The Reverse Gear

Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan has just endorsed an outrageous law that was recommended by the Cleric Council, ‘a group of turbaned-headed men known as Shura-e-Ulama’. The law statement basically goes like ‘men and women shouldn’t mix at school, work, or other everyday situations’.

Who the hell in the world would do that?! It technically means Afghanistan needs to be divided up in two; one half for men and the other half for women. No social interactions? Is it a jungle where only hairy animals ‘bearded men’ can have rights?

In reaction to passing this law, people have reacted in humor and anger. For example one wrote on his Facebook page, ‘we don’t need the televisions anymore, because if the female news caster’s face is to be hidden, we can hear her voice from the radios’ "Girls are only allowed to access Facebook if they are wearing their Burkas!" tweeted another Afghan man. And another humorous comment goes as "We have asked the Facebook administrators to create separate profiles for women. You are not allowed to 'like' or 'poke' someone on Facebook or you will be cursed by the Ulama."

If the law finalizes, this is what happens 

Some others like me have reacted with anger and violence. For instance, an Afghan girl has told BBC Persian ‘"It is completely disrespectful to women's rights and it undermines our privacy. We won't let them pass this law.".”It means the government is paving the way for the Taliban to control Afghanistan" says another women’s right activist in Kabul. "How dare the religious council decide about our faith?” exclaims another woman.

This is not the only issue with the government these days; there are many other similar ones. I assume one who is familiar with the recent issues, can easily see Afghanistan as a car, no, or a 'track' would be better word, and its turbaned-headed religious drivers speeding the country backward with the speed of 'no cops around anyway'. 

I wish Karzai or any of those turbaned-headed law makers would happen to read this post and answer these questions: first, who the hell is Shura e Ulama to decide about half of the population of the country? And second, why you bearded men are not limiting rights on yourselves? And all of you have wives, how would you live with them happily while you keep on chanting against them? 

Government Is To Remove 4 Decades from the History Books

     Has your government ever decided to get rid four eventful decades from your history textbooks? Well, mine has. The Afghan government has decided to eliminate any post-1973 events from its school texts. If that actualizes, the country’s new school books simply leave out the last four decades of events: no Soviet involvement, no brutal years of civil war, no rise of the Taliban, no culture heritage destruction, no massacres, no U.S. involvement and no millions of people rescued from the sinking ship of the country in Taliban era and before that. The intention – the hope – is that this know-nothing “de-politicized” approach will lessen tensions by avoiding controversy and division in schools, which since the 1970s have been ideological battlefields. Farooq Wardak, Education Minister simply says ‘it is to encourage brotherhood and unity.’ But people disagree. The absence of modern history in the school books is more likely an indication of irreconcilable divisions in society rather than a portent of national reconciliation.

 Before naming the major events during the past four decades, if we look deeper into the history of Afghanistan that has been transferred from man-to-man-not by the books-a big part of this country’s history has been removed. For instance, unlike what I read few years ago in my school books, I found out that the King Abdul Rahman who is known for some Pashtuns to be the modernizer of Afghanistan,  is actually the killer of 60% of Hazara and Nuristan minorities and a slave dealer. This is removed from the book and forgotten, but just the saying goes ‘history sometimes repeats’, it actually did. One and half decades ago, the Taliban wanted to ‘modernize’ the country more, they massacred the minorities in Afshar, Mazar and …’unaware that history has witnessed that once’

Now, these are some of the major highlighted parts of our history that lie in the past four decades. Russian invasions and how it happened, ‘English invasion is also enlightened here’, the years of civil war that left millions dead and thrown out of the country, homeless, uneducated, disabled, drug addicts, jobless and family less. Warlords that the destroyed cultural heritages that Afghans were proud of, massacred minorities, and the reason why it all has happened and by whom.

Just by looking at every single event that left disasters, wouldn’t it be better to literally let the next generation know the real face of all this misfortunean that let the country up to this point, and learn lessons from it? Or it is just okay if they blindly ignore the facts and remove the history? ..so that the next generation will interpret the history differently as they hear from individuals, and repeat the history just like Taliban did many years after Abdul Rahman.

