Haqiqat 33 contains news from Afghan print media with following details:

Reconciliation and peace talks with the Taliban: The investigation into the killing of UNAMA staff in Mazar-e Sharif shows that the main perpetrators were those Taliban who had earlier joined the peace process. Reports show that the High Peace Council released 138 Taliban members locked up in the National Security Directorate of Ghazni province. The US government has paid 50 million dollars to High Peace Council and the council has declared that those Taliban fighters who lay down their weapons and join the process will be paid money in return. The so called Taliban governor of Kundoz province with his 50 men joined the peace process and likewise 60 other insurgent in Sar-e Pul province have also joined the peace process.

Electoral Transparency: Media reports suggest that officials of the Attorney-General’s Office are seeking to arrest officials of electoral commissions. Meanwhile, the Afghan parliament, summoned the attorney general to answer their questions about the Special Tribunal for elections. But the attorney general has said that parliament has no right to summon him. The Attorney general has not been present to parliament yet and says he will never go to parliament.

Corruption: Head of the High Office of Oversight is summoned to parliament to answer the questions of MPs; however, the Attorney General’s office says that there exist problems and challenges with The work regarding corruption.

Enayatullah Qasimi, former minister of Transport is released after being questioned for allegations of corruptions and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah the opposition leader has warned that the continuity of corruption in the country will result into public protests.

Transitional justice: During past two weeks, one article is printed on the subject of transitional justice in the Afghan Press.

Interviews and articles: In this issue we have an interview with Fawzia Kofi, an MP from Badakhshan province and Head of Women's Affairs Committee of the Lower House of the National Assembly about the negotiations and reconciliation with the Taliban.

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Haqiqat 32 contains news from Afghan print media with following details:

Elections Transparency: After months, the tension between the Parliament and Supreme Court of Afghanistan has not been resolved. At the latest development, the Special Electoral Tribunal has summoned 53 members of the Lower House for interrogation. The United Nations in its most recent statement has pronounced its concern over the elections challenges. Meanwhile, the President Karzai has not yet taken any final decision on the abolishment of the Special Electoral Tribunal. The House of Representatives is reported to be considering evidence to be used for the trial of the Chief Justice, an act intended to react to the establishment of the Special Electoral Tribunal.

Reconciliation with the Taliban: Members of the Upper House have demanded the abolishment of the High Peace Council because its members believe improper performance of the council encourages destructive acts of the anti-government groups.  The Russian government has also declared its readiness to support the peace process of Afghan government. A number of armed anti-government groups in Kandahar, Takhar, Urozgan, and Baghlan provinces have joined the peace process. In addition, Sima Samar, the Head of the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan has said that there is not political commitment for participation of women in the peace process.

Administrative Corruption: Enayatullah Qasemi, the former Transport minister and Nurollah Delavar, the advisor of the president who have been accused of administrative corruption and embezzlement, have been detained by the order of the Attorney General. In addition, a number of disabled people in Kunduz province, in protest against corruption, closed the doors of Labor and Social Affairs Department of in that province.

Transitional Justice: A training workshop on transitional justice was held in Bamiyan province. It seems that civil and human rights entities considering the importance of transitional justice, are trying to raise the public awareness about it.

Interviews and Articles: “The Taliban and the Peace processes”, is the title of analytical article by Dr. Jawad Salehi. He argues that because of Taliban’s ideological nature, nostalgia for power, alliance with extremist groups and dependence on Pakistan the current efforts for making peace with them is not likely to achieve its intended outcomes.

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Haqiqat 31 contains news from Afghan print media with following details:

Negotiation with armed groups: During past two weeks the Afghan government authorities and the High Peace Council members visited foreign countries to campaign for promoting the process of peace. President Karzai went to London and as media reported, apparently had behind closed door talks with the Taliban leaders. Also, some members of the council visited Saudi Arabia.  The government of Turkey has accepted to open Taliban’s representative office in Turkey and the government of Afghanistan welcomed this move. Also, the Ulema Council of Afghanistan declared its support for the peace and reconciliation talks with the Taliban.

