Afghan children running away from the scene of the recent suicide attack in Kabul. Photo: Reuters

Afghan citizens have been going through long periods of war for over the past 30 years. By now, millions have been displaced, hundreds of thousands killed or disabled, and the major infrastructures seriously damaged. Nevertheless, the war had a different shape. There was the regime and there were the rebels. The lines were pretty much clear.

But this picture has changed after the first suicide attack took place in Afghanistan. Most of these attacks are planned in crowded areas of the major cities. Kabul, for instance, looks more like a military base rather than a city. Its appearance has changed. Its dynamic has changed. Its people have changed.

Apart from the demographic shift in Kabul in the past decade, one of the major reasons that keep people on edge is suicide bombings. These attacks do not require the investment and management of a small brigade let alone an army. They don’t require a big budget. All is needed is a few number of brain-washed fanatics, some explosives, and a good plan. At the same time, however, they consume significant resources in order to be prevented.

On the other hand, a plan of this small caliber leaves a very deep impact. It leaves uncertainty. It worsens unpredictability. It shatters the trust in security and it causes an increasing sense of constant instability. And this is this feeling of constant instability that is a killer. People just become unable to think or manage how to stay safe, how to keep children away from violence, and how to plan for future. This is because suicide attacks can happen anywhere at any time. They have this element to dash people’s hopes and wreck their nerves.

It is true that our people have shown resiliency and that is how they survived. However, it has come with a heavy cost that we must not ignore. Along this painful journey, relationships have shattered. Extremism has become stronger. Violence has become more prevalent.

Therefore, the mere element of resiliency in people doesn’t mean the government stop taking proper measures to put an end to these attacks or at least manage them in an efficient manner. The simple yet compelling question is: how can we expect our children, the next generation, to be non-violent, open-minded, and law-abiding citizens whereas they are exposed to such horror and trauma too much and too often?

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http://en.rawanonline.com/exposed-to-unpredictable-horror-html/

The boat was carrying as many as 72 people when it hit rocks off the coast of West Java.

According to Indonesian search and rescue agency BASARNAS due to lack of information aerial search was not possible. However, Some asylum seekers were rescued by local fishermen.

Survivor Habibullah Hashimi, 29 year old, said that at least five people had drowned but he was unable to pinpoint the location of the sinking.

The boat was reportedly carrying ethnic Hazara from Afghanistan, and had been heading for Christmas Island.

In August last year, BASARNAS was criticised over its response to the sinking of an asylum seeker vessel in the same area.

More than 100 asylum seekers drowned on that occasion and it was later revealed that an aerial search was not launched until six hours after the first distress call.

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Hazara People International Network

Photos by Mehdi Modabbir

For more than a century now, the Hazara people of Afghanistan and Pakistan have been victims of systematic crimes such as genocide, slavery, sexual abuse, war crimes, and discrimination.

Hazara poet, Kamran Mir Hazar, who crafted the letter notes, “Article two of the Convention on Genocide describes the dire situation of the Hazaras, and the world must no longer ignore the continuing ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Hazaras. We the poets around the world will continue our work to support the Hazaras by writing a chain poem and collecting more signatures.” he added.

Despite the deployment of thousands of international troops in Afghanistan, Hazaras are regularly attacked by Afghan Kuchis, backed by the Taliban and the Afghan government. Hazara roads are often blocked by Taliban gunmen. Hazara cars are randomly halted and the passengers murdered. In central Afghanistan, a huge population of Hazaras have been marginalized and denied their basic human rights.

As a result, millions of Hazaras have fled Afghanistan, creating unnecessary refugee populations in countries like Turkey, Greece, Australia, and Indonesia. In Pakistan as recently as 16 February 2013, more than three hundred Hazara men, women and children were killed or injured in a terrorist bombing in Quetta, Pakistan.

Poets World-wide implore world leaders to declare of a state of emergency regarding the Hazara situation in Afghanistan; to pressure Afghan and Pakistani governments to stop discrimination and stop supporting terrorists groups; to grant asylum to Hazara asylum seekers; establish an international Truth Commission to investigate the systematic crimes against Hazaras; to open cases concerning genocide and human rights violations in international courts such as the ICC; to protect Hazaras in Afghanistan with international troops. We appeal to international media to investigate and report on activities against Hazaras in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Open Letter from Poets World-wide with signers is available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Hazaragi/Dari and Russian languages on www.HazaraRights.com
==========================
For more information contact Kamran Mir Hazar at email: kamran at kamranmirhazar.com and Skype: kamran.mir.hazar

270 noted poets including Nobel, Pulitzer, continental and national literary prize winners as well as presidents of international poetry festivals, presidents of PEN clubs, and writers associations from 88 countries have signed an open letter to world leaders, declaring their solidarity with the Hazara people. For more than a century, the Hazara people of Afghanistan and Pakistan have been victims of systematic crimes such as genocide, slavery, sexual abuse, war crimes and discrimination.
The letter is addressed to The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, and President of the United States, Barack Obama, asking them to take steps to insure the security and safety of the Hazara people.

