By Alok Bhatt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
Kabul, AFGHANISTAN – A recent report has released information culled from numerous surveys and comprehensive studies stating that the Afghan civilian population recognizes poverty and government corruption as the most significant causes of the perpetual conflict in the war-torn nation. Considering the information in the report, by British charity group Oxfam, many Western governments have urged Afghanistan’s re-elected President Karzai utilize his second term mitigate and corruption within the government and develop measures to quell popular discontent.
Despite the influence and violence of insurgency organizations prevalent in Afghanistan, the Oxfam survey demonstrates that the civilian population considers their regime one of the lesser issues contributing to the overall despondency in the nation. Among the 704 Afghan men and women who participated in the Oxfam study, approximately 19% blame the al-Qaeda terrorist network for the state of seemingly constant conflict in the nation. This statistic, though perhaps shocking upon first glance, reinforces the popular belief among the Afghan population that corrupt officials in the government are responsible for their poor mode of living.
Further exemplifying this notion is the result showing that only about 35% of the Afghan population believes that the Taliban regime is the most critical factor for war in Afghanistan. Juxtaposed with the finding that about 70% of the 704 surveyed subjects believe the Afghan government is the cause of the crises in the nation, it seems clear where the discontent of the people lies.
An even smaller percentage of the Afghan population believes that external and less powerful factors are the cause of turmoil in Afghanistan. About 15% of the interviewed subjects believed crime organizations and warlords are Afghanistan’s largest problem. The disproportionate amount of Afghan nationals believing that corruption in the government is the most detrimental factor to the nation’s chance for peace further suggests that the main aim of the re-elected president should be to investigate his own officials.
The Oxfam study also highlights numerous human rights violations perpetrated against Afghan citizens. Of the 704 survey subjects, 75% have been forced to vacate their homes at least once since 1979. 10% have been imprisoned at least once, and one in six are considering leaving the country due to the untrustworthy government and the inability to live peacefully in Afghanistan.
Outside of the Oxfam study, drug traffic has also been cited as a reason for the broken state of Afghanistan. The prevalent drug-trade in Afghanistan creates a higher-crime environment in the nation, perpetuating the killings and government corruption already plaguing Afghan nationals.
It remains to be seen what measures President Karzai, whose own brother was once implicated in drug-related investigations, will take to regain the trust of the Afghanistan government.
For more information, please see:
Al-Jazeera – Poverty and graft ‘fuel Afghan war’ – 18 November 2009
BBC – Afghans Blame Poverty for War – 18 November 2009
Radio Netherlands Worldwide – Afghans say unemployment and poverty is fueling war -18 November 2009
