The convoy of donkeys and adolescents charged with polls, winding mountain trails Friday close , to achieve some of the remotest corners of Afghanistan. Objective : reach out to voters in a crucial parliamentary election.
The violence has already forced the government to close near a polling station in six.
But the logistics in this poor country is vast in size.
“We must accept this constraint by material loading on the backs of donkeys, but there is no other option ", said Sultan Ahmad Niazi, Head of the country's Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) pour Panjshir.
“These documents, hopefully, arrive at their destination on time”
In the northern province of Panjshir, a cart pulled by donkeys costs about 1.000 afghanis (20 $) frustrating for a trip of five hours between narrow valleys and steep ridges.
Some donkeys have collapsed under the weight of electoral materials piled on their backs, while those who reach their destination can not be used wisely.
After years of corruption, Violence is getting worse and after a rigged presidential vote last year, many people in relatively peaceful areas are wondering whether they should participate in the risk of spillage.
“Why should we vote? This election will not make anything better for us ", said Rahimullah, during a discussion on the election with friends in the village of Deh.
SHORTAGES polling places in Afghanistan
Total, about 11,4 million registered voters are eligible to choose between near 2.500 candidates 249 seats in the Wolesi Jirga, or lower house of parliament.
But the electoral commission announced last week that nearly 15 percent of polling stations provided will not be opened due to insecurity, especially in eastern and southern parts of the country where violence is the worst.
And even in areas such as northern Panjshir, where the Taliban and other insurgent groups have never succeeded in establishing itself and security is not a major concern, potential voters say they can not cast their vote because the voting centers are too far.
“I will not let my family walk to other villages and vote”, Shah Agha said villagers, complaining that the people of Deh Kalan had been denied their democratic rights.
"I am very angry and does the village is really interested in this election.”
In the nearby hamlet of Shotul, where donkeys were loaded with ballots, Angry villagers shouted to representatives of the CIS, requiring nearest polling station, until the police interveniens.
But officials ignored complaints, called on voters to do their best to reach polling stations.
“We can not build every polling station on their doorstep. They should come and vote wherever possible,”