Interview with the Revolutionary women's Association
in Afganistan

1- first I wanted to know your views on the current situation of Afghanistan, the military attacks of America and Britain on this country. What do you think of America's bombing of Afghanistan?

As you know after the withdrawal of Najib's government some primitive, cruel creatures who called themselves 'Jihadi' (they are called Northern Alliance now) came to power. They had each a fat share of CIA's dollars and did their best in killing, rapping and robbing innocent people. When it was apparent that due to their constant internal conflicts, the west and Pakistan would not be able to rely on the Northern Alliance, they turned to Taliban and led them to Kabul.

The Western governments and Pakistan were fully aware that Osame Bin laden and his Al-qaeda were based in Afghanistan, but maybe they had thought that this incurable illness would only affect Afghani people. So they not only had any problems with the rule of Taliabn and Osame Bin laden in Afghanistan, but also supported them.
Ms Rabin Rafael the deputy foreign minister had said "in order to keep Taliban under control we must work with them"

This is the kind of policy French and other European governments have applied in working with the Iranian government over the years. These governments have shamelessly turned a blind eye on the violation of human rights and all the in humane acts of the Islamic regime to carry on with their economic and diplomatic relationship with this government.

Only after the terrifying terrorist attack on the economic and military hearts of America, did this country realise what a monster it had fed. Unfortunately this awareness has cost the lives of thousands of innocent people and deepened the misery of our poor country.
We have always said that Taliban and people like Osama Bin Laden are America's own creations and if this country wants to get rid of this rotten and dangerously poisonous creature, we have no objections and would be only to glad to find our country clean of it. Our people see America's attempt to stop Taliban a sort of apology for all the suffering they have caused in Afghanistan. In many people's views this war is nothing like the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union. People usually say if the master (America) has decided to punish its dogs (Tailban and Bin laden) it has nothing to do with us.

For many years Afghanistan had been ruled by dictator states and people have been brutally suppressed that they realise in this war too they have no say and would have no share of power over anything.
Despite the fact that the America's bombings have caused considerable damage to our people, they have treated Taliban's propaganda for 'Jihad against infidels' with silence and hatred.

The allegations of America and Nato that there would be no civil casualties turned out to be baseless as our poor, long suffering people are the main source of damage done during the last few weeks. So far none of the Taliban or Al-Qaida's leaders have been killed and their military machines are still active.
Because the bombings are mainly killing our innocent people, we condemn the war. We have no doubt that if America and its allies help, our people would easily overthrow the

Taliban and Al-Qaida and re-build a different state.
We disagree with Dick Cheny American vice president that "this is a lifetime war. Unlike the Gulf war this one is never (not in our life time) will be over." How can it be possible that in a free Afghanistan, an Afghanistan without Fundamentalists, terrorist groups like Al-Qaida would be able to survive? If any other countries did not interfere in Afghanistan there would be no existence for any terrorist and fundamentalist groups in our country.

2- There are negotiations and ……. Between America, Britain and regional governments for choosing the next government of Afghanistan. How do you see these negotiations?
Rawa had repeatedly stated that if America and its allies help Northern Alliance into power they will make the same mistake the Soviet Union made by leading Babrak to the government. Relying on fundamentalists and criminal groups like Northern Alliance would not solve any of our problems it will only prolong the bloodshed.
Our people are still wounded by the atrocities the Northern Alliance has done to them and they strongly hate these groups.

At the moment Afghani's former king (Zahir Shah) is trying to play his role in the current situation. He is the only person that has reasonable popularity among people of every background. He is certainly able to establish a temporary state to retrieve election and provide relative law and stability in the country. Our people have suffered long and enough in the hands of religious and non-religious bloodthirsty leaders that at the moment they would prefer Zahir shah to any other leaders and as it is stated in our journal (Payam e Zan) we do respect our people's opinion and would follow them.

