District headquarters holds shura in Panjwai

117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Hawaii)
Story by Sgt. Matt Young

Date: 06.25.2012
Posted: 06.28.2012 11:14
News ID: 90768

PANJWAI DISTRICT, Afghanistan – More than 100 local village men met here at the district headquarters of Panjwai, June 25, 2012, to take part in a scheduled shura.

Shuras are an important tool for the coalition forces in the area to work with the locals building stronger relationships, maintaining security and governance, and continue to help develop new projects in the communities.

This one was conducted as a means for villagers of the Panjwai district to come together and discuss topics such as new projects for the communities, help getting the locals polio vaccines for their families and children and electing new maliks, which means “king, chieftain,” this is what they call their village elder who hears the problems the village is having and then takes it up with the shura members speaking on behalf of the local villagers.

Several speakers addressed the locals during the shura to discuss these topics and hear any input the locals had to offer.

There was also a military presence of soldiers based in the Panjwai area there to help assist in any way needed.

One of the interpreters that attended the meeting explained what each speaker was saying for coalition forces attending; he explained that the locals need help bringing in the polio vaccines so that the locals can take their loved ones in to get vaccinated.

The interpreter also explained how the village wants help bringing in projects to the Panjwai district to provide jobs for good honest men. The locals also were requesting security so that the projects may be completed and not interfered with by any insurgent activity.