Chlid Sex Abuse by AFG Security Forces?

[milnews.ca]

MODS: Couldn't find this elsewhere, but feel free to move/delete if already being discussed.

This summer, a Canadian media outlet ran a story alleging

Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been ordered by commanding officers "to ignore" incidents of sexual assault among the civilian population, says a military chaplain who counsels troops returning home with post-traumatic stress disorder....

The next day, speaking at a government committee hearing, Canada's Chief of Defence Staff is quoted saying

"If somebody is being seriously abused, we are not going to stand by and see that continue. I expect young men and young women to have their actions mirror their values that they bring with them from Canada"

On 21 Nov 08, the Canadian Forces announced a BOI regarding

.... the circumstances surrounding the allegations made last June of assault by Afghan National Security Forces members in the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in late 2006 or early 2007 (originating) from allegations reported in the media of possible abuse of Afghan minors by Afghan National Security Forces.

To me, if the Coalition is there to help develop professional military and police forces, this is a real problem. However, in spite of major (righteous) public rage over the recent attack involving acid thrown at school girls and teachers, I sense some discomfort around the male abuse issue.

On the con side of dealing with this, is it our business to change something that, to my understanding, has been a cultural norm for a long time? This, from a recent Pakistani blog post (highlighting mine):

....homosexuality in Pashtun society has been an open secret, although it might well be exaggerated. According to local tradition, many men live by the credo “Women for duty; boys for pleasure.” Indeed, Afghans often dress up pretty boys as girls, and have them dance in public. According to Afghan tradition, even birds cover their rear with their wings when flying over Kandahar....

On the pro side of dealing with this, though, how can a professional police/military force truly protect citizens whose kids may be subject to "chickenhawking" by said force members? If we're there teaching professional behaviour, shouldn't avoiding such behaviour be part of the plan?

Although I feel something should be done, I'm at a loss about how to deal with it. Or is this even NATO/ISAF/OEF's business?

[Rex Brynen]

On the con side of dealing with this, is it our business to change something that, to my understanding, has been a cultural norm for a long time?

The Taliban's initial seizure of Kandahar in 1994 was (in the usual version of the story), in response to child sexual abuse of boys and girls. This was subsequently severely curtailed under their rule.

Consequently, any such abuses by the ANA and ANP play nicely into the Taliban's current messaging that "security was better under us..."

[milnews.ca]

The Taliban's initial seizure of Kandahar in 1994 was (in the usual version of the story), in response to child sexual abuse of boys and girls. This was subsequently severely curtailed under their rule.

Consequently, any such abuses by the ANA and ANP play nicely into the Taliban's current messaging that "security was better under us..."

Good point - never thought about how the Taliban would message it.

[milnews.ca]

....from Strategy Page:

.... Foreign troops operating in southern Afghanistan quickly learn that this is a place where men are men, even if they are sexually attracted to other men, and especially boys. Other Afghans know about this, and a favorite bit of humor on the subject asks, "why do male birds fly over Kandahar flapping only one wing?" The punch line is, "so they can use their other wing to protect their rear end." Naturally, foreign troops are told to be careful with local ways, and not offend Afghans by mocking or criticizing local customs that offend, or amuse, foreign sensibilities.

This puts the Canadian military in an uncomfortable position. To admit to knowledge of these pederast practices would oblige them to intervene to prevent such abuse of children. This, of course, would raise an uproar among Afghans. First of all, Afghans officially deny that such practices exist. Islam forbids it, even though homosexuality and pederasty is common in many Moslem nations. Many powerful men indulge, and will use force to deal with anyone who brings public attention to such activity. But the Canadian public may demand that Canadian troops aggressively seek to halt such activity. Since the Afghan men in question tend to be armed, this will get ugly quickly.

Moreover, the Taliban and drug gangs have continued to recruit teenage boys for service as gunmen. Younger boys have been kidnapped, or bought from their parents, to satisfy the sexual needs of some Taliban and drug gang members. Underage kids are also used as suicide bombers. More boys than girls have been taken for sexual reasons....

[milnews.ca]

Shared in the interests of research and discussion....

Chaplain says senior officer aware of rapes by Afghans
Soldier recalls cries from boy brought onto Canadian base
Rick Westhead, Toronto Star, 14 Dec 08
Article link

The boy was no more than 12. He wore a wig, lipstick and perfume and was dressed in a flowing robe when an Afghan interpreter escorted him to the entrance of the Canadian base in remote Afghanistan.

It was June 2006 and it was one of Tyrel Braaten's first days at Forward Operating Base Wilson, about 30 kilometres outside Kandahar.