I like the idea of brining brotherhood. But I never agree that it can be brought the way the government has blindly chosen now. In fact, in this government, there is a scarcity of knowledge and education which is why disasters happen over and over again; criminals like King Adbul Rahman, Taliban and… are not held accountable for their crimes and yet their history removed. Now knowing the disasters left from the last four decades, especially from the Second King Abdul Rahman ‘Taliban’, if we let the history get removed again, there will be Third Abdul Rahmans ‘modernizing’ Afghanistan again just like the Second and First ones did. In other words, removing the history doesn’t change anything. Just like a donkey is still a donkey, no matter what color his saddle is, a criminal is a criminal through any sort of intention of purposely harming others. Instead, the government should literally use the history as a mirror of the past and a light for the future. Officially punishing the criminals and publicly apologizing the victims can lessen tension of hatred but not removal of the history.

Afghanistan in 210th Decade

[For the past two years or so that I’ve been meeting foreigners, especially Americans, the question they usually asked me was about the U.S troops in Afghanistan and basically what Afghans think of Americans being in the country. This is a short not that answers both the above and the question that what will happen when the foreign troops eventually leave Afghanistan.]

9/11 is a highlighted date throughout the world. Following it, the immediate action the U.S took ‘invasion of Afghanistan’ is also clear for many, but it’s interpreted differently across the countries. Unlike foreigners, Afghans have more positive interpretation of the presence of U.S and International Security Assistance Forces ‘ISAF’ in the country. People throughout the country-except some in the south and east- are happy with the current situation ‘invaded Afghanistan’ in contrast with Afghanistan before 2001. In central parts, in particular, having the international community on the ground, people are more optimistically working towards a better Afghanistan. And the voices that randomly rise up from here and there are only from the remaining of Taliban at certain areas and their in-the-government extremists who want the U.S troops to leave the country so that the Taliban can come back. They don’t happen as frequently, YET not to be underestimated while making decisions for the Afghanistan after 2014. 

     Despite their failures, Americans and ISAF have had their significant success in Afghanistan so far. For instance; the booming trend of education, security, agriculture, stability, women’s rights in particular, etc throughout the country in post-Taliban era by far are specifically worth to speak of, especially when it comes to central provinces. It doesn’t mean that the government pays more attention the central parts, but rather cooperativeness of the residents with the government and foreign donors matters. All has happened since 2001 invasion which to most foreigners seemed like the ones Russians and English did to Afghanistan decades ago.

     After the invasion, people have cooperated with the ISAF and government in bringing the long-lost peace and stability back in the country. For instance, for a female, being the governor of a province for the first time in the history of a men-oriented country is not an easy task, but with the cooperation of people, Dr. Habiba Sarabi has been able to govern Bamyan relatively better than her counterparts in other parts of the country. The head of Human Right Commission in Afghanistan-where human rights had never been observed before- is run successfully by a female. This might be shocking to some, but in pre-9/11, Afghan females were forbidden from going to school and they were forced to be head-to-toe covered up with Chadars that made them look like penguins, all in blue popping up in the streets trying to walk. But now, surprisingly, about 30% of the parliament seats are owned by female MPs. Under the possibilities provided, women are unquenchably encouraged to get good education and have part in the government. Thus, the number of female school and college goers has increased significantly since 2001. However, Schools are still functioning with the least facility they have due to lack of attention from the government. In spite of all those shortcomings, one can easily witness the very enthusiasm amongst the attendees of those least-facilitated schools that give out an ongoing sense of hope for the future of the country. It all has been happening since 2001 Invasion.

     Now the question to be answered is that why some of those in the south and south-west are not content with the presence of the U.S and other foreign donors in the country. Well, the fact that Afghanistan is a multi-ethnical country makes this question easier. The central part is home for the Hazaras, who as minorities have always been marginalized and massacred in silence ‘examples are; Afshar Operation or Afshar Massacre, Taliban Massacre in Mazar e Sharif’ are happy with the current situation, though they are still deprived of governmental development projects.  

     North is home for Tajiks, who unlike before, after the invasion haven’t really raised voice of violence and trouble, yet lost some of the men in the government; and Uzbeks, who are also ignored as minorities.

Remains the south, the longest border with Pakistan- where majority Pashtuns live, the largest ethnic group in the country. The Taliban were/are from this group and the reason why the government is stuck in these areas is because the remaining Taliban to be dealt with reside there. In other words, threats, explosions, suicide-attacks, extremism, strong ties with Pakistani militants, and so forth…All come from this area. And this is also where the voices rise wanting the U.S and ISAF troops to leave the country.

