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New Risk for Afghan Aid Workers
The arrest of a suspected suicide bomber who disguised himself as a member of a non-government organisation could put all aid workers at risk.
By Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi in Mazar-e-Sharif (ARR No. 204, 24-Feb-06)
Kruma Yaya came to Mazar-e-Sharif as an aid worker intent on setting up a computer science training centre in this provincial capital. At least that’s what his credentials indicated.
In reality, according to the Afghan authorities, he was a would-be suicide bomber who intended to assassinate Mohammad Atta, the governor of Balkh province. He was arrested in the governor’s office with explosives strapped around his waist, according to officials.
Staff working with non-government organisations, NGOs, already had plenty to worry about, given the continued violence in much of Afghanistan and the constant accusations of embezzlement and mismanagement levied by members of the government and the public. Now, following the incident in Mazar-e-Sharif, they also face the danger of being considered potential terrorists.
According to officials, Yaya held a Malian passport and was carrying an identification card issued by the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, when he was detained.
“During his stay, [Yaya] bought some computers and put them in a house in Mazar just to pretend that he was establishing a computer training centre,” said Atta at a press conference following the incident.
The governor said that between February 2 and 6, Yaya repeatedly requested a meeting to present his project to him. His insistence provoked the suspicion of the governor’s bodyguards, who arrested him when he entered Atta’s office on February 6. They reportedly discovered explosives hidden beneath his clothing.
“This incident will oblige me to take a closer look at NGOs from now on,” said Atta. “We knew that smugglers and mafia bands were working through some NGOs, but now we know that terrorists have penetrated the organisations as well.”
The accusation has caused consternation in the government and in the NGO community, whose presence has long been a subject of dispute in Afghanistan.
“It is not a simple matter for terrorists to penetrate NGOs,” said deputy economy minister Nazir Ahmad Shahidi,. “We check the identity of everyone working for NGOs, and we do not issue a license until we have adequate information.”
Shahidi speculated that Yaya’s NGO credentials may have been forged.
More
http://www.iwpr.net/?p=arr&s=f&o=259878&apc_state=henh
Kruma Yaya came to Mazar-e-Sharif as an aid worker intent on setting up a computer science training centre in this provincial capital. At least that’s what his credentials indicated.
In reality, according to the Afghan authorities, he was a would-be suicide bomber who intended to assassinate Mohammad Atta, the governor of Balkh province. He was arrested in the governor’s office with explosives strapped around his waist, according to officials.
Staff working with non-government organisations, NGOs, already had plenty to worry about, given the continued violence in much of Afghanistan and the constant accusations of embezzlement and mismanagement levied by members of the government and the public. Now, following the incident in Mazar-e-Sharif, they also face the danger of being considered potential terrorists.
According to officials, Yaya held a Malian passport and was carrying an identification card issued by the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, when he was detained.
“During his stay, [Yaya] bought some computers and put them in a house in Mazar just to pretend that he was establishing a computer training centre,” said Atta at a press conference following the incident.
The governor said that between February 2 and 6, Yaya repeatedly requested a meeting to present his project to him. His insistence provoked the suspicion of the governor’s bodyguards, who arrested him when he entered Atta’s office on February 6. They reportedly discovered explosives hidden beneath his clothing.
“This incident will oblige me to take a closer look at NGOs from now on,” said Atta. “We knew that smugglers and mafia bands were working through some NGOs, but now we know that terrorists have penetrated the organisations as well.”
The accusation has caused consternation in the government and in the NGO community, whose presence has long been a subject of dispute in Afghanistan.
“It is not a simple matter for terrorists to penetrate NGOs,” said deputy economy minister Nazir Ahmad Shahidi,. “We check the identity of everyone working for NGOs, and we do not issue a license until we have adequate information.”
Shahidi speculated that Yaya’s NGO credentials may have been forged.
More
http://www.iwpr.net/?p=arr&s=f&o=259878&apc_state=henh
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