2005-05-14

 

Mujaddedi Backs Amnesty for Mullah Omar and Hekmatyar

The ex-Afghan president and the head of national reconciliation commission participated in a news conference on Monday and said that every Afghan can join the peace process, even Mullah Omar and ex-prime minister Gulbudin Hekmatyar. He called on Mullah Omar and Gulbudin to be included in an amnesty on the condition of observing the constitution. Mujaddedi, who leads the independent reconciliation commission for peace in Afghanistan, opined that the Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami heads were entitled to the amnesty process on condition that they shunned violence and pledged support for the new constitution and basic law of the country. Exception in the reconciliation process constituted the old policy of the government towards the Taliban leader Mullah Omar and the Leader of Hezb-i-Islami Hekmatyar. He stressed such checks would no longer be imposed on the fugitive leaders if they vowed to give up resistance and lay their weapons down. The head of the commission observed that individual who repented their past involvement in violence and promised to support the government and stay peaceful in the future could be forgiven. He pointed out 60 top members of the Taliban movement, including high level figures like foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Mutwakil and Mullah Omar's close confidant Abdul Wahid Baghrani had already entered negotiations with the government as part of the reconcilition process. The head of the independent reconciliation backed the inclusion of the two most wanted people in the current peace process.

Mujaddedi's remarks are totally at odds with the views of president Karzai and US Ambassador Khalilzad, who have expressly ruled out a pardon for Mullah Omar and Hekmatyar, and all those guilty of committing heinous crimes. Spokesman for the US military told Afghan news that neither Mullah Omar nor Hekmatyar qualified for a general amnesty meant for low-level and non criminal people associated with militant outfits. The US spokesman Col James said that Mujaddedi had not suggested forgiveness for the most wanted figures, and that he had been quoted out of context. The spokesman maintained the Afghan government fully appreciated and endorsed the terms set for the general amnesty. According to reports, the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has rejected an offer of amnesty and ordered his militia to keep fighting against the US and Afghan government. "We don't need any guarantee of safety from the government", Taliban spokesman Hakimi said. "We are not hiding Mullah Omar. Our leader is not hiding rather he is fighting". He said Omar had ordered Taliban fighters to battle on. Hakimi said, "On his orders we have increased attacks on US forces in recent weeks and will continue this".

Most Afghan people are against Mujaddedi's amnesty offer for the two most wanted people, and its not up to Mujaddedi to offer forgiveness for these criminals. These two are responsible for killing many innocent people and they must be punished for what they have done, and its very far from Mujaddedi's competence to make such a big offer. But Mujaddedi, the head of independent reconciliation commission, said Mullah Omar and renegade warlords Gulbudin Hekmatyar should be accepted back by the government if they renounce arms. "Our terms are that they lay down their weapons, respect the constitution, and obey the government. We don't have big conditions. President Hamid Karzai has not confirmed Mujaddedi's announcement, and it is not clear if president Karzai supports offering an amnesty to Mullah Omar and Hekmatyar - president Karzai has still not commented on the amnesty offer.

Comments:
I think you're getting a bit carried away there Bryan. While I don't particularly like the idea of giving amnesty to Mullah Omar, he is just one of many who are never going to be held accountable for crimes, such as Dostum and other Northern Alliance goons. Sometimes you have to do things you don't really like, in order to achieve results in the bigger picture. The important thing is that Afghanistan be at peace, with the moderate government strengthened, and able to take care of its own security and not provide a sanctuary for terrorists. Lynching Omar would be nice, but ultimately isn't going to do a damn thing to achieve the bigger picture. A powerless Omar is no threat to the moderate government, even if you do feel a bit miffed that he got away with crimes. The important thing is that we never let Afghanistan fall into this situation again. Afghanistan's democracy must be protected. That means if there's a military coup, don't just leave the Afghans to try to overthrow the military coup by themselves. REINVADE and restore the democracy! It's not that hard. You can probably do it all from the air (again).
 
The head of amnesty must first look me in the eyes and explain to me: Why?

He should be renamed Neville Chamberlain. I understand that it is hard to keep fighting. I understand that we all love peace. Yet, this cannot be accomplished by cowering to the bully(s). The lion does not obey the mouse, and the USA does not accept amnesty for Omar.

