Afghanistan, the forgotten project

Another development that is raising fears among human rights group is the possible re-introduction of the infamous Vice and Virtue Department.  Under the Taliban, it was used as a state machine to inflict punishments on citizens, especially women who broke “social norms,” such as showing their wrists, hands and ankles in public or not being escorted by a close male family member.  President Karzai, whose cabinet passed the proposition along to the Parliament for debate, said the department would be focused on alcohol, drugs and corruption, but there is still unease about a potential return to more gruesome practices.^[liv]  Even without this department, women are still experiencing difficulties in expressing their freedoms.

Though women have made major strides in Afghanistan, there is still much progress to be made in this decidedly conservative country.  A women candidate Safia Siddaqi’s convoy was attacked shortly before the 2005 Parliamentary elections.  A female television host was killed in May of 2005 allegedly because of her Western-style appearance and behavior on a local TV network.  Conservative religious leaders had protested her activities, she was fired shortly thereafter and two months later she was found dead.

As women gain more rights in the public sphere, they are still being abused and discriminated against domestically.  A recently released U.N. survey documented cases of sexual abuse and rape occurring at home, often by family members.  The societal conditions make it difficult for women to report these cases.^[lv]  Afghanistan cannot be fully developed without a safer environment for its women.

The government that is to protect these civil freedoms is under criticism itself, because of certain people that have been allowed to participate.  The United States relied on the assistance of the Northern Alliance, a hodgepodge of warlords to oust the Taliban in 2001.  The warlords themselves in some cases have not been much better than the Taliban in terms of respecting human rights and the rule of law.  They still remain an integral part of the country and some of them have made their way into key cabinet positions or elected to the national legislature.  A former defense minister Mohammed Fahim was a Tajik warlord while a former Taliban leader Abdul Salaam Rocketi sits in the legislature.^{[lvi] [lvii]}

President Karzai has also come under fire for appointing officials with horrendous human rights record into critical positions, such as Jamil Jumbish, Kabul’s head of police who has been implicated in crimes such as murders, bribery and intimidation.  Many of the other candidates for police chief have been condemned by leading human rights group for their past activities as well.^[lviii]  These policies has lead to at least the resignation of one prominent official, Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali last autumn.  Jalali had expressed frustrations that his attempts to purify government offices of warlords and their supporters were being rebuffed by Karzai.

Corruption also remains an issue with foreign aid.  Major amounts of aid including $2.2 billion dollars in 2002 are being poured into Afghanistan, but major projects such as a highway linking Kabulto Kandaharhave yet to be completed.^[lix]  Ordinary citizens complained that family members and friends of those in charge of distribution are receiving the bulk of the aid.  Meanwhile, Karzai has criticized aid groups for spending too much money on unnecessary expenses and he is demanding greater control of aid entering his country.  As of early 2006, the World Bank reported only 25% of aid is channeled through government control.^[lx]