Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Post-Conflict Resolution

One of the CPTs I work with sent this article to me today because it talks about rule of law and reintegration, another area I have been pulled into.
http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/01/afghanistans_injustice_system

Then I began thinking about some of the things the article raises -- the level of corruption in the judicial system, the choosing of expediency over principle, and reconciliation and accountability when it comes to the reintegration program (Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program or APRP).  There is an element of reconciliation to the program -- insurgents are vetted and the community has to essentially agree that they should be admitted into the program.  But there hasn't been the same kind of buy in that is desired of a post-conflict resolution mechanism such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa or war crimes tribunals in Rwanda and the countries of the former Yugoslavia.  Is it because Afghan is not yet a post-conflict state?  Or because there are more than 2 sides at play?  Sure, there are coalition forces aligned with ANSF and GIRoA versus the Taliban and other insurgent groups.  But that's the simplistic view.  The reality on the ground is much different when the Taliban have shadow governments that are in some cases providing people with a system of justice that is more consistent and predictable (if incredibly harsh) than what they can expect from GIRoA.  

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