AFGHAN HOPES

PROMOTING RECONSTRUCTION THROUGH THE BALLOT BOX

EUGENE JAMES AND ELISABETH JAMES, UNCE

In recent decades, the Afghan people have suffered from misery, fear and pain due to political turmoil. Various factions engaged in protracted conflicts to establish leadership and central control over the country’s affairs. The political and social turmoil resulted in large-scale destruction and in population displacement, which was problematic firstly for the Afghan people who lost their livelihood and, secondly, for Afghanistan’s neighbours – Iran and Pakistan – that absorbed large numbers of refugees under weak economic conditions.

The Pashtus are relatively well known abroad. Some of the finest Afghan poets, such as Khushhal Khan, originate from this particular group; in fact the founder of Afghanistan – Ahmad Shah Durrani – was Pashtu. He ruled as an autocrat from 1747 till 1772. A host of other communities – the Tajiks, the Hazara, the Uzbeks, the Chahar Aimaks and the Turkmen – populate the country. Tribes represent the primary cell of the social fabric and each one fiercely combats domination.

Taliban regime
Afghan history reveals that cohesion is extremely fragile since each tribe seeks to conserve its autonomy. The grassroots constitute the traditional centre for political activity and power succession tends to be hereditary. Kabul, the political capital, represents the heartland of the country for historical reasons and especially since the city is at a geographical crossroad, which fosters commercial ties between the South Asian subcontinent and the Middle East. However, people are accustomed to rural life in villages scattered across the country.

In recent decades, radical movements dealt a blow to the social structure of Afghanistan and crippled the economy. The most salient example is the theocratic rule of the Taliban regime, which spread terror across the country between the end of the civil war in 1992 and U.S. military operations in 2001. The demise of the Taliban regime paved the way for reconstruction under the auspices of United Nations representatives, representatives of the international community and local Afghan leaders. They convened talks in Bonn in December 2001 to establish a transitional Government. Through these discussions, the representatives hammered out the Bonn Agreement.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) compromises a Political Affairs branch with a mandate to fulfil the objectives of the Bonn Agreement. The objectives of the Agreement are multiple, but they are broadly defined as (a) the prevention and resolution of conflicts, (b) the promotion of confidence and national reconciliation, (c) the monitoring of the political and human rights situation, (d) the investigation of human rights violations. So far, work in the political field led to the organization of presidential and parliamentary elections, held respectively in 2004 and 2005 (see www.unama-afg.org).

New president
Moreover in 2002, the Security Council drafted resolution 1401 that created UNAMA. The primary role of the Mission is to “help implement the Bonn Agreement”. The resolution also conferred upon the Mission the task to “manage all humanitarian, relief, recovery and reconstruction activities”. Two years later, in 2004, the Afghan people elected a new president – Hamid Karzai – who became head of an interim government. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone for the successful reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. The Afghan people prepare to cross a milestone in their contemporary history as they head for the ballot box in 2009 and in 2010. For the first time in 30 years, the Afghan authorities will independently administer elections. An important challenge is that all communities across the country take part in the electoral process while security is not optimum everywhere.

At the dawn of the 2009 and 2010 elections, a staff member of UNAMA shares her views about her work experience in Afghanistan. Victoria Chia recently joined UNAMA as a Political Affairs officer and despite a heavy work load, Ms. Chia kindly agreed to respond to an interview.

Describe your work in Afghanistan.
I am a Political Affairs Officer at UNAMA, part of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), and I cover the provinces of Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan in the South. We are doing political outreach, monitoring and analysis in preparing for the Afghan presidential election later this year.”

Is it your first field mission? What other missions did you have?
This is my first field mission for DPKO. Previously I worked for UNODC (Office on Drugs and Crime) in Kyrgyzstan and Thailand and for UNECE (Economic Commission for Europe) in Geneva.

What made you decide on going to “the field”?
The substance of the work in political affairs (my educational background was in political science), the critical time Afghanistan is now facing, and the opportunity to help strengthen and build up a country.

Is the work in the field different from the work in headquarters (such as New York or Geneva)? Why is it different?
Yes, very much so – in myriad ways. Field posts tend to be much less bureaucratic than at headquarters jobs. In peacekeeping missions, for example, more time is spent by UN officers meeting with local government officials, the local community and with the international military. Things are very fluid in the field and frequently our work plans change. In a place like southern Afghanistan of course there are also many security threats, curfews are strictly enforced (in Kandahar it is 5.30 pm!), and life can be quite restricted. That said, there are also great opportunities to shape your job to your interests, and to begin your own projects within the peacekeeping mandate.

Describe your working day.
I spend my time coordinating with national Political Affairs Assistants and Officers in the southern region, to analyze political events and trends. At the moment we are preparing for voter registration in the southern region, so there is much coordination with various actors including the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission to ensure this runs smoothly.

What are your beliefs? Do you believe in what you are doing, in the importance of your work being in the field, how do you feel being in the field?
Absolutely – if I didn’t believe in what I was doing and in the mandate of the mission, I would not have changed my lifestyle so drastically and given up so many creature comforts to be based here. I can honestly say though, that I am sincerely very pleased to be in the field, and feel very lucky to experience all the warmth and hospitality the Afghan people and their rich culture.

How do you see the role of the United Nations in the field in general?
The role of the United Nations in the field is critical - in all areas that the UN is mandated to work in: to aid the political process, to provide sustainable development, to monitor human rights, to provide humanitarian aid, to work in counter-narcotics and law enforcement/alternative development, to establish the rule of law, to help refugees, to strengthen education among others programs. Every single area of the mandate is essential for the viability of a strong Afghan state.

How do you see the role of the United Nations in Afghanistan?
In Afghanistan, the United Nations is a key partner with both the international military forces as well as the local government and community. We play a critical role in helping all sides to better understand one another, to attempt to stabilize the country and to begin rebuilding after decades of conflict.