De verkiezingen in Afghanistan

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KEY TALIBAN LEADERS CAPTURED, ATTACKS ON ELECTION PREPARATIONS DISRUPTED

Afghan National Security Forces and Australian-led coalition elements have successfully targeted and disrupted Taliban insurgent efforts to conduct attacks utilising improvised explosive devices within central and eastern Oruzgan. Improvised explosive devices pose a significant threat to election security in the province.

In a carefully conducted operation last weekend, four Taliban leaders were captured in a major cordon and sweep operation in the Muzazai and Kushkel districts, near Tarin Kowt.

The first phase of the operation was swiftly executed and no shots were fired. The second phase resulted in several small skirmishes but there were no Afghan or coalition forces wounded during the engagement. Overall, Afghanistan and coalition security forces successfully executed a well coordinated operation that demonstrated the commitment and ability to provide security for the local population.

The Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans said the capture of the four Taliban insurgent leaders would have a significant impact on the Taliban's ability to conduct attacks against Afghan and coalition forces leading up the 20th of August Presidential and Provincial elections.

"The operation has achieved a significant effect for the people in central and eastern Oruzgan province by removing dissident elements and this will assist in facilitating the conduct of peaceful elections. The psychological impact of the loss of these leaders on the Taliban network is also not to be understated," LTGEN Evans said.

"The four insurgents were active improvised explosive device facilitators and disruption to their actions in laying road-side bombs will be positive for the Afghan people."

There were no civilians injured as part of the operation.

The Taliban leaders and a number of insurgent support personnel have been processed and handed over to the Afghan authorities.

LTGEN Evans said the operation also discovered ammunition and IED components.

"Afghan and coalition forces have seized hand-grenades, Rocket Propelled Grenade rounds and launchers, magazines and ammunition, radios, batteries and IED components. Some have been recovered for further investigation while weapons and ammunition have been destroyed.

"The combined operation has undoubtedly had an impact on insurgent activities and plans to conduct attacks during the election. The protection of the people of Oruzgan has been aided by the actions taken. Insurgent leaders will continue to be targeted to ensure the safe conduct of elections."

The security operation has come after members of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force have been confronted with multiple explosive devices in the past week. There is a high threat of road-side bombs in Oruzgan province and Afghan and coalition forces remain on alert for a continuation of attacks leading up the election.

(Bron: ministerie van Defensie Australië, 7 augustus 2009, http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=9336)

[hdevreij]

(Verklaring van de Taliban over de verkiezingen op 20 augustus)

Announcement by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regarding the American process of elections to mislead the Afghans

09.08.1430 Hjr / 31.07.2009

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

With the expansion and escalation of the Islamic Jihad which has been dealing crushing blows at the non-believers, now the Americans and their allies have come around that all their efforts would bear no fruit in this country and their various strategies, which are aimed at subjugating the Afghans, are now facing failure.

To cover up this defeat; to save their selves and deceive the people, the Americans have devised and launched various plans and conspiracies. One of them being the election an American process for which all western media is working to boost up. They have injected economic inputs into this project in addition to other military efforts in the shape of the operation of nearly 10,000 American and British troops in Helmand.

These are immovable evidences on hand. How the Afghans would come to accept it as an Afghan process while it is being carried out by a direct support of the Americans both from the point of financing and propaganda dissemination. This process is devised by America, funded and monitored by her. The Americans maintain its security. So how one can call it an Afghan process when the invaders need at least 10,000 soldiers in one province for its implementation.

Four years ago when Karzai assumed power as a result of self-same process what did he do to materialize the aspirations of the Afghans? During the reign of this so-called president, the Americans did all in their power against the Afghans but what he did to prevent these atrocities? The merciless bombardment of civilians, lack of security, immorality, spread of foreign culture, increase in the number of foreign troops, collective killings of defenceless prisoners in Pulle-Charkhi prison all these are the products of this dark reign.

In the economic field, as a symbol of their service to the country, the Afghans were forced to sell their dear children for food items and many countrymen were compelled to eat grass. This time the same game is played anew. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan believes that this American drama is a failure like other military and political efforts of America. Therefore, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announces the following points in order to neutralize this process.

