An Afghan village elder points to a footprint of an extremist who burned the Neizi Kran Shaku Village School on July 17 in the Parwan Province, Bagram District. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Ramon


By Army Staff Sgt. Robert R. Ramon
345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 18, 2006 — Extremists destroyed a school in the Bagram District, Parwan Province on July 17.

Residents of the Neizi Kran Shaku village were awakened around midnight when they realized the school, comprised of 10 tents, was engulfed in flames.

"About two months ago we received these tents from the government of Afghanistan," said Abdul Dager, a village elder. "At around midnight, our peaceful night was interrupted when five criminals set fire to them."

After noticing the flames, Dager immediately ran to the village mosque and made an announcement over the loudspeaker.

After the announcement, "the entire village came out and saved two of the tents," said Dager. "We quickly captured one individual nearby; he had a gas can. He led us to four other men who were responsible. We turned them over to the Afghan National Police.

They (extremists) claimed to be associated with the Taliban.

Although the villagers recognized none of the insurgents, four were believed to be from nearby villages.

Speaking to Coalition Joint Task Force-76 military policemen who were at the village investigating the incident, Dager made the feelings of the village clear. With an average attendance of 310 including grades one through nine, the loss of the school was a major blow to the usually peaceful village.

"We were very angry," he said. "Since they burned the school I haven't been able to sleep at all. We're not sure exactly how, but in some way we're going to continue our teaching."

Other incidents of school attacks by extremists have occurred recently. On July 15 in Saret, Nuristan, villagers took to the streets and drove off a band of extremists who set fire to a girl's school. Residents also put out the blaze. Taliban insurgents fired five rocket propelled grenades at a school in Mehtar Lam, Laghman Province, catching it on fire July 17. Afghan National Police responded and drove off the insurgents.

With the rash of school burnings by extremists in recent weeks, provincial reconstruction teams (PRT) have created "schools-in-a-box" to provide a temporary remedy to the situation until something permanent can be established.

Comprised of tents, school supplies, backpacks and other items, "schools-in-a-box" will ensure children continue to receive an education despite the insurgents' best efforts to thwart progress. As the MPs interviewed the village elders here, a PRT at Bagram was preparing to deliver aid.

According to Dager, the extremists have done nothing to block his village's road to progress.

"The enemies of Afghanistan are the enemies of the Afghan people," said Dager. "They do not want to see Afghanistan make any progress. They don't want the people to have a good life. They only want to destroy everything and they want nothing positive for the people of Afghanistan. However, we have our government here to help us and there is no way they're going to stop us from continuing to improve our lives."

Charred tent frames are all that remain after extremists burned the Neizi Kran Shaku Village School in the Parwan Province, Bagram District on July 17. Residents were awakened around midnight when they realized the school, comprised of 10 tents, was engulfed in flames. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert R. Ramon

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COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER KABUL , AFGHANISTAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2006

Release # 060718-07

Extremists linked to drug trade

KABUL , Afghanistan – Coalition Soldiers have seized an estimated $3 million in opium from an extremist compound July 13 after a Coalition patrol held off more than two dozen fighters until additional firepower arrived.

Following the engagement, the Soldiers found five dead extremists, but believe many more were killed.

A search of the compound found 70 kilograms of opium paste, a rocket propelled grenade launcher, four rockets, an AK-47 and ammunition, a passport and other documents.

“Recovering these weapons and drugs increases the safety and security of Afghans, and reduces the danger posed by criminals and extremists who might use those munitions indiscriminately to cause harm on the Afghan people, Afghan security forces or Coalition forces,” said Col. Thomas Collins, Coalition spokesman. “This engagement also confirms with physical evidence that the extremists are linked to the drug trade in southern Afghanistan.”