Two letters from Afghanistan on today’s election – “the people are betrayed”

Malalai Joya: Don’t be fooled by today’s election–the people are betrayed; and Manizha Naderi: On Kabul’s “terrifying days”

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Malalai Joya:  Don’t be fooled by this democratic façade – the people are betrayed

Malalai Joya is an Afghan politician and human rights worker. In 2005, she became the youngest person elected to the new parliament in a landslide. She was expelled from parliament in 2007 for her condemnation of its warlord members’ human and women’s rights abuses. This article is reprinted from the website of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, http://www.rawa.org.

Aug. 20, 2009, 12:34 pm

Like millions of Afghans, I have no hope in the results of today’s election. In a country ruled by warlords, occupation forces, Taliban terrorists, drug money and guns, no one can expect a legitimate or fair vote. Even international observers have been speaking about widespread fraud and intimidation and, among the people on the street, there is a common refrain: the real winner has already been picked by the White House.

President Hamid Karzai has cemented alliances with brutal warlords and fundamentalists in order to maintain his position. Although our constitution forbids war criminals from running for office, the incumbent has named two notorious militia commanders as his vice-presidential running mates – Karim Khalili and Mohammad Qasim Fahim, both of whom stand accused of brutalities against our people.

Deals have also been made with countless fundamentalists. This week saw the return from exile of the dreaded warlord Rashid Dostum. And the pro-Iranian extremist Mohammad Mohaqiq, who has been accused of war crimes, has been promised five cabinet positions for his party in exchange for supporting Mr Karzai. Read More