US signs strategic partnership pact with Afghanistan–AFP 05/23/2005

WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush announced Monday that he had signed a strategic partnership with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai for stepped up political, economic and security ties.

"I have signed a strategic partnership with the president, it's a partnership we have been working on for quite a while," Bush told reporters with Karzai by his side after their meeting at the White House.
"It's partnership that establishes regular high level exchange on political, security and economic issues of mutual interest," Bush said.

Bush rejects Karzai army demand – BBC 5/23/05

President George W Bush has ruled out handing over command of US troops in Afghanistan to the government there.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he would demand the move during talks with Mr Bush at the White House. It follows anger over fresh details of torture and the deaths of two Afghan citizens at the main US military base in the country.

"Our troops will respond to US commanders," Mr Bush told journalists, when pressed on the issue. He said the US and Afghans would "co-operate and consult" over military operations. He also made no commitment to hand over prisoners to the Afghan authorities.

The White House talks were preceded by controversies over prisoner torture and Mr Karzai's record on eradicating Afghanistan's illegal drugs trade. But the two men began their remarks to journalists by strongly praising each other.

"I've got great faith in this man as a leader," Mr Bush said. And Mr Bush announced that the two men had signed a strategic partnership for the long-term future of Afghanistan that strengthens military, economic and political ties.

Mr Karzai told journalists afterwards that he was sad about the abuse of Afghans by US troops, but that it did not reflect on the American people. Anti-US feeling in Afghanistan emerged in a wave of riots this month.

The days before Monday's talks at the White House saw renewed controversy over the torture and killing of Afghan detainees at Bagram. "This is simply not acceptable," Mr Karzai told CNN television on Sunday night. "We are angry about this. We want justice."

New details surrounding the killing of two Afghans at Bagram in 2002, and the torture of other inmates were published by the New York Times on Friday. Seven soldiers have so far been charged in connection with the two deaths.

The report led Mr Karzai to insist that during his talks with Mr Bush he would request the handover of all Afghan detainees in US custody and also control over US military operations in Afghanistan. It detailed how prisoners were chained to ceilings and beaten. One female interrogator was reported to have stepped on a man's neck and kicked another in the genitals.

But the Afghan leader has also been forced to defend himself from American claims that he has not done enough to clamp down on Afghanistan's illegal drugs trade. Another report leaked to the New York Times showed US diplomats in Kabul telling their government that Mr Karzai had "been unwilling to assert strong leadership" to curtail Afghanistan's heroin trade.

The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says that, despite these issues, the fundamentals of US-Afghan relations remain the same - Afghanistan still needs US support for almost every aspect of its security and development. Mr Karzai has received solid backing from the US since playing a leading role in the campaign to topple the Taleban.

President Karzai's four-day trip to the US comes after recent violent anti-US protests in Afghanistan following allegations in Newsweek magazine - now retracted - that US guards at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had desecrated the Koran.

Bush Rebuffs Karzai's Request on Troops - The Associated Press 05/23/2005 By Jennifer loven
WASHINGTON - President Bush said Monday that U.S. troops in Afghanistan will remain under U.S. control despite Afghan President Hamid Karzai's request for more authority over them.

"Of course, our troops will respond to U.S. commanders," Bush said, with Karzai standing at his side at the White House. At the same time, Bush said the relationship between Washington and Kabul is "to cooperate and consult"

Bush also said that Afghan prisoners under U.S. control in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere, would be slowly returned to their home countries. "We will do this over time," he said. "We have to make sure the facilities are there." Bush had high praise for Karzai as a valued anti-terror partner and credited the Afghan leader with "showing countries in the neighborhood what's possible."

But Karzai came to their meeting with a long list of grievances. Among them: more control over U.S. military operations, custody of Afghan prisoners held by the United States and more assistance in fighting opium trade. As for the opium trade, Bush said, "I made it very clear to the president that we have got to work together to eradicate the poppy crop."

Karzai said that he hoped Afghanistan would be free of poppy crops within five to six years and that Afghan farmers could find alternative crops like honey dew melons and pomegranates.

There are about 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, costing about $1 billion a month. That is in addition to approximately 8,200 troops from NATO countries in Kabul and elsewhere.

Karzai commented on recent reports of abuse of Afghan prisoners by their American captors. "We are of course sad about that," he said, speaking in fluent English. But, he added, "It does not reflect on the American people."
Similarly, a report — later retracted — in Newsweek magazine earlier this month that alleged mistreatment of the Quran by American prison guards does not reflect American values, Karzai said.

While claiming the original report was not responsible journalism, Karzai said, "Newsweek's story is not America's story." Saying that he himself had been to a mosque in Washington, Karzai noted that "tens of thousands of Muslims are going on a daily basis to mosques in America," without incident.
The two leaders addressed reporters in the East Room of the White House. Bush and Karzai pledged to work more closely together amid continued instability and protests in Afghanistan.

"It's important for the Afghan people to understand we have a strategic vision for Afghanistan," Bush said. He said the United States and Afghanistan had signed a "strategic partnership" that establishes "regular high-level exchanges on political security and economic interests — economic issues of mutual interest." "We will consult with Afghanistan if it perceives its territorial integrity, independence or security is at risk," Bush said.

White House downplaying differences with Afghan president - The Associated Press 05/23/2005
WHITE HOUSE Even as Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai was arriving at the White House for talks with President Bush, White House spokesman Scott McClellan hailed him as "a great partner in the war on terror."

