Top Afghan woman official killed

[DoYouEverWonder]

25 September 2006

Unidentified gunmen have killed a top women's affairs official in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, security officials say.

Safia Amajan, head of the province's women's department, was leaving her home for work when a gunman on a motorcycle shot at her, police said.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. Taleban militants have killed many officials in the past.

Hundreds of people have been killed in violence in Afghanistan this year.

Reports said Mrs Amajan had served as the head of Kandahar women affairs department since the US-led troops overthrew the Taleban in 2001.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5376968.stm

[acmavm]

1. Paging Laura Bush. Laura Bush please pick up the phone. This is where

you so loudly and proudly bragged you'd be taking initiative. In the women's rights area. Don't you remember you lying enabling wicked bitch. You said you would see that women's rights were protected, girls would be educated, and things would be hunky dory in the land of Afganistan.

Remember Laura. That was right before your ignorant husband's handlers got him to sign on and front for an attack on a defenseless country that hadn't done a frigging thing to us.

[Matilda]

2. She should also be interesting herself in the attacks on a female MP.

Malalai Joya has been physically attacked in the Afghan Parliament for
stating - truthfully - that some of the male representatives are war
lords who have killed thousands of innocent people. She wants them
arrested and tried for their crimes.

The extremists in the parliament, including women and former warlords,
attacked her, threw things at her, and threatened to kill her. I saw
a television program dealing with her, in which her microphone was
switched off every time she tried to speak, and she had to be protected
as she was hurried out of the chamber. She is forced to move house
every couple of nights and is constantly guarded for fear of being
assassinated.

Democracy sure works well in Afghanistan.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. At least they gave Joya guards

Mrs. Amajan was not given any protection at all.

In her speeches, Mrs Amajan had openly condemned the Taleban for their treatment of women.

Her requests for secure official transport and personal bodyguards had not been granted by the government.

At the time of the attack, Mrs Amajan was travelling in a public taxi.

[Matilda]

4. Joya's "guards" are privately hired by her.

No help from the government.

I'm afraid women still have a long way to go in Afghanistan. The more
they prove they're capable of holding responsible positions, the more
traditionalist men resent them.

[jacklambert]

6. I don't think women achieve responsible positions in Afghanistan...

without having broken through many barriers. Just because one sick and twisted pig with a gun shot her, doesn't mean women haven't achieved great successes over there. Let's not succumb to fear and terror to supress progress. Let her be an example of someone who gave a damn and died for her cause.

Let's place blame where it is deserved -- the wretched Taliban.

[radwriter0555]

7. Why are you blaming the Taliban? Her OWN northern alliance allies in

parliment have been detailed right here throwing things at her, turning off her mic, threatening her life.

No one mentioned the TALIBAN doing anything to her.

Keep it real.

[jacklambert]

8. You're right...

I was simply trying to place blame on the dominant Afghani culture of severe female repression - be it Talibani or N. Alliance. I just failed to mention the NA.

But your point and my point are miles away from the original subject of criticism.

[MsMagnificent]

5. That's just......Swimmingly

in Real World speak: Out Of Control

[NOLADEM]

9. The time now seems right to schedule their first Constitutional Convention

Right?

Sure glad we had this conflict wrapped up before we pulled forces out to return home or start some other endeavor of choice. Otherwise, we might be at risk of not winning the damn thing and having the deaths of 3000 Americans unavenged. It is lucky we have a 'war president' in charge, making sure that we do the most thorough killing job we could possibly do.

:sarcasm: