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RAWA demonstration on the black day of April 28 |
Afghan Rights Group Protests Upcoming Elections
Voice of America, April 27, 2004
Ayaz Gul - Islamabad
Gul report - Download 333k (RealAudio)
Listen to Ayaz Gul's report (RealAudio)Afghan human rights activists rallied outside the U.N. offices in neighboring Pakistan Tuesday, expressing concerns about the current government and the coming elections. The protesters want Islamic fundamentalist leaders out of any powerful office.
The Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan, or RAWA, organized the demonstration outside the United Nations office in the Pakistani capital.
Several hundred activists marked the 12th anniversary of the capture of Kabul by Islamic parties in 1992, by denouncing Islamic fundamentalist leaders in Afghanistan, and urging they be banned from the current post-war government and future elections.
The demonstrators chant, 'down with fundamentalism' and 'long live democracy.'
They criticize the international community, and particularly the Untied States, for allowing some former fundamentalist Afghan leaders, with notorious records of abuses against women, to become members of the government led by interim President Hamid Karzai.
The protesters demanded the removal of Defense Minister Mohammad Faheem, Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum and governor of western Herat province, Ismail Khan, so they can be tried for crimes against Afghans.
Ms. Marina, a senior member of RAWA, says these men are undermining efforts to improve human rights and introduce democracy in Afghanistan.
"There must be a change in system, and the fundamentalists must be thrown out," she said. "If we have fundamentalists in power, there cannot be any change."
She says these officials and warlords will try to influence the elections in Afghanistan to remain in power.
However, supporters of President Karzai's government dismiss concerns that democracy will be compromised. Abdul Jabar Naeemi is a member of one of the Islamic fighting factions that ruled Kabul from 1992-1996.
"Our hope is that the next coming elections will be fair enough, will be democratic elections," he said. "I think, with the help of the United Nations, there will be very much progress [toward democracy] and people, they are very much interested to vote and to register."
The United Nations is supervising the historic presidential and parliamentary elections in Afghanistan set for September.
Women rally condemns ministers ISALAMABAD (NNI) - Hundreds of Afghan women and school children staged demonstration in Islamabad and condemned Afghan government ministers for links with Islamic fundamentalists.
The Nation, April 28, 2004
The rally marked the anniversary of the fall of the communist regime in Afghanistan in 1992 and take over by the Mujahideen groups.
Chanting "Down with fundamentalists", "Down with Taliban" and "Down with Jehadis" some 500 supporters of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) marched towards a building housing United Nationals offices in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.
RAWA leaders handed over a memorandum to the UN representative, demanding greater rights for women in Afghanistan.
"The Northern Alliance, despite expressing anger, power and continuation of threats, terror propaganda and conspiracy failed to remove the scare of crimes against our peo0ple form their dirty faces," the memorandum said.
"Fahim, Ismail and Dostum are enemies of freedom and democracy," read a placard carried by some women in the demonstration as they raised slogans for greater rights in Afghanistan in Pashtu and Dari, the country's two main languages.
RAWA DENOUNCES JEHADIS Afghan human rights activists rallied outside the U.N. offices in Pakistan Tuesday, expressing concerns about the current government and the coming elections. The protesters want Islamic fundamentalist leaders out of any powerful office. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, or RAWA, organized the demonstration outside the United Nations office in the Pakistani capital. RAWA was joined by Japanese peace activists from a group calling itself the International Criminal Tribunal.
Infoshop News, April 28, 2004
At least 600 activists marked the 12th anniversary of the capture of Kabul by Islamic parties in 1992, by denouncing Islamic fundamentalist leaders in Afghanistan, and urging they be banned from the current post-war government and future elections. The demonstrators chanted "Death to hardliners," "Death to Taliban" and "Death to Jehadis". The RAWA leaders handed over a memorandum to the UN representative, demanding greater rights for women in Afghanistan. RAWA criticized the international community, and particularly the Untied States, for allowing some former fundamentalist Afghan leaders, with notorious records of abuses against women, to become members of the government led by interim President Hamid Karzai. The protesters demanded the removal of Defense Minister Mohammad Faheem, Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum and governor of western Herat province, Ismail Khan, so they can be tried for crimes against Afghans. Marina, a senior member of RAWA, says these men are undermining efforts to improve human rights and introduce democracy in Afghanistan. "There must be a change in system, and the fundamentalists must be thrown out," she said. "If we have fundamentalists in power, there cannot be any change." She said these officials and warlords will try to influence the elections in Afghanistan to remain in power.