Hazara poet, Kamran Mir Hazar, who crafted the letter notes, “Article two of the Convention on Genocide describes the dire situation of the Hazaras, and the world must no longer ignore the ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Hazaras.”
In Afghanistan, even with thousands of international troops deployed, Hazaras are regularly attacked by Afghan Kuchis, backed by the Taliban and the Afghan government. Hazara roads are blocked by Taliban gunmen. Hazara cars are halted and its passengers murdered. In central Afghanistan, a huge population of Hazaras is marginalized, and is denied basic legal rights.

As a result, millions of Hazaras have fled Afghanistan, creating terrible and unnecessary refugee situations in countries like Turkey, Greece, Australia, and Indonesia. In Pakistan as recently as Thursday, January 10, 2013, more than one-hundred Hazaras were killed in an organized terrorist attack in Quetta, Pakistan.
Poets world-wide asks world leaders to declare of a state of emergency regarding the Hazara situation in Afghanistan; to pressure Afghan and Pakistani governments to stop discrimination and stop supporting terrorists groups; to grant asylum to Hazara asylum seekers; establish an international Truth Commission to investigate systematic crimes against Hazaras; to open cases concerning genocide and human rights violations in international courts such as the ICC; to protect Hazaras in Afghanistan with international troops. We appeal to international media to investigate and report on activities against Hazaras, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Open Letter from Poets World-wide with signers is available in English, Spanish, Italian, Hazaragi/Dari, and Azeri languages on www.HazaraRights.com

==========================
For more information contact Kamran Mir Hazar at email: kamran@kamranmirhazar.com Skype: kamran.mir.hazar

After more than a century of systematic crimes such as genocide, slavery, sexual abuse, war crimes, and discrimination, being a Hazara still appears to be a crime in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As recently as Thursday, January 10, 2013, more than one-hundred Hazara were killed in an organized terrorist attack on the city of Quetta, Pakistan. In the past few years, more than a thousand Hazaras were killed in similar attacks in Pakistan alone.

Today, even in their homeland, Afghanistan, Hazaras are not safe. Every year, they are attacked by Afghan Kuchis who are backed by the Taliban and the Afghan government. Hazara roads are blocked by Taliban gunmen. Hazara cars are halted and its passengers are killed.

In the center of Afghanistan, where a huge population of Hazaras are marginalized, they do not have access to basic legal rights. They still suffer systematic discrimination and Taliban attacks. As a result, millions of Hazaras have fled to numerous countries as refugees or asylum seekers, frequently living in terrible conditions.

The Hazara indigenous people made up nearly 67 percent of the population of Afghanistan prior to the 19th century. In that century, they were subjected to genocide and enslavement twice. They were forced to flee most of their land, located in the south of modern Afghanistan. More than 60 percent of them were killed and thousands were sold as slaves.

Afghanistan’s entire 20th century history has been marked by killings of Hazaras and systematic discrimination against them. On February 10 and 11, 1993 in the Afshar area of Kabul, the Mujahadeen government, and its allies exterminated and left injured thousands of Hazara men, women and children. In August 1998, the Taliban killed more than ten thousand Hazaras in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Similar bloodbaths quickly spread to other parts of Afghanistan. Destroying Hazara history and making and promoting an inaccurate, demeaning history of their culture have been further strategies, in addition to violent crimes.

For example, in March 2001, the Taliban notoriously destroyed the ancient Buddha sculptures of Bamiyan which were principal symbols of Hazara history and culture, and one of the most popular masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. Such is the history of two centuries of crimes against the Hazara, and from which they still suffer.

Therefore, we poets from around the world declare our solidarity with the Hazara people and ask you world leaders to take the following steps to properly insure the security and safety of the Hazara people and culture:

1: Declare a state of emergency regarding the Hazara state of affairs, as authorized by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

2: Apply diplomatic pressure on both the Afghan and Pakistani governments to immediately cease acts of discrimination against the Hazara and to stop supporting terrorist groups who commit violent acts against them.

3: Ask the Refugee Convention’s state parties to protect Hazara asylum seekers and grant them asylum.

4: Establish an international truth Commission to investigate crimes against the Hazara.

5: Open comprehensive cases concerning genocide and gross human rights violations in international courts such as the ICC.

6: Over 150,000 international troops are in Afghanistan. They must ensure the safety of the Hazaras before they leave Afghanistan.

