Politics Democratic_Republic_of_Afghanistan

1 politics

1.1 political system

1.1.1 pdpa

1.1.1.1 factions




1.2 national front
1.3 symbols: flag , emblem

politics
political system

the people s democratic party of afghanistan described saur revolution democratic revolution signifying victory of honourable working people of afghanistan , manifestation of real , interests of workers, peasants , toilers. while idea of moving afghanistan toward socialism proclaimed, completing task seen arduous road. thus, afghanistan s foreign minister commented afghanistan democratic not yet socialist republic, while member of people s democratic party of afghanistan s politburo predicted afghanistan not see socialism in lifetime in interview british journalist in 1981.

afghanistan considered soviet union state socialist orientation. soviets, in mid-1979, proclaimed afghanistan not merely progressive ally, fledged member of socialist community of nations. in contrast, later soviet rhetoric invariably referred saur revolution democratic turn, stopped short of recognizing socialist society.

under hafizullah amin, commission working on new constitution established. there 65 members of commission, , came walks of life. due death, constitution never finished. in april 1980, under babrak karmal, fundamental principles of democratic republic of afghanistan made law. constitution devoid of references socialism or communism, , instead laid emphasis on independence, islam , liberal democracy. religion respected, exception being when religion threatened security of society. fundamental principles were, in many ways, similar mohammad daoud khan s 1977 constitution. while official ideology de-emphasized, pdpa did not lose monopoly on power, , revolutionary council, equivalent rubber-stamp supreme soviet of soviet union, continued ruled through presidium, majority of presidium members pdpa politburo. karmal government new evolutionary phase of great saur revolution. fundamental principles not implemented in practice, , replaced 1987 constitution under muhammad najibullah. islamic principles embedded in 1987 constitution. instance, article 2 of constitution stated islam state religion, , article 73 stated head of state had born muslim afghan family. in 1990, 1987constitution amended state afghanistan islamic republic, , last references communism removed. article 1 of amended constitution said afghanistan wan independent, unitary , islamic state.

the 1987 constitution liberalized political landscape in areas under government control. political parties established long opposed colonialism, imperialism, neo-colonialism, zionism, racial discrimination, apartheid , fascism. revolutionary council abolished, , replaced national assembly of afghanistan, democratically elected parliament. government announced willingness share power, , form coalition government. new parliament bicameral, , consisted of senate (sena) , house of representatives (wolesi jirga). president indirectly elected 7-year term. parliamentary election held in 1988. pdpa won 46 seats in house of representatives , controlled government support national front, won 45 seats, , various newly recognized left-wing parties, had won total of 24 seats. although election boycotted mujahideen, government left 50 of 234 seats in house of representatives, small number of seats in senate, vacant in hope guerillas end armed struggle , participate in government. armed opposition party make peace government hizbollah, small shi party not confused bigger party in iran.

the council of ministers afghan cabinet, , chairman head of government. important government body in pdpa afghanistan, , ran governmental ministries. council of ministers responsible presidium of revolutionary council, , after adoption if 1987 constitution, president , house of representatives. there seems have been deliberate power-sharing between 2 bodies; few presidium members ministers. pdpa (perhaps involvement of soviets) appointed , decided membership of council of ministers. afghan dissident had worked in office of chairman of council of ministers reported topics discussion in council of ministers had approved soviets. under karmal, khalqist s purged , replaced parcham majority in council of ministers. of 24 members of council of ministers under karmal s chairmanship, 4 khalqists.

the pdpa


the emblem of pdpa

the pdpa constitution written during party s first congress in 1965. constitution regulated party activities, , modelled after leninist party model; party based on principles of democratic centralism. marxism–leninism party s official ideology. in theory, central committee ruled afghanistan electing members revolutionary council, secretariat , politburo, key decision-making bodies of state , party. after soviet intervention, powers of pdpa decreased because of government s increased unpopularity amongst masses. soviet advisers took on aspects of afghan administration – according critics, afghans became advisors , soviet became advised. soviet intervention had forced karmal upon party , state. while trying portray new government khalq–parcham coalition, members (the majority of whom khalqists), saw through lies. @ time of parchamite takeover of state , party, estimated 80 percent of military officers khalqists.

in party s history, 2 congresses held; founding congress in 1965 , second congress in june 1990, transformed pdpa watan party, has survived today in shape of democratic watan party. second congress renamed party, , tried revitalise admitting past mistakes , evolving ideologically. policy of national reconciliation given major ideologically role, since party looked peaceful solution conflict. class struggle still emphasised. party decided support, , further develop market economy in afghanistan.

