By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
KABUL, Afghanistan – Saturday’s parliamentary election in Afghanistan once again illustrated the numerous problems facing international forces and Afghans in the country. Since Saturday’s election, over 3000 complaints of fraud and intimidation have been filed with the United Nation-backed Electoral Complaint Commission (ECC). In the days prior to the election, abductions of civilians and election officials raised security concerns throughout the country.
More than 20 individuals were abducted by Taliban insurgent forces on the eve of the election and at least 22 people were killed by insurgent attacks on election day. During the election, insurgents conducted 485 separate attacks on election facilities, according to NATO forces. Despite these fatalities, a Pentagon spokesman noted that election violence has decreased when compared to the 2009 presidential election in Afghanistan.
Over 2,500 candidates ran for the 249 seats up for grabs in the parliamentary elections. Against a backdrop of political instability, the ECC is now charged with the task of ensuring the validity of election results as complaints of illegal voting continue to pour in. Stressing the significance of the elections, a representative for the United Nation’s mission in Afghanistan reported “[t]he independence of these institutions is crucial to the credibility of the completion of the electoral process.”
Over 1000 polling centers were forced to close their doors due to inadequate security. In a comment to the Washington Examiner, Army Captain Max Pappas, a member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan, stated that the “Taliban intimidated people, but they weren’t able to stage a massive attack. At least that’s a good sign, but this is far from over.” Although international forces in Afghanistan remain committed to the fight against the Taliban in the country, many recognize the difficult challenges that lay ahead. Although U.S. officials remain optimistic about the successful promotion of democracy in Afghanistan, Saturday’s election highlights that the prospect of a legitimate and functioning government may still be untenable in the short term.
For more information, please see:
Agence France Presse – Afghanistan Says Over 3000 Complaints About Vote – 21 Sept. 2010
Xinhua News Agency – 2 Election Officials Missing, Thousands Complaints Filed in Afghan Polls – 21 Sept. 2001
Washington Examiner – Election Day is Day of Fear in Afghanistan – 20 Sept. 2010
ABC News – 22 Killed During Afghan Polls: NATO – 19 Sept. 2010
Al-Jazeera – Abductions Hit Afghan Poll Build-Up – 17 Sept. 2010