McClellan played down reports of U-S dissatisfaction with Karzai's role in the drug war in Afghanistan. He said Karzai "has been a steadfast and determined partner" in efforts to erradicate the poppy crop, which has been a major source of income in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban.

McClellan sidestepped questions about Karzai's demands for more say in U-S military operations in Afghanistan. He said "those are things we discuss directly with the government of Afghanistan."

McClellan said President Bush would use his meeting with Karzai "to applaud him for what he has done for the people" of his country and the way in which he's worked to move Afghanistan toward becoming a stable democracy.

Afghan President Gives Commencement Address At B.U. – AP 05/22/2005

BOSTON -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai told Boston University graduates Sunday that countries should look beyond their national interests in making foreign policy. "After all, it is our humanity that ultimately brings us together while the pursuit of narrow interests divide us all," Karzai said.

"Regrettably the world, the United States and other countries ... did not see it compatible with their national interests to address the plight of the Afghan people" before the Sept. 11 terror attacks, he said.

Karzai was elected president after the United States removed the Taliban from power after Sept. 11. Karzai, who on Saturday called for tough punishment for U.S. soldiers accused of abusing detainees at the main base in Afghanistan, did not address the topic in his commencement speech to 5,400 graduates and 20,000 guests at Nickerson Field.

Karzai, scheduled to meet with President Bush on Monday, said before flying to the United States that the Afghan government should have more say over operations by the 16,700 U.S. troops still in the country, including an end to raids on the homes of Afghans unless his government is first notified.

Karzai issued his statement after reports emerged of prisoner abuse by American forces at Bagram, and anti-U.S. riots broke out across the country earlier this month. The deadly riots were fueled by a now-retracted report by Newsweek magazine that U.S. interrogators had desecrated the holy Quran.

On Sunday, he remained mostly positive regarding his relations with Washington. "After decades of stagnation, our civil society is once again vibrant, our economy is growing fast, and we are becoming a hub of trade in the region," he said.

The Afghan leader wanted to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in Saturday night's Red Sox game at Fenway Park. However, his request was denied due to security concerns. Karzai has family in the Boston area. His older sister, Fozia Karzai, operates The Helmand, an Afghani restaurant in Cambridge. It's named after their home province.

U.S. Secret Service coordinated security Sunday at BU. At least two snipers stood atop buildings overlooking the stadium, and thousands of students, parents and faculty members passed through metal detectors as they entered.

Karzai's ties to Boston University date to 1987, when he helped form the Pakistan-based Afghan Media Project, designed to train Afghanis in journalism during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Aram Chobanian, BU's interim president, lauded Karzai for denouncing the "new and terrible form of colonialism" imposed by the Taliban, which was responsible for murdering Karzai's father.

"In a region where legitimacy is rare, your presidency is a tribute not only to yourself but to the gallant people you lead," Chobanian said. Karzai's denunciation of terrorism resonated with many BU graduates, most of whom were two weeks into their freshman year when the Twin Towers fell.

Dana Ashoory, a native of New York who visits her mother's native country, Israel, most summers, said Sept. 11 helped many of her classmates "realize what's going on everywhere else in the world." "I'll never forget that day," she said. "I'm used to people fearing for their life every day, but it was a shock."

Karzai: U.S. ignored world's woes - Boston Herald 05/23/2005 Thomas Caywood

Afghanistan's first democratically elected president publicly chided the United States yesterday for ignoring human suffering in the world in a commencement address delivered under heavy security at Boston University.

Hamid Karzai, who came to power with U.S. military and political backing, faulted his superpower ally for turning a blind eye to hunger and poverty before Sept. 11, 2001, and since.

"The United States and other countries that had the power, and hence the responsibility, did not see it compatible with their national interests to address the plight of the Afghan people then,'' Karzai said.

Ahead of a scheduled meeting today with President Bush, Karzai urged the 5,400 graduates to reject the notion of national interest in considering human suffering.
``I urge you to discover how moral imperative must also drive our actions, even when there are no economic or political motives,'' Karzai said.

The Afghan leader said poverty and suffering anywhere in the world ultimately undermines U.S. security and prosperity. ``We must not turn away when we hear the cries of the hungry,'' he said, later adding, ``Your generation will also be judged on indifference to hunger, to poverty, and misery in the world unless you seize opportunities to make a difference.''

Black-clad security forces stood on rooftops around Nickerson Field scanning the crowd with binoculars throughout the morning. The graduates had to show up for the 11 a.m. ceremony at 8:30 a.m. to pass through U.S. Secret Service metal detectors.

The students then were herded into a secure holding tent until the commencement began. ``It wasn't really necessary. It only took like five minutes'' to clear security, grumbled Uc Ossai, 22, of Dallas. ``We just sat around talking and complaining about how we didn't get enough sleep.'' But Ossai, whose family is from Nigeria, said Karzai's speech resonated with her and her friends. ``It really touched us,'' she said.

Earlier, the Afghan president sharply rejected reported U.S. claims that he had not worked strongly enough to curtail production of opium, the raw material for heroin. ``We are going to have probably all over the country at least 30 percent poppies reduced,'' Karzai said. ``So we have done our job. The Afghan people have done our job.''

