Robinson wants truth process to probe all sides

A probe into allegations of violations committed by members of the Afghan interim administration would be supported by the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), a top UN official has said. "It is clear that any human rights commission must look at not just human rights violations by the Taliban, but from elements of the Northern Alliance too," UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson told IRIN in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday. Having returned from a visit to Afghanistan on Sunday, Robinson spoke of her discussions with the interim administration, and the announcement by its chairman, Hamid Karzai, that a truth commission would be set up in the country. "He intends to start the process straight away and he said that people must be able to tell their story and that it's important to elicit the truth," she explained, adding that Karzai had asked her for technical help and for the information on human rights violations in Afghanistan held by the UN Special Rapporteur. The UNHRC would be able to give Karzai support and backup for the commission, she said. "It will be difficult, and there is great concern in the human rights community that some of the members of the interim administration have a bad past in relation to human rights issues," she added. Participating in a special workshop on human rights held in the Afghan capital, Kabul, attended by some 90 human rights campaigners in the country, Robinson hailed it a success, and said it dealt with all the key areas of the Bonn agreement. It called for the UN to be charged with investigating human rights violations and recommending courses of action. Campaigners at the workshop formed two groups to liaise with various ministries of the interim administration and hold seminars on human rights issues. "Our office will support them. I have seconded a human rights officer working with Mr Brahimi [The UN's Special Representative for Afghanistan]," she said. During her visit to Afghanistan, Robinson also spent time in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, where human rights violations against members of the Pashtun ethnic group were said to have taken place, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released recently. "I heard some 30 men who spoke about violations. These violations were extremely serious and included killings, beatings, rape of women, stealing large numbers of animals and looting. Most people had been displaced, and they spoke about a number of families in a similar situation," she said. Women also gathered to see the high commissioner, and spoke of being raped repeatedly. Some were as young as 12, and the incidents were related to ethnic tensions, Robinson said. "I raised my concerns with General Dostum's second-in-command and impressed on them that the cycle of violence was not acceptable," she maintained. Referring to the security situation, Robinson said there were a lot of people carrying guns around the city of Mazar-e Sharif. "I kept emphasising that the core human rights problem in Afghanistan is human security." During her discussions with the interim administration, she also emphasised the need to extend the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to other key towns and cities in Afghanistan. She warned that this was absolutely vital, as there could be increasing tension during the period leading up to the convening of the Loya Jirga (supreme national tribal assembly). "We have let down the Afghan people before, and they must not be let down again," she stressed. During her three-day visit to Pakistan, Robinson met President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad. Raising serious concerns over police powers, honour killings and torture, she said these issues should be addressed through legislation and reform. The high commissioner highlighted the importance of free and fair elections in October. "I think it is very important that there be very careful and meticulous preparations for the elections," she said. "I want to reinforce the importance of the democratic process."