Faked ballot paper in Herat

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Some unidentified men Wednesday distributed fake ballot papers comprising muddled names, pictures and registration numbers of four candidates in the western Herat province.
The names of Abdul Raziq Zamanzi, Syed Shafiq, Haji Mohammad Alam and Qazi Nazir Ahmad were printed on the bogus ballot papers. However, the actual papers are lying safe in the provincial office of the Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB).

Syed Shafiq, one of the contestants, has told to Media his registration number 111 was replaced with 76, which belongs to Abdul Raziq Zamanzi. "After I warned of going on hunger strike, JEMB officials showed me real my name and picture on a form they had."

The distribution of sham ballot papers might damage the election campaign, he maintained. Interestingly, each of the four men claimed his rivals had masterminded the distribution of the sham ballot papers.

By the same token, the name, picture and registration number of Haji Mohammad Alam were replaced with Qazi Nazir Ahmad's. When approached for comments, both declined to say anything.

Abdul Aziz Shamim, an official of the National Democratic Institute, described the act as plain violation of the electoral law. He confirmed the receipt of the fake papers, saying the matter was being probed.
JEMB's external relations officer in Herat Philippa Neave also confirmed the circulation of the sham ballot papers. He said the perpetrators would be traced soon.

For more information about Afghanistan Parliamentary election, you can visit this Web site: http://www.jemb.org/

Media Commission Announcement on Parliamentary election

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from Media Commission

The Media Commission announces that 2,889 candidates for the Wolesi Jirga and the Provincial
Councils have been authorized to broadcast on radio or TV at no cost to the candidates, as of Tuesday
September 13.
We believe this has given an unprecedented opportunity to the people of Afghanistan to hear a wide
range of opinions both geographically and substantively on radio and television.
This is intended to help them become a more informed electorate in taking the necessary decisions
about who to vote for on Sunday.

On Wednesday September 14 we release the Media Commission Interim Report covering the period
from July 19 to September 8. It gives a great deal of data about how the media covered the campaign
(http://www.jemb.org/media_commission/index.html).
The Interim Report consists of a monitoring report covering the pre-election period; a onitoring report covering the official Campaign Period from August 17 to 30; a set of daily reports of the rise of the number of candidates using the Sponsored Advertising Program, and a number of graphs that give information on the various stations and provinces using the program.

This data is intended to be used by observers, analysts and the media as they conduct their own
analyses of this campaign, as it relates to the media. It provides only preliminary conclusions. This is deliberate. Further comments will be made in the final report once the final data has been assessed.
The journalism in this campaign has not violated code of conduct rules against hate speech, incitement to violence or any other serious concerns of a Media Commission, to our knowledge.
On the other hand, covering 5,800 candidates has been a challenge that has severely tested the media.
We believe it is appropriate, for those who may not be familiar with the media here, to keep this in context. The Afghan media is being re-established after an extended period of severe media repression. In the years before 2001, television was abolished, pictures were banned from newspapers, and any kind of music and even sport was kept off the radio. Since that time approximately 300 publications have been established, five 24 hour television stations,
and more than 30 new private radio stations established. International radio stations including BBC, Radio Azadi, Voice of America, RFI, and DW now broadcast in Afghanistan.

While private broadcasting has flourished, the state broadcaster, RTA, has failed to keep up with this media growth. Provincial authorities retain direct control over much of the local media, and their journalists still feel answerable to national government as well as local figures.
Where governors were approached by the media Commission to loosen the constraints this was often successful. However, official influence is still strong, and the arrests of several journalists and unconfirmed reports of intimidation continue to have a chilling effect on free, professional journalism. In this environment, the daunting task of covering 5,800 candidates has been tackled with inevitably mixed results. The Sponsored Advertisement Program, with 2,889 candidates approved for broadcast as of September 13, brought a uniquely wide range of opinion to the Afghan airwaves.

This has provided a wealth of information that should be positive for the future political development of Afghanistan. The integration of this range of opinion into the journalism of the first parliament in nearly 40 years is a long-term process.

