GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — With the improvement of security here, Garmsir citizens are eager to see if social progress will follow.
The District Community Council elections, June 21, offered encouragement. The elections filled seats from southern areas of Garmsir, which weren’t manned in past elections due to a lack of security.
The Garmsir District Community Council has steadily grown since it was created in 2009. That year, 18 of 35 seats were filled, and in 2010, nine more council members were elected. Another five seats were filled this year, bringing the district to within three of full representation.
“I have a lot of respect for the council members,” said Derek Griffiths, the governance advisor for the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team. “They are stepping up to the plate for their people. Since they are on the council, they receive threats from insurgents. They don’t get a salary. But they do it … for their people.”
The DCC is a council of local elders who advise the local government and monitor government activities to ensure the district receives proper support.
Coalition forces see the DCC as evidence that their efforts are making a difference.
“Our job is to give the local government a secure area to operate so they can develop and progress,” said Capt. Joshua Cavan, assistant operations officer for 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
The security of Garmsir has steadily progressed greatly since the first Marine Corps unit entered the area in 2008. Originally, only having security of the northern part of Garmsir, the ANA, ANP and Marine Corps team have successfully secured the entirety of the district, which spans more than 60 kilometers.
The opportunity for southern Garmsir communities to elect council members illustrates the accomplishment of the ANA, ANP and Marine Corps’ security of the area.
“The simple act of having more than 500 people come to register to vote and then come again for the elections brings unity and communication in the district,” said Griffiths. “It’s fostering a sound way for the people to communicate with their local government.”
Voters and candidates traveled from the district’s outskirts to participate in the elections. Elders were nominated on election day; then, those who registered to vote submitted their selections. Within hours, winners were announced.
“The fact that we are able to hold elections and have local people who are willing to travel to participate would have been unheard of three years ago,” Griffiths said. “It would have been impossible. It’s an indicator of free movement and a desire of the people to get involved. They are willing to travel more than 50 kilometers for no other reason than to participate in the elections and put forth their representation.”
Council membership is a three-year position, and members can be re-elected.
The Marines of 1/3 are watching Garmsir citizens accustom themselves to representative governance.
“It’s a new governmental structure to the local people,” said Cavan, a native of Amherst, N.Y. “The DCC compliments the traditional ways of settling disputes here. The elections represent a re-establishment of the local government after more than 30 years of war.”
Ultimately, the fate of Afghanistan hinges on the Afghans themselves.
“We can’t finish this job,” Cavan said. “It is a job for the Afghan government and the Afghan people. But, we have given them the security and environment to do the job themselves.”
Elections are planned for early next year to fill the last three seats on the DCC.
| Date Taken: |
06.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
06.30.2011 09:39 |
| Story ID: |
73001 |
| Location: |
GARMSIR DISTRICT, HELMAND PROVINCE, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN, AF |
| Web Views: |
238 |
| Downloads: |
1 |
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This work, Representation arises in Helmand community, by Cpl Colby Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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