3- It seems that they are trying to impose another religious-Islamic government in Afghanistan. Do you think such a government would be in the benefits of people, especially women of Afghanistan?

In current situation, when an uprising by people against the fundamentalists is not in prospective and America has reacted in such an extensive way against the Taliban, we welcome any government, witch is against fundamentalists (even if it is appointed by the foreign countries) we believe that establishment of a government based on people's real benefits and wishes is only possible in the future and in the hands of our own people, especially our women.

4- What do you think of the Northern Alliance?

The Northern Alliance as I mentioned before, is a combination of some groups led by Rabany-Masood, Siaf, Khalily, Akbary, Rashid Dostem and……….
This group had been in power between 92-96 and they had appointed the worst of them (Golbedin Hekmatyar) as their Prime Minister. Apart from the Unity party (Hezb e What) which is officially and openly supported by Iranian regime, the rest of them fled towards Russia, India and Turkey when they were defeated by Taliban. The French government had the honour of protecting and supporting Ahmad Shah Masood.
The Northern Alliance has a black history in our country. Their hands are red with the blood of innocent people and women of Afghanistan. The leaders of these groups are blood thirsty, power mad and anti-women. Even among themselves they are constantly in conflict for more power. By the start of America's military action against Taliban, the already weak unity among these groups had weakened further more. But the dream of re-capturing Kabul has so far held them together. The death of Ahmad Shah had left the group with no potential leader to be able to keep the unity together and it is obvious that if they came to power their conflicts would start very soon and more people be victimised as the result.

These groups have no dispute regarding ideology with the Taliban. They might be beards less and familiar with trousers and ties, but in reality they are the same sort of people. Of course they do not forget to disguise themselves and appear in front of western cameras as the real followers of democracy and freedom fighters.

The Taliban and the Northern Alliance are both representatives of the international network of drug dealers Mafia. This fact is so obvious that even United nation (witch supports Rabany- Masood) is not able to deny it. In 6th October 2001a French news press wrote: "Mohamed Amir Khizi, secretary of drug control department states, when the Taliban's heroin production was reduced to 60%, The Northern Alliance have become the major producers of drug in the world."

The northern Alliance who have won the support of America and its allies, have produced 150 tones of drug this year. Some of the human rights organisation could not keep the silence and have warned America about the background of the Northern alliance. The Human Rights Watch an organisation based in US said some of the commanders who have become America's allies have a history of cruelty and violation of human rights.
Sandny Johns the director of Asia said: "America should not ally with leaders whose background of cruelty have made them unacceptable in the eyes of Afghan people."
HRW revealed that there were reports of executions, robberies, house burnings and rapes by the northern Alliance in the past two years. They are also accused of killing civil people in the years of their government between 92 to 96.

Apart from western support another reason for the fame of Northern Alliance was the support they received from intellectuals and literacy people of the country. These people did their best to present murderers like Rabany- Masood, Ismail Khan Nazary and other leaders as true heroes of our nation. Such is the work of Changiz Pahlawan, who is a supporter of Iranian Islamic government. He calls those dreadful leaders 'God's gifts' for Afghan people. Maybe it is because of this kind of propaganda that a well-known poet like Mohammed Ali Spanloo writes a poem for Masood. His sensitive conscience dose not seems to be affected by the sufferings of thousands of people whose relative have been killed by Masood.

5- Don't you think that you (RAWA) should be part of negotiations on the future of Afghanistan?

Yes if some susceptive, reactionary people who are seriously fundamentalists did not dominate the negotiations of the future of Afghanistan, RAWA, the only true organisation against fundamentalism should be one side of the negotiations. But our presence and our attempts to unveil their anti- women and anti-people attitudes terrify these people.
Some of Zahir Shah's supporter groups even invite fundamentalists to their gatherings but avoid RAWA. We are not in the position and have no lobbies to pressurise and persuade the western governments, but as the organisers of many negotiations, we might be called by some of Zahir Shah's organisations to negotiate the future of Afghanistan.

