Akhtar Jan, a resident of Nangarhar’s Behsood District convicted of kidnapping and committing two murders, was sentenced to death in Jalalabad’s main courthouse Dec. 23.
The trial broke new ground for transparency and judicial procedure for Nangarhar Province’s legal system.
Because the defendant was sentenced to death, he will have an opportunity to appeal to the Astinaf Makhema, Nangarhar’s appellate court, and then Afghanistan’s supreme court. If his conviction is upheld, President Hamid Karzai will have to approve it, explained Shane Kelbley of Philadelphia, Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team senior rule of law advisor.
There was fair public attendance at the trial and extensive coverage in the Afghan media, a positive development in a country where justice is often meted out in private.
“This trial was very fair and very good for the people of Behsood,” said Mullah Niamat, an elder in the Behsood District. “If we had more trials open to the press and the public, then it would greatly reduce crime in Behsood.”
Notably, the prosecutor called two witnesses during the trial: the defendant’s brother and uncle.
“This was the first public trial in which we’ve had witnesses (in Nangarhar),” Kelbley said. “Previous public trials had all relied on the prosecutor’s statements and maybe some pictures, but they haven’t called witnesses.”
The trial was also remarkable in that a taped confession was presented as evidence.
“Oftentimes I think the National Directorate of Security is moving toward that because of unsubstantiated allegations that they’re using police brutality or torture to extract confessions,” said Kelbley. “It’s a common tool used by defendants to say they were tortured into confessing.”
Kelbley said the public nature of the trial also counters insurgent propaganda about the corrupt, inequitable nature of Afghanistan’s evolving legal system.
“The Afghan justice system gets better every day,” Niamat said. “People talk about corruption in the courthouse, but there isn’t really that much corruption.”
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Nangarhar PRT visits Lal Pur Bridge
Members of the Nangarhar Provisional Reconstruction Team visited the Lal Pur Bridge Dec. 6 to assess construction progress.
The bridge is being built over the Kabul River to connect the Lal Pur Village to the northeastern areas of Nangarhar.
The Lal Pur Bridge, scheduled for completion June 2011 by the Meraj Construction Company, will be 11 meters wide, allowing for two large lanes of traffic, and 300 meters long.
The foundation for each of the bridge’s piers runs deep into the riverbed of the Kabul River. It is being constructed near Afghanistan’s main thoroughfare, Highway 1.
“This bridge has a very solid structure and foundation,” said Gul Mohmmand, Meraj Construction chief engineer. “I’m honored my company was chosen to construct it and be a part of Afghanistan history.”
“This is the biggest deal for the Lal Pur District ever,” said Lal Pur Subgovernor Hija Zuhaq. “It will be good for the economy, trade and commerce.”
Presently, there are very limited ways of crossing the river, said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. James Elliott, Nangarhar PRT civil engineer from Richburg, S.C. There is a bridge located 50 km away, but it is a five-hour drive due to poor road conditions. There is also a ferry at the bridge’s location.
Both villages that border the Kabul River, Sarband on the east and Lal Pur on the west, are excited about the opportunities it will provide. Villagers on both sides expressed the same sentiment regarding the bridge; it is a dream come true.
The bridge will provide closer ties for the people of the Ghosta and Lal Pur districts to greater Nangarhar and Afghanistan as a whole, said Elliott.
There is no effective competition for the area separated by the Kabul River because of the large distances to markets, said Elliott. It will bring easy access to the northern agricultural plains between the Kabul and Kunar Rivers, allowing faster movement of agricultural products to the other side of the river and to the export route to Pakistan.
“The bridge which is costing an estimated $7 million will be the second largest in Afghanistan,” said Elliot. “Once completed, it will provide a permanent crossing for the Kama, Ghosta and Lal Pur districts, all of which are annually cut off during the high flood season.”
The bridge is being built over the Kabul River to connect the Lal Pur Village to the northeastern areas of Nangarhar.
The Lal Pur Bridge, scheduled for completion June 2011 by the Meraj Construction Company, will be 11 meters wide, allowing for two large lanes of traffic, and 300 meters long.
The foundation for each of the bridge’s piers runs deep into the riverbed of the Kabul River. It is being constructed near Afghanistan’s main thoroughfare, Highway 1.
“This bridge has a very solid structure and foundation,” said Gul Mohmmand, Meraj Construction chief engineer. “I’m honored my company was chosen to construct it and be a part of Afghanistan history.”
“This is the biggest deal for the Lal Pur District ever,” said Lal Pur Subgovernor Hija Zuhaq. “It will be good for the economy, trade and commerce.”
Presently, there are very limited ways of crossing the river, said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. James Elliott, Nangarhar PRT civil engineer from Richburg, S.C. There is a bridge located 50 km away, but it is a five-hour drive due to poor road conditions. There is also a ferry at the bridge’s location.
Both villages that border the Kabul River, Sarband on the east and Lal Pur on the west, are excited about the opportunities it will provide. Villagers on both sides expressed the same sentiment regarding the bridge; it is a dream come true.