Braaten watched as the local interpreter, who worked for the Canadians, ushered the boy through the security checkpoint and led him inside a nearby building.

The bombardier was bewildered. He asked another interpreter standing next to him who the boy was. The interpreter shrugged that the boy was one of "the bitches."

"I said, `What do you mean?' and he made the motion with his hips, like you know," said Braaten, 24. "I remember saying, `Are we on Mars? Does this s--- go on all the time?'"

The native of Saskatchewan is the latest soldier to come forward alleging in detail how young Afghan boys during his tour in Afghanistan in 2006 were regularly sodomized by Afghan interpreters and soldiers working alongside Canadian soldiers.....

[Ken White]

I'm equally sure the media do not care that the issue, while problematic in western terms, is -- at the specific juncture of east and west where it is occurring and noted -- extremely difficult to resolve and that such articles fed to fat, comfortable westerners who are in warm houses and well fed under nominally good government and the rule of law (heh...) will do nothing but excite a lot of babble and outcry that will change nothing and will serve only to put the poor CAF at risk...

[milnews.ca]

I'm equally sure the media do not care that the issue, while problematic in western terms, is -- at the specific juncture of east and west where it is occurring and noted -- extremely difficult to resolve

Too true, but I understand (see below) that OMLT members are starting to mention to AFG troops and cops they're training that it's not exactly cool doing this, cultural history or not, to people they're supposed to be seen to protect. Given all the other balls in the air for fighting and training troops, this is at least SOMETHING.

such articles fed to fat, comfortable westerners who are in warm houses and well fed under nominally good government and the rule of law (heh...) will do nothing but excite a lot of babble and outcry that will change nothing and will serve only to put the poor CAF at risk...

The Torch, a Canadian military web log, sums it up reasonably well, I think (offered in the knowledge that there's a Canadian military Board of Inquiry investigating allegations that have not been proven beyond mentions in mainstream media)...

....My bottom line: if abuse like this is happening on Canadian FOB's, with Canadian troops turning a blind eye, then it needs to stop. I'm told that the OMLT's and POMLT's are already advising the ANSF that they mentor that regardless of cultural traditions, it's unprofessional conduct from a force whose raison d'etre is the protection of Afghan citizens.

By all means, let's make sure the CF is stopping the abuse where and when it can. But if you're looking to condemn the entire Afghan mission because of these accusations, remember there's still a big baby in that bathwater you're about to toss down the drain. Don't stop fixing anything just because you can't fix everything at once.

[Ken White]

Too true, but I understand (see below) that OMLT members are starting to mention to AFG troops and cops they're training that it's not exactly cool doing this, cultural history or not, to people they're supposed to be seen to protect. Given all the other balls in the air for fighting and training troops, this is at least SOMETHING.

I'm sure they are and equally sure the same thing is happening in US advised elements. That is all that should be done; to make a big production out of it will simply cause the Afghans to rebel in protest at excessive interference.

It is a cultural thing that will take years to change -- if it is ever changed. We have the same sorts of problems here in the west, we're just more discreet abou it -- or more PC and won't condemn it, one or the other.

... I think (offered in the knowledge that there's a Canadian military Board of Inquiry investigating allegations that have not been proven beyond mentions in mainstream media)...

I read The Torch and SOMNIA everyday.

This was really my point:

""
By all means, let's make sure the CF is stopping the abuse where and when it can. But if you're looking to condemn the entire Afghan mission because of these accusations, remember there's still a big baby in that bathwater you're about to toss down the drain. Don't stop fixing anything just because you can't fix everything at once.""

Well said. I was railing against (a) the ignorant and self serving media and (b) complacent and possibly well intentioned but also ignorant and self serving whining from those who don't have to either understand or contend with the problem about which they whinge.

[davidbfpo]

Yes this abuse by Afg SF may occur and is difficult to deal with. Let me try to place a little context around children in Afg.

IIRC in 2006-2007 there were reports of Afg children disappearing in the border provinces, only to be found in Pakistan minus their organs and President Karzai condemned this "harvesting".

Around the same time the UK press reported that Afg children were appearing in the UK, smuggled in, who needed to be cared for and were placed in (reluctant to act) local authority care at some cost. Shortly afterwards "relatives" would appear to claim the child, who was handed over and a tidy weekly sum paid to the "relative" for care. All the children were young boys and child slavery was suspected.

Afg is a poor country and I suspect poor families sell their children, not knowingly for "harvesting". IIRC an article on farmers selling children after a poor harvest appeared on a SWJ thread.