KABUL - The Enlightenment Movement members on Saturday reiterated their previous stance and warned of staging large protests if TUTAP project route was not changed.
Jafar Mahdawi, a member of the movement, told a conference ‘Enlightenment Movement conference and outlook of civic activities in Afghanistan’ said if the government continued deceiving them, the movement would stage violent protests.
Accusing the government of tribal discrimination, he said the movement was making a civic appeal, but the government was paying no attention to their demands.
He said the movement had full control over supporters who could commit violent acts.
“If TUTAP 500kv electricity line is not passed through Bamyan, it would not be allowed to pass through anywhere else,” he warned.
Former national security advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta, who participated in the conference, supported the Enlightenment Movement stance and said protests were the right of every citizen.
“When a large number of people protest about technical issues, the governments needs to correct mistakes no matter if they cost millions. Democratic countries always take care of for their people,” he said.
He said Afghanistan was currently in crises and any action should be taken keeping in mind the current situation and future consequences.
Ahmad Behzad, another member of the Enlightenment Movement, said their demand was legal and their next phase of movement had been started to achieve their rights. He said their protests would continue until their demands were met.
However, Afghanistan’s New National Front (ANNF) party head, Anwarul Haq Ahadi said the Enlightenment Movement was a tribal movement. He said the government would have possibly responded positively had it a tribal-free movement.
“There is no place for any type of discrimination in the country’s Constitution and civic movements are the right of everyone”, he said.
On July 23, more than 80 people were killed and 230 wounded in two suicide attacks targeting a protest demonstration of the Enlightenment Movement in Deh Mazang area of Kabul.
TUTAP power line will import 500kv of power from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. The line would pass through Salang Pass crossing Baghlan province. (Pajhwok)