www.newsandletters.org
|
|
NEWS & LETTERS, May 2004Afghan letter to the Leftby Sonali Kolhatkar Sonali Kolhatkar is the Co-Director of Afghan Women's Mission. (sonali@afghanwomensmission.org) Below we print excerpts of Kolhatkar's letter. The full text was published April 8, 2004 at: www.commondreams.org. * * * Afghanistan has been devastated by the U.S. military as well as neglected by the anti-war movement.... Afghan women in particular are paying the greatest price for U.S. policies. Their emancipation was upheld as one reason for going to war, but two years later they are as shackled by the same warlords and the same hunger and insecurity as they were before and during the Taliban's reign. For some women, particularly in cities and villages outside the relatively safer Kabul, things are worse. For example, tens of women in the Western Afghan province of Herat have been committing suicide by self-immolation. So what can anti-war activists do? Firstly, stay as informed about the U.S.'s role in Afghanistan as you can and demand the media cover Afghanistan. I have noticed more coverage in the mainstream media of Afghanistan than in the alternative media: this is shameful.... Secondly, look to Afghans themselves for what they want for their country. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan...who are on the forefront of anti-fundamentalist and anti-imperialist work, have been calling for a UN intervention and peace keeping forces for years. They have asked, sensibly, for the disarmament of warlords who rule the countryside with impunity and foreign backing.... Thirdly, demand that the U.S. spend proportionately as much on humanitarian aid in Afghanistan as it does in other conflict situations.... Fourthly, no matter who is in power, remind them that you are watching their policies in Afghanistan. Demand that anti-war groups include Afghanistan in their literature and signs, that every time an anti-war rally is held, there are prominent speakers who address Afghanistan. And finally, show sensitivity and respect to the people of Afghanistan by not exploiting their victim-hood. There are far too many books and movies depicting Afghans and particularly Afghan women as mute, blue burka-clad figures who are helpless. Empire is being built on the backs of Afghans and it is up to us to recognize it and address it. |
|
Home l News & Letters Newspaper l Back issues l News and Letters Committees l Dialogues l Raya Dunayevskaya l Contact us l Search Published by News and Letters Committees |
