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Afghanistan Country of Origin Information (COI)

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Afghanistan Country of Origin Information (COI) AFGHANISTAN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 5 November 2010 AFGHANISTAN 5 NOVEMBER 2010 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN FROM 16 OCTOBER 2010 TO 1 NOVEMBER 2010 Useful news sources for further information REPORTS ON AFGHANISTAN PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 14 OCTOBER 2010 AND 1 NOVEMBER 2010 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Kabul (Capital city) ............................................................................................... 1.07 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.12 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 3.01 Overview to December 2001................................................................................ 3.01 Communist/PDPA rule (1978-1992)................................................................... 3.02 The mujahidin in power (1992-1996).................................................................. 3.03 The Taliban in power (1996-2001) ..................................................................... 3.04 Post Taliban (December 2001 Onwards) ............................................................ 3.09 The Bonn Agreement ......................................................................................... 3.15 Presidential & Provincial Council elections - 20 August 2009 ............................ 3.16 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: - MAY TO OCTOBER 2010 ................................................... 4.01 Parliamentary elections - 18 September 2010 ................................................... 4.04 5. CONSTITUTION.......................................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 6.01 Overview ...............................................................................................................6.01 The Executive Branch .......................................................................................... 6.03 The Legislative Branch ........................................................................................ 6.05 Provincial Councils .............................................................................................. 6.06 Political Parties..................................................................................................... 6.08 Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 7.01 8. SECURITY SITUATION ................................................................................................ 8.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 8.01 Security in different regions................................................................................ 8.15 9. CRIME...................................................................................................................... 9.01 Opium production ................................................................................................ 9.04 Blood feuds........................................................................................................... 9.07 10. SECURITY FORCES .................................................................................................... 10.01 Overview ...............................................................................................................10.01 Police..................................................................................................................... 10.03 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 15 October 2010. Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section to 1 November 2010. 5 NOVEMBER 2010 AFGHANISTAN Afghan National Police (ANP) ............................................................................. 10.03 Structure and reform .......................................................................................... 10.06 Afghan National Guard (ANG) ............................................................................. 10.13 Armed forces ........................................................................................................ 10.14 Afghan National Army (ANA).............................................................................. 10.14 Afghan National Army Corps (ANAAC) .............................................................. 10.26 Other government forces..................................................................................... 10.27 National Directorate of Security (NDS) (Amniat-e Melli)..................................... 10.27 Former security forces – KHAD (KhAD) ............................................................. 10.30 International Forces ............................................................................................. 10.33 International Assistance Force (ISAF)................................................................ 10.35 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)........................................................... 10.38 Human rights violations by government forces ................................................ 10.40 Arbitrary arrest and detention............................................................................. 10.40 Torture................................................................................................................ 10.47 Extra-judicial killings........................................................................................... 10.50 Private security firms........................................................................................... 10.52 Avenues of complaint .......................................................................................... 10.56 11. MILITARY SERVICE .................................................................................................... 11.01 12. ABUSES BY NON-GOVERNMENT ARMED FORCES ......................................................... 12.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 12.01 Arbitrary arrest and detention............................................................................. 12.08 Kidnappings ....................................................................................................... 12.08 Warlords and commanders ................................................................................. 12.12 Night letters .......................................................................................................... 12.17 Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG)................................................... 12.22 13. JUDICIARY................................................................................................................ 13.01 Organisation ......................................................................................................... 13.01 Independence ....................................................................................................... 13.03 Fair trial ................................................................................................................. 13.05 Code of criminal procedure................................................................................. 13.07 14. ARREST AND DETENTION – LEGAL RIGHTS .................................................................. 14.01 15. PRISON CONDITIONS ................................................................................................. 15.01 16. DEATH PENALTY ....................................................................................................... 16.01 17. POLITICAL AFFILIATION ............................................................................................. 17.01 Freedom of political expression.......................................................................... 17.01 Freedom of association and assembly............................................................... 17.03 18. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND MEDIA............................................................................... 18.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 18.01 Media law .............................................................................................................. 18.05 Newspapers, Radio, Internet and Television ..................................................... 18.07 Journalists ............................................................................................................ 18.15 19. HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS .................................... 19.01 Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) ...................... 19.08 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)......................................................... 19.09 20. CORRUPTION...........................................................................................................
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