Testing times in US-Afghan ties - By Andrew North - BBC News, Kabul 5/22/05

Afghan President Hamid Karzai's meeting with President George W Bush at the White House on Monday comes amid unusual tension between the two countries. His previous visits have been marked more by both sides heaping praise on each other.

This one could be different following renewed allegations of US prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, and disagreements over tackling the country's illegal drugs trade. Yet one of President Karzai's aims on this trip is to deepen Afghan-US ties, which could lead to permanent US bases here.

There has been a change in atmosphere though - for which the New York Times gets some of the credit, or blame - depending on your point of view. First it published details from a leaked US army investigation, alleging far more widespread abuse of Afghan detainees in US detention here than previously reported.

President Karzai was furious, and publicly demanded the US government punish any soldier found responsible. Afghans here will be watching to see if he is as forthright when he sees President Bush.
But when he arrived in the US on Saturday, it was President Karzai's turn to be on the spot - with the paper publishing a leaked cable from US diplomats here which criticised his leadership in overcoming resistance to drugs eradication initiatives. The Afghan leader responded in an interview by rounding on his Western backers, saying Afghanistan had done what it could - but had not had enough outside support.

Even before this, there was a change in tone in President Karzai's approach to his closest ally - particularly in relation to the US military and its operations here. His advisers confirm this.

Allegations of US abuse of prisoners, as well as accusations of heavy-handed tactics and instances of mistaken killings of civilians, have eroded support for the US presence, and they believe they have to speak out more strongly about such issues than they have in the past.

At a recent news conference, President Karzai made much of a plan to exert greater control over US operations here - including a ban on troops entering peoples' homes. Whether US field commanders battling Taleban insurgents in south-east Afghanistan will respect this remains an open question.

But the issue is likely to be on the agenda when he meets Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, as well as a plan to take custody of all Afghan detainees in US detention in Afghanistan and in Guantanamo Bay.

In this respect, the Afghan leader is probably helping the Bush administration. Many US officials here privately admit Guantanamo and the whole practice of detaining people without charge has become an "embarrassment". "Our problem is finding a way out of this," one official said recently.

Bringing Afghan detainees back from Cuba would certainly help. They are believed to make up the largest proportion of those held there. However, if President Karzai is showing more independence from Washington, US officials are happy for him to do so. "We don't want to be running everything here," says one diplomat.

Many believe the impending departure of the hugely influential US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad will help. President Bush has nominated him to take over the US mission in Iraq. Khalilzad, who is Afghan by birth, has frequently been accused of upstaging President Karzai.

Yet the fundamentals of US-Afghan relations remain the same. Afghanistan still needs US support for almost every aspect of its security and development. But far from pulling away, President Karzai is seeking a "long-term strategic partnership" with Washington.

Covering economic as well as security issues, this will be one of the main discussion issues at the White House. For its part, the Bush administration still regards President Karzai as essential too, for the country's progress and for continuing its war on terror.

There is no better demonstration of that than the millions of dollars it spends on the private American bodyguard force which protects him round the clock. Yet there are signs of change here, too. Dyncorp, the US security firm which runs Mr Karzai's protection detail, is also training Afghan guards to take over the job.

Many of them are now on duty. And although still present - the heavily-armed Americans in jeans, T-shirts and sporting ZZ-Top style beards who always flanked the Afghan leader in the past - are becoming a rarer sight. Perhaps that is a reflection of the changing US-Afghan relationship. Washington is still very much there, but both sides want it to recede more into the background.

Two Uzbeks missing in Afghanistan, feared dead after ambush - Mon May 23

KABUL (AFP) - An Uzbek driver and his assistant have been abducted and are feared dead after militants attacked a convoy of trucks travelling in southern Afghanistan, an official said.

Gulab Shah Alikhil, provincial spokesman of southeastern Zabul province, said the pair, both nationals of Uzbekistan, had gone missing on Saturday night after suspected Taliban attacked their convoy which was carrying mineral water to the Afghan capital Kabul.

"Two Uzbeks went missing on Saturday night -- our intelligence reports suggest that they might have been killed," Alikhil told AFP on Monday.

Alikhil blamed the attack, which occurred along a highway connecting the former Taliban southern stronghold of Kandahar to the Afghan capital, on remnants of the ousted hardline regime. "The attack was carried out by Taliban," he added.

The spokesman said that the bodies of the victims had not been found two days after dozens of Afghan security forces were deployed to the area, a hotbed of Taliban-led violence.

Six Afghans working for the US reconstruction company Chemonics were killed on the same road Thursday while transporting the body of their dead colleague, who had been killed in neighbouring Helmand province a day earlier, back to Kabul.

The Taliban, who were toppled by a US-led offensive at the end of 2001, are still waging a guerrilla-style insurgency targetting US-led coalition troops, aid workers and civilians in south and southeastern Afghanistan.
On Saturday a US soldier was killed and three others were wounded when their vehicle hit a home-made bomb in Zabul province which has also been the scene of frequent insurgent attacks.

The soldiers, who were conducting a security patrol, were part of an 18,000-strong US-led coalition force remaining in Afghanistan to hunt down insurgents. More than 200 people, many of them militants, have been killed in Taliban-led violence this year. Similar violence left more than 850 dead last year.

Afghan, U.S. forces arrest 15 drug suspects in southern province, officials say - By NOOR KHAN

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - (AP) Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces arrested 15 suspected drug traffickers and seized a large quantity of opium in a major counter-narcotics swoop in a southern province, local officials said Monday.

