Afghanistan Initiative
A Philanthropic Opportunity

Summary
Roger Plunk, a highly credentialed and recognized international mediator, has been invited by Afghanistan's Northern Alliance to mediate the formation of a new, sustainable, civil and human-rights-based government in Afghanistan.

$30,000 will support Mr. Plunk in a four-month effort to go into Afghanistan. Mr. Plunk cannot accept money from governments, only individuals or foundations, as government money would undermine his status as an independent and impartial mediator.

Circumstances
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan is on the verge of collapsing, and a new government must be formed to take its place. The current plan is to convene a "Loya Jirga" (grand council), consisting of over a thousand Afghans representing different groups and interests. The Loya Jirga (to be chaired by the former king, Zahir Shah) will elect a new government. The Loya Jirga process is simple in concept, but it will be very difficult in practice. Afghanistan has been engulfed in war for twenty-two years, and the Afghan people have become divided by strong jealousies, suspicions and prejudices.

The Northern Alliance, the chief opposition to the Taliban, is composed of various military and political organizations that do not always see eye to eye. There are various political and tribal organizations that are not associated with the Northern Alliance, but want a voice in the formation of a new government. And there will be "moderate" Taliban who will want to be part of the process. Finally, there are interest groups, such as woman's rights, that need to have a voice in the new government.

All of these diverse political, tribal, and interest groups must learn how to work together. For this reason, the Northern Alliance has invited Mr. Plunk as a non-government mediator to mediate between these many Afghan groups. It is hoped that these mediation efforts will help prevent a continued civil war, and give direction to a new government that is both democratic and human rights-based.

Credentials
Mr. Plunk has a law degree from Florida State University, and a LL.M. (post J.D. law degree) in international and comparative law, from George Washington University. He has served in the legal section of the U.S. State Department, which advises the State Department and the President on all issues pertaining to international law.

As part of his studies for the advanced international law degree, Mr. Plunk wrote a manual for the Dalai Lama's administration on how to draft a constitution. This led to an invitation from the Dalai Lama's administration to be their constitutional adviser. In 1993 Mr.Plunk left the State Department, went to Dharamsala, India where the Dalai Lama's administration is based, and directed the drafting of a model constitution for an autonomous Tibet. Following this, Mr. Plunk worked as the legal and political adviser to the Dalai Lama's prime minister. As part of these duties, he went to Beijing twice for discussions with Chinese officials on a process for reconciliation. The substance of these talks remains the basis of any future process of reconciliation.

While working on the Tibet issue, he became involved in the democracy movement in Burma and the Kashmir autonomy movement in India. In Burma during two visits, he worked with Burmese lawyers with connections to both the military government and Lady Aung San's political party. In Kashmir, he worked with the former Governor of Kashmir, Dr. Karan Singh, and drafted a proposal for Kashmir autonomy that was presented to the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Indian Human Rights Commission, and various Kashmiri groups. India later accepted a policy similar to Mr. Plunk's proposal. The issue of Kashmir and the issue of Afghanistan are linked by the involvement of Pakistan in supporting militant fundamentalists in both areas.

In 1997, as a result of his established success in international mediation, Mr. Plunk received an invitation from the Afghan ambassador to the United States to provide services as "a independent mediator between the warring factions in Afghanistan." Subsequently he received a similar invitation from the Taliban foreign minister. Upon arriving in Afghanistan, he soon discovered that the Taliban were not interested in reconciliation. Their idea of a mediator is someone who could convince the Northern Alliance to become part of the Taliban. It was a policy of conquest and assimilation, not reconciliation.

As a result, he spent much of his time working with the leaders of the Northern Alliance. Mr. Plunk negotiated a common policy of national reconciliation, signed by nine members of the Northern Alliance (copies and translations available upon request). The purpose of this document was to gain confidence and support from the U. S. and the international community. The agreement aimed to create international support for the Northern Alliance, forcing the Taliban to either collapse or come to an agreement for a new government. One provision of this agreement that is relevant today is the expressed willingness of the leaders of the Northern Alliance to surrender power to a new government composed of persons who are not members of the Northern Alliance (or members of the Taliban).

During his work in Afghanistan, Mr. Plunk developed good relations with all the leaders of the Northern Alliance, with prominent leaders of the Taliban, and with various other Afghan political figures in Afghanistan. He also developed relations with the U. S. State Department and the United Nation's Special Mission to Afghanistan.

Mr. Plunk is the author of The Wandering Peacemaker, a biographical meditation on international politics and spirituality. Details are available at amazon.com.

Use of funds It is evident from this budget that Mr. Plunk is able to be effective on the ground with a bare minimum of living expenses and travel. This is because of his grass-roots approach of living and traveling with native Afghans in order to gain their trust and respect.

Mr. Plunk observes that his mediation efforts are far more effective than ordinary, arms-length government and UN-sponsored efforts because his sustained proximity to the parties involved creates better trust and communication.

International air travel: $2,000.

Daily living expenses, $50 per day for four months: $6,000.

Monthly work expenses, translators, assistants, communications (long distance and satellite), transportation, $3,000 per month: $12,000.

Personal salary: $10,000.

Total: $30,000.

The grant is payable to "Peace Initiatives," a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Iowa.

Project administration
Mr. Plunk will provide, at a minimum, monthly updates from the field by telephone and/or email. Because Afghanistan has a poor communications infrastructure and transportation, report dates will be at Mr. Plunk's discretion.

Within three weeks of the four-month period being complete, Mr. Plunk will provide a complete written report and de-briefing. Included in this will be a detailed accounting of the use of funds.