THIS YEAR ELECTIONS ARE VERY GOOD: AFGHAN YOUTH

UNCLAS KABUL 001238 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV AF SUBJECT: THIS YEAR ELECTIONS ARE VERY GOOD: AFGHAN YOUTH ENGAGE IN WEBCHAT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: In a webchat engaging over 100 university students and other youth through Lincoln Centers in Kabul, Jalalabad, Bamyan, and Mazar-e-Sharif, Embassy officers discussed the role of civil society in elections, with the theme of "more than just a voting day." The students welcomed answers to their many questions, while the questions in turn provided a snapshot of public opinion. Students had a lively interest in voter turnout, security, and transparency. Overwhelmingly, these young Afghans were eager to know whether the US supported Karzai or another candidate. The participants displayed a keen interest in the elections' outcome as well as enthusiasm about this milestone in Afghanistan's democratic development. We are scheduling similar dialogs with a variety of audiences about every two weeks between now and August. END SUMMARY. WORRIED ABOUT TURNOUT AND SECURITY -------------- ¶2. (U) A variety of questions linked concerns about possible lower voter turnout to the performance of the government, a common phenomenon as countries move into the second democratic election. Reza, a young woman in Bamyan, asked, "Do you think people are interested to participate in this election when they see that most the issues, about which the government made promises, are not finished?" From Jalalabad, Hashim Khan wrote, "The people are not satisfied with the government of Afghanistan. They don't want to participate in this process. What do you think?" ¶3. (U) Other participants wondered whether voter turnout in insecure areas would be so low that the legitimacy of the vote would come into question. In Jalalabad, Faroq noted that "some people still do not have a voter registration card for security reasons." A Bamyan student, enjoying the relative security of the north, nonetheless asked, "How sure are you of voters participating in the south and east of Afghanistan?" Hafizullah, from Jalalabad, wrote, "If the situation gets worse like the Khost event (a complex suicide attack),then is it possible for the voting?" Nasir asked, "How can election be held in the south while the fighting is going on?" CURIOUS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY -------------- ¶4. In questions about the transparency of the electoral process, most students were seeking information rather than expressing a point of view. "Tell me about the transparency of elections in Afghanistan," one student wrote. A Jalalabad participant asked which country would help Afghanistan keep the process fair. Nasir cheerfully sent in, "What do you think about vote rigging?" A few students doubted the role of the incumbent. Noorshah complained, "When Hamid Karzai is in power, how can we say elections are transparent?" WHO WOULD YOU PICK? -------------- ¶5. (U) The webchat participants, to a man and to a woman, were determined to know, even if with resentment, who was "the US candidate." "Does President Obama support especially one candidate, or all?" asked a Bamyan student. Mokhtar chimed in, "I want to know, does USA support Mr. Khalilzad?" Gulham Saki noted, "We know the American decision about this election is so important. How many percent can we hope that the US does not chose a president for Afghanistan?" Ahmad wanted to know, "If Karzai becomes the next president, will the international community respect Afghans' decision, or not?" MOST IMPORTANTLY, A CHANCE TO HAVE A SAY -------------- ¶6. (U) The large number of participants meant students stood three and four deep in the Lincoln Centers to share the available computers. Their lively, rapid-fire questions signaled that these youth, despite healthy skepticism and some concerns, are engaging in the democratic process and see the electoral outcome as important to their future. Jalalabad's Farhad acknowledged, "This year elections are very good." Hashim, likewise from Jalalabad, wrote, "Thank you very much for the election of Afghanistan." EIKENBERRY