The RAWA leaders handed over a memorandum to the UN representative, demanding greater rights for women in Afghanistan. "The Northern Alliance, despite expressing anger, power and continuation of threats, terror, propaganda and conspiracy failed to remove the scare of crimes against our people from their dirty faces," the memorandum said. "Fahim, Ismail and Dostum are enemies of freedom and democracy," read a placard carried by some women in the demonstration as they raised slogans for greater rights in Afghanistan in Pashtu and Dari, the country's two main languages. Mohammed Fahim is Afghanistan's defense minister who maintains a private militia while Ismail Khan, a former Islamic warrior, is governor of the western Herat province and is accused of violating human rights and suppressing women. Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ally of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who heads a militia of ethnic Uzbeks. He also runs a private jail in northern Afghanistan and recently he tried to overrun northern provinces.
The RAWA Statement read in part, "The recent incidents of Herat, Mimana and Uruzgan made it obvious to everyone that the bandits of "Northern Alliance" who have taken specific areas of Afghanistan under their control and consider them as their family property are not in a mood to give up their power and show allegiance towards any central government. For them it is crystal clear that if disarmed today, they will not have any value among their tribes, let alone among the people of Afghanistan." Further, "On the one hand different countries of the world are promising to give 8 billion dollars in aid, and on the other hand Mr.Karzai is considering the appointment of the dirtiest elements of Jehadis to important government posts as his most important task. Meanwhile they get themselves ready to loot the billions of coming dollars….. If the bloody warlords and mafias were deprived of power, this aid would have been a hope to our people for reconstruction of their homes and improvement of their lives. But because of this dragon "Northern Alliance" placed in key positions, the majority of the people can expect to see the collisions and ferocious battles of these thieves to get more of the share. For this reason we are against the delivery of this aid in the current situation, for ordinary people will get nothing while the warlords of "Northern Alliance" will try their best to fill their pockets and use it to strengthen themselves politically and militarily. That is why it is not surprising that the Finance Minister and the Chairman of The Afghanistan Bank express inability in giving account of billions of dollars of foreign aids to the people." The statement continues, "Mr. Karzai talks about the need of the presence of international forces for a further ten years until an effective military force can be established. But he forgets that until the main source of all problems - the virus of fundamentalism - is uprooted, no army is going to be established that will be free from the germ of fundamentalism. Even after 20 years it is certain that this country will never see reconstruction and eradication of corruption. The establishment of 80,000 armed forces with sensible generals who are not fundamentalists is possible in 3 years, provided the "Northern Alliance" is not involved… The people of the world should know that Afghanistan itself is a victim of the Taliban, Gulbuddin, Al-Qaida, their religious brothers the "Northern Alliance," terror, and insecurity… Even the barbaric Taliban never took girls and women and forced them to undergo a hospital examination to see if they have recently had sexual intercourse, but Ismael Khan, this puppet of the Iranian regime, is not immune to making such insults and humiliations against our girls in Heart. This has no parallel anywhere in the world…Additionally the brothers of this criminal Jehadi in Nangahar (Dean Muhammad and others) are beating male and female university artists in that province. This is not an ordinary issue and is a sign of their sympathy and harmony with the Jehadi mafias, Al-Qaida and Gulbuddin, all of whom have recently increased their terrorist actions. The joint history of terror, torture and ideology is going to tie the "Northern Alliance" unbreakably to Al- Qaida, Taliban and Gulbuddin."
Sources: RAWA, Kuwait News Agency, VOA
Afghan women urge Karzai not to deal with warlords ISLAMABAD: Some 300 Afghan women protestors here on Tuesday urged President Hamid Karzai not to rely on warlords, with notorious records of human rights abuses, for rebuilding the war-ravaged country.
The News International, April 28, 2004
"Compromising and dealing with the (anti-Taliban) Northern Alliance is not going to bear any fruit for anyone, including Karzai," the Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women (RAWA) said in a statement. Northern Alliance commanders dominated the post-Taliban administration headed by Karzai. The protestors gathered outside United Nations offices in Islamabad to mark the twin anniversaries of the 1978 communist coup in Afghanistan and the 1992 capture of Kabul by anti-communist forces. The women’s group said the current regime supported figures who committed past abuses against women. "On the one hand different countries of the world is promising to give eight billion dollars in aid, and on the other hand Karzai is considering the appointment of the dirtiest elements... to important government posts," it said.
