TheAfghanistan'sNewBeginningsProgramme(ANBP)isaprojectoftheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP).ItwascreatedinApril2003toassisttheGovernmentofAfghanistaninimplementingDisarmament,DemobilizationandReintegration(DDR).DDRwassuccessfullycompletedinJune2006.ANBPisnowinvolvedintwosecurityrelatedprojects:theAntiPersonnelMines&AmmunitionStockpileDestructionProjectandtheDisbandmentofIllegalArmedGroups(DIAG).
DIAG UPDATE
SAIGHANANNOUNCEDASPEACEDISTRICT
On20SeptemberSaighanDistrictinBamyanProvincewasannouncedasa'PeaceDistrict'bytheAfghangovernmentaspartofDIAGinitiativeon20September,onedaypriortotheInternationalPeaceDay.
Seventyweaponsandsomeammunitionweresurrenderedby13commandersinthearea.
"WearehappytocelebrateInternationalPeaceDayforthreedaysinBamyan.WeareproudtoannounceSaighanasa'PeaceDistrict'andthankcommanders,peopleandofficialswhodidagreatjobtochoosepeaceanddevelopmentinsteadofweapons,"saidHabibaSarabi,GovernorofBamyan.
Mr.BaqauddinaformerJihadicommanderinSaighan,whosurrenderedhisweaponstoDIAG,believesthathehasdoneagreatjihadbytakingpartinthepeaceprocessinSaighan.HeaddressedtheAfghanpeopletoencouragepeaceandallowthefuturegenerationtoformaneducatedsociety,notarmedone.
Mr.BaqauddinisnowateacherinSaighanCentreandfeelsthathislifehassignificantlychangedafterhegaveuphisweaponsanjoinedtheeducationalsystembyteachingchildreninSaighan.
Asaformercommanderwhohasbecomeateacher,hefeelsthat"AllthepeoplerespectmeasaheroinSaighan."
Mr.LatifBashardostANBPRegionalOfficeManagerinBamyanalsosaidthatDIAGsupportstheAfghanGovernment'sobjectivesandsiilarlythepeopleofSaighanshoulddemonstratethecapacitytoreceivingcommunityDevelopmentprojectsbyremainingfreeof IllegalArmedGroups.Inthisceremony,Ms.SarabiBamyanGovernor,SaighanDistrictGovernor,governmentofficialsinBamyan,BamyanProvincialCouncil,UNagenciesinBamyan,NewZealandPRT,DavidWilsonANBPProgrammeDirector,BamyanJournalistsUnion,MediafromKabulandthousandsofSaighanresidentsattended.