Governor Anwari visits Farsi District

(Transcript of report by provincial state-owned Afghan Herat TV on September 16, 2007.)

[Presenter] Herat Province Governor Sayed Hosayn Anwari led a delegation of officials, including zonal security commanders, officials from the national security department, the rural development department and the commander of Italian PRT [Provincial Reconstruction Team] to Farsi District of the province today.

[Correspondent] The Herat Province governor and the accompanying delegation evaluated security problems in Farsi District which has just seen heavy fighting.

During the visit, district residents pointed out their problems and asked officials in charge of the province to look for a solution to their problems. Mr Anwari promised to increase the number of police soldiers in the district to ensure better security. He also promised to include different villages of the district in the National Solidarity Programme. During his speech, the governor of Herat Province spoke about his determination to defeat the enemy. He asked the people to be strong so that they can have a stable and secure country.

[Governor in Dari] A number of people who, unaware of the reality, used to support them [anti-government elements] have now joined the government. They handed over their weapons and accepted the decision of people of Afghanistan. Keep in mind that the devil will be defeated and will always end up in failure. Your district is a small example proving what I said. You witnessed their failure and defeat but do not forget that there is a precondition for such victories. The precondition is to have strong determination. We have to be strong and we have to take consistent decisions. We have to realize that we are true and they are false.

[Correspondent] The Herat Province governor said the government belonged to people and praised the people for resisting the enemy.

[Governor in Dari] The government of Afghanistan is the legal government for the nation. More than 55 per cent of people of Afghanistan have voted for this government. We have religious duties and our scholars are aware of these duties. It is our duty to find out how to support the government; how to defend the government of President Hamed Karzai for whom you have voted. May God bless you for defending your district so well.

[Correspondent] The Herat Province governor also promised to praise the security commander and the head of Farsi District soon. He also paid a visit to the families of martyrs who were killed during the fighting and donated some cash.

The Herat Province governor and the accompanying delegation travelled to the district a week after the district was attacked by a large group of anti-government militants . The assault is known as one of the heaviest of its kind in the district to be defeated by the people and security forces. About 18 anti-government insurgents and six police forces were killed or injured in the attack.

[Description of Source: Herat Herat Television in Dari -- state-run television. OSC IAP20070917950010 Herat Herat Television in Dari 1630 GMT 16 Sep 07]