Demilitarisation essential to lasting peace
17 October 2003 In Afghanistan, progress is
underway on programs to demilitarise, demobilize and
reintegrate (DDR) former soldiers. Since the fall of the
Taliban regime in October 2001, heavily armed war lords
and militia have formed criminal gangs and armed bands
giving rise to factionalist fighting throughout the
country. Tensions amongst those vying for land are
prolonging the fighting and outbreaks of violence are
common. Criminal activities have also increased as many
former soldiers continue to use force to derive income.
The factionalist violence has led to an increased focus on
disarming local militias that have been engaged in
arbitrary violence throughout Afghanistan. A pilot DDR
program aimed at disarming approximately 1,000 former
soldiers in the province of Kunduz is scheduled to begin
in the next few weeks. Other areas to be targeted include
Gardez in the south east, Mazar-i-sharif in the north and
Kabul. If successful, the program will be extended to
cover Khandahar in southern Afghanistan.
It is anticipated that as many
as 100,000 soldiers will be DDRd over the next 3 years.
UMCOR is preparing to take a role in the reintegration of
these former soldiers by providing job training and income
generating activities thus ensuring legitimate
and sustainable livelihoods. Our past success in
Sierra Leone demonstrates that DDR programs are
effective and essential to lasting peace. Why is DDR
critical to lasting peace in Afghanistan? Many areas
in the north of Afghanistan have been devastated by 23
years of conflict and five years of drought. These regions
are home to a diverse population including Turkmans,
Tajiks, Pashtuns, Hazara, Uzbak, Baloch and Arab peoples
which has led to factionalist fighting among tribes and
villages since the fall of the Taliban regime. Past
interventions have been moderately successful. Refugees
have opted to return in their thousands although they
remain in harm's way and vulnerable to the recurring
violence of militias engaged in conflicts. The large
numbers of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) still
resident in these areas are an additional factor in the
rise of tensions. Returnees compete with IDPs
and militia for scarce
resources. Some improvement in security has led to the
increased returns, but the absence of real income for
returnees and former
combatants alike will only
prolong, and perhaps increase,
the on-going factionalist conflict in these areas.
Therefore, UMCOR advocates for donor resources that meet
the real needs of both IDPs and the returning populations,
with a focus on reintegrating former soldiers. Training
provided to former combatants in
the reintegration phase of the DDR project will support
the long-term development goals of the Transitional
Islamic State of Afghanistan, encouraging self-reliance
through local ownership and the reestablishment and
expansion of private sector capacity to generate growth
through an appropriate enabling environment. The
reestablishment and improvement of agricultural
activities, for example, will not only strengthen the
position of the State but will also create better
conditions for individual returnees and their communities.
Training former soldiers in agriculture techniques and
other skills-related work will enable them to build
self-sustaining businesses and achieve self-sufficiency.
UMCOR's past experience in other war-torn countries will
benefit the Afghani process of ensuring lasting peace,
accelerating reconstruction and enabling the
rehabilitation of this once great country.
Text by Warren Harrity, Head of
Mission for UMCOR Afghanistan |
