Bazaar flourishes after nine months of closure

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

03.18.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Dwight Henderson 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

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By Lance Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Just outside of Combat Outpost Sharp, in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, there sits the Zan Zier bazaar. What was just months ago completely abandoned, is now home to 66 different shops that provide the Mian Poshteh area with goods.

About one and a half months ago, approximately two weeks after the first payment, the first shop in the bazaar opened.

Fighting broke out between the local Taliban fighters and Marines back in July, 2009, as they moved in to secure the Mian Posteh area.

As the firefights intensified, shop owners began closing their shops, some fled to other countries like Pakistan, while others just hid in their compounds.

"I was in my house, I didn't go anywhere," said Wali Jan, a 31-year-old owner of a small shop that sells electronics. "Sometimes I went away because of the firefights."

Jan added that his small shop was destroyed, not only from the fighting, but from looting.

"Shop owners were afraid to go to their shops because it was too dangerous," said Jan.

The fighting continued on for months as Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, took over the area of operations and worked to push the Taliban from there.

"I can tell you that for all months there were firefights going on," said Muhammad Dine, a 20-year-old owner of a small shop, which sells basic groceries. "The security came after seven months."

Shop owners were still afraid to return to the bazaar even after security came. Taliban intimidation and the uncertainty of how long security would last made the locals hesitant.

"When I found out what was going on, I talked to the elders and said listen, let's fix this problem," said Afghan national army Lt. Siufurhman, a platoon commander for the 6th Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps. "I said if you give me your hands and help me, we can open the bazaar."

The Marines and ANA soldiers began to hold shuras, with local elders, to prompt the shop owners to return and rebuild their bazaar. The shuras were small at first, but as the locals began to see increased security, they began to participate as well.

"We had a shura with the local elders, and before you knew it, we had the next shura and all the shop keepers were there," said Staff Sgt. Robin J. Reyes, a civil affairs Marine currently attached to Fox Company.

They talked to the elders and shop keepers and listened to their concerns about Taliban intimidation and security for the area.

"One of the conditions from their side is, are you guys going to be here if we reopen the bazaar," said Reyes. "Are you guys going to provide security? That is why we have security posts on the corners."

The Marines gave the locals money to clean the bazaar once they were on board. The months of fighting had left the bazaar nearly destroyed.

The next step was to begin to assess which shop owner owned which shop, and how much damage was done to each shop. They were given money for the repairs but, it was up to the shop keepers to actually do, or pay for, the work. .

"The way they get motivated is by the success of others," said Reyes. "Once the shop keepers were getting paid, everybody started working hard."

Since early February 66 shops have reopened in the bazaar.

"My best guess is if we keep the security it will continue to go up and up," said Reyes. "We already have problems with people building new shops and the other guys not wanting them. So that shows interest to keep up the bazaar and improve the economy."

The opening has begun to bring prosperity as the amount of patrons to the bazaar begins to return to what it was before.

"It's no different from what it was before," said Jan. "I earn enough money for myself with this kind of work. Right now, we have a comfortable life."

Another sign of increased interest in the bazaar, and feelings of security, has been the increase of traffic on the road, known as Route "Cowboys," that runs through the bazaar.

"When the shops were closed I saw maybe a tractor pass by a day," said Reyes. "It went from almost zero to now you have bikes and bus routes going through there. They're going to add speed bumps to reduce the speed of the traffic."

After nearly seven months of fighting, $130,000 of investment, and two months of rebuilding, the bazaar has begun to flourish, and the shop owners are happy but are still uncertain about the future.

"I am happy right now," said Jan. "We are so use to years of war we cannot hope for the future."

The Marines will continue to provide security for the area and help the continuing process of the bazaar and hopefully, one day, erase the uncertainty of the locals.