Sponsored Advertisement Program
Date: 13.09.2005
N Name Province Authorized In-process Refused
Total
Applications

Commercial Stations
1 Killid Kabul 87 2 34
2 Radio Voice of Afghan
Women Kabul 23 0 5
3 Afghan TV Kabul 39 0 6
4 AynaTV Samangan 69 0 1
Ayna TV Balkh 100 0 5
Ayna TV Kabul 32 1 5
Ayna TV Faryab 72 0 9
Ayna TV Takhar 56 0 20
Ayna TV Kunduz 79 0 23
Ayna TV Jowzjan 78 0 0
Ayna TV Sar-i-Pul 54 0 0
5 Tolo Kabul 134 0 45
6 Ariana Network Kabul 8 0 7
7 Arman FM Kabul 1 0 0

RTA Stations
1 RTA Takhar Takhar 23 0 12
2 Baghlan TV (RTA) Baghlan 110 3 8
3 Baghlan FM (RTA) Baghlan 2 0 0
4 Herat TV (RTA) Herat 262 0 5
5 RTA TV Samangan 14 0 6
6 Kandahar RTA TV Kandahar 51 4 0
7 Kandahar RTA radio Kandahar 30 0 1
8 RTA Ghazni TV Ghazni 73 0 4
9 RTA Ghazni Radio Ghazni 6 0 0
10 RTA Kunar Kunar 15 0 0
11 RTA TV Balkh 39 0 4
12 RTA TV Kunduz 51 0 41
13 RTA TV Paktia 91 0 0
14 RTA Radio Paktia 6 0 1
15 RTA Radio FM Faryab 15 0 6
16 RTA Kabul Radio FM Kabul 3 0 2
17 RTA Kabul TV Kabul 83 0 33
18 RTA TV Helmand 19 0 2
19 RTA Radio FM Helmand 19 0 3
20 RTA TV Parwan 23 0 1
21 RTA TV Farah 68 0 3
22 RTA TV Badakhshan 48 0 10
23 RTA TV Nimroz 36 0 0
24 RTA Radio Nangarhar 13 1 3
25 RTA Radio Zabul 4 0 0
Internews Stations
1 Radio Zafar Kabul 8 0 2
2 Radio Isteqlal Logar 14 1 3
3 Radio Milli Peygham Logar 59 0 2
4 Spin Ghar Nangarhar 113 0 6
5 Sloeh Paygham Khost 65 0 0
6 Sharq Nangarhar 98 5 10
7 Quyash Faryab 14 0 4
8 Newe Bahar Balkh 12 0 12
9 Radio Ghaznawian Ghazni 48 0 2
10 Azad Afghan Radio Kandahar 43 2 0
11 Yaw Wale Ghag Wardak 87 0 0
12 Shora I Qarabagh Kabul 37 0 7
13 Radio Paktika Ghag Paktika 7 0 0
14 Zohra Kunduz 33 0 20
15 Radio Sahar Herat 5 0 1
16 Radio Bamyan Bamyan 16 0 0
17 Radio Teraj Mir Baghlan 24 0 4
18 Radio Rabia Balkhi Balkh 6 0 3
19 Radio Takharestan Takhar 68 2 18
20 Radio Sabaoun Helmand 81 0 2
21 Sada-i-Solh Parwan 35 0 4
22 Sada-i-Solh Kapisa 36 0 0
23 Radio Imam Sahib Kunduz 2 0 5
24 Radio Neda-i-Sobh Herat 1 1 0
25 Radio Amou Badakhshan 41 0 26
Total 2889 22 436 3347

Media evolution briefly in Afghanistan

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The various political movements and regimes in Afghanistan have propagated their respective ideology and socio-political strategy through particular publications. Due to this fact, the World Press Day has often been marked with enthusiasm in the country with the publishing of a series of publicity materials.
The first and the foremost publication was release in the reign of Habibullah Khan called “Shamsul Nahar” that basically aimed to enlighten the common people in Afghanistan. Later on, in the time of Amir Amanullah Khan, another newspaper entitled “Serajul Akhbar” was operating under editorship of Mohamood Tarzi, and outstanding writer and literary personality who was also nominated as father of journalism.
Parallel with the lapse of time and change of the political atmosphere in the country, new dailies and publication were released. Currently there exists some 750 various independent as well as government publications in the whole country.
In addition, the Radio and TV networks have not only increased in number but also their viewpoints are diverse. In the capital of Afghanistan there are 12 Radio station right now, most of them are broadcasting 24 hours with live programs and verities kinds of programs:

Radio station based in Kabul (capital of Afghanistan)

1- Radio Afghanistan
2- Radio Kilid (key)
3- Radio Subh Ba Khair
Afghanistan (good morning Afghanistan)
4- Sadayee Zan (voice of women)
5- BBC
6- Dutsche welle
7- RFE
8- Radio ISAF
9- RFE/RL
10- Radio Salam Watandar (greeting countryman)
11- Radio Watandar
(compatriot)
12- Radio Zafar Paghman, (victory of Paghman)

