami-e Afghanistan-affiliated weekly)
11 April
1. Editorial, entitled "Administrative corruption and iniquitous system", comments on the
recent international summit on Afghanistan's development held in Kabul. It says that billions of
dollars donated for Afghanistan's reconstruction over the past three years have been
squandered and looted by nongovernmental organizations and certain government officials and
criticizes the government for not supervising the implementation process of NGOs' aid
programmes and not curbing administrative corruption within the state departments. (p1, 350
words in Dari, NPP)
2. Interview with Wahidollah Shahrani, economic adviser to the president, about the
government's recent measures to control and monitor the implementation of aid programmes.
He answered questions regarding the priorities of the new year's budget, allocation of large
sums of money to the security sector, on the results of Afghanistan Development Forum, the
government's call on the international community to deliver the aid money directly to the
Afghan government and more. (pp1, 6, 1,800 words in Dari, NPP1)
3. Report: Vice-President Mohammad Karim Khalili met the Chinese and Tajik foreign
ministers. (pp1, 8, 200 words in Dari, NPP)
4. Article by Mohammad Sarwar Jawadi, entitled "NGOs - the government's overriding rival",
comments on the activities and services rendered by the nongovernmental organizations in
Afghanistan. NGOs, by definition, are non-profit organizations, but in Afghanistan, they are
for-profit traders looting the aid money. (p2, 1,000 words in Dari, NPP)
5. Article by Hadi Ahmadi, entitled "Democracy - the current situation", a general comment on
the principles of democracy. Democracy is struggling to take root in Afghanistan, so the
government should make every effort possible to help this fledgling phenomenon succeed in
our country. (p2, 700 words in Dari, NPP)
Payam-e Melat (Independent weekly)
11 April
1. Editorial, entitled "The need for a national institution to spend aid money and available
resources efficiently", criticizes the government authorities and nongovernmental organizations
for dodging accountability and not spending the aid money in an honest and efficient manner.
It calls on the government to devise a practical mechanism to spend the international
community's aid in an efficient way. Until parliament is formed, a national institution should
Page…………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
be established to supervise the implementation of the reconstruction programmes and prevent
the misuse of international funds, it advocates. (p1, 400 words in Dari, PROCESSING)
2. Article by Abdol Qahar Sarwari, entitled "Mr chief justice - shame on you", strongly
criticizes Chief Justice Shinwari for not paying attention to his own duties and responsibilities
and interfering in foreign relations. The chief justice has recently asked President Bush to
extend the mission of US ambassador and special envoy to Afghanistan, Dr Zalmay Khalilzad,
who has recently been appointed the US ambassador to Iraq. (pp1, 2, 1,400 words in Dari,
NPP1)
3. Unattribued article, entitled "Why is attention not paid to curbing administrative
corruption?", criticizes President Hamed Karzai for not honouring his pledges and doing
nothing to wipe out administrative corruption that is crippling the state departments. (p1, 150
words in Dari, NPP)
4. Unattributed article, entitled "Security situation is constantly deteriorating", shows deep
concern about alarming rise in security incidents. (p3, 140 words in Dari, NPP)
Panjara (Independent weekly)
9 April
1. Editorial, entitled "Who is responsible for safeguarding our compatriots' security and
safety?", Kabul citizens are seriously suffering from lack of security. They are vulnerable to
the cases of kidnappings, killings and armed robberies. The Interior Ministry and government
authorities' recent measures failed to improve the security situation. The authorities should take
tougher measures to prevent security incidents, or the situation will further deteriorate and the
consequences will be dire, it warns. (p1, 200 words in Dari, PROCESSING)
2. Article by Farhad Ashkani, criticizing the chief justice for making an untimely and
illegitimate demand on the US president to extend US Ambassador Khalilzad's mission,
although he has already been appointed the US ambassador to Iraq. (p2, 200 words in Dari,
NPP)
3. Article by Akbar, entitled "People are concerned about insecurity", is deeply concerned
about the recent alarming increase in security incidents in the capital and provinces. It calls on
the Interior Ministry to reconsider the appointment of senior security officials. (p2, 220 words
in Pashto, NPP)
Newspapers published in Herat
Etefaq-e Eslam (Officially-funded daily)
12 April
