Afghanistan on the Eve of Parliamentary and Provincial Elections

Introduction

Recommendations

Background: The Election Process

Key Areas of Concern

The Threat from Taliban and other Insurgent Forces

Fear of Local Commanders and Militias

Lack of Faith in Disarmament Measures

Rights Abusers as Candidates

Obstacles for Women Candidates

The Secrecy of the Ballot

The Potential for Future Violence

Appendix A:  List of Attacks on Candidates

Appendix B: Recent Attacks on Clerics

I cannot talk openly or criticize these people freely. . . .  These commanders, they have been disarmed—
so they say—but they still have weapons.  Of course we still have fears.

—Candidate from Sar-e Pul province, August 26, 2005

We are sick of such people [referring to warlords]. . . .  Damn all of them.  Until the government in Kabul
says to them that they cannot take part in the elections, until there is justice for all that they did to us,
we cannot trust this process.

—Pashtun elder in Samangan province, September 10, 2005