     Keeping in mind that the U.S. and ISAF have had their mentioned success, Afghan government in agreement with the U.S. have decided to let the foreign troops leave the country by 2014 and responsibilities to be handed over to the Afghan police. To prepare for that, a negotiation process is going on with the Taliban these days. But that is just woefully INADEQUATE! If they are to actually leave in 2014, their a-decade effort and success will add up to zero and the remaining Taliban with the support of Pakistan and their Arab fellows; sooner or later will drag the country back towards the Afghanistan before 2001.

     If the United States, ISAF and NATO have any hope of a successful outcome in Afghanistan, these shaky steps that are recently being taken to launch peace negotiations or whatsoever, must be reinforced by these few policy thrusts. First, they should reconsider; basically postpone the withdrawal date of their troops. Second, by the time they leave, there should be no more ties with the Pakistani militants and that the Terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan that interfere in Afghanistan must be dismantled. Third, they should make sure that the Afghan police are ready enough to undertake the security of their country. 

Loya Jirga 'The Grand Council'

    These days the streets are strictly blocked and the security is tight in most parts of Kabul, Afghanistan . The four-day long Loya Jerga ‘The Grand Council’ is in progress and is going to last three more days. It is annually held in Afghanistan by the government inviting about 2000 people from around the country. It is like a ‘leader-follower’ meeting which is common in some countries for making major plans for which the presence of experts from around the country is needed. In Afghanistan, however, it is different.  Mostly countrymen are given the chance to come ‘putting on their big turbans as showing respect to the old way of holding the Jerga’ and meet the president but whether those men are expert or if their presence is required for plans being made and matter discussed on in the Jerga, is not in priority.

      The Jerga traditionally starts out with the speech of President Karzai and whatever he says is often followed by hand clapping of the local men. After Karzai’s speech, some others are given some time to give speech on the history of how Loya Jerga was held years ago and so forth. As the speakers go on giving their speech, it is typical of those countrymen not to show any interest after a while since they are politically illiterate. And when they find the Jerga unworkable, they start to feel bored, sitting comfortably, some taking their shoes make discussions of their own favorite topics as in the pictures below.

Attendees having their own talks-not interested in what others say 

This strategic planner feels being detained  

Strategic Planners of 21^st Century?..their feet must stink 

    It is interesting that today as part of the agenda, the Jerga was to discuss the 40 issues planned on Strategic Plans between the U.S and Afghanistan, but in the middle of the discussion, the countrymen rejected the 39^th issue of the declarations because 39 is considered as an unlucky number in some of the regions these local men are coming from. And that argument ended today’s Jerga with nothing in conclusion which partly means the attendees will be spending another day arguing on unlucky number.

     Worthy to mention that in multi-ethnical Afghanistan, the Jerga used to be traditionally held only among the Pashthun tribal leaders usually to prepare for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency matters as well as disputes in the Pashthun areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan regardless of considering the other ethnic groups’ ides. Now it has changed a little and the decisions are more regarding strategic plans and political relationships with the neighbor and helper countries. The attendees form other ethnic groups are being let in as well; however, the majority of the attendees are still from the Pashthun group and the others are only a little over observers.

    In Afghanistan, since everything is done traditionally, it takes a long time to make this Jerga, a factual ‘Grand Council’ as its name implies. As I mentioned, it is still held in an old-fashioned way and the decisions and plans being made are not as sufficient. To make it even a little better, necessity of the equally presence of educated tribal leaders from every ethnic group should be on the top of the list. As I read, the agenda of today’s council was not worth bringing 2000 people together from around the country and spending millions of dollars. For instance, in his today’s speech, Karzai was shouting out ‘we are the lions! And the world should know us as the lions’. And the countrymen clapped as he paused.  I wonder why would Karzai didn’t think that the world is not first a jungle to know him and other Afghans as the lions. Second, let’s suppose it is, the ‘lions’ are the ones who don’t need help from other animals of the jungle; while today Afghanistan is surviving on the goods all being imported from the neighbor countries and Karzai himself ‘the big lion’ is seated secure in the Arg ‘Presidential Place’ by the security provided by other ‘foxes of the world’.

