Cheers, Ken Hanly
----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Henwood" <dhenwood at panix.com> To: "lbo-talk" <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 9:28 AM Subject: RAWA statement
> <http://rawasongs.fancymarketing.net/us-strikes.htm>
>
> RAWA statement on the US strikes on Afghanistan
> Taliban should be overthrown by the uprising of Afghan nation
>
> Again, due to the treason of fundamentalist hangmen, our people have
> been caught in the claws of the monster of a vast war and destruction.
>
> America, by forming an international coalition against Osama and his
> Taliban-collaborators and in retaliation for the 11th September
> terrorist attacks, has launched a vast aggression on our country.
>
> Despite the claim of the US that only military and terrorist bases of
> the Taliban and Al Qieda will be struck and that its actions would be
> accurately targeted and proportionate, we have witnessed for the past
> seven days leaves no doubt that this invasion will shed the blood of
> numerous women, men, children, young and old of our country.
>
> If until yesterday the US and its allies, without paying the least
> attention to the fate of democracy in Afghanistan, were supporting
> the policy of Jehadis-fostering, Osama-fostering and
> Taliban-fostering, today they are sharpening the dagger of the
> "Northern Alliance". And because of this policy they have plunged our
> people into a horrific concern and anxiety in fear of re-experiencing
> the dreadful happenings of the years of the Jehadis' "emirate".
>
> Afghans, while keeping in mind the tremendous disasters they faced at
> the hands of Jehadi and Taliban vultures, just hang onto their hope
> for the return of the ex-king. However, if he comes to the scene
> while relying on the "Northern Alliance" and so-called "moderate"
> Taliban, he not only will lose his reputation among the people but it
> will endanger the stability and success of whatever set-up he forms.
>
> In the time of the Taliban's medievalist domination, no Afghan and no
> honorable and mindful Muslim will be deceived by the "nationalistic"
> gestures of Taliban who invite the Afghan people and even the whole
> Muslim world for "Jehad" against America. Any person, group or
> government that supports the Taliban, no matter under what pretext,
> is the enemy of the Afghan people, the people who also hate the
> "anti-Osama" and "anti-terrorism" acts of the "Northern Alliance"
> murderers. Our people not only have not forgotten the five years
> after the collapse of the puppet regime of Najib --the most horrible
> years of terrorism and unchastity-- but as well they don't forget the
> time when the Jehadis themselves were the cheap servants of Abdullah
> Ezam and Osama bin Laden.
>
> Now the "Northern Alliance" groups lie in ambush like hungry wolves
> so they, while riding the guns of the US, can assault and swarm into
> Kabul and in proportion to the depth and width of their "conquests",
> besides committing vandalism like the years before, gain ground in
> order to bargain for position in the second "emirate", and as a
> consequence again spoil the aspiration of the people for the
> establishment of a stable and democratic government acceptable to all.
>
> The continuation of US attacks and the increase in the number of
> innocent civilian victims not only gives an excuse to the Taliban,
> but also will cause the empowering of the fundamentalist forces in
> the region and even in the world.
>
> Our people have two options:
>
> Either the eradication of the plague of Taliban and Al Qieda -though
> they (our people) didn't have any part in its cultivation and
> germination- and the establishment of a government based on
> democratic values, or to hand over Afghanistan to these forces who
> have dependence, looting, crime and national treason as the main
> components of their perfidious entity.
>
> Our compatriots, therefore, must rise up for a thorough demolition of
> Taliban and their Osamas so the world should understand that the
> tired, wounded, mournful and deserted Afghans not only in word, but
> practically too, have no connection with the criminals and don't
> regard a handful of Arab or non-Arab terrorists as "honorable guests".
>
> Only an overall uprising can prevent the repetition and recurrence of
> the catastrophe that has befallen our country before and with or even
> without the presence of the UN peace-keeping force this uprising can
> pave the way for the establishment of an interim government and
> preparation for elections. We believe that once there is no foreign
> interference, especially of a fundamentalist type, all ethnic groups
> of all religions, with no regard to the devilish designs of the
> fundamentalists, will, prove their solidarity for achieving the most
> sacred national interests for the sake of a proud and free
> Afghanistan.
>
> The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) asks
> that all anti-fundamentalist, freedom and democracy-loving and
> pro-women's rights forces and also the ex-king of Afghanistan, before
> it is too late, must play their role in the organizing of
> mass-uprising and as well thwart the plans of the internal and
> external enemies of Afghanistan.
>
> The peace and justice-loving people of the world will be on the side
> of the Afghan people.
>
> Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
> October 11, 2001