A Lasting Tribute

The Embassy recently held a tribute for one of our Gurkhan guards. It was a moving tribute not only in the sense the Ambassador planted a tree in the guard's honour, but also in the tragic way the guard's life ended.

The guard we held a tribute for, had taken his own life. He was experiencing financial problems back home and felt he simply could not return home and face his family. What a tragedy for someone to be so despondent that choosing to end their life, is the only solution they feel they have left.

It is amazing to me how many layers of complexity there are to life in Afghanistan. The Gurkhan guards the Embassy uses to provide security for our staff, come from Nepal or India. Most have a background in the army or policing and come to Afghanistan for the steady employment and good pay. They are extremely proud and take their responsibility of protecting the Embassy staff very seriously. I spoke to one recently and he has been in Afghanistan for almost five years. He works for 11 months straight and goes home for one month. When I asked him why he would be away from his family for such long periods of time, his responded simply "to send money home and give my family a better life".

In a country so filled with violence, misery and despair, this one incident will pass by barely noticed, except perhaps for the lasting tribute of an apple tree which hopefully will stand for generations to come and maybe one day can be admired by people strolling down a street without barricades, blast walls and barbwire.