In its statement, RAWA accused Governor of Herat province Ismail Khan of "insulting and humiliating" women by making them undergo hospital examinations "to see if they have recently had sexual intercourse."
RAWA stages demo against HR violations in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD, April 27: Afghan refugees held a demonstration outside UN offices here on Tuesday against what they called the continuation of Taliban's fundamentalist policies , increased terrorist acts and violation of human rights and called the UN to expand its peace process in the war-torn country.
Dawn, April 28, 2004
By Niloufer Siddiqui
They condemned the government to letting loose the Jihadis to plunder billions of dollars foreign aid meant for country's reconstruction and the country's assets and their appointments on key positions.
The demonstration, organized by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), called for disarming and removing of warlords from key posts, and setting up of genuine democracy in the country.
Over 300 protesters, mostly women and children from refugee camps, assembled in front of a UN offices at the Constitution Avenue to mark the day when the so-called "Jihadis" took power in Kabul on April 28, 1992 and the Saur Revolution of April 27, 1978.
A statement distributed on the occasion read: "The gloom of 28th April is still dominant in our country and is more sinister than the 27th." The protesters condemned the acts of the Northern Alliance, which has taken specific areas of the country under its control and is said to be unwilling to show allegiance towards any central government, declaring them a "gang of criminals."
They criticized the Karzai government for trying to rewrite history, portraying Ahmed Shah Masoud as a hero, appointing jihadis and warlords on key posts in the army, as ministers, diplomats and curving new provinces to please war lords.
The protesters called for "independence, democracy and respect for human rights and power to the people of Afghanistan. Member of RAWA's Foreign Affairs Committee, Danish Hamid, said that the Northern Alliance and the Taliban were similar in their complete disregard of human rights and civil liberties, stating that both ruled through "control of gun."
Talking to Dawn, she stated that the country and its people had suffered extensively during the Northern Alliance's 1992-96 rule and were still suffering at their hands once again due to their heinous acts, promoting terror and insecurity throughout the country.
"There is no real security or peace in the country," she claimed, suggesting that women and children are still suffering as a result. She stated that while RAWA did not consider Hamid Karzai an ideal leader, he would be acceptable if he discontinues his support to the Northern Alliance.
She regretted that the world powers such as US, despite knowing the situation in Afghanistan, are supporting those who committed crime against humanity for their self-interests.
Ms Hamid urged the UN to take an active concrete steps for restoring peace and normalcy in the country. In response to a question, she criticized Pakistan for supporting fundamentalists elements.
Speaking to reporters, RAWA member Ms Suhaila said there was little hope that the upcoming elections would change the current situation in Afghanistan by ushering in democracy as the true representatives of the people would not be allowed to contest the polls.
Accompanying the RAWA protesters were 12 Japanese members of the International Criminal Tribunal for Afghanistan (ICTA) who had come to express their support for peace and justice in Afghanistan.
Afghan women protest the fundamentalist rule More than a hundred Afghan women activists of RAWA (Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan) together with some men and children demonstrated outside the U.N office in Islamabad on Tuesday to protest as they said, the rule of fundamentalists in Afghanistan.
WebIndia123.com, April 28, 2004
Holding banners and placards, the female demonstrators chanted slogans and demanded anti-fundamentalist and pro-democratic forces to join them and struggle to end the fundamentalists rule in their country. "We have this demonstration to condemn the rule of Northern Alliance or the rule of Jihadis (Islamic warriors) in Afghanistan because they are the ones who ruled Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996, and they did the same crimes against the people especially the women of Afghanistan same as Taliban. So, again they are in power, again America and other countries are supporting Northern Alliance or Jihadis. So, we don't want them anymore in Afghanistan. With the presence of fundamentalists, with the presence of Northern Alliance, we don't have a real peace, security and freedom in Afghanistan," said Danish Hameed, a female protester.
Some of the leaders at the demo also spoke and said the world should know that Afghanistan is a victim of Taliban, Gulbadin, Al-Qaeda and Northern Alliance.
They urged the world to help them in the struggle for the honour and reconstruction of their homeland.
The demonstrators also handed over a resolution to the United Nations representative.
