Appeal from Afghan Women

The Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), which has fought against both the Soviet occupation and Islamic fundamentalists, has issued an appeal to the world community. "The people of Afghanistan do not accept domination of the Northern Alliance," it states. "The retreat of the terrorist Taliban from Kabul is a positive development, but entering of the rapist and looter NA in the city is nothing but a dreadful and shocking news for about 2 million residents of Kabul whose wounds of the years 1992-96 have not healed yet. ... the NA has learned how to pose sometimes before the West as 'democratic' and even supporter of women's rights, but in fact they have not at all changed, as a leopard cannot change its spots." RAWA is pleading for "UN to send its effective peace-keeping force into the country before the NA can repeat the unforgettable crimes" that occurred during its previous sojourn in power. A separate group, the Women's Alliance for Peace and Human Rights in Afghanistan, is also calling for the US and UN to "end the monopoly of participation of the armed groups and political groups in the United Nations peace initiative. ... A democratic, representative government should be established, in which all members of the Afghan society, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity and religious affiliation can be equally represented."