The operation began Sunday in Helmand province and continued Monday. An Afghan anti-narcotics force, supported by coalition soldiers and helicopters, seized 32 assault rifles, three vehicles and a large quantity of opium, which was then destroyed by burning, said two senior provincial officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

One of the officials said that a former provincial intelligence chief was among the arrested suspects. In a statement, the government confirmed that an operation to disrupt the drug trade had been launched Sunday in the Lashkargah and Sangin districts of the province, and quoted Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali as saying it was a demonstration of the government's commitment to "ending this shame on our country."

The U.S. military in Kabul did not immediately confirm its involvement in the operation. The raid came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai, currently in Washington, defended his government's efforts at fighting drugs. In an interview with CNN Sunday, he claimed that production of opium would be down 30 percent this year.

Afghanistan is the world's main source of opium, the raw material for heroin. Drug production has soared since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001, leading to warnings that the former al-Qaida haven is fast turning into a "narco-state."

A diplomatic cable sent May 13 from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a U.S.-sponsored crackdown on the narcotics industry had not been very effective partly because Karzai "has been unwilling to assert strong leadership," according to a New York Times report Sunday.

The Afghan government statement said that since the launch of a special Afghan anti-narcotics force in January 2004, it had destroyed over 100 tons of opium, 30 tons of precursor chemicals _ used to process opium into heroin _ and over 100 drug laboratories.
Kandahar school rocketed, set alight

KANDAHAR CITY, May 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Unidentified gunmen torched a government-run school after rocketing it in a pre-dawn attack in the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, witnesses and provincial security officials said on Monday.

A resident of the Khwaja Mal neighbourhood in Arghandab district confided to Pajhwok Afghan News he saw the school devoured by huge flames after a volley of rockets was fired at the school building.

"But no one has been killed or injured in the assault," said the eyewitness, who did not want to be named. He revealed the rocket fire took place at 3.00am, sparking fears among residents in the still of the night.

Kandahar security chief Gen. Salem Ihsas confirmed: "The school was targeted with missiles before being set alight and all stationery including textbooks, furniture and equipment were completely gutted."

A team of investigators had been sent to the area to probe the arson incident, he said, adding no one had been arrested so far. The southern Kandahar province, a Taliban bastion as recently as 2001, is in the throes of a relentless insurgency.

Pakistani arrested in Khost

KHOST CITY, May 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Khost police Monday claimed arresting a Pakistani with a hand-grenade and a dagger. The detainee, whom the police did not name, is said to be a resident of Mir Ali area in Kurram Agency, bordering Afghanistan.

The man was arrested on Sunday from a local hotel where he had hired a room, Khost police chief Brigadier General Muhammad Ayub told Pajhwok Afghan News.

"The man was taken into custody after police recovered a hand-grenade and a dagger from his possession during search," he said, adding he had been handed over to the National Security Agency for interrogation.

When contacted, Khost province National Police chief confirmed the arrest and said: "The accused has been sent to the lock-up." The authorities earlier claimed arresting a Pakistani on March 21 for allegedly planning a suicide attack. He was later handed over to the coalition forces. Dk/mud

Iran bans Afghans from eastern border - PakTribune

TEHRAN, May 23 (Online): Iran banned Afghans from residing in the country's eastern border provinces for unspecified security reasons. Ahmad Hosseini, head of the ministry's refugees office, said the decision includes the border provinces of Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchistan, and that Afghans living in the area have to return to Afghanistan as soon as possible.

However, he did not elaborate on the reason behind the ban. The United States has repeatedly accused Iran of harboring senior al-Qaida operatives who reportedly fled to the neighbouring Islamic republic after the US-led war on Afghanistan in 2001.

Iran rejects the charges, saying it remains committed to fighting terrorism. Iran also insists it has made a significant contribution to the war on terror by arresting agents of Osama bin Laden's terror network.

There are about a million Afghan refuges living in Iran, Tehran expects half of them to leave the country before the end of this year. More than 1.3 million Afghan refugees have left Iran through a United Nations repatriation program in the last three years. About 180,000 Afghanis who sneaked through Iran's porous 945-kilometer border seeking jobs were deported from Iran last year.

Candidate registration for polls ends

KABUL, May 23, (Pajhwok Afghan News): The number of candidates for upcoming parliamentary elections crossed 5,500 as the registration process was officially declared closed for all but one province on Monday.

However, the final number of aspirants would be announced later, as lists from some provinces are yet to reach here. The tentative number was half of their estimates, officials said.

The three-week registration process - extended for three days - was announced on Monday 16 in all provinces but Nangarhar, where it will continue for another four days.

Sultan Ahmad Baheen, spokesman for the joint UN-Afghan body in charge of organizing the elections, told a news conference the final figure could be higher after lists of registered candidates were received from all provinces.

Of the 5,531 hopefuls registered with the poll panel for the parliamentary vote, 2,826 are men and 212 women; for provincial council seats, 2,705 people including 319 women are in the run.
Bismillah Bismil, head of the Joint Electoral Management Body, expressed happiness that the registration process had concluded peacefully. The twice-delayed parliamentary elections - now slated for September 18 - would be held in a transparent manner. Qan/by/mud

Shinwari too jumps into electoral fray

JALALABAD, May 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A senior Taliban figure from Nangarhar province Maulvi Jalaludin Shinwari jumped into the electoral fray on Monday - a development indicative of sharp divisions within the movement.

