Page 2 - link magazine

2 swindonlink.com • May 2009
Mayor hopes to keep Afghan links open

Although the Mayor of Swindon Steve Wakefi eld ends his year in offi ce in mid-May, he hopes the incoming mayor will sustain the town’s
support for personnel at RAF Lyneham in their efforts to build positive community relations in Afghanistan.
In April he met Afghan Sahar what can be done to help local to determine what
Gul, right, who is now settled in organisations in Afghanistan and is best for their own
Swindon, having left Pakistan after Pakistan. Coun Wakefi eld said, “as community and how
extremist death threats against him a historian and a politician, it’s clear best to develop their
for working with coalition forces that it’s not about winning wars in own country in the 21st
and western agencies. Afghanistan; we have been involved Century.
Sahar was featured in the March in confl icts there since the 1830s. But “Despite some nega-
Link asking readers to help the now there is an opportunity for us tive news coming from
Afghan children’s charity Aschiana, to support Afghanistan during this over there, we need
having read about the mayor’s diffi cult time and locally we can all to be clear that local
Christmas appeal for football kits to give a little personal contribution to Afghan people are
help RAF personnel set up teams in support Afghan children. protecting RAF per-
the villages around their base. “By doing this we can help sonnel around their
The mayor and Sahar discussed future generations of Afghans base at Kandahar. It
is a huge site and is
Mayors enjoy a taste of Swindon cuisine almost impossible to
protect without local
Mahmod Ali of The Curry Place in Rodbourne welcomed the Mayor support. Whatever we
Steve Wakefi eld and his German counterpart from Salzgitter, Oberbürger- can do here in Swindon Friendship of nations, the Mayor Steve Wakefi eld
meister Frank Klingebiel with a special Twin Town Lamb Kurzee dish. to help our RAF people and Sahar Gul
Herr Klinge- build personal links with Afghans to his land.
biel and a party is positive. “Afghans are tired of war, we need
of councillors “They are out there to counter in- education and development, but
and offi cials from surgents from other countries who this has to be done in partnership
Salzgitter spent are pursuing this war against both between local people and outside
fi ve days in April Afghans and coalition troops. agencies who understand this.”
visiting Swindon “The Afghans are a brave people The mayor would like to see an
sites and renew- and want to see an end to this war appeal for educational materials
ing friendships. and all its violence. Who can blame like pencils, pens and paper, which
The two mayors them for wanting a peaceful exis- he hoped that the RAF can deliver
receive the celebra- tence for their country and families to schools to promote community
tion dish from Mr just like the rest of us?” development.
Ali and his chef Sahar agreed that new ap- To help organise such an appeal
Mashuk Ali proaches are needed to bring peace mail: publisher@swindonlink.com

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