The bridge will provide closer ties for the people of the Ghosta and Lal Pur districts to greater Nangarhar and Afghanistan as a whole, said Elliott.
There is no effective competition for the area separated by the Kabul River because of the large distances to markets, said Elliott. It will bring easy access to the northern agricultural plains between the Kabul and Kunar Rivers, allowing faster movement of agricultural products to the other side of the river and to the export route to Pakistan.
“The bridge which is costing an estimated $7 million will be the second largest in Afghanistan,” said Elliot. “Once completed, it will provide a permanent crossing for the Kama, Ghosta and Lal Pur districts, all of which are annually cut off during the high flood season.”
Monday, December 13, 2010
Nangarhar subgovernors, officials meet with PRT
Subgovernors from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts and officials from the Jalalabad municipality met with Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team senior staff on Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields Dec. 11 to discuss cooperation and transparency.
“We’re here to work; we’re committed to work,” said Jalalabad Deputy Mayor Engineer Hakim, “because if the Afghans do not build Afghanistan, nobody else will do it.”
The Nangarhar officials present vowed continued cooperation with the PRT and International Security Assistance Force, noting the extremely close bond that already existed between them.
“We’re friends, and we need to be able to talk upfront,” said Shinwar Subgovernor Haji Zalmay. “We know transparency, and we hope that we hear the same thing from you. If you think we have a problem, we are ready for any sort of accountability.”
“The Jalalabad municipality thanks the PRT for all the projects they have done,” said Hakim. “For example, the 26 roads you paved for us would have cost 10 years of income for the municipality.”
Officials did express some dissatisfaction with ISAF’s actions in the recent past. Many asserted that coalition forces had operated in their districts without informing them.
“If we do not have sovereignty ourselves, then we’re not going to be able to do anything,” said Zalmay. “If we’re not in the lead, and if we do not have an effective role, then how are we going to convince the people we have a democratic government in Afghanistan?”
The PRT members at the meeting recognized these concerns and assured the Afghans ISAF wanted to serve in a supportive role to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“The PRT’s here to help the government of Afghanistan; we’re not here to take over,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian from Oakton, Va.
“When your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren go to school, they will not read about my name or Andrew’s, they will read about your names,” added U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Nangarhar PRT commander from Dallas. “You are the leaders of Afghanistan.”
“We’re here to work; we’re committed to work,” said Jalalabad Deputy Mayor Engineer Hakim, “because if the Afghans do not build Afghanistan, nobody else will do it.”
The Nangarhar officials present vowed continued cooperation with the PRT and International Security Assistance Force, noting the extremely close bond that already existed between them.
“We’re friends, and we need to be able to talk upfront,” said Shinwar Subgovernor Haji Zalmay. “We know transparency, and we hope that we hear the same thing from you. If you think we have a problem, we are ready for any sort of accountability.”
“The Jalalabad municipality thanks the PRT for all the projects they have done,” said Hakim. “For example, the 26 roads you paved for us would have cost 10 years of income for the municipality.”
Officials did express some dissatisfaction with ISAF’s actions in the recent past. Many asserted that coalition forces had operated in their districts without informing them.
“If we do not have sovereignty ourselves, then we’re not going to be able to do anything,” said Zalmay. “If we’re not in the lead, and if we do not have an effective role, then how are we going to convince the people we have a democratic government in Afghanistan?”
The PRT members at the meeting recognized these concerns and assured the Afghans ISAF wanted to serve in a supportive role to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“The PRT’s here to help the government of Afghanistan; we’re not here to take over,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian from Oakton, Va.
“When your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren go to school, they will not read about my name or Andrew’s, they will read about your names,” added U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Nangarhar PRT commander from Dallas. “You are the leaders of Afghanistan.”
Sunday, December 5, 2010
NATO, British ambassadors visit Nangarhar
Ambassadors Mark Sedwill, NATO senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, and William Patey, British ambassador to Afghanistan, visited Nangarhar Dec. 2 to appraise various sites and discuss current issues with the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team and high-ranking officials in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
“Nangarhar is one of the critical areas of the country, both for security and for prosperity,” Sedwill said.
Following a mission brief by PRT staff, the ambassadors toured an area of Jalalabad that sustained severe damage following floods this summer.
The heavy floods destroyed 18,000 homes in one of Jalalabad’s poorer neighborhoods, said Rodney Stubina, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Gainesville, Fla. Since then, 50 percent of the homes have been rebuilt by Cooperative Housing Foundation International, a United States Aid for International Development implementing partner. Many of the new homes are built using far superior materials than before to make them more resilient in case of future floods.
The team then proceeded to the Shishembagh Agricultural Research Station, a facility in Jalalabad designed to showcase innovative techniques intended to increase crop yield to the farmers in Nangarhar, said Robert Smith, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Media, Pa.