Maulvi Jalaludin Shinwari, deputy minister for justice during the ousted militia government, is the third prominent Taliban leader to have unveiled his intentions to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for mid-September.

Before him, former foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakil and then intelligence chief and deputy interior minister Mullah Khaksar submitted their nomination papers to the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB), in a move that reflected a mismatch of perceptions among the erstwhile rulers.

Maulvi Jalaludin, who recently held fruitful reconciliation talks with top government functionaries in Kabul, told a press conference in Jalalabad: "I being an independent aspirant don't have the support of the Taliban."

In response to a query, he observed: "Parliament is the best forum for waging political struggles and if elected, I will combat corruption and work for the betterment of my voters."

Asked if he favoured permanent American military bases in Afghanistan, Shinwari replied parliament should decide on the sensitive issue concerning the country's security. He linked his decision on contesting the polls to persistent demands from locals that he represent them in parliament. Jh/mhh/ya/mud

22 Afghan detainees in anti-US demonstrations shift to Afghan capital

KABUL, May 22 (Xinhua) -- All the 22 persons detained in Afghan eastern Nangarhar's anti-US protest demonstration last week had been taken to national security directorate in Kabul for interrogation, according to a senior government official General Haroon Asifi.

The detainees would be thoroughly interrogated there, and there was no national of neighboring countries were detained during the demonstration, he said Saturday. He rejected the involvement of students in the violence but added mercenaries had exploited the situation.

The anti-US demonstration sparked by the reported desecration of US servicemen in their tactics to rattle Taliban and al-Qaeda inmates at Guantanamo Bay had defiled copies of Muslim holy book, the Quran and flushed it down into toilet.

To condemn the reported Quran abuse, Afghans from all segments particularly the students on May 17 came out to streets in Jalalabad, the provincial capital of eastern Nangarhar province, demanding the punishment of those behind the offence.

The demonstration turned bloody from May 18 when clash erupted between personnel of law enforcing agencies and protestors, and altogether more than 20 persons killed and more than 100 injured in the following several days' demonstrations. About five persons were killed and 45 others injured in the demonstration held in Nangarhar's province.

STATEMENT OF THE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN ON AFGHAN PRISONER ABUSE BY COALITION FORCES - UNAMA

The circumstances involving the abuse and inhumane treatment leading to the death of two Afghan prisoners in Bagram in 2002, reported in the New York Times on the basis of a US army investigation, are deeply disturbing. Such abuses are utterly unacceptable and are an affront to everything the international community stands for in Afghanistan. They run counter to the Bonn process, the central goal of which is to restore the rule of law after Afghans were denied their basic human rights for decades.

The gravity of these abuses calls for the punishment of all those involved in such inexcusable crimes, as demanded by President Karzai.

It also calls for firm guarantees that such abuses cannot be committed again, now or at any time in the future. All Afghans in the custody of the state or international forces should enjoy the full protection that international law and the Constitution afford to detainees.

We understand that, since 2002, steps have been taken in Bagram and other facilities to eradicate mistreatment and improve conditions of detention. We urge that such measures be made public without delay; and complaints of arbitrary arrest, detention without charges and treatment of detainees, which continue to be raised, be addressed fully in order to ensure that basic rights are observed in connection with Coalition operations.

The Afghan Judiciary should have a primary role in ensuring that detainees can enjoy the protection of the law, and every effort should be made towards achieving this goal. But special measures are also required. One such measure is the provision of access to prisons, including Coalition facilities, by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

In support of the AIHRC, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, under its mandate to monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, will redouble its own verification efforts in regard to military arrests and detentions. In view of the commitment to address abuses shown by the US army investigation, I trust that we will enjoy the full cooperation of the Coalition Forces in this endeavour.

The presence of international forces remains one of the cornerstones of Afghanistan’s security and reconstruction. It is of the utmost importance that it should also serve to protect the exercise of the Afghans’ fundamental human rights. Kabul, 22 May 2005

UNAMA briefing:
Press Briefing by Richard Provencher - Public Information Officer And United Nations Agencies in Afghanistan Kabul – 22 May 2005

ط Today’s guest

Today’s guest is Joint Electoral Management Body Chairman Bissmillah Bissmil. He is here to give you the very latest candidate nomination figures and talk about the upcoming Challenge and Display period as well as the Electoral Complaints Commission.

ط Special Representative of the Secretary-General Jean Arnault’s statement on abuse of two Afghan prisoners in Bagram

The circumstances involving the abuse and inhumane treatment leading to the death of two Afghan prisoners in Bagram in 2002, reported in the New York Times on the basis of a US army investigation, are deeply disturbing. Such abuses are utterly unacceptable and are an affront to everything the international community stands for in Afghanistan. They run counter to the Bonn process, the central goal of which is to restore the rule of law after Afghans were denied their basic human rights for decades.

The gravity of these abuses calls for the punishment of all those involved in such inexcusable crimes, as demanded by President Karzai.

It also calls for firm guarantees that such abuses cannot be committed again, now or at any time in the future. All Afghans in the custody of the state or international forces should enjoy the full protection that international law and the Constitution afford to detainees.

