The right to vote has been seen by the U.S. as a right fundamentally granted to it’s citizens. This ability to vote provides an opportunity for an individual to get their voice heard amongst the crowd and make a change that they might deem necessary within their government. Nowadays, this right has been somewhat taken advantage of, seeing that it is now easily accessed then it was in the past. However, in other countries, the right to vote is seen as a luxury that you must fight for.
In the early 1900’s, it seemed as though electoral voting did not even exist in Afghanistan. The country went through many rough ups and downs in which prime ministers were forced to resign, individuals ascertained power through implementing coup d’ teat’s, and armies established their own types of governments. However, nowhere in the early history of Afghanistan are elections even hinted at until 2004, which shows that the people involved were subject to comply with whatever variety of government comes their way.
At this point in time, Afghanistan faces serious conflicts in the ability of conducting sufficient elections without the fear of being harmed. Now , violence has struck the whole country and hindered the ability of those who possess with the right to vote, individuals have begun to speak up. UN officials started to implore the Taliban (those charged with creating the violence) to stop the attacks and give the people a chance to vote. With the rise of civilian casualties, officials have acknowledged that security has gone up, with the hopes that the upcoming April 5 elections will be able to commence.
Will the plea of the UN officials be enough for violence in Afghanistan to cease and allow individuals to vote? What other precautions could the country implement to protect their people?
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The Taliban’s use of violence to silence the citizens of Afghanistan is disturbing. Even when the people of this historically conflict ridden country are given the long awaited right to vote for their governmental leaders, it is only a mirage of change. Voters are threatened to vote the way Taliban military tells them to. Those that don’t, are faced with consequences as horrific as murder. Most potential voters are influenced to stay far away from voting locations on election day.
Michael Semple wrote an eye opening Peace Brief which addresses the Taliban’s public rejection of the April 2014 elections. To this terror aimed organization, the elections are not even legitimate. Although they have issued disruption instructions to officials, there are hopes that elections will go on. Is there anything democracy supporters can do to help the citizen’s voice be truthfully heard? Hopefully peaceful representation will be seen in Afghanistan in the future.
http://www.usip.org/publications/the-taliban-s-view-of-the-2014-elections