7: Appeal to international media to investigate and report on activities against the Hazara, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Poets Around the World

Signatures with names, positions and countries:

• Fernando Rendón, Poet, editor and director of International Poetry Festival of Medellin (Colombia)
• Kamran Mir Hazar, Poet, journalist and webmaster (Afghanistan/Norway)
• Lello Voce, Poet (Italy)
• Gabriel Rosenstock, Poet (Éire/ Ireland)
• Irena Matijaševi?, Poet (Zagreb/ Croatia)
• Pitika Ntuli, Poet, writer and sculptor (South Africa)
• Dean Hapeta aka Te Kupu, Poet and musician ( Aotearoa, NZ)
• Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Poet (Ireland)
• Jack Hirschman, Poet (San Francisco in the United States)
• Agneta Falk, Poet (San Francisco in the United States)
• Janak Sapkota, Poet (Nepal)
• Boel Schenlaer, Poet (Sweden)
• Ershad Mazumder, Poet (Bangladesh)
• Alexander Gorsky, Poet, writer, journalist (Ukraine)
• William Masore, Poet (Kenya)
• K. Satchidanandan, Poet (India)
• Thór Stefánsson, Poet (Iceland)
• Hemant Divate, Poet, Editor, Publisher and Translator (Mumbai, India)
• Attila F. Balázs, Poet, editor, Publisher and Translator (Slovakia)
• AB-ART Publishing house (Bratislava, Slovakia)
• Enikoe Thiele, Poet, translator (Austria)
• Alireza Behnam, Poet and journalist (Iran)
• Mohammad Sharif Saiidi, Poet and journalist (Afghanistan/Sweden)
• Jüri Talvet, Poet (Estonia)
• Maggie Cleveland, Poet (Massachusetts, US)
• Julio Pavanetti, Poet, President of Liceo Poético de Benidorm (Uruguay/Spain)
• Angelina Llongueras, Poet, Barcelona (nowadays a member of the Revolutionary Poets Brigade in San Francisco, US)
• Amir Or, Poet and editor (Israel)
• Fahredin Shehu, Poet and Writer(Prishtina, Kosovo)
• Andrea Garbin, Poet (Mantova, Italy)
• Jean-Claude Awono, Teacher, editor and President of La Ronde des Poètes, Cameroon and Festival international de Poésie des Sept Collines de Yaoundé, Festi7 (Cameroun)
• George Grigore, Poet (Bucharest, Romania)
• Neeli Cherkovski, Poet (USA)
• J. K. Ihalainen, Poet and publisher (Finland)
• Hooman Azizi, Poet (Iran)
• Maryam Hooleh, Poet (Iran)
• Philip Hammial, Poet and sculptor (Australia)
• Rati Saxena- Poet, kritya international poetry festival (India)
• Bina Sarkar Ellias, Poet, editor, designer and publisher (Bombay/India)
• Mahmoud Abuhashhash , Poet (Palestine)
• Julia Kissina , Writer (Germany/Russia)
• Zelma White, Poet (Montserrat, B.W.I)
• Merlie Alunan, Poet, Essayist, Teacher of Literature (Philippines)
• Stanka Hrastelj, Poet and writer (Slovenia)
• Zingonia Zingone Poet (Italy)
• Erling Kittelsen, Poet (Norway)
• Tânia Tomé, Singer, Composer, Poet and Economist (Mozambique)
• Rashid Boudjedra, Poet, novelist, playwright and critic (Algeria)
• Ersi Sotiropoulos, Poet and novelist (Greece)
• Mohammad Azizi, Poet and journalist (Afghanistan)
• Emad Fouad, Poet and journalist (Egypt/ Belgium)
• Dr.Arif Ali Albayrak, Poet, Cartoonist, Painter and Music Composer (Cyprus/Turkey)
• Arturo Vázquez Sánchez, Poet (México)
• José Manuel Solá Gómez, Poet, Writer (Puerto Rico)
• Annabel Villar, Poet (Uruguay/Spain)
• Stephanos Stephanides, Poet, professor of literature (Cyprus)
• Peter Völker,Poet (Germany)
• José Francisco Mejía Ramírez, Poet and Writer (Honduras)
• Reza Heyrani, Poet (Iran)
• Hadi Hazara, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Nelly Elías de Benavente, Poet, Delegada de IALAYA – Instituto del libro Argentino y Americano (Argentina)
• Rahela Yar, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Werewere-Liking Gnepo, Poet and playwright and performer (Ivory Coast)
