IRIN Asia – Monday 26 Jan, 2008
Local residents in Swat Valley say that the government cannot protect female students and schools from attack and closure by militants. Image: Fahim Saddiqi, IRIN
SWAT, 26 January 2009 (IRIN) – Government assurances that it will protect female students and their schools in Swat Valley, North West Frontier Province (NWFP), from attack and closure by militants have failed to satisfy many local people.
“We can’t risk sending our daughters to school. We will comply with the demand made by the [Taliban] militants,” said Ahmed Ali, 52, a father of three girls. “The Taliban do what they say,” he said.
He and his neighbours listen to illegal FM stations run by militants to find out what has been ordered, and then comply. “That’s the only way left to live in Swat,” said Faraz Khan, Ali’s friend who is thinking of moving if the schools do not open soon. “I don’t want my children… to remain uneducated.”. . .
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