We understand that, since 2002, steps have been taken in Bagram and other facilities to eradicate mistreatment and improve conditions of detention. We urge that such measures be made public without delay; and complaints of arbitrary arrest, detention without charges and treatment of detainees, which continue to be raised, be addressed fully in order to ensure that basic rights are observed in connection with Coalition operations.

The Afghan Judiciary should have a primary role in ensuring that detainees can enjoy the protection of the law, and every effort should be made towards achieving this goal. But special measures are also required. One such measure is the provision of access to prisons, including Coalition facilities, by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).

In support of the AIHRC, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, under its mandate to monitor and report on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, will redouble its own verification efforts in regard of military arrests and detentions. In view of the commitment to address abuses shown by the US army investigation, I trust that we will enjoy the full cooperation of the Coalition Forces in this endeavour.

The presence of international forces remains one of the cornerstones of Afghanistan’s security and reconstruction. It is of the utmost importance that it should also serve to protect the exercise of the Afghans’ fundamental human rights.

ط IDP’s heading home

Fifty families are beginning their journey home today from the Zhari Dasht camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) in Kandahar. The families are returning to the Qaisar district in Faryab province.

The return is being organized by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Transportation is being provided, and each returning family will receive an assistance package to help them re-settle. Similar returns of IDPs are planned for the coming weeks.

There are around 133,000 IDPs living in four camps in the south. Zhari Dasht is the largest, accommodating 49,000 people. The camp is managed by UNHCR which, through its partners, provides assistance such as water, sanitation and education.

ط DDR numbers continue to rise; 55, 961 now disarmed

The number of former Afghan Military Forces (AMF) officers and soldiers joining the Demobilization Disarmament and Reintegration (DDR) programme is showing no signs of slowing down. As of today 55,961 have disarmed. From that figure 46,547 have entered the reintegration phase.

The percentage breakdown for the reintegration phase shows that 42.7% have opted for the agricultural package; 26.1% for vocational training and job placement; 22.1% opting for small business; 2.5% for de-mining; 3.7% have joined the Afghan National Army; 0.4% the Afghan National Police; 1.2% have chosen contracting teams, or wage labour; 0.7% for Teacher Training; and 0.4 % have decided not to participate.

Meanwhile in the Chaghcharan district of Ghor province the disarmament programme is now complete. A total of 1,031 former AMF officers and soldiers from the 41st Division and the 843rd Regiment were processed under the DDR programme and both units have been decommissioned.

In terms of heavy weapons, so far 9,059 working or repairable heavy weapons have been collected and secured in guarded compounds throughout the country.
Five months ago, Afghanistan’s New Beginnings Programme (ANBP) in partnership with the Ministry of Defence launched a nationwide ammunition survey.

The survey identified 45,369 boxed and 1,105,030 unboxed ammunitions throughout the country. The majority of the ammunition was deemed unserviceable and has been destroyed by HALO Trust. The useable portion has been transported to safe and secure compounds. The teams are now surveying the regions of Kabul, Bamyan, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Kunduz.

During our last briefing we told you about the collection of some 750 different types of light and heavy weapons that were being collected in Takhar province. Tomorrow, Monday May 23rd, the press is invited to attend a ceremony for this event at the former headquarters of 55 Division in Taluqan city. Attending the ceremony will be local authorities, several former commanders, and members of ANBP, the Afghan National Army, the Provincial Reconstruction Team and UNAMA.

ط UNAMA holds gender training for Kabul police officers

A three-day training workshop on domestic violence for the staff of the District 10 Kabul Police station concluded last Thursday (May 19).

The workshop, which was facilitated by the UNAMA gender unit and supported by the central field office and rule of law unit, was attended by 18 police officers, both male and female.

Training focused on raising awareness of the issue of family violence. Topics included; the social and psychological impact of domestic violence; the legal framework; police response to domestic violence; and how to collect evidence of domestic violence and arrest procedures.

The workshop was held in preparation for a pilot project to initiate a family intervention unit at the station. This unit will be launched on June 1st, and will be staffed by four female police officers, and supported by the police investigation unit.

Once the family intervention unit is up and running it will ensure the provision of effective and appropriate services to victims of domestic violence through community outreach, education, training, and policy development.

ط International Day for Biological Diversity

Today, May 22nd, is the International Day for Biological Diversity, and this year’s theme is “Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World”.

This international day highlights the importance of biodiversity in protecting us from the consequences of unexpected shocks such as water shortages, extreme weather events and the genetic vulnerability of crops and livestock.

In his annual message, the UN Secretary-General said:

“Biodiversity provides the materials we need for food, clothing and shelter. It helps to ensure health, and contributes to human well being in many other ways. But unsustainable patterns of production and consumption have reduced the biological diversity of life on our planet more than at any other time in history”.

In Afghanistan, biodiversity conservation and management projects continue. The National Capacity Needs Self Assessment (NCSA) project, which is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to enhance the capacity of Afghanistan to meet its existing commitments under the biodiversity, climate change, and desertification conventions. The Kabul Greenbelt project, a Ministry of Agriculture initiative, has led to the planting of some 200,000 tree saplings around the capital, and 100,000 tree saplings have been planted in the Kandahar area in a similar project, supported by the Green Afghanistan Initiative (GAIN) committee in Kandahar.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is launching a project to restore Afghanistan’s most valuable ecosystem reserves, such as the Pamir reserve in Wakhan, as well as the Ajar valley and the lakes of Bande Amir in Bamyan. A technical assistance grant of US $975,000 is being provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to help conserve biological diversity and restore these natural areas, which have been severely impacted by 20 years of war.

