The Role of Diaspoea and Diaspora media in the solution
First and second of December 2007, Soesterberg

Resolution
Federation of Afghan Refugee Organization in Europe (FAROE) has been holding yearly seminars on the current affairs of Afghanistan. FAROE this year too was host to an international seminar which was held in Soesterberg, Holland on December 1st and 2nd, 2007. This international seminar discussed the issue of the rule of law and order in Afghanistan and its preventing factors or obstacles.
A number of Afghan intellectuals, scholars, representative of national and international institutes and organizations from all around the globe were invited to this international seminar. FAROE members fully participated as well. The participants were asked to study the different sides of the issue in three parts. The first part consisted of speeches. In the second part the participants were divided in four groups of working workshops. And the last part was allocated to study the results of the different groups of workshops. The following materials of the resolutions, which were agreed by all working groups, are the main opinions and achievements of the seminar.

1: Main political reasons of the problem of the rule of law and order in Afghanistan are as follows:

  • Weak government (weakness of national police and army) on the one hand and availability of weapons and money in the hands of opposition of the government on the other hand, have caused the government to be scared of warlords and powerful people. And it has forced the government to follow appeasing and compromises and sway from the implementation of rule of law. Those who are responsible for the disasters, tragedies, miseries and abuses of the past three decades must be removed from power and it will pave the way for the rule of law and order.
  • The existence of different power bases and centres from local to foreign powers has caused the government to become weaker.
  • Bills in the law which are under the influence of the Western ideologies are in most cases not in resonance with the mental and perceptual structure of Afghan traditional society. Thus people prefer to refer to the judgement of the traditional institutes such as Jirgas; there fore, they avoid and distance themselves from the implementation of the rule of law.
  • The double standard policy of the influential countries particularly the US that they sometimes support the Afghan government and sometimes support the local warlords and powerful individuals has caused the Afghan government to become weaker. And this on the other hand has strengthened the local warlords and powerful individuals which ultimately have created problems and obstacles to the implementation of the rule of law.
  • Corruption, abuse of power, nepotism and substituting procedures for relationships have weakened the foundations of implementation of the rule of law and order.
  • Women and girls are making half of the population, have mostly been deprived of benefiting from the rights of using the law for many many years. While a number of powerful people and warlords are over the law. And historically law have been implemented only on ordinary law abiding and the powerless. And this procedure is still in place and carries on it is strongly recommended that it should be corrected and improved.

2: Disorder and impotence of judiciary, legal and security organizations in Afghanistan:

  • The rule of law and order need a healthy judiciary, professional knowledge and committed judges.
  • Proper training of attorneys and judges who are just, professional, clean and educated will pave the way for the implementation of the rule of law and order.
  • Improving the living standards and economical situation of the judiciary, legal and security staff will improve the situation and prevent them from taking bribe or doing injustices.
  • Employing police as in the past based on conscription and without ethnic or tribal or party affiliations will sustain the peace and order in the country.

3: The role of the international community in the removal of anarchy and obstinacy:

  • Realization of transitional justice and bringing to justice criminals of any kind justly.
  • Prevention of the killing of civilians and implementation of the proposed principles of Geneva Convention in this regard.
  • Immediate disarmament of the irresponsible and obstinate individuals, groups and gangs.
  • Serious empowering and reinforcement of the National Police and security forces.
  • Serious efforts for the alleviation of poverty and basic fundamental needs of the people.
  • Prevention of the interference of the neighbouring countries and sustainable ending of the operations of incubators and terror centres everywhere and around the borders of Afghanistan which have been constantly endangering the public order.

4: The role of public media in and outside Afghanistan in the stability of rule of law and order:

  • Establishment of one united and inclusive organisation of all Afghan Diaspora public media and proposition of a broadcasting monitoring policy according to the national standards.
  • Objective and realistic strives to increase the level of awareness of Afghan Diaspora about current affairs of Afghanistan.
  • Afghan Diaspora public media should act as a bridge and conduit of healthy information and useful experiences of Afghan Diaspora to Afghanistan.
  • Afghan Diaspora should strive to utilize the international public media to inform the world community about the facts in Afghanistan. And thus influence the global community about Afghanistan. And finally have a role in establishing close relations with national and international public media and sustainable unique cooperation and support.
  • End