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Afghans Say Loya Jirga Symbol of Peace
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The
Afghans are happy as long as Loya Jirga delegates talk
politics and not war
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By
Asif Farooqi, IOL Afghanistan correspondent
KABUL,
June 17 (IslamOnline) - Acknowledging the ongoing Loya Jirga as
a “foreign product” and not something which represents the Afghan
wishes and aspirations in an appropriate way, common people in the
Afghan capital have nevertheless pinned high hopes on the grand
assembly which is looked upon as merely a symbol of the return of
peace.
The
assembly of Afghan elders is being held in Kabul following the Bonn
agreement signed between different Afghan groups in December 2001 to
elect and discuss the formation of a transitional political
government.
While
the over 1500 delegates, two thirds are elected directly by the
Afghans, continue to make speeches inside the huge makeshift tent
off-limits for non-members, the favorite subject of discussion at the
small tea stalls, barber shops, and other similar places in the city
remains to be the day’s proceedings of the Loya Jirga.
The
only point which seems to make every Afghan happy regarding the
proceedings of the Loya Jirga is that this meeting, no matter how
irrespective it may be of true Afghan aspirations, is a symbol of
peace and political maturity in the war shattered country.
“The
same place used to be the center of bombing and shelling during the
civil war. It is now the center of political activity. This is enough
to make every Afghan happy,” Agha Jan, a cabdriver said while
getting a haircut at a barber shop in central Kabul. Traditionally the
barber shops and small roadside tea houses are the center of small
talk in this mainly tribal country.
“We
know that all this is staged by the Americans to mainly serve their
own purpose but we are happy even if peace for our country is merely a
byproduct of this exercise,” Muslim Khalil said while referring to
the Loya Jirga.
“Very
few people around here know what is going on in that large tent and
fewer are really interested in the kind of government this gathering
comes out with. We are okay as far as the politics goes on and not the
war,” another cabdriver, Rehman, told IslamOnline.
After
interviewing more than a dozen people on the Kabul streets,
IslamOnline has gathered that an angry majority here believe that the
Loya Jirga was not representing the Afghan wishes in letter and
spirit. For example, many Afghans contest the way the demand for
implementing Islamic Shariah in the country was brushed aside by the
administration during the proceedings last week.
“The
King (Zahir Shah) was not allowed to contest for the presidency. Any
government which comes into being afterwards is non-representative,”
Abdul Wahid, a 28-year-old tea house owner, said.
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