(28 Sep 2004) SHOTLIST
Kabul, 28 September 2004
1. John Sifton, Human Rights Watch Afghanistan researcher, standing on dusty road
2. Various of Sifton walking
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Sifton, Human Rights Watch Afghanistan researcher:
"Despite some successes, the election, the run up to the election, are going to be marked by a lot of intimidation and fear. Many voters don't understand or don't believe in the secrecy of the ballot. And so, there is going to be a lot of misunderstandings. People being told how to vote and obeying because they don't know better."
FILE: Khost, Recent
4. Various of militia searching people
5. Various of militia forces driving in jeep
Kabul, 28 September 2004
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Sifton, Human Rights Watch Afghanistan researcher:
"The primary obstacle to democratisation and rule of law in these elections are local factional leaders. Some of them are making efforts to become democrats and sort of have popular support as such as supposed to threaten people to vote for them. But by and large, most of the factional leaders using threats, intimidation, bribery to secure support from local populations. That's not democracy and it's certainly not an atmosphere where human rights are being protected."
Sherberghan, 26 September 2004
7. Various of warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum talking with US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
FILE: Herat, March 2004
8. Various of Ishmael Khan, former governor of Herat
FILE: Kunduz - Recent
9. Various of weapons collected as part of disarmament of militia plan
Kabul, 27 September 2004
10. US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad talking
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Zalmay Khalilzad, US Ambassador to Afghanistan:
"There has been a problem of 'warlordism' with regard to the lives of ordinary people. And some places, these people have behaved in lawless manners. And to have the kind of Afghanistan that the Afghan people aspire to, that the international community supports, is an Afghanistan in which 'warlordism' is not a feature of the country and I have to say that I think we have made significant progress in the last several months. I think we are making progress in breaking the back of 'warlordism'."
12. Journalist
STORYLINE
A leading human rights group warned on Tuesday that elections heralded as the dawn of democracy in war-ravaged Afghanistan will be hijacked by warlords who are able to intimidate voters and candidates to entrench their own power.
In a report titled "Rule of the Gun", Human Rights Watch said armed factions, some allied with the United States, were using force, threats and corruption to dominate the election process.
Independent political organisers were receiving death threats, while others were too scared even to get involved, according to the report.
Millions of Afghans have registered for the 9 October vote, despite threats and attacks by followers of the Taliban regime ousted by a US bombing campaign in late 2001.
American-backed interim President Hamid Karzai is widely expected to defeat 17 challengers for a five-year term as the country's first popularly elected leader.
But the campaign has been low-key, with some candidates saying they are too scared to venture into some parts of the country plagued by militants and unruly factions.
In its 50-page report, Human Rights Watch cited dozens of political organisers, journalists and rights activists describing the dangers of campaigning openly against local power-brokers.
Several presidential candidates, including Massooda Jalal, the only female contender, have also said they face
harassment and feel unsafe on the campaign trail.
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