Armanshahr Foundation in collaboration with the French Institute of Afghanistan is pleased to invite you to its 69th (year V) public debate GOFTEGU on the occasion of International Day for Social Justice
Speakers: Mir Ahmad Joyanda (Ex-parlementarian), Massouda Karokhy (Parlementarian), Zohur Razmju (Secretary of the National Alliance Party), Seyfeddin Seyhoun (Economy Professor, Kabul University), Dr. Douglas Saltmarshe (Senior Research Manager researching on Local Governance/AREU)
Moderator: Ajmal Balouchzada, Discussant: Seyed Jawad Darwaziyan
Date et Horaire/Date & Time: jeudi/Thursday 24 Feb. 2011, 14:00 H.
Lieu/Venue: Institut français d’Afghanistan (Lycée)/French Institute of Afghanistan
Tel: 0779217755 & 0775321697
E-mail: armanshahrfoundation.openasia@gmail.com
Political system and social justice; where does Afghanistan stand?
The 69th Goftegu public meeting – a bridge between the elite and the citizens – of Armanshahr Foundation was dedicated to the World Day of Social Justice. The debate, held on 24th February 2011, under the title of “Political System and Social Justice”, was addressed by Mr. Mir Ahmad Jouyanda (former MP), Mr. Abdolzohur Razmjou (deputy president of Paywand Melli – National Unity – Party of Afghanistan), Ms. Massouda Karkhi (MP), Mr. Seifuddin Sayhoun (economics professor of Kabul University), and Mr. Oynaj, researcher of the Research and Evaluation Unit of Afghanistan. More than 110 participants, including civil society and human rights activists, students, and writers attended and representatives of the media (Farda, Ayena, Tolou televisions and Kelid Radio) were also present. Highlights of the meeting:
Ajmal Baluchzada (moderator)
Armanshahr Foundation is the first to welcome the World Day of Social Justice in Afghanistan, which the UN has specified on 20th February.
Mr. Jouyanda
Throughout the history, the people of Afghanistan have always asked how far the political systems have responded to their needs, both when there were no political parties, under the dark dictatorships, and after the fall of the Taliban.
Afghanistan has a presidential political system and the president heads all three branches of the state. The lack of a just system has made it possible to pit the president against the legislature. We saw examples of this recently. However,the powers of all three branches are specified.
The government ought to present all its plans to the parliament, but that has not been done in the last five years. The lack of coordination will persist as long as those three branches of the state do not operate in accordance with the law.
The government has a centralised structure and local bodies do not have much authority. We can leave that behind only if the rule of law is established. Social justice will be achieved when the law is implemented. Under the present circumstances, however, social justice has not been properly implemented.
Massouda Karkhi
We should first see where Afghanistan stands with all the international aid after 10 years.According to Rousseau in his Social Contracts, every individual grants their right of sovereignty to the ruler to take action for the sake of order in the society. That does not mean that humans will lose their individual freedoms. Unfortunately, after the Bonn Conference, the views of the people of Afghanistan were not taken into consideration, but only the views of four groups of Peshawar, Cyprus, Northern Alliance and Rome were paid attention to. Those four groups displayed their power at the conference and each tried to put their views above all. The result was the establishment of a political system through bargaining and bullying. Then the provisional government took shape and they came to Afghanistan. The people and their vote had no place. There was a contract between the international community and those four groups. The people are still hostage to the groups that attended the Bonn Conference and had the first and final words.
There is a strong relationship between the political system and social justice. Without the latter, we can never have a society in peace, calm and security, progress and civilisation. The political system in Afghanistan has not taken shape on the basis of social justice. That is the origin of all the problems and inequalities. Social justice can exist where rule of law prevails equally for all. The Constitution has referred to democracy and individual freedoms, but they are all on paper.
Mr. Razmjou
Political structure is a collection of individuals, organisations and departments that work to improve the conditions. It will be possible to have a humane life when there is abundance, humans work as much as they need and receive as much as they need.
Mr. Seifuddin Sayhoun
Afghanistan is situated within the West’s democracy-building policy. Western democracy-building has gone through three stages. In the late 1980s and 1990s, they talked of democracy and human rights. In 2001, Western democracy was put on display in Afghanistan and Iraq by military attacks. The third stage has begun in Afghanistan and that is democracy at any price. They are now talking of peace in Afghanistan with the Taliban. Will peace with the Taliban really bring security?
The US and its Western instruments pursue the third approach to democracy-building in the world. They are not after state building, democracy and human rights. In many country, governments give social rights to people such as the right to work, to study, to have access to health and environment etc. People‘s participation in the economy, however, is also social justice.
Mr. Oynaj
Political models cannot be implemented in all countries identically. There are specific conditions in every country. Justice has not been implemented in many countries such as Afghanistan. Where justice is provided, human rights and rights of women as well as other rights will be fulfilled. The existing structures in Afghanistan should be enhanced. Otherwise if we seek new structures, we will confront many challenges and obstacles.
In the course of the past few decades, Afghanistan has not witnessed a centralised system based on international principles and human rights. What distinguishes our present government from previous ones is its endorsement for those concepts, which have even entered the law books. However, the ground for implementation of those concepts has not been prepared.
To see the publication related to this Goftegu Public Debate, please refer to the following link: http://openasia.org/item/2045
Invitation to 69th Goftegu Public Debate: Systems of Governance and Social Justice, Which model for Afghanistan?
