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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, with the help of coalition forces, launched a new campaign called Guardians of Peace in October to help improve security across Afghanistan.
The program allows Afghan citizens to anonymously report insurgent activity by either calling their local community safety lines or contacting Afghan National Security Forces or their village elders. Once the information is received, the callers are assigned a confidential number to protect their identity and ensure they are properly rewarded for their efforts.
“This program allows Afghan citizens to partner with their local government offices and help them provide protection for their villages by reporting any criminal or insurgent activity,” said Maj. Gen. John Campbell, commanding general for Combined Joint Task Force–101 and Regional Command–East.
“If the information they provide is beneficial to ANSF or coalition forces, they are eligible for a reward.”
All rewards are based on the value of the information provided and can be money, food or other “in-kind” necessities. Individuals reporting the information are instructed to call back to see if the information they provided qualifies for an award. At that time, if the information was accurate and useful, the individual is rewarded.
“Guardians of Peace helps Afghan citizens to provide for their own security and connects the local population to their security forces and government,” said Chief Warrant Officer Steven Mehl, RC-East rewards program manager. “Afghan citizens often have useful information regarding insurgent and criminal activities that can help the ANSF and GIRoA along with coalition forces. They just needed a place to share this information and the assurance of anonymity.”
Advertising of the program began Oct. 22, airing on six television stations and 16 radio stations as well on the placement of billboards and posters throughout RC-East, Mehl said. The program has picked up momentum and, partnering with Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense, International Security Assistance Force is considering making Guardians of Peace a nationwide campaign.
“There’s been a large increase in cache turn-ins in the last two weeks or so,” Mehl said. “There was a slight increase in turn-ins since the program started but the numbers recently spiked and there’s no doubt that there is a direct correlation between the increase in turn-ins and the program.”
“Overall, the program has been very successful. The ANSF, GIRoA and coalition forces have received information that has led to five insurgent leaders being captured, over 50 weapons caches and numerous improvised explosive devices turn-ins, four of which were made up of 200 pounds of homemade explosives,” Mehl said. “Afghan citizens are using the Guardians of Peace to help secure their village and bring peace back to their families.”
So far this year, 958 Afghans have been killed in insurgent attacks.
“At the end of the day, this program is about saving lives,” Mehl said. “Not just the lives of ANSF or coalition forces but the lives of ordinary Afghan citizens. Insurgents target everyone who fights to improve Afghanistan and its future. This program has become a weapon to defend those people.”
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2010 08:07 |
| Story ID: | 62080 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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