The Nation, April 29 1998

Peshawar - To convince the UNO and other mediators for giving representation to moderate, peace-loving and democratic-minded neutral and independent Afghan groups in the ongoing Islamabad talks the women from Afghanistan staged a peaceful demonstration here on Tuesday.

The protest demonstration was organized by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan and it was arranged on the occasion of 6th anniversary of hard-liner's empowering in Kabul. Having banners, placards and posters in their hands, more than one thousand Afghan women, mostly those who have lost their bread-earners in the last 20 years in fighting were assembled in Shaheen Chowk on Peshawar-Torkham road and amidst chanting slogans in favor of their demand, all of them proceeded in a procession towards Hayat Avenue near to Defence Colony.

The protesting women through their slogans were criticizing both the Jehadic leaders and hard-line Taliban along with their foreign masters who according to the protestors have broken away brutalities record of the former Soviets and their puppet Khalqis and Parchamis.

In this connection they displayed examples of Jehadic and Taliban leaders brutalities against the innocent and helpless Afghan women and other civilians through photographs and portraits.

They have also chanted slogans against those foreign countries included Russian Federation, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States and other foreign countries who are financing their puppets inside Afghanistan and fueling the infighting in that country.

At one stage, some bearded and turban holding young Afghan made an attempt to disturb the peaceful demonstration and they entered into skirmishes with the protesting Afghans and their male supporters. The protesting Afghan women not only pelted stones on youngsters but physically beaten away a few of them. However, the contingents of police squad succeeded in controlling the situation with using minor force including lathi-charge and teargas shells against the rivals Afghans who were busy in skirmishes against each others.

Continuing their peaceful protest demonstration from Shaheen Chowk till Hayat Avenue, the protesting RAWA activists and stalwarts also chanted slogans against Jehadic leaders like Engineer Gulbadin Hikmatyar, Prof. Rabbani, Ustad Rasool Sayaf, Karim Khalili, Rashid Dostam, Mullah Mohammad Umer and Ustad Akbari and held them responsible for genocide of the innocent Afghans and destruction of their motherland.

However, they did not criticise other Afghan leaders particularly warlord Ahmad Shah Masood.

On their way from Shaheen Town till Hayat Avenue, a group of male supporters of RAWA and others also distributed leaflets which was declaration for Tuesday demonstration.

Through this declaration, the RAWA condemned Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turky, Uzbakistan, America and others for useless interference in the affairs of Afghanistan as well as for patronising the hard line Afghan groups. At the behest of these foreign countries, some of the so-called Afghan leaders are bent upon destruction of their motherland as well as killing their helpless and innocent countrymen.

The RAWA severely criticised the UNO and OIC who focused all its attention on those war mongers who are involved in fighting against each others. It made it clear that outcomes of ongoing Islamabad talks would not be different from those of Peshawar, Islamabad and Jalalabad agreement. In this regard, the RAWA reaffirmed its demand for convening a meeting of Afghan loya jirga, enabling the genuine representatives of Afghans to set across a table to find out an early solution to their conflict.

The RAWA through its communiqué as well as through slogans severely denounced the Islamic Movement of Taliban for its unrealistic attitude towards women. Such puppets of Pakistan, USA and Saudi Arabia are interpreting the holy religion of Islam wrongly and defame it. The RAWA declared that its peace-loving, patriotic and democratic-minded members would continue to struggle against unlawful and inhuman policies of Taliban.

Later on, on arrival at Hayat Avenue, the protestors were dispersed peacefully.

Peshawar - The Taliban's Islamic Movement under a well-planned programme, attacked a peaceful procession of Afghan women at Peshawar on Tuesday morning.

Sources informed that after coming to know about the women procession, arranged by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) in connection with observing a black day on the occasion of 6th anniversary of Mujahideen's govt. in Kabul, the Taliban leaders issued directives to their supporters of various religious institutions. The students and teachers of various religious institutions finalised a plan for attacking the protest procession of women.

The processionists when arrived at Tehkal Bala, in the meantime some bearded and turban-holding Afghan youngsters attacked the women protestors with sticks. However, the male supporters of RAWA came to rescue the protestors and they entered into skirmishes with the Taliban.