• Marjorie Evasco, Poet and Teacher of Literature (Philippines)
• Robert Max Steenkist, Poet, photographer and entrepeneur (Netherland/ Colombia)
• Joseph Mwantuali, Poet (Clinton, New York, USA)
• François Szabo, Poet (France)
• Gaston Bellemare D.h.c., C.M., O.Q. Président Festival International de la Poésie/ Fédération des festivals internationaux de poésie (Québec, Canada)
• Santiago B. Villafania, Poet (Philippines)
• Jacobo Rauskin, Poet (Asunción, Paraguay)
• Gertrude Fester, Poet and writer (South Africa)
• Howard Fergus, Poet (Montserrat West Indies)
• Prof.Dr.Sc. Ivan Djeparoski, Poet and philosopher (Skopje, R. Macedonia)
• Nancy Huston, Novelist and essayist (Canada)
• Elfriede Jelinek, Writer (Austria)
• Tozan Alkan, Poet and translator (Istanbul/Turkey)
• Euphrase Kezilahabi, Poet and novelist (Tanzania)
• Fernando Sabido Sánchez, Poet (Spain)
• Elyas Alavi, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Parwiz Kawa, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Dr.Homaira Nakhat Dastgirzada, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Dawood Hakimi, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Julieta Valero, Poet (Spain)
• Hatto Fischer, Philosopher, Poet und Co-ordinator of Poiein kai Prattein (Germany)
• Winston Morales Chavarro, Poet (Colombia)
• Al Hunter, Poet(Anishinaabe Nation, Canada)
• Siki Dlanga, Writer and poet (South Africa)
• Carey Lenehan, Poet and Writer for Peace (London, UK)
• Ernesto Carrión Poeta (Ecuador)
• Rira Abbasi, Poet, writer and director of International peace poetry festival (Iran)
• Mindy Zhang, Poet and translator (China-USA)
• Haroon Rahoon, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Samay Hamed, Poet (Afghanistan)
• S.Asrar Hamed Muqtader “Vesta”,Poet and Reporter (Afghanestan, presently Refugee in Turkey)
• Raihan Yousef ,Poet and Reporter (Afghanestan, presently Refugee in Turkey)
• Akwasi Aidoo, Poet (USA)
• Robin Ngangom, Poet, translator, teacher (India)
• Rafael Patiño Góez, Poet and translator (Colombia)
• Sonja Harter, Poet (Vienna, Austria)
• Parvaneh Torkamani, Poet and Social Worker (United States of America)
• Fathieh Saudi, Poet (Jordan/UK)
• Bengt Bertg, Poet and publisher (Sweden)
• Sigurdur Pálsson, poet, (Iceland)
• Tamer Öncül, Poet (Nicosia/Cyprus)
• Partaw Naderi, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Zeki Ali, Poet (Cyprus)
• Leopoldo Castilla, Poeta (Argentina)
• Rachel Tzvia Back, Poet (Israel)
• Michael Augustin, Poet & Festival Director (Germany)
• Mildred K Barya, Poet (Uganda)
• Nicole Cage, Poet (Martinique)
• Hafizullah Shariati, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Abotalib Mozaffari, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Saburullah Siasang, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Nawzar Ilyas, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Sam Hamill, Poet (USA)
• Galvarino Orellana, Poet, writer and Secretary General of “Frente Cultural Bolivariano Internacional” (Chile)
• Regina Dyck, Festival Director (Bremen, Germany)
• David Huerta, Poet (Mexico)
• Veronica Murguia, novelist (Mexico)
• Gahston Saint-Fleur,Poet, Writter and Executive Director of Foundation PROCULTURA/PROKILTI (Haiti)
• Miguel Aníbal Perdomo, Poet (Dominican Republic)
• Amiri Baraka, Poet (USA)
• Amina Baraka, Poet (USA)
• Charl-Pierre Naude, Poet (South Africa)
• Dunya Mikhail, Poet (Iraq)
• Bei Dao, Poet (China)
• Agus R. Sarjono, Poet & Editor in Chief Journal of Criticism (Indonesia)
• Nuno Júdice, Poet (Portugal)
• Birgitta Jonsdottir, Poetician, Member of the Icelandic Parliament for the Movement & chairperson of the International Modern Media Institution (Iceland)
