World | Afghanistan
Earn our trust or go, Afghan villagers tell Marines
The cleric's message was blunt. We don't trust you and if you don't earn our trust, our first meeting will be our last.
- Reuters
- Published: 22:54 July 5, 2009
Sorkhdoz: The cleric's message was blunt. We don't trust you and if you don't earn our trust, our first meeting will be our last.
With that, he stood abruptly and walked out of his first shura, or council meeting, with US Marines.
US forces who have moved deep into formerly Taliban-controlled territory in southern Afghanistan last week say they are here to stay and will not leave until they've improved the lives of ordinary people.
But locals - used to seeing Nato troops come through and fail to follow through on promises of development - may not be won over easily.
This week, the Marines, sent by US President Barack Obama, launched operation Strike of the Sword, one of the biggest operations by ground forces in Afghanistan since Soviet forces withdrew in 1989.
Their goal has been to seize quickly the lower Helmand River valley, a Taliban stronghold and the world's biggest opium producing region, where fighters resisted advances by an overstretched British-led Nato force for years.
In the village of Sorkhdoz, Foxtrot Company of the 2nd battalion, 8th Marines held their first shura with local elders yesterday, three days after arriving on assault helicopters.
No one invited them into their home; they met on the street.
The company commander, Captain Junwei Sun, promised his troops were not just passing through.
"This is a beautiful village. It's very peaceful. And we need to work to keep it that way," Sun said.
"I know there's Taliban. They come through the village and intimidate you and intimidate your children. That's why I want you to know, we are going to stay here."
The elders listened, clicking their prayer beads. Then Mullah Zainuddin, the village's religious leader, listed to their demands.
They want the provincial authorities to allocate more water for their irrigation system. They want a health clinic, and they want a school. Produce these things or leave us alone, he said.
"I do not trust you. There have been international forces that have come through the village and promised schools, promised clinics. When you are already [delivering] that, then I will trust you," he said.
"We are out of patience here. If you do not do these things and solve these problems, we will leave this village. We will fight: Every man, woman and child, we do not fear death.
"This is our last speech, and if you can't solve these problems, we will not have another shura. We will not sit like this again and talk with you," he said. He then got up and walked away, leaving the Marines to finish the shura without him.
In the end, they agreed to hold another shura. The Americans promised to bring officials from the agriculture ministry who would discuss providing the town with more water for irrigation.
The Marines shook hands and headed back to the compound they have occupied as a combat outpost. The elders remained in the street and quietly watched them walk away.
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