Q&A: Law and Order May Not Improve in 2010

• Ashfaq Yusufzai interviews RUKHSHANDA NAZ, women's activist* (peshawar)
• Saturday, December 26, 2009
• Inter Press Service

In an effort to woo the Taliban in the Swat Valley, the provincial government imposed the Shariah or Islamic Law — a move that far from restoring peace, sparked a full-scale military operation and led to the displacement of thousands of civilians.

Civil society groups struggled to cope with the massive influx of internally displaced people’s (IDPs).

IPS interviewed Rukhshanda Naz of Aurat Foundation, an NGO which has experience of women’s vulnerabilities in war and conflict areas. A lawyer by training she has worked for the betterment of women in the NWFP since 1993.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: The government says it has wrested control of many of the areas that were earlier under the Taliban factions? A: They can claim for few areas but the culture developed due to Talibanisation and government policies (remain) … People need time to recover and trust them (government).

Q: The year started with the imposition of the Shariah in the former Malakand division. What is the situation now for women? A: I don't think there is much difference except less fear of the Taliban. Trauma (is widespread); feeling of humiliation during displacement has been very high. Q: Was it men or women who suffered more in the violence unleashed by Taliban militants and the military operations that uprooted nearly 2 million people? A: I just want to respond through oral (testimonies) which I collected with my team.

'About two years ago at 8'o clock in the night the people in our house were busy talking with each other after dinner, when suddenly 15 to 20 Shiite men entered our house.

'At first they grabbed my brother-in-law and slaughtered him in front of our eyes. After that they forced my 15 year-old-son Muhammad out of the house and into the fields and slaughtered him there. I can still here his shouting in my ears.

'Due to fear my body stopped working but I kept my will and together with my three daughters, two grandsons and one daughter-in-law I ran away.

A woman from Parachinar Kurram agency (part of FATA) testified that the Shiite Taliban kidnap women and then rape them. They do this because they believe that by having sexual intercourse with Sunni women they will go to heaven. They didn't even spare the older women …

A third testimony: 'I am happy with the birth of my seven daughters. But I am worried because of poverty. One of my daughters has lost her shoes. Due to my poor financial condition I can't get her a new one. And since then she has been roaming around without them.

A woman from Bajaur: 'One day in our village there was a woman who was carrying a chicken in her arms. While she was walking on the road, suddenly a Taliban car stopped next to her and made her sit in the car and asked her to give them the chicken in return for some meat which she can cook for herself.

'Because of fear the woman handed over the chicken to them and took the meat. When she back to her house and saw the meat it turned out to be some woman’s breasts!'

Q: What did displacement do to women? A: The women of these areas due to cultural norms lived in the privacy of their homes. But the sudden push into the public space and their forced interaction with other people (has) contributed to high levels of mental insecurity.

Q: Peace is essential for the authorities and civil society to achieve development goals like gender equality and women's empowerment. What has civil society's response to the crisis been? A: There are number of initiative by civil society. The government handled the flood of IDPs due to support from civil society. They not only responded quickly to the immediate need of rehabilitation, but also raised a number of issues through advocacy programmes.

Q: Like the targeting of schools, and schoolteachers, was there a targeting of NGO volunteers or workers by either side? A: There are cases where NGO workers were killed, kidnapped. In some cases families took advantage of terrorism and religious militancy to settle family disputes and honour killing cases.

Q: It must require courage to stand up for democratic rights and issues. A: It's not difficult; (you) just need commitment and belief. If you are answerable to yourself it's easier. I never get disheartened which always gives me strength and hope. Q: Do you see the law and order situation improving in 2010? A: I don't think so but I have one hope — (there will be growing) people's resistance and struggle for rights and peace.

Q: Do you think government programmes and NGO activities will resume and benefit people? A: Yes to some extent but both need (to show) more commitment, will and (the flexibility to) change strategy.

*with assistance from IPS's Gender Editor Ann Ninan

© Inter Press Service (2009) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service

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