Afghan government officials, Marines identify current successes, future improvements during stability shura in Marjah

MARJAH, AFGHANISTAN

06.27.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Crilly 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

MARJAH, Afghanistan – Afghan government officials, Marines identify current successes, future improvements during stability shura in Marjah

The shura kicked off with a bazaar walk through the streets of Marjah, where the Taliban was removed and local governance has been implemented throughout the past five months. Afghan residents filled the streets and interacted with the dignitaries as they walked through the area, which has seen development projects and progress made as stability is being restored to the region.

Helmand Deputy Provincial Gov. Haji Sattar spoke on behalf of the Afghan government and the governor’s office. Although largely a ceremonial visit, he endorsed the shura and encouraged further shuras as a way to reach out to the local population.

“We have found that there is no solution with [war]. All the solutions according to our experiences are with shuras and holding shuras with the people,” Sattar said. “We should try to gain their trust talk to make good relationship with them [and] make people to take all activities of the government. All the success is in the relationship with the local population.”

Afghan government endorsement of the shura is important to ongoing efforts in the development of local governance, reconstruction teams and coalition forces because they must work together to stabilize Afghanistan.

“We will support [Afghan government] in whatever way we can,” said Phillip Hatton, the Marjah District stabilization advisor. “It’s vital that the whole stabilization security effort is owned by [Afghan government] and it represented on the ground.”

For the stability of the Helmand River Valley specifically, the shura focused on regional identification cards, protection for local government officials and alternative crops.

Regimental Combat Team 7 presented a new photo ID card that would identify the card holder to Afghan and coalition forces. The cards will contain information to identify the individual’s district and also associate them to their weapon, vehicle and residence. The governors approved the card for the districts after discussing the issue process and verification process of the individuals to prevent duplicate issues to individuals and Taliban from obtaining the cards.

“What was really important for me was the ID card. I personally appreciate it, love it, like it because it was fantastic,” said Mohammad Fahim, the Garmsir District governor. “It’s a great idea because through this ID card we can do our task very well and we can verify the good people and the bad people.”

At the last shura, the governors mentioned their elders and council members needed more protection, and were falling victim to the intimidations and threats of the Taliban. The governors conferred with coalition forces about the need for and ways to protect those elements of local infrastructure from such offenses. Creating local guard forces, militias or issuing weapons were some of the ideas that came out of this dialogue.

John L. Gerlaugh, the U.S. Department of State regimental governance advisor, said that it was important that any components formed to protect these members would still have to be legal within the bounds of Afghan law.

The final topic discussed was agriculture and alternative crops for the upcoming planting season.

“What we are trying to do is create an entire year cycle on paper that is an agricultural cycle that has no poppy in at all,” Gerlaugh, from Manassas, Va. “So what crops will be planted when, what kind of substitute crops could be injected into that cycle that would replace poppy and be just as profitable, if not more, for them to pursue.”

The governors brought up the need for better irrigation and fertilization throughout the Helmand River Valley so the alternative crops will be able succeed.

The topics that face the region needed to be discussed by the governors, but as always it is important that they convey what they learned from their peers with their local government officials.

“As a district governor, when I go back I will get all of the elders and talk to them and let them know the experience I came across,” said Fahim.

The governors concluded the shura scheduling another regional shura at the end of July to discuss more issues that face the local governments such as education and the upcoming national elections.

• Date Taken: 06.27.2010
• Date Posted: 06.28.2010 11:11
• Story ID: 52088
• Location: MARJAH, AF