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1. Editorial, entitled: "It is the time for administration and effort", believes that the current
situation has provided a golden opportunity for the Afghan government and people to advance
their country, work round-the-clock and skilfully tackle the country's socio-economic
problems. It urges the ministries to rid their administrative system of bureaucracy and
corruption and run their affairs more smoothly. (p 1, 270 words in Dari, PROCESSING)
2. Critical article, entitled: "What do people say?", carries remarks made by a number of
readers outlining their socio-economic problems. (p 3, 200 words in Dari, NPP)
3. Report by Samadi Qalam, entitled: "Health problems and citizens' views", outlines health
problems the people in Herat Province are facing and carries interviews with a physician and a
number of citizens on the subject. (p 3, 400s words in Dari, NPP)
4. Report by Shafiqa Haydari says that 46,000 children will be vaccinated in Herat Province
during the spring campaign. (p 4, 200 words in Dari, NPP)
5. Commentary by Shafiqa Haydari, entitled: "Officials' visits - cooperation between the
government and the nation", hails the government officials' recent policy under which they pay
a visit to different parts of the province and discuss the people's problems. It highlights the
recent visit of Herat Governor Sayed Mohammad Khairkhwah to a district of Herat Province
and stresses such a policy will considerably strengthen relations between the provincial
government and the people. (p 4, 320 words in Dari, NPP)
JoPIC assessment:
Local editorials including reference to DDR
Top
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ALM2a BBC Monitoring quotes from Afghan press for 12 Apr 05
The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 12 April editions of Dariand-Pashto- language Afghan newspapers:
Opposition
Anis (State-run daily): "Twelve political parties have joined hands and formed an alliance
called the National Understanding Front of Afghanistan. This initiative is deemed to be a
positive development in Afghanistan's present and future political life. It is also an encouraging
step leading the country towards democracy and implementing the law..." (12 Apr)
Disarmament
Eslah (State-run daily): "According to DDR officials, 37,612 armed men have joined the
disarmament programme so far...However, hundreds of weapons are still buried in
Afghanistan... More needs to be done to collect weapons from all rogue armed men throughout
the country... The government in collaboration with the DDR authorities, the community,
influential people and religious figures should endeavour to find the hidden weapons so as to
save the nation from the nightmare of warlordism for good." (12 Apr)
Security
Arman-e Melli (Independent daily): "To bring total peace and stability to the country, a
commission led by Sebghatollah Mojaddedi was recently been set up... We pray to God that
the commission succeeds in establishing a climate of peace and stability in Afghanistan..." (12
Apr)
Panjara (Independent weekly): "The citizens of Kabul have been suffering from serious lack of
security over the past weeks. Dozens of security incidents such as kidnappings, killings and
armed robberies are taking place in Kabul on a daily basis... The Interior Ministry and
government authorities failed to prevent a number of security incidents despite the new
measures they introduced... The authorities must take tougher measures to tackle the security
problems, or the situation will deteriorate even further." (9 Apr)
Role of judiciary
Cheragh (Independent daily): "Corruption and bribery have reached epidemic proportions. It is
the duty of the judiciary to prevent corruption and establish justice... Criminals with murderous
backgrounds are very often pardoned and their dossiers shelved... while those accused of petty
crimes... are severely punished and jailed. This is what is happening at courts now and the
chief justice forgets what are his duties... Instead he seeks to persuade US President Bush to
extend the mission to Afghanistan of the US ambassador and special envoy to Afghanistan, Dr
Zalmay Khalilzad..." (12 Apr)
Reconstruction
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Etefaq-e Eslam (Officially-funded daily published in western city of Herat): ... "Although the
elected government has had great achievements since its establishment, the people are still
waiting to see the government put into effect specific programmes and improve their living
condition." (12 Apr)
JoPIC assessment:
Local DDR editorial
Top
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Afghan police arrest 3 men over attempted kidnap of American civilian
By STEPHEN GRAHAM
KABUL (AP) - Police have arrested three men suspected of trying to kidnap an American
civilian in the Afghan capital, an official said Tuesday, apparently as they were preparing for a
similar attack.
