The draft constitution allows everyone the freedom to speak out his or her mind so long as he or she does not hurt other people's feelings or what he or she says does not smack of slander. However, there is no sin in telling the truth. Malalai Joya, a delegate from Farah Province in her short but firey statement at the Constitutional Loya Jerga referring to the abundant presence of those wearing "pakols" said such people whose hands were soaked in blood should not make their presence felt at that lofty meeting because affording them the opportunity to rule the country again would be an exercise in futility.

These are not exactly her words but there is no doubt that she meant this.

The hullabaloo following Joya's statement aired the Mojahedin resentment. One of these, Seddiq Chakari, the minister of information and culture during the mojahedin era, expressed his reaction "an insult to the Mojahedin is an insult to jihad". Other Mojahedin were more vociferous and threatening.

The United Nations, the greatest patron of the freedom of speech and democracy, has volunteered to safeguard Joya against any likely attempt upon her life because the hands soaked many times in blood can repeat the exercise. How does the public think about this episode?

Prior to the formation of the transitional government, public opinion did not count in Afghanistan and whatever the ordinary people thought or said did not carry much weight. Those at the helm believed they knew everything. When the British invaded Afghanistan for the second time King Sher Ali held a Loya Jerga, apparently to consult the people's deputies how to tackle the crisis! The deputies unanimously stated that they would fight the invader as they did during the first Anglo-Afghan War. But the king's mind was already made up. He said he would travel to Mazar-e Sharif, a tedious journey taking at least one week through Bamian and approach the governor of Russian Turkestan to deliver the promised Russian military assistance to fight the British with.

A few "kakas" or "chevaliers" of Kabul pleaded with the King to make a manly stand or release his son, Yaqub from jail to lead the jehad. The demoralized monarch said in response "you don't know what I know" and with this he dismissed the Loya Jerga and left for Mazar where he learned Russia had welshed and died there broken-hearted. Another example was the answer given by King Abdul Rahman who had held a Loya Jerga to consult the people's deputies what to do with Sir Mortimer Durand, the foreign minister of British India, who had brought a dictated agreement and a map dividing the Pashtuns with an artificial border line?

The deputies said they would fight the British again and not give an inch of their soil to them but the king retorted, saying "you don't know what I know". We are lucky now that conditions have tremendously changed from the 19th century to the 21st.

No matter to whom the Loya Jerga belongs, Malalai Joya must enjoy the freedom speak out her mind and she must find a strong protector to safeguard her life.

This episode is reminiscent of a wise man's utterance that I may not agree with what you say but I give my life to help you say it.

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