Police Are Commanded to Kidnap the Woman Who Asks for Her Right

It is just hard to say what the government is doing right now!
This female MP was in Parliament for a year and a while ago was included in the list of nine MPs being disqualified and pulled out by the government for having cheated in election “which itself is the very first problem of the government of course”. After she was out, she complained and when no one listened, she hunger struck for being treated unfairly. Finally, yesterday on eleventh day of her hunger strike, she announces her conditions if she was to abolish the strike; one of the conditions is ‘her case should be fairly reconsidered and her votes recounted in presence of some people she named’. And since her conditions were unfavorable for the government, police were ordered to kidnap her … and the plan was carried out just last night. Here is the video of how the police kidnap the woman from her tent in front of the parliament building.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yOfmestek6Q

Suicide Attack Kills Burhah-ul-den Rabbani

It is 9/20/2011, midnight in South Korea. I’m back from the library and as I open my facebook page, I see the news saying that Afghanistan Head of High Peace Council, former President Burhan-ul-den Rabbai, who had been tasked with trying to negotiate a political end to the war but has faced total failures was killed earlier today 

Burhan-ul-den Rabbaini 'with the turban'

The media says his home is in Kabul’s heavily guarded diplomatic enclave, and the attack came just a week after a 20-hour siege at the edge of the area sometimes known as the ‘Green Zone’.

Rabbani has been killed, “Mohammad Zaher, head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Kabul Police, has told the media”. It has happened just a few hours ago and so far there is no further information about it.

Rabbani was formerly leader of a powerful Mujaheddin party during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s and sevred as president in the 1990s when Mujaheddin factions waged war for control of the country after the Soviet withdrawal. During him time, before 2001, he was involved in all the tribal wars in the country leading his own political party ‘Afghanistan's Islamic Society’

The assassination happens just a week after a 20-hour gun and grenade attack that on Kabul’s diplomatic enclave by insurgents, and three suicide bomb attacks on other parts of the city together the longest-lasting and most wide-ranging assault on the city. (my earlier post ‘Jan Ali’ is about the previous attack in this area)..... 

As this news spreads around, people might have different discussions regarding it. Some might be somehow depressed while some others might have better feelings about it since Rabbani was one of the coordinators of some of the wars in between the ethnic groups back in late 90s after his presidency!

But no matter what people's ideas might be, even if it is not a bad news in particular, in general it is a terrifying news for all the residents of the country as Taliban are invading in the very center of Kabul city lately.

Jan Ali dies to save lives but no one saves his kids’ lives

--Recent clash killed 15 innocents and wounded 30, and Karzai paid condolences to some families who lost their members but not to all. Why not to all? It is Afghanistan--

It is past midnight now and I started to write this short not in this page as I saw this picture uploaded by a friend on Facebook.

Below is the photo of Jan Ali on his funeral day in his home. He as a loyal Hazara policeman endangered his life in the recent clash in Kabul to save others’, and finally did. His old father is standing with Ali’s kids crying for Ali Jan with not making any noise ‘as heard from a friend’. What is extremely unfair is that the dogmatic government pays deep condolences to the family of another policeman who was also killed with Ali Jan at the same battle, but not to Jan Ali’s family. Why? Well, that is how it is. The other man might be either someone from a major ethnic group in the country or he has someone in a higher position in the ‘jangly’ government of Afghanistan.

Ali's father, and his kids 

It  makes me feel insomniac for the night thinking and knowing that things in my country go horribly against the rules of human societies, while people in the world live their 21^st Century Lives, living as humanly peaceful and as best as they can.

Not because I’m an Afghan, but because I am a human being, I don’t feel comfortable knowing that Jan Ali and hundred similar men endanger their lives to serve others, and finally get killed by some non-human Talib, and the government officials don’t even send a message of sympathy to their wives and kids.

Jan Ali's kids

I think it is time for Afghanistan to either be removed from the map of the world ‘by God knows what power’ or corrected and things to get changed soon! This unbearable situation in general for most of the people but in particular for minorities like Hazaras and Uzbeks has been on-going ever since the first battles started decades ago. After 2001 people were hoping that things would change wholly. Well, they have but not really! I believe this dirty and grim war is still going on and off. The only difference is that it used to be done in groups, but now, in the worst way by some fanatic extremist zealous Taliban who have been addressed as ‘our angry brothers’ by the president of the country, Karzai, in press conferences! 




You are paid to stop the bullet
It's soldier's job, they say
So, you stop your bullet
And then they stop your pay............<E. Y. Harburg Quotes>