NDP Convention Québec 2006: Malalai Joya - Speech Excerpts

This particular speech was a highlight for me. A few day preceding the convention, my good friend Andrew and I had discussed Canada's involvement with respect to the NDP. Andrew sighted The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan as an important example of grassroots democratic liberation movements in Afghanistan. After hearing from Malalai Joya, and reading more about RAWA, I've come to understand that have not only been ignored by Canada and NATO's war, but have in fact been suppressed as a direct result of Canada's endorsement of the Northern Aliance. RAWA's website has a similar tone to Joya's citation of Northern Alliance brutality.

I also stumbled upon an inspirational quote from one of her American speeches:

"Never again will I whisper in the shadows of intimidation. I am but a symbol of my people's struggle and a servant to their cause. And if I were to be killed for what I believe in, then let my blood be the beacon for emancipation and my words a revolutionary paradigm for generations to come."