TV Station based in Kabul

1- Afghanistan TV
2- Ayena TV
3- Afghan TV
4- Ariana TV
5- Tolo TV

22 are registered in the ministry of Information and culture but running only five of them nowadays in Kabul

Besides of Radio and TV station there a number of newspapers and magazines. There some news agencies which are running nowadays in Afghanistan like: Pajhwak news agency, Bakhtar Infromationa Agenciy, Hindu Kush news agency and the voice of Afghan. The establishment of the Kabul times in 1962 included four pages funded by the government with some 180 fully skilled and professional employees but as a result of the last two decades long political transformations in the Afghanistan, the number of staff decreased to 40 persons. This English-languages paper is considered the point of the view of the government particularly at the international level and the common people as well. The Kabul Time has been recognized for over 43 years.

ANIS Daily, have being also a government newspaper was established in 1927 by Ghulam Mohi yudin Anis a cultural person. This paper had often been published in 8 pages. It covers varied political, social, cultural and economic developments and commentaries.
The independent periodicals include are many and all registered in ministry of information and culture. It is hoped that these help possibly grow and boost up the people’s thinking power and potential as well.

To manage the countries publications, there exists a Pres Law that helps develop and direct the entire mass media in the benefit of democracy, social justice, peace and security, cultural and political advancement in Afghanistan.

THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME

This following text is circulated on the internet under George Carlin's name but the original author is Dr. Bob Moorehead.

The paradox of our time in history is that We have taller buildings, But, shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrow viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense.

More knowledge, but less judgment, more experts but more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly.

Stay too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much and pray to seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.

We’ve conquered outer space but not inner space.

We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleared up the air, but polluted the soul.

We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.

We’ learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, Tall men and short character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace but domestic warfare, more leisure but less fun, more kinds of food but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce, of fancier houses but broken homes.

These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-way morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

No description

WEEP

-----
the sea will also die, one day!

if we continue

sitting down

by the revir

and

weep

No discription

18 Taliban killed

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The Defence Ministry Friday claimed the Afghan and US-led coalition forces had killed 18 militants in the southern Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces.
The ministry's spokesman Zahir Azimi told Pajhwok Afghan News 10 militants were gunned down following joint operations by the Afghan National Army and the coalition forces in the Ghorak and Khakrez districts of the Kandahar province.

Azimi said the operation started in the morning and continued till Thursday evening. He said one car and a motor cycle were also captured during the crackdown.

The same day, Azimi added, three Taliban fighters were killed and two others captured in a clash that occurred some 30 kilometres from the provincial capital Tirinkot. In another encounter in the Chora district of Uruzgan, the Afghan and coalition forces killed five fighters and arrested two others. Five Ak-47 assault rifles and one rocket have also been recovered from the arrested militants.

Taliban purported spokesman Latifullah Hakimi confirmed the clashes but rejected the Defence Ministry's claims regarding the killing and capturing of the Taliban as baseless.

Afghan children's life

No progress without international assistance

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Hamid Karzai Afghan president on sunday defended a recent agreement on strategic partnership with the US, saying his conflict-crippled country could not progress without support from the international community.

talking to a large gathering at the governor's office here, the president argued other countries in the region such as Pakistan and India too had achieved development on the strength of foreign assistance.

Karzai went on to assert Afghanistan's sovereignty, saying it desired warm ties with all countries of the world. However, he explained, Afghanistan was not allied to one particular country.
Of links with neighbouring countries, he pointed out the annual Pak-Afghan trade volume that worked out at $26 million dollars during the Taliban government had now hit the $1200 million mark.

He added peace and stability in his country was in the interest of the entire region. "But no country will be calm if there is chaos and insecurity in Afghanistan," maintained the president.
While highlighting Nangarhar's historical opulence, the US-backed Afghan leader described the eastern province as the home base of epoch-making freedom fighters and martyrs.
"It's the last resting place of towering personalities like Ghazi Amanullah Khan and Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan - the former achieved peace with his sword while the latter epitomized non-violence."

Karzai called upon residents of the province to actively participate in the upcoming elections and vote for sincere and competent leaders. He particularly focused attention on a fair deal for women contestants for the lower house and provincial councils.

Speaking on the occasion, Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai thanked dwellers of the province for according a warm welcome to Karzai. "We are indebted to you for expressing so much love for the president."

Sherzai said the people of Nangarhar had always combated the twin menace of terrorism and drug smuggling. "Now is the time for us to serve them with sincerity and devotion," the governor observed, promising a number of mega projects would be launched soon in the province.

