Dawn, April 29, 2007
Afghan women hold rally against Taliban, warlords
About 600 women and girls took part in the protest
The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) Saturday took out a protest rally and staged a sit-in in front of the UN offices to observe as Black Day the coming into power of Jehadi groups in Kabul.
( http://www.rawa.org/events/apr28-07_photos.htm )Afghan refugee students chant slogans during a protest rally organized by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) in Islamabad April 28, 2007. RAWA protesters, including women and children, demanded for peace and democracy in their war-ravaged country on Saturday. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood
On April 28, 1992, Jehadi forces took power in Afghanistan and unleashed a reign of terror, rape, looting and destruction. Over 65,000 people were killed only in Kabul from 1992-96. The Jehadi fundamentalists were replaced by ultra-fundamentalist mediaeval minded Taliban.
"But today the same ‘criminal jehadi forces', instead of appearing in court of justice for their war crime, are holding key positions in the Karzai government and trying to destabilise the situation", a statement issued by the organisation said.
About 600 women and girls arrived from Peshawar and some other cities of Pakistan and nearby provinces of Afghanistan to take part in the protest.
RAWA presented a memorandum to UN officials asking them to curb the events in Afghanistan.
Calling it "treason and insult to our people", RAWA condemned the recent statement given by the UN envoy in Afghanistan that: "If there is to be a chance for peace, we must talk to everyone, including alleged war criminals and Taliban".
The demonstrators carried large photos depicting the destruction and devastation in Afghanistan and portraits of top personalities in the Karzai government, banners and placards inscribed with slogans against war lords, Taliban and Karzai government in Pashtu, Persian and English.
A number of RAWA activists raised slogans, which were responded with fervour by participants in the march. Some of the slogans on the banners were: "Parliament full of drug kingpins, criminals and traitors can't represent our people!", "collaboration with any of the fundamentalists is equivalent to treachery", "The Northern Alliance should be brought to justice", "Iran, Pakistan, all hands off Afghanistan!".
The participants criticized the passage of the recent "National Reconciliation" bill by the Afghan parliament which provides immunity to all war criminals of the past over two decades in Afghanistan.—Online
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