Elections Transparency: A delegation of Wolesi Jirga met with the president to discuss about the Special Tribunal but did not come up with an agreement. The members of parliament have warned that if their demand of waiving the Special Court is not met then they will lock down the parliament. The losing candidates say that foreign figures and hands are working to prevent Mr. Manavi, the head of IEC to be taken to the prison.

Corruption: The culture of bribery flourishes every day. An overview into the challenges, sources of corruption and ineffective combat to end corruption are the title of some analytical topics which are summarized in this note.

Transitional Justice: The Transitional Justice Coordination Group has demanded for the trail of the Taliban leaders before they are released from the Guantanamo prison.

Articles and Interviews: “Reconciliation with the Taliban and International Community” is the title of an article written by Yasin Rahyab. In this article the role of international community and their effectiveness on the process of peace and reconciliation with the Taliban in Afghanistan is analyzed.

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Haqiqat 30 contains news from Afghan print media with following details:

Elections Transparency: The ballot counting process has begun by the Special Court in some provinces. Meanwhile, United Nations’ representative has emphasized that the independence of electoral institutions should be reserved. In reaction to the remarks of the UN’s representative the Attorney General has described the position adopted by UN’s representative as irresponsible. With regard to this issue, Mr. Manavi has insisted that he would not surrender to force.

Reconciliation with Anti-Government Members: Over the last few weeks, the subject of reconciliation and negotiation with the Taliban has been the most important focal subject of the media. The delegation of the High Peace Council has paid separate visits to Turkey and Guantanamo Jail in order to get one of its inmates, who is said to have been close to the President Karzai, released from the jail. It is said the aim of the trip of the delegation of High Peace Council to Turkey has been to establish a political office for Taliban in that country. Meanwhile safe houses have been established in the northern province of Sar-e Pul and Balkh for militias that have joined the peace process.

Administrative Corruption: The Attorney General of Afghanistan has said that he is facing some challenges in order to arrest those accused of corruption and that he is unable to bring them to justice. Recently, Dr.Ludin, has been designated as the Head of High Office of Oversight.

Transitional Justice: Transitional Justice Group has stated that issue of securing justice shall be taken into account in order to establish peace. This concern was voiced following initiation of widespread attempts of the government to negotiate and reconcile with Taliban and anti-government forces.

Interviews and Articles: Afghanistan, Economy of War and Futile Cycle of Conflicts, is the title of the article written by Sayfullah Sayhun, a lecturer of Faculty of Economics of Kabul University on reconciliation and peace with anti-government groups.

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Elections Transparency: The Special Electoral Tribunal has summoned three MPs. Their names are not declared to the media. Besides, Sayed Ishaq Gilani who is a nominee for the presidency of the parliament is also summoned to the special tribunal. Mr. Gilani has said that he will take the suggestion of parliament to report to the special tribunal.

The Parliament issued a resolution to cancel the special tribunal and asked Mr. Karzai to support the resolution. The House of Representatives support the resolution as "The formation of this tribunal is against the constitution and the elections laws and any decision by this tribunal about the elections results is against the law and unacceptable."

Negotiation and peace talks with the anti-government forces: The media reported that a delegation of Hezb e Islami is supposedly to enter Kabul for negotiations. The time of their arrival is not menotioned; however the reports add that the news is published after the visit of High Peace Council from Pakistan.

Four prisoners are released from Bagram-prison. These prisoners were released after the demand of Logar Peace Council.

Based on the reports, during past two weeks, more anti-government forces have joined the peace process.

Corruption: 12 money changers were prosecuted and imprisoned for five years. These individuals were accused of receiving bribe money during elections from some particular people. The anti-corruption office says that many years are passed from their work and yet, many MPs have not registered their properties with this office.

The Attorney General’s Office says that they have formed a special commission to assess the mismanagement in Kabul Bank.

Spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office says that Khudad Azimi, former Pashtany Bank President and two other people are found guilty for embezzlement of 300 thousand dollars and are sentenced to imprisonment and cash fines.