Based on their Islamic and Afghani obligations, the Afghans should boycott the upcoming election process of deception and fraud. They should choose the way of the strongholds of Jihad instead of the path of polling stations in order to obtain a true independence. They should snatch their rights from the usurpers through Jihad and resistance. Participation in the election is tantamount to making friendship and rendering help with the invading Americans. It grants their invasion legitimacy. Allah, the Almighty (SwT) says about friendship with non-believers:

"O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians as friends (helpers, protectors) They are but friends to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as friends, then surely he is one of them. Verily Allah guides not those people who are wrongdoers." 51-Al-Maida.

In another verse, Allah (SwT) the Almighty says:

"Give to the hypocrites the tidings that there is for them a painful torment. Those who take disbelievers for friends (helpers, protectors) instead of believers, do they seek honor, power and glory, Then to Allah belongs all honor, power and glory." 138- Al-nissa.

The so-called elected government takes pride in the friendship of the invaders and acknowledges getting their assistance and feel prideful for that. They are accomplices of the invading masters in all atrocities and crimes perpetrated against our oppressed and miserable people.

They are continuing to carry out the atrocities. If any one participates in the election, it will be tantamount to helping a wrongdoer in his wrongdoing and mischief making. The Holy prophet (peace be upon him) says about a man who helps a wrongdoer in his wrongdoing: "Whoever helps a wrongdoer in his wrongdoing, he will be brought on the Day of Resurrection while on his forehead, it will written: disappointed of the mercy of Allah." Narrated by Al-delme.

In another saying of the Holy prophet (peace be upon him) narrated by Abdullah ibn Masoud (may Allah be pleased with him) it is said: "Whoever helps a wrongdoer in his wrongdoing, Allah will dominate (the wrongdoer) over him."

Mujahideen should take every measure to impede this squalid process. They should launch operations against the enemy centers, should prevent people from participating in the election and close all main and secondary roads for governmental and private transportation one day prior to the election and inform the people accordingly.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

(Bron: The Unjust Media, 31 juli 2009, http://www.theunjustmedia.com/Afghanistan/Statements/july09/Announcement%20by%20the%20Islamic%20Emirate%20of%20Afghanistan%20regarding%20the%20American%20process%20of%20elections%20to%20mislead%20the%20Afghans.htm)

[hdevreij]

In de uitzending van NOVA van gisterenavond een reportage uit Tarin Kowt van Wereldomroep-verslaggever Hans Jaap Melissen. Toegespitst op de inzet van EUPOL bij de voorbereidingen op de verkiezingen. En spontane (en zeer gevarieerde) reacties in een schoolklas. Zie http://player.omroep.nl/?aflID=9831463, laatste onderwerp van de uitzending.

[Lex]

Taliban urge Afghan poll boycott

The Taliban have called on people in Afghanistan to boycott next month's presidential and provincial elections.

In a statement on a Taliban website, the movement ordered fighters to block roads on the eve of the elections and stop voters going to polling stations.

The statement said that participation in the vote would be a show of support for "invading Americans".

Afghanistan has seen a rise in violence ahead of the poll and there are grave concerns about security on the day.

The BBC's Bilal Sarwary in Kabul says this is the most specific threat yet made by the Taliban in the run-up to the elections on 20 August, but it is not an unexpected move.

The Taliban have always maintained they want foreign forces to leave the country and have made general calls for election boycotts before.

'Resistance'

"How could Afghans consider this an Afghan process when, contrary to all their national traditions... it is planned by the Americans, financed by the Americans?" the statement says.

The Taliban message goes on to urge fighters to launch attacks against "enemy centres" and "prevent people from attending the elections and one day ahead of elections they must block all roads and highways for government and civilians vehicles".


It said that people should free Afghanistan through resistance and holy war.

In the past week alone there have been two attacks on Afghan election campaigns.

On Tuesday a campaign manager of presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah was badly hurt after his vehicle was attacked in Laghman province. Two days earlier there was an assassination attempt on Mohammed Qasim Fahim, a running mate of President Hamid Karzai.

Elections are due to take place amid tight security on 20 August when Mr Karzai is hoping to secure a second term.

About 40 other candidates are challenging him for the presidency.

Fragmented militants

The Taliban statement also comes days after the Afghan government announced it had agreed a truce with Taliban insurgents in the north-western province of Badghis for the elections.

Although Taliban militants later denied any deal, our correspondent says it served to underline the disjointed and complex nature of the insurgency - with many different groups operating under a Taliban banner.

In June the US and the UK launched an offensive in the south of the country where the Taliban insurgency is at its fiercest, in a move aimed at shoring up security for the vote.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2009/07/30 10:57:01 GMT