The Shishembagh facility hosts between 70 and 100 farmers every week, said Siraj, Afghanistan Water, Agriculture and Technology Transfer project director. One of the tools Shishembagh has on display is an innovative concrete irrigation ditch which cost $200 for installation, an investment that will be easily recouped within a year of installing the system.
“Farmers are lining up for this technology,” Siraj said.
The ambassadors joined Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, Nangarhar Provincial Council Chairman Nasratullah Arsalie and leaders from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts for a traditional Afghan lunch. The discussion focused on multiple issues across the province, most notably the process of reintegrating former insurgent fighters into Afghan society.
Arsalie was enthusiastic about moving forward with reintegration but expressed concern that fighters who lay down their arms may be arrested.
Sedwill explained reintegration is a crucial piece toward achieving a stable Afghanistan and individuals who choose to participate in the process will be treated justly. He stressed that major governance operations have to be led by GIRoA, not by coalition forces.
“What we want to see is Afghan programs, led by the Afghans, that we can provide money and expertise to,” Sedwill said. “That’s where our common interests lie.”
“You know better than us what will work,” Patey added.
The Afghan leaders also questioned the ambassadors about long-term plans for the country, particularly the anticipated troop reduction in 2014. Patey told all assembled that the international community would not simply leave Afghanistan without finishing its work.
“The one mistake we will not make is to leave Afghanistan and forget it,” Patey said.
After lunch, the group walked to a nearby United Nations compound where the ambassadors discussed the various concerns raised throughout the day.
Nahid Abuakar, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan head in Jalalabad, discussed UN work with Sherzai on the reintegration program, echoing many of the concerns the Afghan leaders voiced earlier. Sedwill and Patey both repeated their assurances, greatly increasing everyone’s confidence in the logistics and underlying foundation of the plan.
Leadership from PRT Nangarhar hailed the day as an outstanding success, noting the ambassadors were openly supportive of PRT projects.
"We were very fortunate to host Ambassadors Sedwill and Patey this week,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian representative from Oakton, Va. “They can help champion some of our issues with the government and international community in Kabul. That kind of support is critical if we are to successfully tackle issues like water management here in Nangarhar.”
“Nangarhar is one of the critical areas of the country, both for security and for prosperity,” Sedwill said.
Following a mission brief by PRT staff, the ambassadors toured an area of Jalalabad that sustained severe damage following floods this summer.
The heavy floods destroyed 18,000 homes in one of Jalalabad’s poorer neighborhoods, said Rodney Stubina, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Gainesville, Fla. Since then, 50 percent of the homes have been rebuilt by Cooperative Housing Foundation International, a United States Aid for International Development implementing partner. Many of the new homes are built using far superior materials than before to make them more resilient in case of future floods.
The team then proceeded to the Shishembagh Agricultural Research Station, a facility in Jalalabad designed to showcase innovative techniques intended to increase crop yield to the farmers in Nangarhar, said Robert Smith, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Media, Pa.
The Shishembagh facility hosts between 70 and 100 farmers every week, said Siraj, Afghanistan Water, Agriculture and Technology Transfer project director. One of the tools Shishembagh has on display is an innovative concrete irrigation ditch which cost $200 for installation, an investment that will be easily recouped within a year of installing the system.
“Farmers are lining up for this technology,” Siraj said.
The ambassadors joined Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, Nangarhar Provincial Council Chairman Nasratullah Arsalie and leaders from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts for a traditional Afghan lunch. The discussion focused on multiple issues across the province, most notably the process of reintegrating former insurgent fighters into Afghan society.
Arsalie was enthusiastic about moving forward with reintegration but expressed concern that fighters who lay down their arms may be arrested.
Sedwill explained reintegration is a crucial piece toward achieving a stable Afghanistan and individuals who choose to participate in the process will be treated justly. He stressed that major governance operations have to be led by GIRoA, not by coalition forces.
“What we want to see is Afghan programs, led by the Afghans, that we can provide money and expertise to,” Sedwill said. “That’s where our common interests lie.”
“You know better than us what will work,” Patey added.
The Afghan leaders also questioned the ambassadors about long-term plans for the country, particularly the anticipated troop reduction in 2014. Patey told all assembled that the international community would not simply leave Afghanistan without finishing its work.
“The one mistake we will not make is to leave Afghanistan and forget it,” Patey said.
After lunch, the group walked to a nearby United Nations compound where the ambassadors discussed the various concerns raised throughout the day.
Nahid Abuakar, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan head in Jalalabad, discussed UN work with Sherzai on the reintegration program, echoing many of the concerns the Afghan leaders voiced earlier. Sedwill and Patey both repeated their assurances, greatly increasing everyone’s confidence in the logistics and underlying foundation of the plan.
Leadership from PRT Nangarhar hailed the day as an outstanding success, noting the ambassadors were openly supportive of PRT projects.
"We were very fortunate to host Ambassadors Sedwill and Patey this week,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian representative from Oakton, Va. “They can help champion some of our issues with the government and international community in Kabul. That kind of support is critical if we are to successfully tackle issues like water management here in Nangarhar.”
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