factions

the khalq faction more militant of two. more revolutionary, , believed in purer form of marxism–leninism did parcham. following soviet intervention, khalqi leadership of taraki , amin had been driven out. but, several low , middle level functionaries still present in pdpa, , still formed majority within armed forces; khalq faction still managed create sense of cohesion. while still believing in marxism–leninism, many of them infuriated @ soviet intervention, , soviet s pro-parchamite policies. taraki, in speech, said defend our non-aligned policy , independence valour. not give inch of soil , not dictated in our foreign policy [nor] accept s orders in regard. while not clear, taraki pointing at, soviet union country afghanistan neighbored had strength occupy country.


the flag of pdpa



the parcham faction more moderate of two, , steadfastly pro-soviet. position hurt popularity when came power following soviet intervention. before saur revolution, parcham faction had been soviets favored faction. following parchamites seizure of power soviet assistance, party discipline breaking down because of khalq–parcham feud. after pdpa government had ordered replacement of 7 khalqist officers parchamites, 7 officers sent intended replacements back. while parchamite government gave trying take on armed forces, did announce execution of 13 officials had worked amin. these executions led 3 failed khalqist coups in june, july , october 1980. western press, during anti-parchamite purge of 1979, referred parcham faction moderate socialist intellectuals .

throughout pdpa history there other factions, such kar faction led dastagir panjsheri, later became khalqist, , settam-e-melli formed , led tahir badakhshi. settam-e-melli part of insurgency against pdpa regime. in 1979 settam-e-melli group killed adolph dubs, united states ambassador afghanistan. ideologically settam-e-melli close khalqist faction, settam-e-melli opposed saw khalq faction s pashtun chauvinism. settam-e-melli followed ideology of maoism. when karmal ascended power, settamites relationship government improved, due karmal s former relationship badakhshi, killed government forces in 1979. in 1983 bashir baghlani, settam-e-melli member, appointed minister of justice.

national front

karmal had first mentioned possibility of establishing broad national front in march 1980, given situation country in, campaign establishment of such organisation began in january 1981. spontaneous demonstration in support of establishing such organisation held month. first pre-front institution established tribal jirgah in may 1981 ministry of tribal affairs. jirgah later became member of front. national fatherland front (nff) held founding congress in june 1981, after being postponed on several occasions. founding congress, planned last 4 days, lasted one. within 1 month of founding, 27 senior members had been assassinated mujahideen. due this, organisation took time establish itself; first provincial committee established in november, , first jirgah in december. not until 1983 nff became active, , important organisation. aim of nff establish pro-pdpa organisation did not support pdpa ideologically.

its first leader salah mohammad zeary, prominent politician within pdpa. zeary s selection had wider implications: pdpa dominated nff activities. officially, nff had amassed 700,000 members after founding, later increased 1 million. should noted majority of members members of affiliated organisations, such women s council, democratic youth organisation , trade unions, of controlled pdpa. membership numbers in case inflated: in 1984 nff had 67,000 members, , in 1986 membership peaked @ 112,209. in 1985 zeary stepped down nff leader, , succeeded abdul rahim hatef, not member of pdpa. ascension of hatef proved more successful, , in 1985–86 nff succeeded in recruiting several muslims . nff renamed national front in 1987.

symbols: flag , emblem

on 19 october 1978 pdpa government introduced new flag, red flag yellow seal, , similar flags of soviet central asian republics. new flag stirred popular resentment, many afghans saw proof of pdpa government s secular nature. shown public first time in official rally in kabul. red flag introduced under taraki replaced in 1980, shortly after soviet intervention, more traditional colours black, red , green. pdpa flag, red yellow seal, retained emphasise difference between party , state afghan people. red star, book , communist symbols in general, removed flag in 1987 under najibullah.

the new emblem, replaced daoud s eagle emblem, introduced flag in 1978. when karmal introduced new emblem in 1980, said pulpit thousands of faithful led right path. book depicted in emblem (and flag) considered das kapital, work karl marx, , not quran, central islamic text. last emblem introduced in 1987 najibullah government. emblem was, in contrast previous ones, influenced islam. red star , das kapital removed emblem (and flag). emblem depicted mihrab, minbar , shahada, islamic creed.