I am very disappointed, but I am glad you reported about it. You are a very fair and good journalist. Thank you. Have a great day.
 
Romemary, amnesty for Omar would not be "cowering" to him. He would be the one who is humbled and being a normal citizen of Afghanistan. It is not appeasing him. It's offering him a SURRENDER deal. There are two lessons from history that America in particular has taught us:

1. You should judge people by their current behaviour, not their past behaviour.

2. The best way of defeating an enemy is to turn him into a friend.

Allowing someone to surrender will not harm Afghanistan in the long term. Yes, it's unfortunate that some people get away with murder. But once Afghanistan is a normal liberal democracy, people will have to face a normal criminal justice system for their crimes. Which is what you want in the long term.

So I don't see a great problem with the amnesty. However, I personally doubt that getting Omar to surrender will change the insurgency. Thus, there is no benefit in giving amnesty to him. Thus, it is better that he face justice.
 
Waheed,
this is off-topic a little, but I just wanted to pass along this news:

Newsweek editor Mark Whitaker admits their “Quran desecration” report was false. (Hat tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Last Friday, a top Pentagon spokesman told us that a review of the probe cited in our story showed that it was never meant to look into charges of Qur’an desecration. The spokesman also said the Pentagon had investigated other desecration charges by detainees and found them “not credible.” Our original source later said he couldn’t be certain about reading of the alleged Qur’an incident in the report we cited, and said it might have been in other investigative documents or drafts. Top administration officials have promised to continue looking into the charges, and so will we. But we regret that we got any part of our story wrong, and extend our sympathies to victims of the violence and to the U.S. soldiers caught in its midst.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7857154/site/newsweek/
 
asmksa, "Napoleon was powerless at one point, he came back"

The equivalent of that would be Omar getting democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The French wanted Napolean. If the Afghan people want Omar, or someone who shared his ideology, then he would be a threat.

"Would you grant Stalin or Hitler amnesty if it were the easy thing to do?"

Yep, if it meant that they stood down their forces. The important thing is to win for the FUTURE, to ensure that there are no more Stalins and Hitlers. You need to protect against these people rising up in the first place. Punishing monkeys for their past crimes may make you feel good, that you got justice, but I'm more interested in long-term ideological victory. Ideological victory in this case would be a liberal democratic Afghanistan. If people have to die, or if people have to get away with crimes, to help achieve this goal, so be it. If you want justice - make sure this problem never happens to Afghanistan again, so that you won't be in a similarly difficult situation later. That means don't turn a blind eye to a military coup. REINVADE if that happens.
 
Mr. Edwards,
I believe you may not know as much as you think. Strength is what some understand. I do not want any terrorists getting amnesty. It may be okay with you, but I still see the WTC ablaze and falling everytime I close my eyes. I see my friends stuck, no hope. I do not plan on giving any hope to these animals. If you don't mind, let the Military do it's job for change. Do not coddle me. I do not appreciate it. I do not appreciate weakness either, and I am a red blooded American. I am not an immigrant to this country. I am Mohawk. I will fight for our freedom, will you?
 
rosemary, "Strength is what some understand."

Strength is not in doubt. That's why Omar no longer rules Afghanistan.

"I do not want any terrorists getting amnesty."

Lots of people escape justice. The world isn't perfect. Stalin escaped justice too.

"I still see the WTC ablaze and falling everytime I close my eyes."

Yes, and the important thing is to make sure it DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. A humble Omar living in Afghanistan is NO THREAT.

"If you don't mind, let the Military do it's job for change."

The military's job should be to ensure that this doesn't happen again, by changing governments so that there's no safe place for terrorists to go to train. And also to stop the incitement. There's a LOT MORE countries that should be toppled, in order to strengthen the free world. The sooner Afghanistan is secured, the better.

"Do not coddle me."

I'm not coddling you. I'm trying to get the enemy to be neutralized in the most efficient manner. If some people escape justice in order that we secure victory more rapidly, so be it.

"I will fight for our freedom, will you?"

I have been trying to free the ENTIRE WORLD for MY WHOLE LIFE, ever since a child.
 
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