As Afghans prepare to elect their first-ever parliament next week, many are concerned about violent threats to an open and fair polling process, according to surveys of voters.
Respondents were especially troubled by the candidacy of warlords and war criminals, a consortium of humanitarian organizations that has been surveying voters found.
"Many Afghans are worried that local power brokers with guns and money will intimidate average citizens into voting against their real interests," said Paul Barker, country director for CARE International, a member of the Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium (HRRAC). "That’s a consistent message we’ve been hearing ever since last year’s presidential election."
HRRAC began surveying voters last December, shortly after Afghans chose Hamid Karzai as president in the country’s first democratic election. CARE has continued to conduct surveys through the past week.
Survey respondents want the government to withdraw the candidacies of people who are blacklisted by human rights groups, such as war criminals and known human rights abusers, Barker said. Voters also consistently mentioned security for voters, candidates and electoral workers as a top priority for the elections.
"People want to be reassured that the government and international monitors will ensure a safe and secret balloting process," said Barker. "No one wants to vote under the shadow of the gun. It’s critical that armed groups be kept off the ballot and away from polling places."
HRRAC surveyed approximately 500 voters, both male and female, in urban and rural areas in six provinces between December 2004 and February 2005. Among respondents’ comments:
- "Fighting for power may flare up again, and people may reach parliament through the power of money and guns."
- "The only concern that we have is commanders’ misuse of their power during the elections."
- "If they leave us alone to elect our people, nothing will happen to disrupt the process, but if warlords jump into the process, things may go wrong."
"In spite of their concerns, Afghans are very enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate in the upcoming elections, and the Afghan government and the international community have a responsibility to ensure that these elections are carried out freely and safely," said Barker.
Barker and representatives of other HRRAC member organizations will present survey findings and discuss the upcoming elections at a press conference Saturday at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Foundation for Culture and Civil Society in Kabul.
