Media Monitoring Report Monitoring Officer: Mohammad Aziz Akramzada Monitoring Period: Thursday 06, Jun, 2013 Ethnic Politics: A Dangerous Fault Line An eight day long hunger strike by Kabul University students that drew little attention internationally but sparked a major debate domestically ended last week after the Afghan government agreed to the students main demands to fire the Dean of the Social Sciences department, accused of ethnic discrimination and mismanagement. The Dean and his supporters staged a counter protest accusing the students mostly from minority ethnic groups of pursuing a political agenda. Some even went as far as linking the protesters to Iranian designs to pressure the Afghan government. What is clear is that a potential catastrophe that could have led to wider protests was averted, but the strain left many people wondering whether the incident was a legitimate expression of dissatisfaction or tied to a pattern of ethnic tensions with political overtones brewing before next year s presidential elections. http://theafghanistanexpress.com/ethnic politics a dangerous fault line/ Land grabbing a new concern for Afghanistan A Parliamentary Commission on Supervising the Government's Activities on Monday said that about 1,290,000 acres of lands have been grabbed by 15,000 people across Afghanistan. After conducting a survey for over six months, the Commission said that most of the land grabbers are supported by a network of officials from within the Government. The Commission on Supervising Government Activities was established six months ago, the Commission started working on issues related to land grabbing across the country. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/10724 land grabbing a new concern for afghanistan House 61, QommandanGada Street, Opposite Municipality Blocks, Kolola Pushta, Kabul, Afghanistan +93 (0) 785431054 info@iwaweb.org www.iwaweb.org
No Action Against Social Science Faculty Dean And Lecturer Until Now The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) on Monday said that the speech made by the President's Advisor, Nematullah Shahrani in front of the Kabul University students who were on a hunger strike did not convey the motive of the President's Office clearly. The Ministry said that the Dean and the lecturer of the Social Science Faculty have not been dismissed until now. Previously, the students of the Social Science Faculty at Kabul University went on a hunger strike to protest against the discrimination and mistreatment meted out by the Dean and lecturer. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/10730 no action against social science faculty deanand lecturer until now Kabul University turmoil linked to political figures Some political figures and foreign hands are behind the recent restive activities in Kabul University, declared Obaidullah Obaid, the Higher Education Minister. In a press conference Monday, Minister Obaid said that some political rings were using the students as their tools. Obaid reiterated that as presidential election was ahead, the political parties intended to show their power to the people using university students. Currently, dozens of students and lectures of Kabul University are on strike, demanding dismissal of the Minister of Higher Education. http://ariananews.af/regional/kabul university turmoil linked to political figures/ HOOAC lacks authority to fight corruption: Ludin The head of the High Office of Oversight and Anti Corruption (HOOAC), Azizullah Ludin, stated that his office lacks the necessary authority to fight against corruption. The fight against corruption is difficult or even impossible unless we receive full authority, Ludin said. During his visit to Mazar e Sharif, Azizullah Ludin urged the governor of Balkh to help him eliminate corruption from the province. http://ariananews.af/regional/hooac lacks authority to fight corruption ludin/ Page 2
House panel to expose land sharks in 2 months KABUL (PAN): The Wolesi Jirga or lower house of the parliament on Monday tasked a commission with exposing land grabbers within two months. Zalmai Mujaddedi, the head of the panel that was created last year, informed lawmakers that more than half a million acres of land had been illegally seized across the country over the past three decades. Members of the commission had met many government organs in an attempt to find documents regarding the land unlawfully seized, he said, alleging most of grabbers enjoyed support from the government. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/06/03/house panel expose land sharks 2 months Corruption of the Top-level Elite Five MPs who were accused of being involved in corruption and smuggling have been put on the Exit Control List on Tuesday by the Attorney General Office (AGO). Last month, MPs Haji Zahir Qadeer, Samiullah Samim, Mohammad Arif Rahmani, Mohammad Azim Mohseni and Mahmood Khan Sulaimankhel were accused by Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal of being involved in smugglings and making illegal demands from the ministers. According to the AGO officials, the exit ban was imposed on five of the accused MPs after they disregarded letters from the AGO to appear before the prosecutors to explain accusations and clear their names. Last month, the revelation against six members of parliament by Finance Minister were widely applauded in the country as it was viewed a bold attempt to reveal top level corruption in the parliament. But many believed that the Finance Minister used the revelations as successful maneuver against the lawmakers who were attempting to summon him for mismanagement and corruption charges. In return, the accused MPs traded allegations against Mr Zakhilwal, claiming that the minister have been involved in corruption and misuse of authority. Both the MPs and the Finance Minister boldly said that they would resign from their positions if the accusations were proven right. http://theafghanistanexpress.com/corruption of the top level elite/ 5 Wolesi Jirga Members Put on ECL KABUL : The Attorney General Office (AGO) on Tuesday announced putting five Wolesi Jirga members on the Exit Control List for their alleged involvement in corruption and misuse of their positions. accused them of smuggling and making illegal demands on the government. AGO spokesman Basir Page 3
Aziz told a press conference in Kabul that the action against the parliamentarians had been taken after they disregarded orders to appear before prosecutors to clear their names. Afghanistan Express / No 157, Wednesday 05 Jun, 2013 Attorney General Imposes Travel Ban on Five Afghan MPs The Afghan Attorney General on Tuesday banned five of the six accused MPs from leaving the country. The MPs were accused of smuggling and raising illegal demands by the Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal. The order was issued after the Attorney General in its last letter had asked the MPs to appear before the office until 3 June 2013 for interrogation, failing which they will be suspended and banned from leaving the country. The Attorney General's Spokesman Bazir Azizi warned that if within three days these MPs do not come for interrogation they will be suspended. www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/10746 attorney general imposes travel ban on five afghanmps 5 Wolesi Jirga members put on ECL KABUL (PAN): The Attorney General Office (AGO) on Tuesday announced putting five Wolesi Jirga members on the Exit Control List for their alleged involvement in corruption and misuse of their positions. accused them of smuggling and making illegal demands on the government. AGO spokesman Basir Aziz told a press conference in Kabul that the action against the parliamentarians had been taken after they disregarded orders to appear before prosecutors to clear their names. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/06/04/5 wolesi jirga members put ecl Finance Minister s Accusations Against Six MPs Baseless: Special Commission The Commission investigating the case of six accused MPs said that all allegations made by the Afghan Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal are baseless. The Commission officials said that they had asked the Finance Minister to provide evidence for the accusations that he made against the MPs but the Minister failed to provide any. Page 4
The Commission added that none of the governmental departments has the right to ban MPs from leaving the country or suspend them from duty on the basis of some baseless accusations. http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/10762 finance ministers accusations against six mps baseless special commission Kabul University Students call on end of lecturers strike A number of students of Kabul University complain that their studies have been disrupted due to continued strike of some lecturers and students. They have complained that the absence of teachers in the classrooms has affected their normal study plans. A number of teachers and students of Kabul University have gone on strike, protesting some of the recent actions of minister of higher education. http://ariananews.af/regional/kabul university students call on end of lecturers%e2%80%99 strike/ Wolesi Jirga takes exception to AGO decision KABUL (PAN): The Wolesi Jirga on Wednesday took strong exception to the Attorney General Office s decision on putting five its members on the Exit Control List (ECL) for their alleged involvement in corruption and misuse of their positions. accused them of smuggling and making illegal demands on the government. http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/06/05/wolesi jirga takes exception ago decision Page 5