Police detained the trio suspects on Monday about 500 metres from the scene of the previous
day's attempted abduction, Interior Ministry spokesman Latfullah Mashal told the Associated
Press.
Two wore military fatigues and the other civilian clothes, matching descriptions of the
perpetrators of Sunday's attempted abduction. Rifles, grenades, and walkie-talkies were found
in their vehicle, which bore false licence plates, he said.
"So far, they have not admitted the American case," Mashal said. "But we think they were also
trying to kidnap or kill someone else."
He described the three, all of them Afghans, as "irresponsible militias and armed robbers" and
said officials were still checking if they had links to Afghan security forces.
The victim of Sunday's attack had walked up a hill overlooking Kabul's upscale Wazir Akbar
Khan neighbourhood, home to many embassies and foreign construction companies, when he
was approached by three armed men who forced him into the trunk of their car.
The American, who hasn't been identified, managed to open the trunk with a tire wrench and
throw himself from the vehicle as it sped toward Kabul airport.
The incident revived concern that Afghan criminals and militants may copy the tactics of their
counterparts in Iraq, where more than 150 foreigners have been abducted and many killed.
The U.S. Embassy said it illustrated the dangers for Americans here, urging them to restrict
their movements, follow security drills and not venture out into the city if they can avoid it.
"The Embassy particularly recommends that U.S. citizens in all parts of Afghanistan avoid
travelling alone at any time," it said in a message circulated Tuesday.
Much of Afghanistan is already off-limits to international aid workers for fear of Taliban-led
rebels and the roughly 3,000 foreign civilians in the capital have also been on edge since the
abduction of three UN workers last November. The trio were released unharmed a month later.
The March 7 shooting death of a British adviser to the Afghan government as he drove home
from a Kabul restaurant has further increased the tension.
Page…………………………………………………………………………………………… 23
Mashal said a man detained last week in connection with both the kidnapping and the shooting
was turned over to the Afghan intelligence service for further investigation. But Mashal said
there was no confirmation so far that he was involved.
A Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, though officials and
diplomats suggest that criminals - possibly working for factions opposing the growing
authority of the government - were responsible.
Officials and residents in Kabul complain that former soldiers from militia units disbanded
under a UN disarmament drive have turned to crime.
JoPIC assessment:
Accusations linking an increase in crime to the DDR program
Top
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AR5 FBIS (Eslah paper, Kabul)
13 April 2005
Headline: Editorial - Afghan Paper Urges Government To Recover
'Hidden' Weapons From Public
According to the disarmament officials, 37,612 armed men have joined the DDR
[Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration] program so far. Unfortunately, there is no
exact statistics of weapons, ammunitions and military equipment that fell in the hands of
irresponsible people following the collapse of Dr Najibollah's regime. Even before the collapse
of Dr Najibollah's government and the victory of the mojahedin, many foreign countries and
groups had distributed weapons and ammunitions to warring Afghan groups. Dr Najibollah's
government also distributed thousands of weapons to various irresponsible groups to achieve
its military objectives.
The victory of mojahedin further exacerbated the military crisis and the whole arms and
ammunitions present in the country were distributed without keeping any account.
Any military group that possessed more than 10 weapons was recognized as an official
military unit by its affiliated party leader. Tens of military divisions, brigades and battalions
were illegally formed in poor and war-ravaged Afghanistan. This resulted in infighting and
deterioration of security in the country.
Many military units and brigades were unnecessarily established in districts, which were
creating security problems and tensions rather than trying to provide security.
The implementation of the disarmament program in Afghanistan is pretty difficult and more
needs to be done to collect weapons from all irresponsible armed men throughout the country.