Transitional Justice: The Head of Afghanistan Human Rights Commission has expressed that the Afghan government lacks ability to prosecute war crimes and the government, instead, encourgaes the culture of impunity.

Interviews and Articles: An analytic article is included in this volume titled, “The Price of Justice under the pretext of Reconciliation” which has popped up questions and concerns about this issue.

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Reconciliation and talks with the Taliban: Unlike the previous two weeks there are many reports of anti-government armed forces joining the government of Afghanistan and the peace process. Based on these reports published in the Afghan media and newspapers, at least 162 armed anti-government forces have joined the government in past two weeks. Many of these people are from northern parts of the country.

The National Security Directorate of Afghanistan, in a recent statement has said that they will make peace with the Taliban. Based on the presidential decree and in order to support the High Peace Council, the authorities in the National Security Directorate say that they have directed all their personnel around the country to invite Taliban fighters to peace talks before conducting any operations against them.

Afghanistan’s permanent representative in UN also says that after the demand of Afghan government the names of some Taliban members are removed from the black list of UN. The statements come amid Germany’s warnings about terrorist’s possible access to nuclear weapons.

Election Transparency: The parliamentary elections was held on Sep 18, 2010 and after months of delays and disputes between the electoral  institutions and the Attorney General’s Office the parliament was finally inaugurated on Jan 26, 2011 by the president.

The winning MPs of the parliamentary elections struck a deal with the president in the presidential palace to open the parliament on 23 Jan 2011. However the special tribunal processing the electoral frauds asked the president to wait for another one month so that they finish their assessments and finalize their report. The parliament was not opened on the mentioned date but with the mediation of UN’s representative and the agreement between new MPs and the president it was finally opened on Jan 29, 2011. The MPs agreed with the president that they will accept the decision of special tribunal.

Corruption: There are three articles on corruption. Hamid Karzai has again asked for reduction of corruption in the international contracts. Widespread bribery in the traffic department and many months delay in sending the cases of those ministers who are accused of corruption are other articles which the afghan print media has focused on during past two weeks.

Articles and Interviews: In this section, we invite you to read an interview we conducted with Sarwar Javadi, a political analyst and former MP in the House of Representatives about the peace and reconciliation talks between the Afghan government and its armed opponents.

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Negotiation and talks with the Taliban: After the formation of High Council for peace, its members visited officially Pakistan for the first time to discuss reconciliation and peace talks with the Taliban. During this visit the members of High Council for Peace have talked with the Pakistan's main political officials about the talks and negotiations with the Taliban.

News reports reveal that both sides of Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to hold a joint peace Jirga with the presence of High Council of Peace members and Pakistani officials. This visit has been the focus of many Afghan print media during past two weeks. Analysis and reports of Afghan print seem to be criticizing the visit of peace council members and their policies of talks with the Taliban. Cheragh Daily calls it a visit with no achievement and Daily 8am also names it as wasting time and money. The Head of High Council for Peace in a press conference called the analysis and reports of the press as propagandas. But, ISAF commander in Afghanistan called this visit successful with achievements.  There are also other reports about the Taliban, joining the Afghan government.

Election Transparency: After months of debate and talks between the electoral commissions, Attorney General’s Office, the President’s Office, Special Court and the Supreme Court the fate of Afghanistan's parliamentary elections is still unknown.  The head of Special Court says that after the assessment of fraud and violation if any winner candidate is found guilty he will be dismissed and the protesting candidates might be declared victorious if their cases are found true. Meanwhile, Mr. Rafat, member and spokesperson of ECC says that the special court has no authority to bring any changes in the final elections result. Also, the Constitutional Oversight Commission, after months of silence on the crises of elections, calls the formation of special court illegal.

The wining candidates consider the special court against the constitution. The failed candidates also showed strong reaction against the “first week of introducing parliament to the winner candidates” and argue that the elections results is under assessment and no one should take any step until it is finalized.

