Transcript: Video of construction monitors and Afghan builders

(Voice #1): Ghullam Mohammad.

(Voice #1): Be seated.

(Voice #2): Be seated.

(Voice #3): Be seated.

(Voice #2): Dear engineer, we have heard about your new positions. Congratulations.

(Voice #4): Thank you. Live long.

(Voice #1): Please do not disturb for a few minutes.

(Voice #1): I have all the information and details here.

(Voice #1): We will agree God willing (inshallah).

(Voice #1): It is not difficult, I don't have much time.

(Voice #2): Me either.

(Voice #1): We are in a hurry, a little bit.

(Voice #1): Dear engineer, what shall we do?

(Voice #3): Please... I have told you to other day too and

(Voice #3): Engineer Ghullam Mohammad is aware of everything. He is in the field and knows and has been informed by me. The director was present. He (Ghullam Mohammad) asked that the two others be present also in this meeting.

(Voice #1): We are ready for what you're asking.

(Voice #1): "We don't have any problems. As I told you on the first day we met, if we get four in addition (to the cost) of the company, we don't put all four in our pocket. Two rupia (referring to current Afghan currency) is for you, two is for us and another one is for a poor employee. But Engineer Ghullam Mohammad is asking for 50,000 dollars.

(Voice #3): yes

(Voice #1): Please ask yourself, does this kind of project earn 50,000 dollars for us to pay you 50,000 dollars?

(Voice #3): I asked Engineer Ghullam Mohammad, can we calculate to the expenses of this project to see what the (total) cost of this project will be. Besides, we don't want the money from you but from the project.

(Voice #1): What does it mean? Does this mean that where cement is needed you put sand?

(Voices 1, 2, 3 and 4): No, no. We don't violate the standards. We work according to the standards.

(Voice #1): If you work according to the standards and you wants some sweets ("shirnee"), we will give you sweets. If you say that you want some of the (money) that we earn, that's also okay. Please don't be cruel.

(Voices 2, 3 and 4): Please, please.

(Voice #1): Besides, you and me are from the same district. We are both from just outside Kabul.

(Voice #3): Yes, from one district

(Voice #1): Yes we are from one district in Kabul

(Voice #1): I have now one proposal. Ten to fifteen (dollars) is okay with us and is good for you too.

(Voice #3): Swear to Allah.... No sir.

(Voice #3): Because we are from the same district, engineer and engineer Gullah Mohammad is also a friend....

(Voice #1): Believe me, I am under so much pressure that my blood pressure is 160/140. I have taken 3 tablets of [intelligible] and I still have a headache.

(Voice #2): Please be careful

(Voice #1:) It is so that.... How long are we going to negotiate?

(Voice #3): No, we are not negotiating more: because we respect I will bring down (the asking price) by 5,000 dollars.

(Voice #1): [Laughing] oh, 10,000 than.

1, 2, 3, 4: [laughing]

(Voice #3): No... (Calling out): Engineer saheb [Saheb means "sir."], you say some things too. You are also involved, Engineer saheb.

(Voice #2): As I told you on the first day, I have also discussed with our administration officer and talked to the director. Also when you came for the second time, I requested to meet you directly and we would agree...I'm just a middle-man that brought you together.

(Voice #1): What should we do than?

(Voice #3): What we have said... we will make the report according to your offer. If you decrease the amount, we will write the report accordingly.

(Voice #1): Another point... if we give you 50,000, how are we going to do the work?

(Voice #3): As you like, sir. You can work as you wish.

(Voice #1): How in my wish? If I say to make the foundation 20 centimeters instead of 150 centimeters, would you allow me?

(Voice #3): Yes, we have done the same thing in the same area.

(Voice #2): We have already agreed to this point.

(Voice #3): (In Pashto language. Accent is spoken in Wardak province): We did this two times yesterday.

(Voice #1): When?

(Voices 2, 3 and 4): Yesterday.

(Voice #3): (In Pashto language): We put stone in the foundation, but it is strong.

(Voices 2, 3 and 4): It is 20 centimeters...

(Voices 1, 2, 3 and 4): (talking through each other, for a few seconds it's unintelligible but all are saying the same thing).

(Voice #4): (in Pashto language): That is about two kilometers from the area that your project is located.

(Voice #1): Now those 50,000 dollars...cannot with stone ....

(Voices 1, 2, 3 and 4): (again talking through each other, for a few seconds it's unintelligible)

(Voice #2): We didn't ask you for just one project.

(Voices 1, 2, 3 and 4): (again talking through each other, for a few seconds it's unintelligible)

(Voice #1): Please let me talk... it's not only the construction that we buy only cement and frames. Please think... in those several projects which we have in that area, how many hundreds of engineers do we have to hire?