RAWA marks April 28 (seizure of Kabul by the fundamentalists in April 28, 1992) as a Black Day through staging demonstrations in Pakistan every year.
In Afghanistan hardly ten percent of women can read and write. RAWA strongly believes that it is only with the weapon of education that the women of Afghanistan can be empowered and triumph in their struggle against fundamentalists and their ilk. It is administrating hundreds of literacy courses and schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
RAWA was the first Afghan organization to hold anti-war demonstration in Islamabad to condemn the war in Iraq. (ANI)
Don't deal with warlords, Karzai urged ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Some 300 Afghan women protestors in the Pakistani capital Tuesday urged Afghan president Hamid Karzai not to rely on warlords, with notorious records of human rights abuses, for rebuilding the war-ravaged country. "Compromising and dealing with the (anti-Taleban) Northern Alliance is not going to bear any fruit for anyone including Mr. Karzai," the Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women (RAWA) said in a statement.
AFP via Brunei-Online.com, April 28, 2004
Northern Alliance commanders dominate the post-Taleban administration headed by Karzai since they ousted the hardliners from power with the help of a United States-led military coalition for harbouring Osama bin Laden.
The protestors gathered outside United Nations offices in Islamabad to mark the twin anniversaries of the 1978 communist coup in Afghanistan and the 1992 capture of Kabul by anti-communist forces.
The women's group, which campaigned clandestinely at great risk against the Taleban and their sometimes brutal repression of women, said the current regime supported figures who committed past abuses against women.
"On the one hand different countries of the world are promising to give eight billion dollars in aid, and on the other hand Mr. Karzai is considering the appointment of the dirtiest elements... to important government posts," it said.
RAWA demonstrates against weak Afghan govt. ISLAMABAD: Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) in a protest in front of UN buildings in Islamabad on Tuesday rejected the existing administrative system in Afghanistan, calling it the legacy of past.
The Frontier Post, April 28, 2004
Agha Iqrar Haroon
Exhibiting huge portraits of warlords with black cross marking on their faces, RAWA members were demanding minimum role of warlords in Afghan government.
They were also demanding funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country and stated that international community should fulfill its commitments with Afghan people.
Chanting slogans for women rights and rights of expression, they staged a demonstration against the injustice of the Afghan government without criticizing the President Karzai or US forces.
A large number of women from different walks of life participated in the demonstration for the rights of women in the society.
They protestors were carrying placards and banners and chanted slogans against un-Islamic law of Hudood Ordinance and ban on women to appear on TV as well as Radio in Kabul.
The protesters were demanding peace, secure atmosphere in the region, and demanded UN to play its role in the peace and prosperity in the region.
"We need the betterment in our country, and want to live there freely", a representative of RAWA stated while talking to Frontier Post. She said that they were trying their best to move to Afghanistan and live a happy life there but this looks impossible due to poor conditions of Afghan government.
She was of the view that the basic cause of holding this demonstration was to show solidarity with the women of Afghanistan and to attract the attention of the rest of the world to this part where the people are living in the fire and blood. Protesters were of the view that UN was the only organization that could play its role to stop the war of power among the high ups of the Afghanistan.
Earlier the demonstrators presented a memorandum in the office of the UN in this regard.
RAWA protests against warlords Islamabad - About 200 Afghan women and children carrying banners with various slogans written in English and Persian, assembled in front of UN offices Saudi Pak Tower, here Tuesday and held a protest rally chanting slogans against the Northern Alliance and its warlords.
Pakistan Observer, April 28, 2004
SHR Jahfery
The banners and posters were "Democracy, Secularism and Women's Rights", "Democracy without Secularism is incomplete". Elections under the shadow of warlords has no legitimacy", "War criminals must be put on trail", "Northern Alliance is the arch enemy of Human Rights", "Power to the people of Afghanistan".
Professor Maeda Akira of Japan with a team of 12 Japanese men and women were also holding a banner, inscribed with, "No War". He in broken English said, Bush must be tried as War Criminal. Afghan demonstrators presented memorandum to the local office of UN. Tow-page memorandum was written in the name of Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). The memorandum criticized policies of Karzai.
The demonstration was peaceful but at one time police did not allow the demonstrators to cross the barrier. After assurance given by the leaders of the demonstrators they were allowed to go near the building. After delivering speeches, they dispersed peacefully.
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