Now that these self-made military battalions, divisions and brigades are no longer legal and
their heavy weapons have been collected by the DDR authorities, the government in
collaboration with the DDR authorities, the community, influential personalities and religious
figures should find the hidden weapons so as to rescue the nation from the nightmare of
warlordsim forever. (12 Apr)
JoPIC assessment:
Positive local article suggesting that the population should take responsibility for helping
to recover the surplus light arms that exist in society.
Top
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ALM1a BBC Monitoring quotes from Afghan press for 13 Apr 05
The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 13 April editions of Dariand-Pashto- language Afghan newspapers:
Corruption
Erada (independent daily): "The two deputy ministers and six other officials of the Endowment
and Islamic Affairs Ministry, who were accused of bribery and embezzlement, have recently
been sentenced to imprisonment, and fined... This firm resolve will help implement the law,
maintain total peace and security, curb corruption and build the country." (13 Apr)
Eslah (state-run daily): "Some officials of the Endowment and Islamic Affairs Ministry
accused of bribery, embezzlement and negligence were sentenced to jail terms... To promote
national interest, the authorities should take resolute measures to fight administrative
corruption, bribery and bureaucracy... The security and judicial authorities should take a tough
stance against perpetrators of such acts and announce their punishment through the media so
that the enemies understand they are answerable to the law..." (13 Apr)
Watandar (independent weekly): "The government's recent bold decision to arrest and bring to
court officials accused of negligence in serving the Afghan pilgrims found an echo in the hearts
of many people... It is hoped that the government continues to take such bold steps to bring to
court and punish the perpetrators..." (13 Apr)
Security
Anis (state-run daily): "The security situation has dramatically deteriorated over the past three
weeks in the capital, as well as in the provinces... Our security forces, in collaboration with the
coalition, NATO and international security assistance forces should devise a practical
mechanism to speed up the disarmament programme and prevent the activities of irresponsible
armed gangs in the cities... Our people will not be relieved of this agony unless the
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme is implemented in full." (13 Apr)
Electricity
Etefaq-e Eslam (officially-funded daily published in western city of Herat): "Afghanistan is
now moving towards reconstruction and development and thus it is in dire need of electricity.
The power stations in the country should meet this requirement. Therefore, the Energy and
Water Ministry should set up fundamental and concrete projects to produce electricity inside
the country. However, it appears that this ministry has only focused its efforts in Kabul city."
(13 Apr)
JoPIC assessment:
Local editorial in support of DDR
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Top
ACN5 BBC Monitoring (Radio Iran, Mashhad)
13 April 2005
Headline: SECURITY CHIEF OF AFGHAN PROVINCE CLAIMS MAJOR DROP IN
CRIME, DRUG TRAFFICKING
[Presenter] It seems that the Afghan government has launched an extended operation to
eradicate poppy cultivation and trafficking in Afghanistan. This has been a serious issue all
over Afghanistan. We have another report from northeastern region of Afghanistan by our
correspondent Mr Jafar Taiar. The report says that the security commander of Badakhshan
Province has announced a drop in drug trafficking and crime rate in the province. Please listen
to this report:
[Reporter] The new security commander of Badakhshan Province has said that the reason for
the drop in the crime rate in the province is the existence of experienced police force. In an
interview Maj-Gen Shahjahan Anwari, the security commander of Badakhshan [Province],
described the security situation in the province as relatively good. The only factor capable of
bringing a drop in the crime rate and prevent drug trafficking is to use the latest methods to
train the national police force and give them the latest equipment, he said. He said that
introducing reforms into the police department was part of his plan to eliminate insecurity all
over the province in the near future. He is optimistic about the reform and says that it will
reduce corruption in the system and thus improve the security situation.
He said that the disarmament process had been very slow and described the anti-drugs
operation in the province as an important and challenging work. Compared to last year, the
commander said that drug trafficking and the crime rate in the province dropped by 60 to 70%.
Concerning security check-points along the border with Tajikistan, Maj Gen Shahjahan said
that the lack of these security check-points had made drug trafficking easier. He added that a
specific decision to deal with this problem would be taken soon.
Maj Gen Shahjahan, who has been in the post of Badakhshan Province [security] commander
for three weeks, urged people to cooperate the with the command in all the problems they
have.