• Reza Baraheni, Novelist, poet, critic, and political activist (Iran)
• Peter Curman, Poet (Sweden)
• Lyerka Bonanno, Poeta (Venezuela)
• Grace R. Monte de Ramos, Poet (Philippines)
• Geoffrey Philp, Poet, novelist, and playwright (Jamaica, West Indies)
• BINYOU-BI-HOMB Marius Yannick, Poet (Cameroon)
• Noria Adel, Poet, writer and visual artist (Algiers, Algeria)
• Shakor Nazari, Poet, Editor, Head of Afghanistan Literature House In Kabul and Member of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) (Afghanistan)
• Tsead Bruinja, Poet (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
• Bernard Noël, Poet (France)
• Lic. Gerardo Paz Delgado, Poet, Secretario Nacional por Uruguay del Movimiento Internacional Poetas del Mundo. (Uruguay)
• Christian Salmon, essayist and ex director of the International Parliament of Writers, (France)
• Mark Lipman, Poet (USA)
• Chirag Bangdel, Poet, artist and writer (Nepal)
• Zolani Mkiva, Poet (South Africa)
• Elena Armenescu, Poet (Romania)
• D.M. Reyes, Poet and Literature Teacher (Philippines)
• Tom Egeland, Author and critic (Norway)
• Hildebrando Pérez Grande, Poet, Premio de Poesía Casa de las Américas (Peru)
• Rodolfo Dada, Poet (Costa Rica)
• Jean Portante, Poet, novelist (Luxembourg/France)
• Gonzalo Márquez Cristo, Poeta (Colombia)
• Antonio Correa Losada, Poeta (Colombia)
• Amparo Osorio, Poeta (Colombia)
• Héctor Rosales, Poet (Uruguay/España)
• Anthony L. Tan, Poet, fictionist, essayist, and teacher of literature (Philippines)
• Myriam Montoya, Poet (Colombia/ France)
• Jim Byron, musician (USA)
• Carlos Piera, Writer (Spain)
• Camila Charry Noriega, Poet (Colombia)
• Harold Trujillo Torres, Caricaturista de opinión periódico El Espectador (Colombia)
• Lucia Ortiz Corredor, Poet (Colombia)
• Julio César Goyes Narváez, Poet (Colombia)
• Julio César Goyes Narváez, Poet/ IECO-Instituto de Estudios en Comunicación y Cultura/ Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Colombia)
• Alonso Sáenz M., Promotor de Lectura (Colombia)
• Carmen Calatayud, Poet and nonfiction writer (USA)
• Eduardo Emilio Esparza, Artista Plastico (Colombia)
• Canéla A. Jaramillo, Poet, Author, Editor (United States)
• Claribel Alegría, Poet, essayist, novelist, and journalist (Nicaragua)
• Jill Schoolman, Publisher (USA)
• Marco Antonio Campos, Poet (Mexico)
• Marion Bethel, Poet (Bahamas)
• Eleonora Parachini, Artista, (Colombia)
• Juan Carlos Mestre, Poet and writer (Spain)
• Ostap Nožak, writer and translator (Ukraine)
• Stephane Chaumet, Poet (France)
• Lic. Gerardo Paz Delgado, Poet, Secretario Nacional por Uruguay del Movimiento Internacional Poetas del Mundo. (Uruguay)
• Julian Hector Gutierrez, Poet and writer (Colombia)
• Francisco Sánchez Jiménez, Writer (Colombia)
• Fredy Yezzed, Writer (Colombia/ Argentina)
• Eusebio Sánchez Clavijo, Writer (Colombia)
• Jose Yezid Morales, Poet and Painter (Colombia)
• Helena Iriarte, Novelista y profesora universitaria de literatura (Colombia)
• Paul Disnrad, Poet (Colombia/ Serbia)
• Paul Dutton, Poet, Fiction Writer, Essayist and Musician (Canada)
• Coral Bracho, Poeta (México)
• Fanny Moreno Ospina, poeta (colombiana)
• Martha Ennix, Artista plástica (colombiana)
• Víctor López Rache Poeta y ensayista (Colombia)
• María LeMarie, Writer and painter (Colombia)
• Bassem Al Meraiby, Poet (Iraq- Sweden)
• Manuel Pachón, Poeta y Maestro (Colombiano)
• Maruja Vieira, Poet and journalist (Colombia)
• Juan Carlos Acevedo Ramos, Poet (Colombia)
• Roberta J. Hill, poet and writer, (Oneida) (Madison, Wisconsin in the U. S.)
• Dieudonné Ewomsan, Poet (Togo)
• Carlos Fajardo Fajardo, Poet (Colombia)
• Qassim Haddad, Poet (Bahrain)
• Neeli Cherkovski, Poet (USA)