In Cure International Hospital

----------

After three weeks hesitation about my patient, today I went to American hospital “ Cure International” for treatment. I have pain on one of my spinal column band. I do not know really what the cause was and when it started. Pain is not very strong but it increased my concern. Usually I am not going to doctor for a normal patient until I not loss my ability to walk. My father is our family doctor. He is collecting herbs and little bit knows about it. He is going to mountains for searching different herbs. He brings herbs with its root. He always saying lets have herbaceous treatment instead of using chemical medicine.

I am very scared of going to doctor in Kabul, because most of them are illiterate and does not have enough knowledge and experience. Instead of surgery they slay. Instead giving the right advise they give the wrong advise. Instead giving a headache medication, they give penicillin.
I was really worrying what to do. One of my friends advised me I should go to German medical center in Shar-e- naw.

Four days before I went to German medical center for treatment. Unfortunately they did not have orthopedic. The German doctor directed me to American International hospital “cure”. I called in advance and made appointment.
Luckily I found a person to help me. Her name was Erin card. She was American and very kind. She directed me to an orthopedic specialist.
The doctor was very nice guy. I described him my pain. He practically did some basic test from me.
He told me that pain on the backbone is normal among human in between 55% to 85%. He analyzed the pain and said there are two type of pain normal in human body.
Organic
Mechanic
He crossed over Organic and mentioned; I am so young and this is unbelievable to say that you have Organic problem.

He emphasized over Mechanic option and said this is normal for everyone. Especially for those who are setting on the chair and working with computer.
Without learning me, he drew my style of my sitting over the chair and said the style of my setting on the chair is completely wrong. He advised me to find a physiotherapist and ask for his guidance.

He wrote a prescription using medication:
DOLOBID 500mg (diflunisal) 20 pieces. Day and night. Mad in U.S.A
BRUFEN Cream 30g (ibuprofen) antirheumatic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory. Made in Pakistan

This medication should be used in six days, if the pain not killed yet, I should go back to see him again.

Life is struggle

---------


This part of Kabul called Bahaaristan In Karte parwan district. In this distrect there is no power and water. People bringing their water from the hill slope using donkey those who have enough money for providing foods for this kind animal “donkey” (:

This was the way I was crossing this hill morning and evening. I became friend with children who were taking water to their home. Most of them were asking me to help them by taking their barrel. It was my pleasure to help them and giving my bag to them and carry the two barrel on my hand. Some times I was carrying on my arm and feeling very strong while I was moving up. I took their picture once, in another day when I was crossing they called me Kaka (uncle) I stopped on my feet and wait for them until they reached me. They asked me to give their picture, I promised them to print their picture. In another day I printed about 14 pictures black & white. While I was distributing the picture they were very excited.

On another day, lately I left the office and went home. While I reached the hill I saw a group of children waiting for me to snap them. While I reached them all shacked hand with me, except one. He was very nerves. I asked the cause from him. He was close 8 years old. I asked him why you are looking sad? Moved towards me, with her swollen eye disheveled hair “my photo has stolen by some on my home” she said. I told her to make another photo from her.

Oh I can’t mention all the story. I am really sad that my way is changed crossing the Tepe-Karte Sakhi to Bahaaristan. I should go there may be on Friday or Saturday to meet them again and again.

Unfortunately their families are not able to provide expense to send them to school. This area is very poor place and government completely forgotten them.

Hundreds of institutes are running in Kabul to help and safe the children but this children in this part of Kabul seems to be forgotten. These children should go to school not to work! never.

Five Taliban killed in Uruzgan

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Government authotries claimed the killing of six Taliban following a gunfight in the Marabad area of the Tarinkot district on Sunday evening.

The fight erupted when the insurgents attacked a security post, officials said. Six fighters were killed as the security men returned fire.
Uruzgan Governor Jan Mohammad Khan Mohammadi has told to media that the security forces had launched operation in Deh-Rawod, Tarinkot and Chora districts to net down the militants.

He claimed 15 Taliban guerillas including a commander had been arrested so far. The commander Mullah Janan was captured along with his nine men in Tarinkot while six others were trapped in the Chora district.

The governor vowed the crackdown would continue till rooting out of militants from the area. Afghan army and police with the backing of the US-led coalition forces had mounted efforts against insurgents in the southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan to secure the September 18 legislative elections, a landmark in the history of the war-hit country.

Taliban, on the other hand, issued warnings and stepped up attacks against the US and government forces with the apparent motive to disrupt the polls.