ط World Bank provides Afghanistan with US $85 million in grant support

On May 19th the World Bank approved an US $85 million package of grant assistance to Afghanistan, of which US $40 million will fund higher education, and US $45 million will support the country's economic and social recovery through improved road and airport access to goods, markets and social services.

The large proportion of grant funding to Afghanistan recognizes the scale of the challenge, particularly the infrastructure needs, facing this nation as it recovers from more than two decades of conflict.

ط Five member Electoral Complaints Commission named

Prior to hearing from our guest today, I would like to make an announcement concerning the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC). The five members are as follows:

Pursuant to Article 52 of the Amended Electoral Law, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Jean Arnault, nominates, Grant Kippen, Janie Allison Sitton, and Hadija Miiro to constitute the international element of the ECC.

Pursuant to Article 52 of the Amended Electoral Law, the Supreme Court of Afghanistan nominates Syed Munib to constitute the national element of the ECC.

Pursuant to Article 52 of the Amended Electoral Law, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission nominates Muhammad Farid Hamidi to constitute the national element of the ECC.

It is now time to bring in our guest speaker. He is the Chairman of the Joint Electoral Management Body and he will give you an update on the latest nomination figures, the Challenge and Display period, as well as the Electoral Complaints Commission. Ladies and gentlemen Bissmillah Bissmil.

Bissmillah Bissmil, Chairman, Joint Electoral Management Body, “Election update”

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) is grateful to all people who have participated in the Candidate Nomination process for the Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council elections and is satisfied with the number of candidates so far.

As we anticipated, more and more Afghan men and women have been coming forward to nominate themselves as the deadline draws nearer.

We now have more than 5,000 candidates for both the Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Council elections.
Until the close of offices yesterday (Saturday) a total of 2,660 candidates had nominated themselves for the Wolesi Jirga, including 300 women and 61 Kuchis.
For the Provincial Council, we have 2,590 candidates including 172 women.

The JEMB, due to some problems in some provinces and also the frequent request by interested candidates, decided to extend the Candidate Nomination period for three days all over the country; with the exception of Nangarhar, where we extended Candidate Nominations by six days to May 26.

This extension will not affect the electoral calendar. We are determined to display the preliminary list of Candidates as scheduled between June 4th and June 9th.

There will then be a three-week challenge period for all Afghan individuals and entities to challenge those on the preliminary list. Between July 2nd and July 7th, excluded candidates will have the chance to respond. The final list of all candidates will be announced on July 12th. Everyone on this list will be able to contest the elections on September 18th.

According to the Electoral Law, for the sake of greater transparency and in order to investigate complaints, an Electoral Complaints Commission was established with five members, as just announced by UNAMA. Three international members have been appointed by the SRSG: Ms. Janie Allison Sitton, Mr. Grant Kippen, and Ms. Hadija Miiro. Two national members have been appointed, one by the Supreme Court, Syed Munib; and one by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, Mr. Farid Hamidi.

The JEMB welcomes the Electoral Complaints Commission. This body is independent and we hope that both bodies, the JEMB and ECC, can make a good contribution to the process and work together closely.

Provincial Election Commissions will also be established to assist the ECC. We hope that it will provide transparency, and help all Afghans to exercise their freedom of choice.

I would like to ask all Afghans, especially our sisters, to use the remaining day and a half (until the Monday May 23rd deadline) to nominate themselves for the Wolesi Jirga and Provincial Councils. May God bless you with success.

Questions & Answers

Question: Regarding the final list of candidates that will be displayed, what is the mechanism for complaints? Do you think that these five days will be enough in order to adjudicate on these complaints? Also, will complaints be made from all the provinces, or will national and international organizations be able to make complaints as well?
Bissmillah Bissmil: As I said before the [preliminary] lists will be displayed for six days [June 4th-9th], but we have three weeks for people [the ECC] to adjudicate on any complaints against candidates. Every individual, organization or entity can make a challenge against a candidate. As I mentioned before we have established the Provincial Election Commission (PEC), and they are on the way to being established in some of the other provinces. The PEC, in addition to the Joint Electoral Management body, is in direct contact with the Electoral Complaint Commission. The Electoral Complaints Commission will adjudicate all complaints, in accordance with the Afghan constitution.

Question: Some of the Taliban leaders are candidates. Will people be able to make complaints against them? And if there are no complaints, will they be able to join the National Assembly?
Bissmillah Bissmil: Every Afghan, according to the constitution and electoral law, can put themselves forward as candidates [if they meet the candidate requirements as stated in the constitution and electoral law]. Regarding the background of candidates, anyone can make a complaint against a candidate during the complaints period.

Question: The Electoral Complaints Commission is based in Kabul. How can people come from remote provinces to have their complaints heard?
Bissmillah Bissmil: The Provincial Election Commissions will work closely with the Electoral Complaints Commissions. In the last two or three days we have received the names of these people from respective agencies and they [the PEC representatives] will be in place soon. Then it is up to these PECs to either deal with the complaint or pass it on to Kabul.