It is worth mentioning that the German government has given an assistance to the Badakhshan
Province Security Command. It provided the command with vehicles and other necessary
equipment. The old building housing the command has not been reconstructed yet and the
officials are always insisting on its reconstruction.
Top
JoPIC assessment:
Local report criticizing DDR in Badakshan.
Disarmament was concluded on 21 April
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ALM3a BBC Monitoring: Review of Afghan Press Commentaries for 11-13 Apr 05
The following is a selection of Afghan press commentaries from Dari- and Pashto-language
newspapers, available to BBC Monitoring between 11 and 13 Apr 2005.
Anti-narcotics campaign
The independent Kabul Weekly has directed the spotlight on the inconsistencies and blatant
bribery in the poppy eradication campaign by saying that the police accept payment for not
destroying farmers' crops, whilst there is still no mechanism in place to punish corrupt
officials. It said that the government was planning to set up a special court dealing with the
problems, but there was a long way to go yet. (6 Apr)
The government paper Anis is saddened by the fact that "the evil of addiction to drugs is
spreading rapidly in Afghanistan, too", mainly amongst the refugees returning from Iran and
Pakistan. The paper quotes the latest statistics, according to which, the number of addicts in
Afghanistan is more than one million, with 15,000 heroin and opium addicts in the capital
alone, and it blames the "legacy of periods of anarchy and instability... wars and crises" for
this. The paper urges measures to deal with the home-grown addiction, especially among the
young, by setting up special clinics and asks for "the direct and urgent assistance of the
national and international institutions". The paper also wants the media to launch an
information campaign against drugs. (7 Apr)
Another commentary in the same paper warns that the drugs problem "is more dangerous than
the threat of terrorism". Anis also blames the conduct of the police in the anti-narcotics fight,
and says that "they are playing with the lives of compatriots only for money". The paper
highlights the fact that the majority of drug addicts are young people capable of working, and
urges the Ministry for Young People to create job opportunities for them, otherwise, the cost of
rehabilitation will severely damage the country's economy. (11 Apr)
Security/politics
The independent weekly Panjara has drawn attention to the "serious lack of security" in the
capital and said that in the past few weeks "dozens of security incidents such as kidnapping,
killings and armed robberies are taking place in Kabul on a daily basis" and it blamed the
government for failing to stop these incidents despite the "new measures" which had been
introduced. The paper urges the authorities to take "tougher measures" , otherwise "the
situation will deteriorate even further". (9 Apr)
The state-run Anis also focuses on the same problem and says that "security has dramatically
deteriorated over the past three weeks in the capital and the provinces". It sees the remedy in
the collaboration of the police with the coalition forces, which, according to the paper, should
"devise a practical mechanism to speed up the disarmament programme" and put an end to the
activities of rogue armed gangs in the cities. It warns that the country "will not be relieved of
this agony, unless the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme is fully
implemented". (13 Apr)
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The independent daily Arman-e Melli worries about the reappearance of "a number of
prominent communist figures, accused of human rights abuses in the past" on the political
scene. "This will prove acutely detrimental to the security situation," the paper warns, adding
that "the government should pay attention to the danger emanating from the regrouping of
communist groups..." (11 Apr)
The government-funded local paper Etefaq-e Eslam, published in the western city of Herat,
ventures a gingerly phrased criticism of the government by saying that "people are still waiting
to see the realization of specific programmes by the government which would improve their
living conditions". It chastises ministries for wasting their time on arranging ceremonies and
reshuffling personnel and highlights the problem that "aid money provided by the international
community has resulted in people's dependence on foreign projects", and urges them to launch
their own practical projects. It concludes that "members of the cabinet only differ from the
low-paid employees in terms of their huge responsibility, which is considerably heavier in the
country's current historic period". (12 Apr)
Judiciary
The independent daily Cheragh expresses grave concern about the state of affairs of the
judiciary by saying that whilst "corruption and bribery have reached epidemic proportions" in
the country, the judiciary not exactly displaying competence and efficiency. "Criminals with