Transitional Justice: "The government has no right to forgive the murderers" is the slogan that many citizens of Yakawlang district raised during the memorial day of the martyrs killed by the Taliban in this district. The people condemned the killings of innocent people by the Taliban and demanded the government to prosecute and punish the violators of human rights.

Corruption: the local authorities in Heart province have charged five government authorities in connection with corruption. These people are convicted to imprisonment and to pay a fine.

Interviews and articles: In this part we have an article titled "the prospect of reconciliation”. This article discusses the background of the reconciliation with the Taliban and its prospects.

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Haqiqat 26 contains news from Afghan print media with following details:

Negotiation and Reconciliation: On the eve of ECHO summit, Turkey declared that it will mediate between Afghan government and the Taliban. Once again the Afghan government released 9 Taliban from Bagram prison as a sign of good-will. More than 50 Taliban fighters joined the peace process during the previous week. The High Peace Council started its activities in Kundoz province and Rabbani, head of this council says that foreign intervention has slowed down the process of work. The statement by the former Taliban foreign minister about America’s permission for Taliban to form their leadership circle in order to talk with Americans are the important news the afghan print media focused on during past two weeks.

Election Transparency: Special court is formed to assess the electoral frauds. Mishrano Jirga has asked for open trial of electoral institutions. FEFA also says that they are anxiously pursuing the creation of special court for electoral frauds. Also, police have banned former and angry MPs from entering the parliament. Other news in this section includes the rumors that IEC will reassess the frauds in the presidential elections and also Karzai wants to bring changes in the parliamentary elections results.

Corruption: President Karzai says that widespread corruption exist in the foreign contracts and since 2002 hundred millions of dollars are wasted in this country. The head of Baghlan Appeal Court is arrested in this province and two more people are charged with corruption cases. Also, the weaknesses of legislative organs of the country have increased corruption and Taliban influence.

Transition Justice: The Kabul print media did not have any article printed about transitional justice.

Articles and Interviews: In this section we have an overview on the negotiation and reconciliation process with the Taliban and other insurgent forces inside Afghanistan during last year.

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Haqiqat 25 includes the following news from afghan print media published during past two weeks:

Election transparency: The important discussion of Afghan print media was about the delay in elections result of Ghazni province. There were demonstrations by those candidates who didn’t make their way to parliament.

Transitional Justice: The important news published in the afghan print media about transitional justice includes commemoration of tenth December- the universal declaration of human rights and the national day of war victims in Afghanistan plus the statements of human rights organizations and civil society about this day.

Corruption: In corruption section the Afghan print media focused on the secret documents released by Wiki-Leaks about the Afghan MPs on Iranian pay-list, Masood’s rejection of allegation for carrying millions of dollars out of country and the arrest of four attorneys in Khost province on corruption cases.

Articles and Interviews: In this part we have an interview with Ahmad Behzad, an MP in the parliament about the reconciliation and negotiation with the anti-government forces.

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Haqiqat/The Truth 24 includes more news on elections and negotiations with the insurgents. There was no news published about transitional justice in past 15 days in the Kabul Dailies. In addition we have an interview with Mr. Nasrullah Stanekzai, professor of law and political science at Kabul University and Sayed Masood, professor of economics at Kabul University.

Elections Transparency: In this issue the elections result is the major topic of discussion. The declaration of final results in general and Ghazni province in particular caused intense debates. The IEC said that due to technical reasons the elections result of Ghazni province was delayed however the reports, analyses and news in the Afghan print media shows something else. The debate between the Attorney General’s Office and the IEC is still ongoing.

Reconciliation with the Taliban: The meeting of Afghan president, Hamid Karzai with the fake Taliban leader Mollah Mansour who was supposedly a high ranking Taliban leader and the statements of former Afghan National Security Chief about this meeting where the government denies any meetings with this person are the news published in Afghan print media for the past two weeks about reconciliation and talks with the Taliban.

Corruption: The burning issue in the state corruption was the documents released by Wiki leaks about the involvement of Ahmadzia Masood, former vice president of Afghanistan who allegedly carried millions of dollars out of country.

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