Afghan civil society under threat

Powerful figures are trying to undermine the growth of Afghanistan’s nascent civil society, which is taking shape after the collapse of the Taleban regime, say proponents talking at the new radio and TV weekly programme ‘Your Voice’.

Powerful figures are trying to undermine the growth of Afghanistan’s nascent civil society, which is taking shape after the collapse of the Taleban regime, say proponents talking at the new radio and TV weekly programme ‘Your Voice’.
Launched on April 9 by Killid with its partners within the newly-created Afghan Independent Media Consortium, Pajhwok Afghan News and Saba Media Organisation, ‘Your Voice’ will broadcast civil society opinions and information in the country for 52 weeks.
Warlords, land grabbers and corrupt officials are trying to thwart the emergence of a strong civil society that is crucial to nation-building and conflict resolution, especially in a trouble-hit nation like Afghanistan, say the participants in the first edition of ‘Your Voice’. 
Members of the Afghan Independent Media Consortium, launched on March 12, believe civil society in the country is facing monumental challenges in carrying out its activities. It is often denied a rightful place, they complain.
Mir Ahmad Joyanda, head of the Cultural Foundation of Civil Society, Hameed Zazai of Mediothek, Narges Nehan of Equality for Peace and Democracy, Hosai Wardak of Afghan Coalition for Transparancy and Accountability, and Najiba Ayubi, Managing Director of The Killid Group shared the round-table.
Joyanda said they would be unable to achieve their goals until they launched a national movement to create awareness on the current issues.
“Most high-ranking officials are involved in corruption; law violation and land grabbing were creating hurdles in the development of the civil society institution,” he noted.                 
The radio debate has highlighted people’s needs and problems, as well as media outlets’ self-sufficiency.
Ayubi, said that civil society was a vital element but was not involved in the decision-making process.
She said there were wrong perceptions about the institution that was often associated with non-governmental organisations, while civil society members worked for promoting the national interest.
According to Joyanda, civil society has long played a key role in conflict resolution and in addressing social problems, but the country’s three- decade-old crisis was largely due to lack of an explicit and powerful public voice.
Previously, most civil society activities were conducted by local councils, which were trusted by the people, but during the prolonged war, the councils ceased to operate and were later dominated by warlords.
The other participants described civil society as a crucial bridge linking the nation, the government and the people at large.