murderous background are very often pardoned... and their dossiers shelved... while those
accused of petty crimes... are severely punished and jailed. This is what is happening at the
courts now, whilst the chief justice forgets what his duties are," the paper says. (12 Apr)
In another commentary, the same paper questions the independence of the Supreme Court in
view of the news that a court in Kabul cut the jail sentences meted out to three Americans,
accused of running a private jail in Afghanistan, while refusing their petition for release. The
paper sees this act as the curtailment of the independence and authority of the Supreme Court
and points out that all this is happening at a time, when "dozens of Afghans languish in
Pakistani and Iranian jails, their only crime being that they are Afghans and refugees". (11
Apr)
On the other hand, several papers have hailed the sentences given to top officials of the
Endowment and Islamic Affairs Ministry, for fraud and embezzlements of funds of Afghan
pilgrims who were participating in the traditional haj to Mecca. The independent daily Erada
has welcomed the prison terms given to two deputy ministers and six other officials of the
ministry by saying: "This firm resolve will help implement the law, maintain total peace and
security, curb corruption and build the country." (13 Apr)
The state-run Eslah commented by praising the courts for fighting administrative corruption,
bribery and bureaucracy and urged the security and judicial authorities not only to take a tough
stance against such perpetrators but "announce their punishment through the media so that the
enemies understand they are answerable to the law " (13 Apr)
Page…………………………………………………………………………………………… 29
The independent weekly Watandar has said that "the government's recent bold measure to
arrest and bring to court the officials accused of negligence in serving the Afghan pilgrims
found an echo in the hearts of many people It is hoped that the government continues to take
such bold steps to bring to court and punish the perpetrators " (13 Apr)
The trouble with NGOs
The government daily Anis, commenting on the recent three-day Afghanistan Development
Forum, has said that although the government has won the argument for, at least, part of the
international aid to be granted direct to the treasury, it questions whether the argument for all
assistance to be channeled through the government is good enough for the country, if
corruption in the government is not tackled. It also pointed out the obvious conflict of interests
by saying that a number of cabinet members "have links to" or "own many NGOs" which will
not help improving accountability or putting things right and the paper was gloomy about the
prospects of achieving any considerable economic development without serious reform. (9
Apr)
The government daily Anis also criticizes what it describes as inefficient NGOs, but adds
that the "government bodies lacked the capacity to attract and handle foreign assistance". It
slammed most NGOs as wasteful and said that "most of them are involved in corruption and
exploitation of foreign aid" and called for their closure. But it welcomed the formation of a
working committee, composed of the Afghan economy and rural development ministers, to
oversee NGO activities and called on the donor countries to trust the government with the aid
money, provided it gives "transparent accounts,". (11 Apr)
NGOs also come under attack by another government daily Eslah for, what it calls, their
increasingly "harmful" and warlord-like influence on the "national interest of Afghanistan". It
says the "NGO-lords" misused millions of aid-money and cause the weakening of the public
sector by luring away professionals with high salaries paid in dollars. It concludes that "if the
reconstruction of Afghanistan is left to the NGOs, it will grind to a halt and the large sums of
aid money, intended for the poor, will go into the pockets of the corrupt". (9 Apr)
Telecommunications
The government-funded Etefaq-e Eslam says that the emerging telecommunications and
Internet service providers are amassing fortunes by ripping people off. It says that there is no
government body to regulate or monitor their activities or the "extraordinary" rates they charge,
and asserts that links between these companies and a number of influential government
officials are "crystal clear". It urges the government to modernize the country's obsolete
national communications system and introduce regulations in order to contain these companies.
JoPIC assessment:
DDR reference in the editorial
Top
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The boy singers of Kabul
They were beaten and jailed under the Taliban. But now child singers such as 13-year-old
Mirwais Najrabi are fêted as stars, despite the taint of corruption that clings to them
By Nick Meo
12 April 2005
In the cramped upstairs office of a theatre in central Kabul, thirteen year-old Mirwais Najrabi
is standing up to sing. As he begins the first sorrowful verse of a traditional Afghan lament, it
soon becomes clear why this is the most sought-after voice in the city.
