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UNITED NATIONS — Scoffing at international outrage aimed at saving historic religious and cultural artifacts, Afghanistan's Islamic fundamentalist rulers have proceeded to destroy what amounts to priceless religious treasures. Ignoring appeals even from the Islamic Republic of Iran and friendly Pakistan, as well as the United Nations, the Taliban lurched ahead into a frenzy of destruction which parallels Cambodia's Khmer Rouge communists.
Taking a page from the sanguinary annals of Cambodia's Pol Pot regime, which likewise launched a crude and ferocious cultural genocide in parallel with mass murder, the Taliban have allowed white heat hatred to replace reason in dealing with "infidel' religions.
At issue remains the Buddhas of Bamiyan, huge stone statues cut into mountain sides almost two millennia ago. Besides holding an immeasurably rich cultural and historical reminder of long-gone Buddhist influence in Afghanistan, the statues remain artistic treasures. Afghanistan is nearly 100 percent Moslem and thus the icons present no threat, danger, or local rallying point. They are relics of the past and should be afforded respect.
Taliban Grand Leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has decreed the destruction of "false idols" namely statues, images and temples in an already war-torn land. I'm certain this includes the few churches in Kabul too. This edict has been challenged even by many Islamic countries. Neighboring Pakistan, one of the few states to diplomatically recognize the fundamentalist Tailiban regime, called for "the spirit of tolerance enjoined upon by Islam as well as respect for international sentiment in this regard."
Importantly the UN can and should play a role in saving the statues.
Secretary General Kofi Annan has received a plea from Philippe de Montebello, the Director of New York's Metropolitan Museum offering assistance. UN Coordinator for Afghanistan Frances Vendrell, has appealed to the Taliban not to destroy the statues.
In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan opening a Pandora Box's of violence and ethnic vindictiveness. Various resistance groups fought the Soviets to a standstill and ultimently forced their withdrawal in 1989. But in the aftermath of the pullout, the Afghan muhjadeen resistance turned upon themselves in a spate of internecine violence which has continued unabated. Today the tyrannical Taliban control 90 percent of this wild and woolly land offering haven to the terrorist Osama Bin Laden as well as a gaggle of mountatin drug lords.
Yet, given Afghanistan's drought, continuing refugee crisis,and destroyed social structure, the Taliban are in desperate need of humanitarian materials.
There's room for a compromise. Taliban want the Buddhas of Bamiyan out, so now so too does the international community. Allow the UN to arrange outside aid to remove the monoliths in an operation which would evoke saving Egypt's Abu Simbel Temples from the rising waters of the Nile. That successful 1960's era rescue mission remains a fond memory for so many including this writer who was impressed with what was done to save priceless cultural and archaeological treasures.
Make it interesting for Taliban--quid pro quo aid and humanitarian assistance in exchange for allowing a careful rescue operation. The Metropolitan Museum can play a major role--if there's a problem for the Taliban to deal with an American institution, the splendid Guimet Museum in Paris can offer refuge. In any case, the quarrel is not with Islam but with Taliban's political interpretation.
Desecration of religious statues and relics is not unique to Islam-during the French Revolution let us not forget the vile desecration of Catholic Churches many of which to this day retain chipped off statue faces. Likewise in Russia after the 1917 Revolution, the mob having focused their hatred on Orthodox Churches, smashed icons, melting them for Soviet coins, and turned churches into warehouses, pigpens, etc.
Despite the edict to destroy the non-Islamic relics, be assured that rare Afghan artifacts have been leaving the country--as did Khmer art in Cambodia-and will surface with greater frequency in international art auctions and with antique dealers. Art saved from the communist Red Guards during China's so called "Cultural Revolution" resurfaced abroad too; but this is not the answer.
It's in Taliban's own interests to allow the statues a safe exit. In other words, do they wish to be remembered as a movement which destroyed Afghanistan's cultural and historic heritage? For the Taliban to wreck the irreplaceable, they will discover that they have also cursed their country into a glum oblivion of poverty and yet more suffering for the population. While they will laugh at such a statement, Taliban presides over a grim land few foreigners will wish to help.
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.
