PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – After confirming their commitment to a peaceful way of life, 16 former detainees were released from the Detention Facility in Parwan July 29 and welcomed back into the community by their families and tribal elders during a detainee release shura.
“This is a day of reunion for these men, reunion with their community and their families,” said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, Joint Task Force 435 deputy commander. “It is also a day of shared hope for the future of Afghanistan; it is days like today that give us hope for an Afghanistan at peace.”
The shura was attended by more than 200 Afghans, including family of the detainees and tribal elders from many different provinces. Local leaders signed a guarantor statement indicating their intent to monitor the released detainees, support their return to the community and supervise their conduct. The guarantor statement is an informal, not legally binding document that is worded to align with the Pashtunwali code.
“This shura offers a glimpse, it gives you transparency into the humane care and custody that is taking place at the Detention Facility in Parwan,” Martins said. “Every policy that is implemented here, now by Afghan guards as well as their American counterparts, is designed to ensure that each detainee is treated with dignity and given an opportunity to learn a new skill and, in the end, to not pursue a life of violence.”
The Afghan-led program for releasing detainees was implemented earlier this year and stresses the importance of reintegration into Afghan society. Since the program began, nearly 200 people have been released from the DFIP during the formal ceremonies.
JTF-435, under the command of U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, is committed to safe, secure, humane care and custody of detainees consistent with international law. While in JTF-435’s care, detainees may also receive literacy and vocational training to enable them to peacefully reintegrate into their villages and society after they are released.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2010 03:09 |
| Story ID: | 53800 |
| Location: | PARWAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 64 |
This work, 16 Former Detainees Released During Parwan Shura, by SGT Jason Boyd, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