Dressed in an embroidered shalwar khamiz and green velvet jacket, with a great mop of hair
falling over an innocent face, Mirwais sings like an angel. In post-Taliban Kabul, a voice like
that can earn its owner - and his agent - up to $1,000 (£500) a night.
Of all the extraordinary changes of fortune to affect Afghans in the past three years, few have
seen their luck change for the better as much as Kabul's boy singers. During the rule of the
Taliban, they were a despised breed. Boys were often beaten and jailed if caught plying their
trade; now they are showered with dollar bills and fêted as the showbiz stars of Asia's most
broken-down city. The two singers' bazaars in the backstreets of Kabul's old town are crowded
with hundreds of boys - talented aspirants, established singers from famous musical families,
and for the really big names, canny agents.
The biggest stars make their main money from the lucrative wedding party appearances that
pay up to $1,000 a time, plus tips. And Mirwais is the biggest star of them all. His father,
Mazari Najrabi, was a famous singer; Mirwais discovered his gift singing along to tunes his
elder brother played on an instrument similar to an accordion.
About a year ago, with the Taliban gone, he started attracting attention. Then a Svengali-like
figure, Sidiq Darayee, an impresario and theatre owner, began to organise Mirwais's business
affairs. Soon he was singing until 3am at wild wedding parties before going to school the next
day.
I met Mirwais and his entourage in Darayee's theatre in the week he was putting on a comedy.
After what they've been through in the past 25 years, Afghans like a good laugh. Two cousins
accompany the boy everywhere; in lawless Kabul, a 13-year-old with a marketable voice is a
valuable commodity, and it is not unheard of for commanders to arrange the kidnapping of
boys they take a fancy to.
Darayee did most of the talking. Mirwais sat patiently on a worn couch as the agent explained
rather bitterly that foreigners were not spending enough in Kabul. Later, eyes shining, the
theatre-owner demanded $600 for a private singing appearance by Mirwais. Meanwhile the
child star said little. He enjoyed singing. He would like to be famous. Coming to England is
one of his ambitions.
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He seemed a cheerful lad, if taciturn. And the rewards of his trade were obvious. Round his
neck was a gold pennant on a gold chain and, on his finger, a gold ring. Farhad, my translator
and one of Afghanistan's few true peaceful souls, was rather shocked. "What is such a young
boy doing wearing gold? If my son did that I would strike him for not showing respect."
But Mirwais and others like him can scarcely be blamed for exploiting their temporary good
fortune. The boy singers may be practising an art form with an ancient role in Afghan tradition,
but their time at the top is brief, starting, if they are lucky, at the age of 12 or 13. Most of them
are finished forever by the time their voice breaks a couple of years later. That doesn't leave
long to rake in the cash, and the wooden huts of Chor bazaar where the boys and their families
base themselves, resound with the harsh sound of haggling for fees as much as the sound of
young voices showing off their talent.
Nor do the singers occupy a comfortable place in Afghan culture. Pre-pubescent boys with
sweet voices are highly prized and highly praised, but they will never manage to shake off the
taint of corruption that clings to even the most innocent of them.
In a land where women are unavailable outside marriage, except as prostitutes, sex with young
boys has always been socially acceptable in most layers of society and not just in the southern
city of Kandahar where it is a famous vice.
Everybody knows that beautiful young beardless boy singers are a source of lust for wealthy
commanders, who would be embarrassed to take a female mistress. The pre-pubescent boy
draped in gold, wearing the finest clothes and well known as a concubine, is a Kabul cliché,
although such liaisons will never be acknowledged by either the boy or the commander. Many
are chauffeured around in expensive vehicles and treated with deference by the commander's
men. "You must be careful with some of these boys and their families even though you may
despise them and what they represent," said one Kabuli. "If you laid a finger on them or said a
bad word against them, the commanders would have you killed."
As the commanders enrich themselves on drugs and corruption, the number of kept boy singers
proliferates and the parties become wilder.