Blogsky became silence

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Blogsky server who had millions of words in its heart became silent since two days before. I don’t know really what problem they faced. The browser shows this message “HTTP 500 Internal server error”.

It is not first time that Blogsky server became down but many times in the past. Once the Blogsky server hacked by a normal hacker and this time it seems the same incident happened for its server.

It seems blogsky server has overloaded and the administrators are not able to manage properly. They need to close the registration for further requests in order to manage better.

In this stormy season, I really have concern what is going on and how about my “shared pains” and all my imaginations??!!!?!!
I should look for a good Web hosting service to handle all my stuff by myself.

After long standstill in Afghan Linux

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After a long standstill again i start posting on my technical blog Afghan Linux. This blog will contain my experience in IT and more involved technology in Afghanistan. I am writing in my native tongue Dari (Farsi) which the three country Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan are talking to this lovely tongue.

This blog is opened especially for my ages, for young generations who love to learn for making a new Afghanistan with a new face in the world not the face of terror and Al Qaeda. In this blog mostly I try to encourage youth to move in new technology as revolution.

In this blog I try to fight against censorships, against terror and intimidations, against any restriction role in using Internet in Afghanistan.

Recently I heard people was trying to make a new role about Afghanistan press, people were trying to make a role in Webs as well. Like if any person or institute want to make a Web site, they should take permit to make a Web site. How logical is this!!????!!

I will make report this happens to my Farsi and English blog. Internet in Afghanistan is very new and people do not know what is the Web, Blog and Internet. People like Shinwari (fundamentalist guy in legislation) want to make Internet policy!!! How funny are these guys!!!!!

Actually this is not responsibility for Shanwaris But ICT specialist who have already the knowledge of Information Technology and the way of using. Afghanistan government should ask from western country to help in this case otherwise fundamentalist will handle to make restrictions in ISPs. They should come and help for making a public policy for ICT in Afghanistan not a lawyer who illiterately came out in the society!!!

Freedom like me

--------

when the sun shines
i believe freedom winks to me
when the birds are singing
my heart start beating
i jump out
looking around
cruise narrows and wides
listening to children songs
watching people walking on valley
following back my footprints
where i born
where i began
where i jumped out
follow my shadow
follow the villagers
village sings like me
all i pray is
qwak qwak qwak freedom
qukooookoooo freedom
(:

Thousands of reconstruction projects ending soon

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The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) will complete thousands of small reconstruction projects across the country under the National Solidarity Programme.

Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development Mohammad Hanif Atmar told Media on Thursday that as many as 8,300 projects costing $100 million and being executed in 33 different provinces would be completed soon.

He added the National Solidarity Programme largely focused on potable water schemes, irrigation plans, building schools, upgrading the power system and road construction.
In response to a query, the minister claimed locals had been consulted on which projects suited them best. The schemes under the National Solidarity Programme were initiated in line with suggestions floated by residents and in deference to their genuine requirements.

In all, Atmar pointed out, 25,000 villages would benefit from the 18-month-old programme, which would run for another three years. But the reconstruction effort will continue beyond the three-year duration of the plan.

Following the plan's conclusion in three years from now, the minister explained, the government would extend loans to the masses for reconstruction projects.

Opening a military compound by Karzai

---------
President Hamid Karzai inaugurated a military compound costing $70 millions in the southeastern city of Gardez, capital of the Paktia province.

The huge compound for the Army Corps No 203 is spread over a 1.5 kilometer area can house as many as 4,500 soldiers. The president assured armed forces of all possible facilities, hoping they would measure up to the security challenge.

Corps Commander Rahmatullah Raufi told to Media the project was financed with part of $250 million assistance pledged by the US for the provision of facilities to Afghan army around.

Tribal elders and governors of Khost, Paktia and Paktika also met with President Karzai and briefed him on the situation prevailing in their provinces.

Paktia Governor Hakim Taniwal informed this news agency that Karzai himself paid a visit to the newly-built army headquarters and joined soldiers for lunch.

U.S Soldier

A US soldier, believed to be dead, went missing when a military vehicle skidded off the road and fell into river in the eastern Kunar province on Monday.

A statement released from US Bagram airbase on Tuesday said the incident occurred in the Paich Darra district. Other soldiers traveling in the Humvee remained unscathed.

Search has been launched to recover the missing soldier but no clue has been found so far, says the statement.
Snow has begun fast melting due to the recent rise in mercury causing overflow in rivers and their tributaries all over the country.

Kabul in picture today

--------------------
Love your Kabul