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Previous Editorials & Articles Regalian Functions April 7, 2004 Berlin: Success or Failure April 07, 2004	Upcoming Afghan Elections, Security, Fairness and Commitment By Dr. Assem Akram 04/15/2004 The upcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan represent a test not so much for the Afghan citizens but rather for the US, the UN and the US-backed Karzai Government. In accordance with the Dec. 2001 Bonn Agreement and in pursuance of article 157 of the new constitution, which states that elections for the Presidency, the National Assembly and local assemblies should be announced within six month of the ratification of the new constitution, preparations are on the way to hold elections in Afghanistan, announced for September 2004. June was the date initially set. At first, Karzai and G.W. Bush’s special envoy Khalilzad were both insisting that presidential elections would be held on time, but no mention was made of parliamentary elections. The UNSG Special representative in Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, who had said it appeared highly improbable the elections could be held in June, was bluntly contradicted by the “Vice Roy” Khalilzad. But after a reality check by Messieurs Khalilazad and Karzai, the latter announced in late March that the elections would in effect be delayed until September 2004, giving reason to the UN staff on the ground and outside observers who had expressed doubts. The interesting news is that now it appears that parliamentary elections would be held concurrently to the presidential ones Without going into too many details, I believe it is worth asking some basic questions related to these forthcoming elections: Is it possible to organize “free and democratic” elections while the overwhelming majority of the Afghan population lives under the rule of armed militias? What can be done to render the organizational process of the elections really transparent? Whereas the newly accepted (imperfect) constitution is asking for a commission to be set up to supervise the electoral process, in lieu, Karzai has appointed a small “joint commission” with no transparency whatsoever. How can the UNAMA, in charge of the electoral process, ensure that all presidential candidates are treated equally and benefit from the same treatment? It would seem to us that the UNAMA has the responsibility to provide security, transportation, advertising means (e.g. printing of program leaflets), and air time on Government-owned media to all officially declared candidates. Why is it not happening? Why, still at this date, Afghans living abroad haven't been considered as voters and no arrangements have been made to register them? How can parliamentary elections be properly held without any real census of the population; not withstanding the fact that the Government is creating new entities as it pleases, such as the freshly created provinces of Dehkundi and Panjshir? Relevant or not, it is worth mentioning that Karzai enjoys executive and parliamentary powers in this period leading to the elections: does he really want the elections to be held that soon? Did “somebody” suggest to him that he ought to take advantage of the situation to do some “house cleaning,” assured that he has the US' full backing? This is perhaps why the elections calendar – in a realistic way - should be set up by the UN in Afghanistan and not left to the political agenda of certain people. So, really, the issues for the upcoming elections are those of security, fairness and commitment. If the three conditions were met, it would benefit the US to show that its policy in Afghanistan is working; it would benefit the United Nations to demonstrate it is successfully accomplishing the “normalization” and “democratization” job the international community has tasked it with; and, finally, it would benefit Karzai himself who, if he wins fair and free elections held in a secure environment, would gain a legitimacy that he does not have at this time. In the adverse eventuality, then the outcome of the elections would probably be of no consequence on the real stabilization and normalization of Afghanistan and everyone but those who are against genuine democracy would loose. }

HOME

News - Opinion - Analysis

CONTACT

Previous Editorials & Articles

Regalian Functions
April 7, 2004

Berlin: Success or Failure
April 07, 2004

Upcoming Afghan Elections,

Security, Fairness and Commitment

By Dr. Assem Akram

04/15/2004

The upcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan represent a test not so much for the Afghan citizens but rather for the US, the UN and the US-backed Karzai Government.

In accordance with the Dec. 2001 Bonn Agreement and in pursuance of article 157 of the new constitution, which states that elections for the Presidency, the National Assembly and local assemblies should be announced within six month of the ratification of the new constitution, preparations are on the way to hold elections in Afghanistan, announced for September 2004.

June was the date initially set. At first, Karzai and G.W. Bush’s special envoy Khalilzad were both insisting that presidential elections would be held on time, but no mention was made of parliamentary elections. The UNSG Special representative in Afghanistan, Jean Arnault, who had said it appeared highly improbable the elections could be held in June, was bluntly contradicted by the “Vice Roy” Khalilzad. But after a reality check by Messieurs Khalilazad and Karzai, the latter announced in late March that the elections would in effect be delayed until September 2004, giving reason to the UN staff on the ground and outside observers who had expressed doubts. The interesting news is that now it appears that parliamentary elections would be held concurrently to the presidential ones

Without going into too many details, I believe it is worth asking some basic questions related to these forthcoming elections:

Is it possible to organize “free and democratic” elections while the overwhelming majority of the Afghan population lives under the rule of armed militias?
What can be done to render the organizational process of the elections really transparent? Whereas the newly accepted (imperfect) constitution is asking for a commission to be set up to supervise the electoral process, in lieu, Karzai has appointed a small “joint commission” with no transparency whatsoever.
How can the UNAMA, in charge of the electoral process, ensure that all presidential candidates are treated equally and benefit from the same treatment? It would seem to us that the UNAMA has the responsibility to provide security, transportation, advertising means (e.g. printing of program leaflets), and air time on Government-owned media to all officially declared candidates. Why is it not happening?
Why, still at this date, Afghans living abroad haven't been considered as voters and no arrangements have been made to register them?
How can parliamentary elections be properly held without any real census of the population; not withstanding the fact that the Government is creating new entities as it pleases, such as the freshly created provinces of Dehkundi and Panjshir?
Relevant or not, it is worth mentioning that Karzai enjoys executive and parliamentary powers in this period leading to the elections: does he really want the elections to be held that soon? Did “somebody” suggest to him that he ought to take advantage of the situation to do some “house cleaning,” assured that he has the US' full backing? This is perhaps why the elections calendar – in a realistic way - should be set up by the UN in Afghanistan and not left to the political agenda of certain people.

So, really, the issues for the upcoming elections are those of security, fairness and commitment. If the three conditions were met, it would benefit the US to show that its policy in Afghanistan is working; it would benefit the United Nations to demonstrate it is successfully accomplishing the “normalization” and “democratization” job the international community has tasked it with; and, finally, it would benefit Karzai himself who, if he wins fair and free elections held in a secure environment, would gain a legitimacy that he does not have at this time. In the adverse eventuality, then the outcome of the elections would probably be of no consequence on the real stabilization and normalization of Afghanistan and everyone but those who are against genuine democracy would loose.

}