Whether the boys have personally been corrupted or not, and even if they are stars, they will
never be truly free of the low-life reputation which surrounds their calling. But for all the
dubious morality of the profession, Afghans love music and are happy to celebrate the return of
the boys with beautiful voices.
Music-making here nearly perished for good in the war and during the Taliban persecution that
followed. Even now, in more relaxed times, it remains at risk of being eclipsed by youthful
Kabul's new obsession with all things foreign and especially anything emanating from
Bollywood.
But slowly, the old ways and habits of Kabul are regaining a foothold, and Afghans are
rediscovering a part of their heritage.
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The district where musician families lived for centuries, Kocha Kharab, used to be famous for
its racy nightlife. Afghans would go in search of the sad songs of longing sung in the classical
Mahali tradition, with their hypnotic beats on tabla drums and a range of stringed instruments
such as the 19-stringed habab, a kind of mandolin, and a traditional accordion.
According to mood, men would sit in clouds of hashish smoke chatting with friends and letting
the music wash over them, or clapping along with the beat and getting up to dance, hands
waving above their heads in wild abandon.
Afterwards, many would discreetly slip into Kocha Kharab's brothels in search of boys or girls
according to taste, or would even put a bid in for the dancing boys or the young singers. Like
so much else in the city, Kabul's unlikely bohemian world came to an abrupt end when the
rockets of the fundamentalist leader, Gulbaddin Hekmatyar, flattened it during the war Kabulis claim the puritan, psychopathic warlord singled out Kocha Kharab for his special
brand of violent attention.
The musicians' families were then scattered across the city. The Taliban destroyed the
instruments and threw anyone caught dancing or singing into prison. To an Afghan puritan,
Kocha Kharab was Afghanistan's Sodom and Gomorrah. Notwithstanding the return of the
singers, it will probably never return to its heyday. But in a city of overnight millionaires and
with the freedom to once again perform in public, the success of boys like Mirwais underlines
a mini-revival.
During the three month wedding season before Ramadan, he was booked every night, singing
songs of impossible love, bloody betrayal, and heroism. As with many Afghans, these are
themes that have touched his own family.
Mirwais's father was killed when he was five, and the family lived on the front line during the
fighting between factions that tore the city apart. When the Taliban came, they had to bury
their instruments in the garden.
After such traumas, he is at the top of the singing hierarchy, for now. According to Darayee, he
has rivals but the agent refused to name them.
"They laughed at Mirwais when he started singing because he is small," he said. "But they are
not laughing now."
One rival, reportedly, is Wali Fateh Ali Khan, 14. There are others. But Mirwais proved his
worth by winning a singing competition at the Park Cinema last year, blowing the competition
away with his stage presence.
His cassettes sell out routinely. Shaky DVDs of his performances at wedding parties outsell
Bollywood hits. Posters of him adorn the teashops of Kabul.
Protected from press questioning by his entourage, it is difficult to say what effect all this is
having on his 13-year-old mind. He insists school is fun and he is treated the same as any other
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boy. As for the unwanted attentions of older men, Mirwais is lucky; his family are respectable
musicians and the protection of his cousins can be relied upon. He is probably safe from the
predations of corrupt old men. But other boys do not have such protection, as post-war Kabul
becomes ever wilder.
One horrified Afghan even reported that he had seen women dancing at a wedding party
thrown by one of the capital's richest families. They were beautiful girls, he admitted, and
demurely dressed, but they were clearly prostitutes, and therefore to see them in public was
even more shocking than seeing a kept boy. Boys who had been corrupted by commanders
were also there, and the illicit alcohol had been flowing freely.
"I have never seen anything like it," the man said. "Ninety per cent of the men there were
criminals. There were dozens of police outside protecting the party. I left when it started
turning violent."
Many Afghans are pleased their musical tradition has survived, but are embarrassed it is
turning out to have such a sleazy side. In Kabul, perhaps inevitably, beauty comes at a price.
"These songs are beautiful. They make me close my eyes and dream," said one. "It is when I
open my eyes and look that I have such a rude awakening."
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JoPIC assessment:
Off beat article including reference to Commanders
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