Dec. 6, 2010 —
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan (Dec. 6, 2010) — Ten detainees were released from the Detention Facility in Parwan and welcomed back to their communities during a shura Nov 24.
The 10 detainees were released to their friends, families, and community leaders after they signed a guarantor statement saying they will renounce violence and lead a peaceful life and tribal elders who pledged to assist the former detainees with their reintegration to their communities.
The Afghan-led program for releasing detainees, implemented in January 2010, stresses the importance of the detainees’ return to Afghan society. Since the program began, more than 300 detainees have been released at more than 50 release shuras.
“I hope that you return to your families and become prosperous members of the community,” said Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Marjan Shuja, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 Afghan commander.
The deputy Minister of Interior said Afghanistan will become stronger when the men return to their villages and help the government.
“There are people that don’t want Afghanistan to become a strong and prosperous country,” said Afghan National Army Lt. Gen. Jamil Jumbish Azizi. “That is why we must all do our part in helping the International community bring us peace and stability.”
One of the detainees spoke on behalf of all of the men being released at this shura.
“I believe that every person must think about their actions and resolve their problems through peace, if we are going to have a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan,” he said
He also said that the ANA and American Soldiers treat all detainees with respect and dignity, and they did nothing to dishonor the Soldiers during their time at the DFIP.
“In the two years that I was here, I was able to learn the Koran and was encouraged to do my prayers and take classes,” he said. “I learned lessons that I can take back and teach the children in the Madrassa.”
Many detainees held at the Detention Facility in Parwan are offered the opportunity to receive literacy and vocational training. The reintegration training programs offer several courses including English, Pashto, tailoring, agriculture and bread making. Upon arriving at the DFIP, detainees attend a vocational interview to assess their literacy level and determine what reintegration classes are of interest to the detainee. These reintegration programs offer detainees a chance to develop skills to use in their villages once they are released and afford them an opportunity to better themselves so that when they do go back home, they have choices other than the insurgency.
CJIATF-435, in partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and U.S. interagency and international partners, conducts operations in detention, corrections, the judicial sector and biometrics. Ultimately, conditions permitting, CJIATF-435 will transition detention operations to Afghan control while promoting Rule of Law practices.
The 46th Military Police Command, Task Force Peacekeeper, a subordinate CJIATF-435 command, oversees all detention operations at the DFIP. The task force ensures the safe and humane custody, control and care of detained persons in the Detention Facility in Parwan. The 96th Military Police Battalion, Task Force Spartan, trains the Afghan Soldiers in detention operations and provides linguists to overcome language barriers. Their efforts will enable Afghan National Army Soldiers to assume responsibility from their American counterparts and run the detention facility.
The DFIP, a state-of-the-art theater internment facility, located several kilometers from Bagram Airfield, was completed in September 2009 and occupied by detainees in late December 2009. The DFIP is equipped with a medical facility, on-site family visitation center, vocational facilities and educational classrooms. The design of the DFIP accommodates detainee reintegration efforts and enables CJIATF-435 to better align detainee operations with the overall strategy to defeat the extremist insurgency in Afghanistan.