22 July 2005

(Program offers rewards for information on terrorists, State Department says)

The U.S. State Department has launched a new advertising campaign in Afghanistan to raise awareness of its “Rewards for Justice” program, which gives cash rewards to people who provide credible information leading to the capture or killing of known terrorists.

According to a July 20 media note, the three-month television, radio, poster and matchbook campaign will cover all of the major cities in the country and feature several well-known terrorists and terrorist leaders, including Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Mullah Omar.  The ads highlight the negative effects these individuals have had on Afghanistan and its people.

Since its inception, the “Rewards for Justice” program has paid more than $57 million to 43 people who provided useful information leading to the capture or killing of terrorists.

Following is the text of the State Department announcement:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
July 20, 2005 2005/716

Media Note

United States Launches New Rewards For Justice Campaign in Afghanistan

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Rewards for Justice Program has launched a new three-month media ad campaign in Afghanistan to increase awareness of financial rewards being offered for information leading to the apprehension of wanted terrorists.

The television ad began airing today in both the Dari and Pashto languages. Local broadcasts will reach audiences in Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, Kabul, and after August 15, 2005, will reach audiences in Kandahar and Jalalabad.

The radio ads began airing on Afghani radio on July 12, 2005, in both the Pashto and Dari languages. Broadcasts will reach audiences in Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, and after August 15, 2005, will be heard in Jalalabad.

The television and radio spots announce rewards for Mullah Omar, Ayman Al Zawahiri and Usama Bin Laden. They remind the Afghans that these men are not only enemies of Afghanistan, but also of the world, and that in recent years, terrorists have been responsible for the murders of large numbers of their citizens. The ads urge anyone with knowledge of these three men or other wanted terrorists and their activities to contact the U.S. Embassy in Kabul at (93) 79 021 304, the local Provincial Reconstruction Team, or to visit the web site at www.rewardsforjustice.net to share information that may prevent further loss of innocent lives.

In addition to the radio and television ads, matchbooks and posters advertising the Rewards for Justice Program are being distributed nationwide. The matchbooks feature photos of Usama Bin Laden, Saif al-Adel, and Ayman Al-Zawahiri and text in Pashto and Dari. The posters show photos of the Rewards for Justice Program's 17 most wanted terrorists and contact information for U.S. Embassy Kabul, the Rewards for Justice website, and the local Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Since its inception in 1984, the Rewards for Justice Program has paid more than $57 million to 43 persons who have provided credible information that has resulted in the capture or death of terrorists or prevented acts of international terrorism.

Copies of the television and radio ads and English translations will be available to the press. To request copies of the radio and television ads, please contact Diplomatic Security public affairs at (571) 345-2503 or DSPublicAffairs@state.gov.

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