• Fabio Martinez, Escritor (Colombia)
• Morela Maneiro, Poet (Venezuela)
• Sayed Hegab, Poet (Egypt)
• Zoran Anchevski, poet, translator, professor of literature (Macedonia)
• Liv Lundberg, Poet, Writer, Professor (Norway)
• Pia Tafdrup, Poet and Writer (Denmark)
• Micere Githae Mugo , Poet, Playwright, Scholar and Activist (Kenya)
• Angye Gaona, Poeta (Colombia)
• Allison Hedge Coke, Poet and writer (US)
• Matthew Shenoda, Poet (USA/Egypt)
• Chiqui Vicioso, Poet (Dominican Republic)
• Aref Pejman, Poet, Author, and Associate Professor (Afghanistan)
• Fredy Chikangana, Poeta y Escritor Quechua Yanakuna Mitmak (Colombia)
• Ramiz Rovshan, Poet and writer (Azerbaijan)
• Liam Ó Muirthile, Poet (Ireland)
• Nguyen Quang Thieu, Poet (Vietnam)
• Andrei Khadanovich, poet (Belarus)
• Alberto Nessi, poeta e scrittore (Switzerland)
• Hermes Vargas. Poeta (Spain)
• Chris Abani, Poet and writer (Nigeria/USA)
• Abdourahman WABERI, Poet (Djibouti)
• Beppe Costa, poet, novelist and publisher (Italy)
• Stefania Battistella, Poet (Italy)
• Senem Gökel, Poet, researcher, instructor (Cyprus)
• Ingrid Wickström, Poet and translater (Sweden)
• Priya Sarukkai Chabria, Poet, writer and translator (India)
• Homero Aridjis, Poet and novelist, President Emeritus of PEN International (Mexico)
• Gemino H. Abad, Poet, professor emeritus of literature and creative writing (Philippines)
• Vasyl Makhno, Poet (Ukraine/USA)
• Vincent O’Sullivan, Poet (New Zealand)
• Joy Harjo, Poet and musician (Mvskoke Nation, USA)
• Gioconda Belli, Poet and novelist (Nicaragua)
• Francisco de Asís Fernández, Poet and President of the International Poetry Festival, Nicaragua (Nicaragua)
• Gloria Gabuardi, Poet (Nicaragua)
• Alexandra Büchler, Director of Literature Across Frontiers (Czech Republic/UK)
• Nora Atalla, poète, romancière et nouvelliste (Québec, Canada)
• Moya Cannon, Poet (Irland)
• Michèle Blanchet, poète de Québec (Canada)
• Nyein Way, Poet, Performance artist and educator (Myanmar)
• Max.N.RIPPON poet (Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe)
• Omar Pérez, Poet, writer and translator (Cuba)
• Jared Angira, Poet (Kenya)
• Rashidah Ismaili, Poet (Benin)
• Raquel Chalfi, Poet and writer (Israel)
• Blanca Andreu, Poet (Spain)
• Michaël Glück, Poet (France)
• Stefaan van den Bremt, Poet and Honorary chairman of PEN FLANDERS (Flanders, Belgium)
• Jan Owen, Writer (Australia)
• Vyacheslav Kupriyanov, Poet (Russia)
• Geneviève Morin, Poet (Québec, Canada)
• Yiorgos Chouliaras, Poet (Greece)
• Quito Nicolaas, Writer/Poet (The Netherlands)
• Simón Zavala Guzmán, Poeta y ensayista (Ecuador)
• Timo Berger, Poet and publisher (Germany)
• Ceaití Ní Bheildiúin, Poet (Ireland)
• Jean Clarence Lambert, Poet, translator, essayist and art critic (France)
• Antonio Preciado, Poeta (ecuatoriano)
• Manal Al-Sheikh, Poet and writer (Iraq/ Norway)
• Yasin Khamosh, Poet and journalist (Afghanistan)
• Valeriu Stancu, Poet, novelist and translator (Romania)
• Aju Mukhopadhyay, Poet, essayist, feature and fiction writer (India)
• Unpublished poets:
• Mir Hussain Mahdavi, Exiled freelance writer and poet (Afghanistan)
• Leila Malekmohammadi, Poet and journalist (Iran/ Norway)
• Sultan Haidari, Journalist and poet (Afghanistan)
• Ali Hazara, Poet and movie maker (Afghanistan)
• Hossein Pooya, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Sakhi dad Hatef, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Maryam Turkmani, Poet (Afghanistan)
• Razi Mohebi, Poet and movie maker (Afghanistan)
• Fereshta Ziai, Poet, pedagog and youth mentor (Afghanistan/Sweden)
• Laila Haidari, Poet and director of Life is Beautiful Organization (Afghanistan)