Question: In some provinces there are two seats reserved for women for the Wolesi Jirga. After a certain period, if these candidates withdraw and their seats remain vacant, what will happen to them? In Uruzgan we have two female seats but only one candidate – what will happen to the vacant seat? Also, some of the provinces do not have any female candidates.
Bissmillah Bissmil: In order to have female representatives from these provinces, we have one or two [reserved] seats per province. The rest of the population was divided by 65. Then we determined the location of female seats for each province. So far only in Uruzgan province have we had a problem, but not in any other province. For the Provincial Council, in all provinces we have candidates. Countrywide, we are short of 18 female candidates for Provincial Councils. We hope that in the one and a half remaining days this problem will be solved. I am sure you have all read the Afghan electoral law – in Afghanistan there must be 68 female representatives. We hope this problem is solved. If it is not solved these seats will remain vacant.

Question: In Kunar province there are no female candidates for the Provincial Council?
Bissmillah Bissmil: We have no female candidates in Kunar, but we hope this problem will change. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs have made some efforts. But if there are no candidates, the seats will remain vacant.

Question: We thought there were some problems during the Presidential Election like the ink problem and also multiple registrations. What are the measures for the Parliamentary Elections in order to avoid similar problems?
Bissmillah Bissmil: Based on all the problems and 23 years of war in Afghanistan, the Presidential Election was a success. The previous commission did a good job. The previous commission laid the foundations for the election in Afghanistan. However there were problems like the ink issue. And now that we have at least four months ahead of us, the Joint Electoral Management Body is carefully considering the previous problems and will do their best to avoid these.

Question: Is there a penalty for those who make multiple registrations?
Bissmillah Bissmil: If you have read the Electoral Law, you will remember a section on offences. These people will be dealt with accordingly as per the Electoral Law. Furthermore the election will last only one day, so I don’t think they will be doing this. I think it will not happen.

Question: In some of the provinces the number of female candidates is low and in some provinces there are no female candidates. What could be the reason? Is this a question of candidate security?
Bissmillah Bissmil: The number of female candidates for the Wolesi Jirga is more than we expected. The problem that we have regarding the Provincial Council is that previously we didn’t have Provincial Councils in Afghanistan. The importance and responsibility of the Provincial Council is not yet clarified for Afghans because the law on Provincial Councils has not yet been drafted or passed. And the security and threats are not so strong as to prevent women to nominate themselves as candidates.

Question: In the eastern region, the candidates are trying to bring on board all their relatives in the JEMB Secretariat…
Bissmillah Bissmil: In our previous sessions I have mentioned the JEMB has nine national and four international members. These 13 members have overseen and considered all the issues which can influence or affect the electoral process in all the provinces. As the United Nations is being represented in this commission, they have also been given some responsibilities in these provinces and the selection of these people. The members of the Election Commission are people that have been appointed by delegates from UNAMA, the Provincial Governor and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. We hope not to have these issues, but if there are some, the Electoral Complaints Commission will deal with that. Finally I would like to thank the members of the media who have covered this election process so well. I would also like to add that the candidate nomination process was conducted in a good manner. We did not have any security problems apart from two or three minor incidents which were indirectly related to the electoral process and we want to thank you for all the coverage you provided.

Law on lower courts approved

KABUL, May 22 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A law regarding the structure and authority of lower courts was approved here on Sunday.
In this connection, 36 judges took oath of office and will later head the criminal, civil, trade and common security tribunals. Chief Justice Fazle Hadi Shinwari administered the oath to them.
Supreme Court's spokesman Abdul Wakil Umari later told Pajhwok Afghan News the law was jointly prepared by the Ministry of Justice, Independent Commission for Justice and Judiciary and the Supreme Court on the basis of the Constitution.
Section 123 of Article 7 of the Constitution says the law will outline the structure of the lower judiciary, its powers and responsibilities of judges.
Umari said the law was issued after being signed by the president and approved by cabinet ministers. A large number of justices and officials of the Supreme Court also attended the oath-taking ceremony.
Ministry refuses IT rate cut

KABUL, May 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Ministry of Finance has rejected a proposed reduction in the income tax rate from 20 to 0.5 per cent, Pajhwok Afghan News reliably learnt on Monday.
The proposal was forwarded by the Afghan International Chamber of Commerce to the ministry, with a view to expanding the tax base by bringing the maximum number of people under tax net. Under the existing law, traders have to pay five to 20 per cent tax on their earnings.
As business activity is yet to pick up in the war-ravaged country, traders believe the existing rate of income tax is inordinate. They had conveyed their reservations to Finance Minister Anwarul Haq Ahadi and demanded a reduction in the rate. But the ministry refused to accept the proposal. Aqm/jaq/dk
Afghan anthem awaits presidential approval

KABUL, May 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Afghan national anthem, prepared after a month of hard work, and would soon be presented to President Hamid Karzai for approval, said Shah Zaman Wrez Stanizai, director of Publication Department at the Information Ministry.
The National Anthem approved by a seven-member commission was one of the important points on agenda for the constitutional Loya Jirga held in 2003. Stanizai said the commission had chosen three of the 70 poems and after the approval of the consultant board it would be presented to the president.
According to Article 20 of the Constitution, the national anthem will be in Pashto language having the names of all Afghan tribes and the word Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). Aqm/jaq/dk

[Disclaimer: The content of this news bulletin does not necessarily reflect the view or policy of the Afghan Government, unless specifically stated as such. The collection of articles and commentaries from Afghan and international news sources is provided for informational purposes, and accuracy of the news is the responsibility of the original source.]