6- What kind of government do you think would be able to provide women's rights in Afghanistan?

We believe only the establishment of a government based on democratic values and by organising more and more of Afghani women, we could guarantee the provision of women's rights in this country.

7-How do you think the freedom and humanitarian movement in the world should work in this situation to help the liberation of Afghanistan and women in this country?

The freedom lovers and humanitarian organisations in the world should only help the organisations that support democracy. They should strictly avoid those who practice fundamentalism. Recently a Canadian association awarded its price to a woman who had broken with RAWA and had joined the Unity Party (which is supported by Iran) she has somehow reached the management council of this party and now she is awarded a prise for fighting for democracy and women's rights. One can not do more in poisoning concepts of democracy and women's rights in the name of supporting Afghan women. The international movement must firmly value democracy and human rights and stand against those who oppose it.

8-What are your opinion about establishing a secular movement in the region for freedom of women and equality?

So far we have tried especially in connection with our Iranian friends to establish a strong unity among anti fundamentalist organisations in the Middle East. But unfortunately we have not succeeded much. Organising a strong movement, which is based on secularism and democracy, would not only strengthen the exciting women organisations, but also results in the establishment of more other serious organisation in the region. Although more than 50 years of liberation of Pakistan had gone by and democracy (even in its weakest form) has been established in this country, women's movement is very feeble. It is not even as strong as women's movement in Afghanistan. Establishment of women's movement in the region would certainly help the struggles of women in Pakistan too.

9- Do you think is it possible to establish an international movement to help establishing a secular government in Afghanistan? A government that respects freedom and individual's rights? Do you suggest such a movement?

What has disturbed us greatly is the fact that most contries, including United nation and those governments who prescribe 'democracy' and 'human rights' and secularism, for most other countries in the world, have never in the past 20 years even mentioned those values in regard to Afghanistan. They have carefully censored these concepts in their negotiations in order to keep the fundamentalists, Tallibans and 'Jihadis' in their side. They are afraid that even speaking of such values would highlight their own connections to those openly breaking them.

After the attacks of 11 September it seems that situation has slightly changed. But still our world is ruled by international powers that support the most appalling terrorist groups in Afghanistan and other countries. I don't think those who support democracy and its values in the world are in such a powerful position to be relied on for organising such international movement. This is a great dream for Afghanistan and other religion stricken countries, but at the moment it seems unachievable.

When Ahmad Shah Masood was visiting France we heard that even 'left' organisations have supported him. A journal of communist party of Italy, had pictured him as the unique leader of Afghanistan and had suggested that Osama Bin laden and other terrorists should instead of blowing trade centres, use their ability to lead a revolution against 'America's Imperialism'.

Such organisations insist that they are leading the movements for freedom and justice. These kinds of attitudes make other left organisations unreal and susceptive in the eyes of people. The example of the fundamental lady that I mentioned earlier who has won the prise, is an addition to show how helpless the international situation looks for an international movement for Afghanistan. In Afghanistan itself, due to years of war, suppression, misery and international interference, people are more than anywhere else, fundamentalists, tired, uncertain, scared and disappointed.

10- what are your aims and program for women in Afghanistan?

RAWA as a political-social organisation has a political program (struggle against religious fascism and for freedom, justice and democracy,) and a social program (to help those Afghani women and their children in Afghanistan and Pakistan who need our help towards educating them and helping them to become economically independent.) We are devoted to emancipation of women economically, politically and socially.

11- Medusa is holding its third annual conference in LosAngeles in January 2002. The theme of this conference is 'the women's movement for equality since 1979 in Iran.' We are planing to run a workshop about 'Islam, secularism and women in the region.' We would like to invite you to participate in this workshop. Do you think you would be interested and able to attend this conference?

We will be happy to be given the chance to participate in your annual conference in January next year. Thank you for your invitation.