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The National Maliks Association Annual Meeting

The National Maliks Association (NMA) annual gathering was organized by WADAN in consultations with the head and executive board of the NMA and its regional networks in Kabul from November 22 to 24, 2006. The theme of the National Maliks Association (NMA) annual meeting was: “What the citizens particularly the members of NMA can do for the country and its government NOT what the country or its government can do for them”. Around 425 NMA members from the various regions participated in the event and were actively involved in all discussions, elections for the head of the NMA and took part in the different group discussions, debates, plenary sessions, and question and answer sessions.

The regional head of NMA presented their achievements so far as well as highlighted their constraints and needs. They mentioned that they were actively involved in the promotion of peace, democracy, governance, conflict resolutions, human rights and drug control in their constituencies and are regularly in contact with their people through discussions, speeches, jirgas, hujras and mosques. Members of the NMA executive board spoke and shared their progress on similar issues and their future plans – more regional dialogues, more involvement in initiatives geared toward peace, resolution of tribal disputes, promotion of national unity through regional exchanges, and more direct links with the elected officials - with the participants and sought their support.

During the discussions, a working group was assigned to come up with a declaration that was adopted unanimously at the end of the event.

Moreover, a committee was assigned to nominate around 200 NMA members to meet with President Karzai and some of his team to share the NMA declaration and provide suggestions and recommendations for the upcoming grand Loya Jirga to be organized by Afghanistan and Pakistan for the promotion of peace and stability and the prevention of extremists and terrorists. Subsequently, more than 200 members of NMA met with the President for more than two hours on November 24, 2006 and discussed with him the NMA Declaration and provided suggestions and recommendations. President Karzai voiced his appreciation and vowed to promote the NMA Declaration. The President also thanked the NMA members and WADAN for their ground-breaking work at the grassroots level.

The following issues were discussed in detail and the participants were encouraged to actively participate and play their role in the political, social, economical and cultural rebuilding of their homeland.

• Security and the role of NMA members in promoting peace and stability and vehement struggles against extremism and terrorism;
• The need for economic development and the role of the NMA members in improving the livelihood of their constituents;
• The need for effective governance and elimination of corruption in all its forms;
• The need to free the Afghan society form the menace of illicit drugs cultivation, usage and trafficking;
• The need for greater awareness and mobilization of the public to promote human rights with a particular focus on the rights of women;
• The need for intercultural awareness and support for those national and international players that are engaged in the promotion of peace, democracy, reconstruction and rebuilding of the country.
• The need to strengthen the NMA relationship with their elected officials and their constituencies.

Among the participants were some members of the administration, parliament, UN, NGOs and some businessmen. Some of them who also delivered speeches were:

Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq Ahadi, Minister of Finance
Dr. Farooq Wardak, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
Mr. Nabi Farahi, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Youth Affairs
Mr. Mirwais Yasini, member of Parliament
Mr. Shahmahmood Miakhel, governance advisor of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Mr. Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi, Chairman, ANCB

At the conclusion of the event, members of the NMA vowed to actively promote the declaration and mobilize their constituencies to participate and contribute to the betterment of fellow Afghans and work for the prosperity, national unity, peace, democracy and development of Afghanistan as well as abide and promote the universal declaration of human rights.

The event was covered by national and international print and electronic media. Members of NMA and some WADAN field staff were interviewed by various media outlets regarding the event, the role of NMA and views and opinions on current challenges Afghanistan faces.