Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)

statement on the US strikes on Afghanistan

Taliban should be overthrown by the uprising of Afghan nation

Again, due to the treason of fundamentalist hangmen, our people have been caught in the claws of the monster of a vast war and destruction.

America, by forming an international coalition against Osama and his Taliban-collaborators and in retaliation for the 11th September terrorist attacks, has launched a vast aggression on our country.

Despite the claim of the US that only military and terrorist bases of the Taliban and Al Qieda will be struck and that its actions would be accurately targeted and proportionate, we have witnessed for the past seven days leaves no doubt that this invasion will shed the blood of numerous women, men, children, young and old of our country.

If until yesterday the US and its allies, without paying the least attention to the fate of democracy in Afghanistan, were supporting the policy of Jehadis-fostering, Osama-fostering and Taliban-fostering, today they are sharpening the dagger of the "Northern Alliance". And because of this policy they have plunged our people into a horrific concern and anxiety in fear of re-experiencing the dreadful happenings of the years of the Jehadis' "emirate".

Afghans, while keeping in mind the tremendous disasters they faced at the hands of Jehadi and Taliban vultures, just hang onto their hope for the return of the ex-king. However, if he comes to the scene while relying on the "Northern Alliance" and so-called "moderate" Taliban, he not only will lose his reputation among the people but it will endanger the stability and success of whatever set-up he forms.

In the time of the Taliban's medievalist domination, no Afghan and no honorable and mindful Muslim will be deceived by the "nationalistic" gestures of Taliban who invite the Afghan people and even the whole Muslim world for "Jehad" against America. Any person, group or government that supports the Taliban, no matter under what pretext, is the enemy of the Afghan people, the people who also hate the "anti-Osama" and "anti-terrorism" acts of the "Northern Alliance" murderers. Our people not only have not forgotten the five years after the collapse of the puppet regime of Najib --the most horrible years of terrorism and unchastity-- but as well they don't forget the time when the Jehadis themselves were the cheap servants of Abdullah Ezam and Osama bin Laden.

Now the "Northern Alliance" groups lie in ambush like hungry wolves so they, while riding the guns of the US, can assault and swarm into Kabul and in proportion to the depth and width of their "conquests", besides committing vandalism like the years before, gain ground in order to bargain for position in the second "emirate", and as a consequence again spoil the aspiration of the people for the establishment of a stable and democratic government acceptable to all.

The continuation of US attacks and the increase in the number of innocent civilian victims not only gives an excuse to the Taliban, but also will cause the empowering of the fundamentalist forces in the region and even in the world.

Our people have two options:

Either the eradication of the plague of Taliban and Al Qieda -though they (our people) didn't have any part in its cultivation and germination- and the establishment of a government based on democratic values, or to hand over Afghanistan to these forces who have dependence, looting, crime and national treason as the main components of their perfidious entity.

Our compatriots, therefore, must rise up for a thorough demolition of Taliban and their Osamas so the world should understand that the tired, wounded, mournful and deserted Afghans not only in word, but practically too, have no connection with the criminals and don't regard a handful of Arab or non-Arab terrorists as "honorable guests".

Only an overall uprising can prevent the repetition and recurrence of the catastrophe that has befallen our country before and with or even without the presence of the UN peace-keeping force this uprising can pave the way for the establishment of an interim government and preparation for elections. We believe that once there is no foreign interference, especially of a fundamentalist type, all ethnic groups of all religions, with no regard to the devilish designs of the fundamentalists, will, prove their solidarity for achieving the most sacred national interests for the sake of a proud and free Afghanistan.

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) asks that all anti-fundamentalist, freedom and democracy-loving and pro-women's rights forces and also the ex-king of Afghanistan, before it is too late, must play their role in the organizing of mass-uprising and as well thwart the plans of the internal and external enemies of Afghanistan.

The peace and justice-loving people of the world will be on the side of the Afghan people.

Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)

October 11, 2001

This statement has already been widely distributed inside Afghanistan in Pushtu and Persian languages.

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