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To the Government of Afghanistan
President Karzai should take all possible steps to stop
intimidation, threats, and harassment of political actors and voters by
factions, including those who support him. He should encourage voters and
candidatessome of whom have little faith that their complaints will be
heardto report their abuses to local UNAMA, AIHRC, or JEMB offices. President
Karzai should order the dismissal of any government official found by either
JEMB or the joint AIHRC-UNAMA political rights verification team to have
committed threats or abuses.
To help alleviate the confusion and intimidation caused by
parties and factions collecting or confiscating voter cards from registered
voters, and to remove one motive for multiple registration by voters, President
Karzai and his cabinet should repeal the sections of the Afghan electoral law
specifying that candidates submit photocopies of Afghan voter cards to support
their nominations for president, parliament, or local office.
The government should make a new request to NATO to supply
additional troops for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
The government should ask NATO and the U.N. Security Council to
expand ISAFs mandate to include a central role in disarmament, demobilization,
and reintegration (DDR) efforts and request that countries operating Provincial
Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) integrate PRT operations into ISAF command.
President Hamid Karzai, his cabinet, and Afghanistans main military factions must commit themselves to meaningful implementation of DDR
programs.
To the United States
The United States should make human rights promotion and
protection a primary goal of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, which in turn will
enable democratization and nation-building processes. The United States should support Afghan government efforts to improve political freedoms, including by
helping to weaken autonomous abusive commanders, redoubling efforts at militia
disarmament, and increasing protection of independent political actors.
The United States should increase cooperation with the
International Security Assistance Force and support the expansion of troop
levels so that ISAF can play a greater role in providing security for the 2005
elections and security generally to enhance political freedom. ISAF troop
levels, currently set to go down after the elections, should instead be
increased. The U.S. should work with other NATO member states to adopt a common
mandate for ISAF and PRTs, focusing on assistance with disarmament efforts and
protection of vulnerable political actors and groups. Provincial
Reconstruction Teams, where they are used in lieu of ISAF troops, should be
given clearer mandates to assist with disarmament efforts and protection of
vulnerable political actors and groups.
The United States should immediately end all direct cash payments
and other assistance by agencies of the United States to Afghan military or
faction leaders or sub-leaders and discourage payments to such leaders by other
sources. The Department of Defense and all intelligence-gathering agencies in Afghanistan should review their operations to ensure that U.S. cooperation with local militias,
local commanders, intelligence sources, and other local entities is not being
misused as a basis for extorting civilians or threatening political opponents.
The United States should increase funding and support for
training of the Afghan national army, as well as police training, to
professionalize these forces. The United States should specifically increase
the U.S. contribution to the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA).
To NATO member states and other nations involved in Afghanistan
Increase ISAF troop levels, which are currently set to go down
after the elections.
Adopt a common mandate for ISAF and PRTs, focusing on assistance
with disarmament efforts and protection of vulnerable political actors and
groups. Provincial Reconstruction Teams, where they are used in lieu of ISAF
troops, should be given clearer mandates to assist with disarmament efforts and
protection of vulnerable political actors and groups.
To Donors
Increase financial support for human rights and democratization
projects, including funding for UNAMA and AIHRC human rights monitoring and
reporting, and voter education projects.
Ensure that the JEMB and UNAMA have the necessary resources and
funding to administer 2005 elections.
Encourage UNAMA to facilitate a central independent monitoring
body charged with observing the 2005 elections, and earmark funding for that
body.
To the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Increase staffing levels for human rights and political affairs
monitoring, and continue public reporting with the Afghan Independent Human
Rights Commission on Afghanistans political rights situation. To ensure that
staffing increases are not delayed by bureaucratic hurdles, the hiring process
should be centralized to Kabul.
Put special emphasis on facilitating a central independent
monitoring body to observe the 2005 elections.
To the Special Representative of the U.N.
Secretary-General
Continue pressuring the Afghan government and its international
partners to revitalize disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration efforts.
The Special Representative should keep pressure on the United States and NATO members to increase troop contributions for ISAF and PRTs and refocus the
mandates of those forces on assisting with disarmament efforts and protecting
vulnerable political actors and groups.
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