Kabul : Rally demands amnesty
for war criminals

Demonstrators cried out
'Death to Malalai Joya' .

Sources: RAWA, Gulf Times , (Qatar), and 'EFE' news agency (Spain).

Más información en castellano ('click')


KABUL: 'Death to Malalai Joya'. It's what demonstrators demanding amnesty for war criminals cried out. Malalai is one of the woman member of the Afghan Parliament, who the
Spanish Congresswoman had tried to visit in Afghanistan
in March 8th, 2007 (+ info, 'click'). Malalai Joya  comprises mostly warlords and fundamentalists who are directly or indirectly involved in the gross violations of human rights in Afghanistan. They currently dominate new parliament using their guns, power, money and intimidation.
 

You can visit the Malalai Joya's web site (called 'Defend Malalai Jpoya)  for more information. http://www.malalaijoya.com

Thousands of former mujahedin, including an ex-president and current vice-president, rallied in Kabul to express their support for a bill which grants amnesty for war criminals of the last three decades in Afghanistan.
A woman legislator, Shakila, cried out 'Death to Malalai Joya,' referring to the outspoken female legislator, who is known for her criticism of the warlords.

The crowd of more than 20,000 gathered in at Kabul Stadium, once an execution ground during the regime of the now-ousted Taliban, and chanted slogans such as "long live the Mujahedin" and "death to Human Rights commission and enemies of Afghanistan."

Earlier this month, the Afghan parliament, which is heavily dominated by warlords, approved a bill that grants immunity to individuals involved in atrocities during the past three decades, spanning the communist era, the country's 1992-96 civil war and the Taliban regime.

The football stadium was filled with angry protesters holding pictures of warlords whose names have recently appeared in the Human Rights report, for having committed war crimes.

Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili, whose supporters from the Hazara ethnic group turned out in large numbers for the rally, said "we will not let anybody question our past glory."

This was taken as a reference to the mujahedin's decade-long struggle against the former Soviet Union. Marshall Mohamed Qasim Fahim, the former defence minister in the government of Hamid Karzai and the top commander of the Afghan coalition against the Taliban, warned that this kind of propaganda against the mujahedin would lead the country into crisis once again.

Burhanuddin Rabbani, the former mujahedin president and current legislator, accused some elements of trying to foment dispute amongst Afghans "as they had done in Iraq." However, he did not name any particular groups.

Abdul Raab Rasul Sayaf, a strong warlord and parliamentarian whose name has also been listed in the New York-based Human Rights report, said "those who are against mujahedin, they are against our nation and Afghanistan."
Later, youths marched through the city, chanting "Death to enemies of Afghanistan!" . They also shouted "Death to Malalai Joya!" _ a female lawmaker who is among the most outspoken critics of Sayyaf and other prominent mujahedeen leaders.

Amongst accused war criminals present at the rally were General Abdul Rashid Dostum who is current chief of army staff of the Afghan president, Energy Minister and Hazara leader Mohamed Ismail Khan, and current lawmaker Haji Mohaqiq.

The peaceful protesters then took to the streets, chanting slogans like 'Death to enemies of Afghanistan' and 'Death to the Human Rights Commission.'

Hundreds of police and Afghan army forces were deployed in the city to counter any possible violence, while Nato-led peacekeeping forces remained in their barracks.