PS: 
1: Copy to International Media
2: For more information contact Kamran Mir Hazar at email:
kamran@kamranmirhazar.com
Skype: kamran.mmir.hazar
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KamranPoetry

Countries: Colombia, Norway, Ireland, Ireland, Croatia, South Africa, NZ, United States, Nepal, Sweden, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Kenya, India, Slovakia, Austria, Iran, Sweden, Estonia, Spain, Uruguay, Israel, Kosovo, Cameroun, Romania, Finland, Australia, Palestine, Russia, Germany, B.W.I, Philippines, Mozambique, Algeria, Greece, Afghanistan, Belgium, Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, México, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Argentina, Ivory Coast, France, Canada, Paraguay, West Indies, Macedonia, Tanzania, UK, Ecuador, China, Uganda, Martinique, Chile, Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Iraq, Indonesia, Portugal, Iceland, The Netherlands, Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Bahamas, Ukraine, Argentina, Serbia, Togo, Bahrain, Venezuela, Macedonia, Denmark, Kenya, Dominican Republic, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Switzerland, Nigeria, Djibouti, Czech Republic, Myanmar and Cuba.

In Kabul, 2nd Lt. Sourya Saleh, 20, left, and 2nd Lt. Masooma Hussaini are Hazara air force helicopter pilots who were trained in the United States. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times / December 28, 2012)

The two women in their 20s were trained in the U.S. how to fly military helicopters, but in Afghanistan, they have been ignored and put off by the air force.

 Read full story on Los Angeles Times website.

1: A local commander has killed 17 civilians
13.05.1391
In this news Abdul Hakim Shujai has been accused of involvement in the killing of 17 civilians and there is no any detail or evidences.

http://da.azadiradio.org/content/news/24665276.html

Source of RFE/RL: Province Council Directors (No Name)

2: Murder of dozens of civilians in Urozgan has escaped
16.05.1391
In this report, Radio RFE/RL claims that the reporter has talked with inhabitants of Khas district of Urozgan province and Abdul Hakim Shujai kidnapped 20 civilians and killed 17 of them. There is no any news about 3 of 20 civilians. There is no any voice of inhabitants of Khas district in journalist news.

http://da.azadiradio.org/content/article/24668196.html

Source of RFE/RL: Province Council Directors (No Name)

3: People of Urozgan want detention of Abdul Hakim Shujai
21.08.1391

http://da.azadiradio.org/content/article/24767631.html

In this RFE/RL news it has been mentioned that Abdul Hakim Shujai has been accused of involvement in the killings of 120 civilians including children and women. Now, they have increased the number of civilian victims from 17 to 120 and there is no any further news about 3 kidnapped civilians.

4: Afghan interior Ministry has ordered Abdul Hakim Shujai detention
23.08.1391

http://da.azadiradio.org/content/news/24769671.html

In this news it has mentioned by RFE/RL journalist that Abdul Hakim Shujai has been accused of involvement in the killing of more than 100 civilians in Urozgan and, Minister Mojtaba Patang has ordered his detention.
(Note: Mojtaba Patang was a police officer under Taliban regime.)

5: Afghan government has failed to detain Abdul Hakim Shujai
In this news RFE/RL journalist repeats previous claims without any details.

http://da.azadiradio.org/content/article/24810035.html

A quick glance at above five news titles shows that RFE/RL journalist (s) in Dari and Pashtu sections are not willing to follow radio’s mission statement. These RFE/RL journalists also do not provide balanced news. Here is another news title on official website of Afghanistan Parliament:

http://www.wolesi.com/pvd/showdoc.aspx?Id=3532

In this official news, members of Urozgan Provincial Council visit the speaker of the Parliament Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi and they thank Abdul Hakim Shujai for his efforts against the Taliban. They say the Taliban are dangerous threats for people in Urozgan.
The fact is that Abdul Hakim Shujai protects civilians from Taliban attacks and those such as Patang and Obaidullah Barikzai who claim against him are well-connected to Taliban and drag traffickers.
Here is another news title of Uozgan published in New York Times:

Taliban Kill 9 Members of Minority in Ambush
By ALISSA J. RUBIN
Published: June 25, 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/world/asia/26kabul.html?_r=0

Urozgan is the homeland of the Hazara people. In the last decade of the 19 century during the genocide of the Hazaras, it has been invaded by Pashtuns while many Hazara natives of this land were forced to leave their homes and farms and had to immigrate to the other neighboring provinces.

The morning call., October 02, 1892

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/connect-asia/australian-police-accused-of-racially-profiling-pakistans-hazaras/1063906

We feel strongly that it is time to re-set the policy direction to ensure that Australia is not violating of basic human rights and breaching the UN Refugee Convention.

Hazaras are the most prosecuted people in the world and have been suffered systematic crimes such as genocide, slavery, forced displacement, war crimes and discrimination. We strongly believe that UN Refugee Convention completely fits to Hazaras situation, not only the Hazaras in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan and Iran.
If government members of Australia want to decrease the number of Hazara asylum seekers, the best option is to put pressure on Afghan, Pakistani and Iranian governments to respect the Hazara rights and insure that they are not under systematic attack and discrimination. In this case, Australia should work closely with international organizations and institutions including UN, European Commission, Amnesty International and International Criminal Court.

In the past, Australia has been recognised as a global leader in terms of human rights. Many Hazaras have been granted asylum and now they are active members of their new society. However, the current policies aimed at deterring people from exercising their right to seek asylum are compromising this, and will erode Australian credibility in terms of advocating for human rights more generally.

The current policies are clearly intended to remove all hope from desperate and vulnerable people who have both a legal and human right to seek protection from Australia. The punitive nature of the policies of deterrence gives lie to the assertion that the Government is motivated by compassion. Drownings at sea are tragic, and additional measures need to be put in place to ensure better surveillance and rescue capabilities to prevent further drownings. Condemning people to indefinite detention in remote island camps with only rudimentary facilities, and denying all hope of family reunion, is not compassionate. Allowing people to live in the community with the same uncertainty about their future, and without the opportunity to support themselves is just setting up an alternative form of desperation.

