MPs call for protest tents to be removed from Kabul City

KABUL members, criticizing road blockades by protesters in Kabul, on Saturday asked the government to remove the protest tents.

A number of Kabul residents have been protesting against recent terrorist attacks in Kabul since June 2 after a May 31 truck bombing in Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of Kabul that killed 150 and injured another 350 people.

On the day one of their protest, violent clashes erupted between some protesters and police who were guarding the Presidential Palace. The clashes left seven protestors dead and 35 others, mostly police, injured.

On June 3, three suicide bombers blew themselves up among participants of funeral for one of the slain protestors, the son of a lawmaker, killing seven people and wounding 119 others. The protesters over the past nine days have erected eight sit-in tents in different areas of Kabul city.

Investigation into recent Kabul attacks, resignation of government leaders and security chiefs, and the trial of those who fired at protesters on June 2 are main demands of the demonstrators.

Fatima Azizi, a public representative from Kunduz province in Wolesi Jirga told Saturday’s session: “These tents aren’t in favour of people; the tent sitters’ demands should be met. God forbid if other camps are pitched against these tents and a fight between tents will start.”

Naseema Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand, said: “Kabul situation isn’t acceptable to people, the increase in protest tents shows the government’s weakness.”

Rababa Parwani, a legislator from Kabul, said: “These tents should be removed through whatever means possible because women have given births on the way to hospital due to the closed roads.” She warned if the situation wasn’t addressed seriously, a civil war was likely to begin once again.

Other lawmakers also dubbed the protest tents as a matter of serious concern for the Kabulis, asking the government to met legitimate demands of the protestors and collect these tents at the earliest possible in order to prevent any unfortunate happening.

Homayoon Homayoon, 1st deputy speaker who chaired today’s session, asked the president to reach an agreement with the protestors and address their legitimate demands.

He said the current problems stemmed from a weak management by the government and the poor management had allowed the explosive-filled truck to reach the safest area of Kabul.

Homayoon said police who opened fire at the protesters weren’t guilty because they just followed orders. “Those who had given them orders should be prosecuted.”

sns/ma