Wednesday 30 March 2005
The Afghanistan province of Bamyan where 120 New Zealand peacekeepers are based has the country’s first female governor.
Habiba Sorabi was welcomed on her arrival in Bamyan by over 1000 officials, representatives from local organisations and the general public. Members from the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team assisted with the security of the airfield throughout the official proceedings. Lieutenant James Webb, Security Platoon Commander, said they were unsure how the crowd would respond given recent protests for the retention of the previous governor. “As it turned out, however, the atmosphere and conduct of the crowd was extremely welcoming”.
Governor Sorabi is a high profile figure in the promotion of women’s rights and of the plight of Afghani women under the Taleban regime. Following US military action in 2001 and the removal of the Taleban, she was appointed Women’s Affairs Minister prior to taking up her current appointment.
She arrived to widespread clapping and chants of welcome before being escorted from the plane by the former governor, Mohammed Rahim Aliyar, his deputy Zaliq and the Chief of Police, General Wahadat. She received a guard of honour before walking through the crowd and speaking with those who had gathered to meet her. As is traditional in Afghani custom, a sheep was killed in her honour securing the future prosperity of the province.
Nasir, a local unemployed farmer, said ‘we see a prosperous and successful future, and are very happy that Governor Sorabi is here and optimistic that she will do things for the betterment of our future’. Many from the crowed reiterated the same sentiment and anticipated improvement to sanitation; road works; reconstruction and the implementation of adult literacy programmes.