No Peace without Social Trust

The following is the text of an interview with Mahboob Ullah Koshani, a presidential candidate for 2009 election and the leader of Azadagan Party of Afghanistan.

Election Transparency:

Q. Will the elections this year be free, fair and transparent?

A. the Independent Election Commission is obliged to be an impartial body throughout the process from voters registration to counting of votes. But this commission is appointed by Hamid Karzai the incumbent president and a running candidate. It has been acting as a tool to the Head of State and in the postponement of election it relied on government.

There are limitations for the commission. It has acknowledged that it was unable to treat some candidates according to electoral standards and legal requirements. Exploitation of state offices police and vote counting can take place under the influence of state institutions. In addition, there is a climate of terror and fear which is deliberately inflamed so that fewer people participate in the elections. This can be early steps for stuffing ballot boxes.

There are huge spendings from unknown sources. Whether they are moneys accumulated during the years of war or embezzlement from public funds they can be used to buy votes and lure influential figures. Armed illegal groups are also present. All these put in doubt the freedom and fairness of elections. There might be a question why you participated in the election when there are great frauds and embezzlements? We want to propose a plan and I want to convey my message to the people from this opportunity.

Q. What will you do if you are not successful in the elections?

A. Victory has a relative meaning. Those who only think of politics only will strike all sorts of deals and perpetrate treason. My only goal is to serve people. Power is a tool and a medium. I participated in the elections to open a new window and to revive the self-confidence among the people.

Corruption:

Q. What do you think is the most important factor behind corruption?

A. Corruption means misuse of power for personal or ethnic interests. There are different factors behind corruption and the most important ones I believe are as follows:

1. The influence of moral authority into political authority. Jihad is a luminous period of political era. Those who have fought in the way of God during the period of Russian invasion, they have defended the independence, beliefs, freedom and culture. They are respected by the people. It never means that we use jihad to take part in the political power. In the meantime the Mujahedin also suffer from corruption. In Bon Conference the leader of factions had role in replacing the authorities and state officials. In such a situation those who violate the law can not be brought to justice by the others.

2. There are illegal armed groups that exercise power on the people in some ways and the state institutions have gone without considering their demands. Therefore those who are supported by them enjoy impunity.

3. The other issue is economic mafia. We can not remove corruption until these factors exist. As they say that the salary of state employees are is low, it is a demagogy. To prevent corruption we must enforce the law. Law should be freed from personal paws and they should allow the rule of law to be established. The illegal armed forces should be disarmed. In reality, the power must be monopolized by the state and salaries be increased to the extent the allow the employees to live an honorable life.

Q. What is your program to eradicate corruption?

A. First, a responsible and legitimate state on the basis of peoples’ votes should be established. It should feel its responsibility and be accountable to the people.

Second, the military force should be under the control of the state. Money and property is also involved. Only the electoral responsibility is not a proof. It is not enough to say we are elected. It should be a working entity. A consultative democracy should be established.

Those who are doing jobs at district levels must be given executive power. They know the problems of reconstruction and rebuilding. They know better the planning and improvement of their areas than the capital. They should not have advisory role only. As it is proposed in the Constitution they should have advising role, they should have executive roles. We must establish a government that starts from the bottom and all the people are participants. Without the participation of all none of the governments can work.

Negotiation with Taliban:

Q. Some of the presidential candidates have said they will negotiate with Taliban and Hezbe Islami after they win election. What is your opinion?

A. Those that raise these voices are too optimistic. Taliban want something as Imarat Islami. In principle we want to negotiate, but negotiation has its pre-conditions.

First, both the parties must have reached the belief that they can not reach their political objectives through war.

Second, the foreign supporters also stop their financial and other forms of aids. However Taliban want to reach their objectives through fighting. In the constitution of the country, human rights and democracy are enshrined. There should be an axis to negotiate on. Is the opponent ready to talk? We do not have any evidence yet. Those who propose Loya Jirga, it should undergo all the rules that Constitution has predicted otherwise the legitimacy of Loya Jirga will be put in doubt. There are some Taliban fighters who have joined the rank of Taliban due to military operations on them. Considering the fact that Taliban want to establish Imarat Islami, and the emotional titles of “Brother” and “Friend” are nothing more than election campaign.

Transitional Justice:

Q. What bout those Taliban who are violators of human rights. Should there be talks with them?

A. Why do say this about Taliban? I believe that during past 30 years the country was indulged in war and the human rights were extensively violated. The current government also has its part. Do you not see the human rights violators in the current government?

Q. How do you define and describe the process of transitional justice?

A. Transitional justice is about war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of human rights. After the second World War Nazi leaders were tried in Nuremberg. . Related to transitional justice a military cope in Argentina 1355 that took a lot of lives. This movement started by those mothers who had lost their sons. Every Thursday they raised their objections with the handkerchiefs covering the pictures of their sons. In reality they raised the voice of justice for the first time. We owe to those mothers who lived in those environments of terror and suffocations.

In Afghanistan the 7 Saur cope happened two years after Argentina’s. In reality the violation of human rights occurred. Until today there have been human rights violations in large extents. These violations start with the three communist regimes, the mujahedin factions and Imarat Islami of Taliban and are still going on in period of the current government.

Q. What are your programs to implement the process of transitional justice after you win the elections?

A. The main violators of human rights should be brought into justice, first, to prevent future crimes, second to restore the honour of victims, third, to caress the victims and to create national solidarity. However the president has said in one of his speeches that talking about transitional justice is like wearing fashionable clothes. In reality we are not to take revenge, but reform. We want peace, security and stability.

There should be fact-finding committees. Documents and evidences should be collected. It is long process. We do not have an influential and independent organization, including those human rights organizations that only had the consulting role. Steps have been taken in this regard, but they are not pursued. We want them to be pursued further.

Q. How do you see the relationship between peace and justice?

A. Peace can not be established without social trust.

Q. The action plan of government regarding transitional justice was limited to March this year, but it was not implemented. What is your opinion about it that the process of transitional justice was not implemented on time?

A. We lack those organizations that follow the cases and also fact-finding committees such as those in South Africa. We will act in areas where the current government has failed.

Q. How do you see the role of the Peace Commission?

A. This commission has had some symbolic aspects. They spend large amounts. They free some people under different pretexts, even the criminals and violators of human rights.

Q. What is your opinion about the National Amnesty Charter of Parliament? Do you oppose it or agree with it and the reality of transitional justice.

A. I am certainly against it.

Q. Some of the violators of human rights are present in the body of government. What will your government do to them?

A. Regarding violators of human rights, this process should continue. In the meantime we do not want to revenge.

Q. Your government will confront two major challenges: first the demands of war victims and second the opposition of accused with your government.

A. If a popular government is established no one can oppose it, even the anti-government forces.

Based in Kabul, the Afghanistan Watch focuses on activities that promote justice, respect for human rights and a culture of accountability and transparency in the country. Recognizing the need for greater understanding of the perils and opportunities facing Afghanistan today, the organization aims to conduct in-depth research and publish reports and papers on issues relevant to its goals and values independently or in partnership with other national and international organizations.

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International Relations and Security Network(ISN) / Security Watch
14 December 2009

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