It is very clear that the misguided policy of off-shore detention on Nauru and Manus Island is quickly becoming a debacle, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups for the inhumane conditions, and the sense of hopelessness that this approach is designed to produce. The damning report on Nauru just released by Amnesty International is cause for Australian’s to feel deep shame. This report calls for the immediate closure of Nauru, and the immediate recommencement of processing for all asylum seekers who have arrived since 13 August 2012. See detail at: http://www.amnesty.org.au/images/uploads/news/NauruOffshoreProcessingFacilityReview2012.pdf.

The Australian Government can and should put decent asylum seeker policies in place. It is time to abandon the deterrence approaches and adopt new polices which:

• Are based on the premise that people have every right to seek asylum in Australia, irrespective of their means of arrival
• Are proactive in offering immediate protection and support for asylum seekers in the community while their claims are being assessed- to all asylum seekers irrespective of their country of origin
• Focus on processing and reviewing claims in a reasonable time period, and in ways which maximise fairness and transparency
• Provide permanent protection to all those found to be refugees
• Provide resettlement support to all refugees, including employment support to assist their settlement into the community
• Respond to the circumstances in the region which are resulting in larger numbers of people fleeing their countries of origin in search of peace and safety.

The proposed legislation to excise the mainland from the Migration Zone is ludicrous, and should be opposed. If passed, this legislation will draw further adverse international attention to Australia.
Given the circumstances in our region, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is clear that significant numbers of people will continue to arrive on Australia’s shores seeking asylum. Australia should not be turning these people away, or punishing them – they are entitled to fair treatment, legal processes to assist them with their claims for asylum, and resettlement in the community when found to be refugees.
Australia is a country of migrants, and it has the capacity to assist much larger numbers of asylum seekers. Australia needs not be fearful of this prospect. It is not about to succumb to ‘invasion’, as the constant rhetoric of ‘border protection’ would suggest. The claim that Australia is generous to refugees is largely overstated. Comparative figures show that Australia ranks 60th in terms of number of refugees resettled relative to GNP, by population ranks 32nd. Reference The Age editorial 24 Nov 2012 http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/editorial/cynicism-mars-the-debate-on-refugees-20121124-29zhm.html

Currently a very large amount of money is spent on denying people their human rights in detention centres on the mainland, and more recently in off-shore centres on Nauru and Manus Island. It would be both financially efficient and morally responsible to close the detention centres, and use these savings to provide for processing claims and resettling refugees in the community.

It is also important that people are not deported where there is doubt about whether they have had the benefit of fair and through assessment and review processes. The threatened deportation of Hazaras to Afghanistan and Pakistan who have not had access to proper assessment process must stop.
Australia can and should adopt a more mature and responsible approach to responding to the human suffering arising from conflict and political oppression in countries is our region. It is time for Labor to show moral leadership on this issue, and provide hope, not despair for asylum seekers, and all those who care about human rights in Australia.
Again, Australia should works closely with international community to insure the safety and security of the Hazaras in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

We implore you to do all within your power to agitate for policy change on this important humanitarian issue.
Yours sincerely

Turkic Azeri and Hazara Solidarity Network

With respect to the values of humanity and belief in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, where basic rights of individuals and groups are highlighted and are being defended, Turkic Azeri and Hazara Solidarity Network starts its activity on the 12th of December, the 67th anniversary of the establishment of short lived South Azerbaijani National State in 1945.

The network will focus on deepening the relationship between Turkic Azeri and Hazara people; also will help them value their strategic unity. For decades, Hazara and Azeri people have been subjected to brutal attacks by their enemies and occupying regimes. For long, their rights been breached in an inhumane way. The network will help our people to stand up and defend their rights.

Also, we have decided to name the 3rd Friday of December every year as the day of unity between Azeri and Hazara Turkic people. This day will also remind us of the great freedom and justice martyr, Abdul Khaliq Hazara, and the day when the puppet regime of Pahlavi celebrated the repeated occupation of the liberated parts of South Azerbaijan by burning school books and literature written in Azeri Turkish, the mother language of South Azerbaijan. These events will make us think again, stay united and become stronger.

We call all those who own a thought, who write and who act on behalf of their people to join us and help us spread the word of unity. We will warmly welcome all those who show their support and who publish a note celebrating the birth of the Turkic Azeri and Hazara Solidarity Network.

Azeri and Hazara activists

Turkic Azeri and Hazara Solidarity Network’s official web site:
www.HazaraAzeri.com
E-Mail:
info@hazaraazeri.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/HazaraAzeriNetwork
Twitter:
@HazaraAzeri
www.twitter.com/HazaraAzeri