The year 1996 was the most challenging and successful in BAAR's brief but intense history. Employees of Bicycles for Afghan Amputees Rehabilitation (BAAR) represented Afghanistan at the 1996 Paralymbpics (international games for disabled athletes) cycling road race in Atlanta and at the 1996 CMWC here in San Francisco. It was the first Paralympic participation by Afghanistan, a nation with perhaps the world's highest disabled population. Qualifying for the Paralympics was a long and hassle filled adventure in red tape as well as in competition, but we did it. Gul Afzal and Zabet Khan of BAAR completed the 45-kilometer course around Georgia's Stone Mountain, a huge block of granite with a long and somewhat shady history. But it was their climb up Telegraph Hill in the CMWC that most inspired themselves and their friends. Gul Afzal, riding with his artificial leg, rode straight up Telegraph Hill in the pack. Zabet Khan zig-zagged strenuously up the hill with only his one remaining leg, making Rebecca (Lampchop) break into tears and tell me, "Howie, that's the coolest thing I ever saw!"

Just before they returned to Afghanistan, their home province of Nangarhar (location of BAAR's Center for Disabled Afghans) was taken over by the Taliban, an ultra-fundamentalist faction which now controls 2/3 of the country. The Taliban do not get along with most of the charities helping to rebuild Afghanistan. The Taliban prohibit woman from working (except in health care) and try to impose restrictions on the charities. Women and girls are also prohibited from education (including health). Nevertheless, BAAR and toner charities have resisted Taliban control. In addition to continuing eastern Afghanistan's Schools of Physiotherapy for women. On December 16, the Taliban government of Nangarhar province announced 16 regulations for the charities. Among the rules is one that requires each charity to hire one man from the Taliban whose only job is to report back to them about the charity. In other words, we have to pay someone to spy on us! Other rules order charities to go through two or three Taliban agencies before starting any assistance projects. Another rule requires charities to pay "rent" to the Taliban.

Number of Rules: 16
Number adopted by BAAR and toner charities: 0

Thanks for your help,
Howard
Box 26650
SF CA 94126