Document #1319548
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The Europa World Year Book 1994
states that in June 1981 the Afghan government formed the National
Fatherland Front (NFF) consisting of the People's Democratic Party
of Afghanistan (PDPA) "and other organizations, with the aim of
promoting national unity" (1994, 279). In May 1985 a non-PDPA
member was appointed Chairman of the NFF (ibid.). According to the
source, in December 1986 an extraordinary plenum of the Afghan
ruling party, the PDPA, "approved a policy of national
reconciliation which involved negotiations with opposition groups,
and the proposed formation of a coalition government of national
unity" (ibid.) The source adds that in January 1987
a Supreme Extraordinary Commission for National Reconciliation, led by Abd ar-Rahim Hatif [Abdul Rahim Hatef] (the Chairman of the National Committee of the NFF), was formed to conduct the negotiations. The NFF was renamed the National Front (NF), and became a separate organization from the PDAP. The new policy of reconciliation won some support from former opponents, but the seven-party mujahidin alliance ... refused to observe the cease-fire or to participate in negotiations, while continuing to demand a complete and unconditional Soviet withdrawal (ibid.).
Encyclopedia of the Third World
confirms the above-mentioned information, noting that in 1987
as part of the efforts towards ending the civil war, political parties were permitted, provided they accept reconciliation. At that time, the National Fatherland Front, founded in 1981 as a union of PDPA representatives and national and tribal groups, became the umbrella for legal political activity under the name of the National Front (NF) (1992, 7).
The Europa World Year Book 1994
maintains that as part of the government-initiated process of
national reconciliation, the 1987 approved draft of a new
constitution provided for "the formation of a multi-party political
system, under the auspices of the NF" (1994, 279). Referring to the
April 1988 parliamentary elections, Europa states that the
"PDPA itself won only 46 seats in the House of Representatives, but
was guaranteed support from the NF, which gained 45" (ibid.,
280).
The attached 1987 TASS report provides
information on the NF. According to this report, the main
objectives of the NF were to ensure "peace, security and nationwide
reconciliation," mobilizing "patriots for strengthening the
country's defence capability," to speed up "the country's social
and economic development and carry out the first five-year plan"
(15 Jan. 1987). The report states that the NF central council,
elected in the second NFF congress in January 1987 during which the
NFF was renamed the NF, consisted of "more than 200 representatives
of all social strata and groups of the population ethnic groups and
tribes in Afghanistan" (ibid.). The congress elected Abdul Rahim
Hatef chairman of the Central Council of the NF (ibid.). The
attached BBC report refers to Abdul Rahim Hatef as the
vice-president and chairman of the NF (BBC Summary, 15 Sept.
1988).
Sources consulted by the DIRB do not make
specific mention as to whether the NF was also known as the
National Front for Reconciliation. However, the following
information might be useful. Elaborating on the process of
formation of the NF, The Europa World Year Book 1994 states
that a Supreme Extraordinary Commission for National Reconciliation
led by Abdul Rahim Hatef, the Chairman of NFF and then NF, was
formed to conduct negotiations for the achievement of
reconciliation in Afghanistan (1994, 279). The attached BBC report,
which provides information on the assassination of two persons,
introduces the victims as "Enayatolh, member of the Supreme
Extraordinary Commission for National Reconciliation in
Afghanistan, chairman of the National Front council and of the
Reconciliation commission in the district Rodat ..., and his son"
(BBC Summary, 6 Feb. 1987). The attached TASS report regarding the
NF founding congress refers to an NF resolution urging the Afghans
to "tirelessly work at extraordinary commissions for national
reconciliation at all levels" (15 Jan. 1987).
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of
sources consulted in researching this information request.
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 15
September 1988. "Afghan Officials Meet UN Human Rights Commission
Delegation." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 February 1987. "Other Reports;
Member of Reconciliation Commission Killed in Nangarhar."
(NEXIS)
Encyclopedia of the Third World.
1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York:
Facts On File.
The Europa World Year Book 1994.
1994. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.
The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union
(TASS). 15 January 1987. "Afghanistan National Fatherland Front."
(NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 15
September 1988. "Afghan Officials Meet UN Human Rights Commission
Delegation." (NEXIS)
_____. 6 February 1987. "Other Reports;
Member of Reconciliation Commission Killed in Nangarhar."
(NEXIS)
Encyclopedia of the Third World.
1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York:
Facts On File, p. 7.
The Europa World Year Book 1994.
1994. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications, pp. 279-280.
The Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union
(TASS). 15 January 1987. "Afghanistan National Fatherland Front."
(NEXIS)
Afghanistan: A Country Study.
1988.
Communist and Marxist Parties of the
World. 1990.
DIRB country file (Afghanistan).
Encyclopedia of the Third World.
1992.
The Europa World Year Book 1994.
1994
Political Parties of the World.
1988.
World Encyclopedia of Political
Systems and Parties. 1987.
On-line search of articles.