OCC-P leads security efforts in Nangarhar during elections

AFGHANISTAN

09.15.2010

Story by Spc. Albert Kelley 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan national security forces are coordinating all security efforts for the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections.

In eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, that coordination is being handled by the Operations Coordination Center, Provincial, run by U.S. Army Capt. James M. Powers from Los Angeles and the OCC-P liaison officer.

“The insurgency is trying to delegitimize the government Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” said Powers, of the 1st Special Troops Battalion. “Our job is to counteract their effort with security.”

The OCC-P’s responsibilities include recommending a number of polling sites that can be securely open on election day and ensuring secure transportation of the official ballots.

“Our job is to control all security forces during the election process and provide information to the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police and the Afghan border police,” said ANP Col. Raboni, the OCC-P deputy officer in charge. “We want a good and peaceful election.”

Initially, there were to be 491 polling sites open in Nangarhar on election day. But, after careful deliberation between ANSF and coalition forces, the OCC-P recommended 377 sites to be open.

“The governor and security leadership wanted to keep more polling sites open to allow the largest number of people the chance to vote,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. James D. Sisemore, of Lexington, Mo., 1st Special Troops Battalion commander. “More polling sites give the largest number of people the opportunity to vote.”

Ultimately, both sides agreed 377 polling sites were the most that could be opened and properly secured.

The sites have also been categorized based on their security risk, with the high-risk sites receiving additional manpower.

International organizations such as the United Nations Development Program also assisted ANSF during the planning phase.

The UNDP supports and advises the international election committee on logistics of materials and security of all of eastern Afghanistan, said Emilio Seijo, UNDP eastern region electoral advisor.

During their visit to the OCC-P, an important discrepancy was discovered concerning the movement dates of the ballots. The UNDP was able to remedy the situation by facilitating communication between the ANSF and the international election committee.

“The international election committee will have to contact ANSF to ensure information is being disseminated properly,” said Emilio.

The September elections are to choose Afghanistan’s Lower House of Representatives or the Wolesi Jirga.

Across Afghanistan, 249 seats represent the Wolesi Jirga. Nangarhar is represented by 14 of the 249 seats.

“The people are happy to be able to choose their representatives,” said Raboni. “The parliamentarians are the lawmakers for the country. A country with no lawmakers is blind.”

• Date Taken: 09.15.2010
• Date Posted: 09.15.2010 16:48
• Story ID: 56328
• Location: AF