BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN - As part of an effort to improve governance and promote legal awareness throughout Afghanistan, a group of legal personnel from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, are acting to encourage recognition of a court system and a universal set of laws.
Reports of legal disputes in the district have nearly ceased, however, illegal activities continue. The apparent deficiency prompted Abdul Qayoum, Nangarhar's provincial prosecutor, to ask the brigade's legal team for assistance.
"Part of our responsibility as Task Force Duke's legal team is to promote the Rule of Law throughout N2KL [Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar, and Laghman provinces]," said Army Capt. Michael Vincent, TF Duke's Deputy Judge Advocate and a Mesa, Ariz., native.
Afghan Rule of Law dictates crimes and punishments, but also requires action within a system some natives may question. Instead, many Afghans turn to "pashtunwali," a system of tribal law.
"The Afghan people, particularly at the tribal level, are holding onto the system of settling disputes of all kinds through the tribal elder system. They view it as quicker and more enforceable than what they perceive the formal system can do," Vincent said.
However, because of the many differences between tribes and regions of Afghanistan, the lack of a universal legal system can lead to deliberation over appropriate punishments.
"It's kind of a law that's been developed over years in that tribe, so there's vast differences from tribe to tribe and region to region on the punishments that are handed out," said Army Master Sgt. Timothy Conner, TF Duke, senior paralegal, and a Harker Heights, Texas native. "Obviously, that doesn't work in the [overall] community."
Efforts are being made to communicate with natives across the country as the brigade tries to educate Afghans about putting their legal system to use. The 1st Inf. Div. Soldiers employ a number of outlets to garner publicity for their cause.
"News advertisements, newspaper articles, or even just word of mouth, they all help us spread legal awareness," Conner said.
The publications, meetings, and programs are all part of a large effort to bridge the government to its constituents, allowing the citizens of Afghanistan to solve their disputes in a peaceful fashion.
"The ultimate goal is to engender confidence in all Afghans in their own government's ability to protect them and to enforce the laws that create a civil society." Vincent said.
| Date Taken: |
02.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: |
02.19.2009 09:31 |
| Story ID: |
30190 |
| Location: |
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: |
431 |
| Downloads: |
406 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Promoting legal awareness in Afghanistan, by PFC Charles Wolfe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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