Afghan Youth Debates: Voters Asked to Support Police, Army

Speakers at an IWPR debate two days before the Afghan elections reinforced the need for members of the public to cooperate with the security services.

Panellists at an event held in the southeastern province of Paktia said everyone had a responsibility to help counter ballot-rigging and other forms of fraud that could undermine the legitimacy of the April 5 polls process. They also urged people not to be deterred from voting by security fears, and show that they would not be intimidated by insurgents.

"We have taken steps to ensure good security at all the voting centres,” Bahaijan Yar, a spokesman for the governor of Paktia province, said. “Female police officers have been recruited to search women voters and we have also formed mobile security groups so that if an incident does happen, we can react quickly. We have also created a command centre to coordinate all security matters around Paktia."

The IWPR debate took place at Paktia University and included panellists Mohammad Shefa Moshfeq, the regional head of the ministry of information and culture, and Ehsanollah Hamidi, provincial head of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA). Officers from Paktia's police headquarters as well as a spokesman for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) were also invited to the discussion, but declined to attend.

Moshfeq told students that they were about to play a key role in determining their country's future. He urged them to assist local officials by reporting any instances of fraud and also called on media networks in the province not to exaggerate the threat of violence on polling day itself. Great care should be taken in reporting incidents that could deter voters from coming to the polls, he argued.

"Every Afghan has a responsibility before God and the country to work towards holding transparent elections," Moshfeq said. "The media in Paktia should also avoid exaggerated reporting on minor security incidents."

A number of participants questioned the panel about the potential for electoral fraud. Undergraduates said they remained sceptical about the neutrality of some officials.

"People will do everything they can to prevent fraud at polling stations," said Hamid Jan Ehsas, a resident of the Lazha Ahmadkhel district. "But their efforts may be ineffective if individuals within the election commission are found to be turning a blind eye."

Another participant, Ehsanollah Hamidi, expressed concern that a number of districts in Paktia would not have separate polling stations for women, which might lead to men voting on behalf of female family members.

He also said that FEFA would not be able to provide election observers at all polling stations. Ten per cent would not be monitored, he said.

Abdul Raqib Nuri is a student at Paktia University and an IWPR trainee.

This report was produced as part of Open Minds: Speaking Up, Reaching Out – Promoting University and Youth Participation in Afghan Elections, an IWPR initiative funded by the US embassy in Kabul.