(Voice #3): Each project has just one engineer.

(Voice #1): That one person is the chief engineer. But you have to calculate, Engineer. Each engineer will take in 600 dollar, 700 dollar, 800 dollar for their salary. I swear by Allah, in that area you cannot find anyone cheaper.

(Voice #4): Please, please... we are involved in the projects, we are watching... there is one person called Sultan, he is not even a graduated engineer. He runs once to [unintelligible] and another to Amir Khan... you call him engineer? There is another engineer, I know him very well...

(Voice #1): (Interrupts): Don't worry about that, it doesn't matter what they are... they want a salary from us.

(Voice #3:) One person... 600 dollars?

(Voice #1:) Please look... 4,000 dollars is the rent of this alone. That's also another expenditure of the project. Gas for the car, satellite phone, my salary, salary of Gullah Mohammad (his assistant), salary of that engineer which you say he doesn't know anything, expenditures of the project. If you add all this together, I swear by Allah, you will make no profit. If there is any Rupia left, than we will share with you.

(Voice #1:) We can do also another thing, Engineer Saheb, when the project is finished, we're going to sit down with you... we have our financial proposal on paper... we have to keep a financial log for ourselves too. What is left over, we will divide it between you and me.

(Voice #2): No, thank you.

(Voice #1:) Than where do I have get 50,000 dollars from?

(Voice #3:) There is one more issue. I don't have reported to the agency (?) yet... a project needs to have machinery (construction equipment).

(Voice #1:) I have ordered it and we will buy all of that.

(Voice #3:) But we don't require from you that the machinery should be present or not. This is another point. We don't request because that is not our responsibility. There is no security there. You buy a piece of equipment from 10,000 to 15,000 dollars. You bring it today, tomorrow is gone. This one of the key issues. Perhaps, I take this responsibility to say that I have seen all the equipments and they were all complete.

(Voice #4): I have another question... I asked this question to Engineer Saheb the other day: if a representative of the agency (?) comes to the field...

(Voice #1:) (Interrupted): The American ambassador will come and visit the project (??)

(Voice #2): I have taken part in various meetings, believe me: they will never come to these areas.

(Voice #1:) If they come... what than?

(Voice #2): If they come, we are there...we will take complete responsibility...

(Voice #1:) Will you give us a letter (written guarantee)? If something goes wrong, you are responsible?

(Voice #2): (laughing): No.

(Voice #1:) How can I trust you than?

(Voice #2): If necessary, yes we will give...

(Voice #1:) Okay, than I won't make profit of these four projects. Okay? Because after ten years.... after six years, RDA has resumed its work here. This is our first project; we have resumed our work after six years. We were not working in that period and these projects we will make a financial loss. Can you guarantee the success of it?

(Voice #2): Yes

(Voice #1:) Do you give us a written guarantee?

(Voice #2): Yes, letter or any kind of report that you wish for. I give you an official report, I will write officially and I will sign on the bottom.

(Voice #1:) If [unintelligible] came? Than what are you going to say?

(Voice #2): If it happens, I will give the answer. When I write an official report and I give it to LBG, which means that is a very strong document. We will give it to you and to them. Based on that, you get paid. That is the payment which I sign for and you will get that.

(Voice #1:) Still, swear to Allah, it is too much money you're asking for. I don't have that much money, believe me.

(Voice #2): No, it's not that much money.

(Voice #1:) Please be fair this time, they have promised more projects to me, I will take care of you than.

(Voice #2): We ask this amount because that is your first project. If you get more projects and we are in charge, we will help you. (Voice #1 interrupts) Sorry, let me finish. Based on our report, you might get more projects. We will be witness that BAHAR (company name) doesn't get any more projects. Only MASKAN (company name) and you will receive positive reports from us.

(Voice #1:) Tell me the truth, how much has MASKAN paid?

(Voice #2): The same amount as you. (Shake each other's hand to affirm that they're telling the truth).

(Voice #1:) 50,000 dollars? For how many projects?

(Voice #2): For four projects.

(Voice #1:) Did they give you that much?

(Voice #2): Yes, they gave us that much.

(Voice #1:) How much do they earn themselves then if they pay that much? I swear to Allah, there is not much money in it.

(Voices 2, 3 and 4): (all together talking)

(Voice #4): (talks about some project): We have refused it. They received no money.

(Voice #1:) I swear to Allah, there is not much money in it.

(Voice #2): Look, we are asking for the future projects too.

(Voices 1, 2, 3 and 4:) (All together talk unintelligible)

(Voice #1): shakes hand of other three men

(Voice #1:) Let me tell a story... there was one guy who had a chicken who laid golden eggs. Once, the owner opened one of the eggs and the chicken died. So don't kill us and we will keep laying golden eggs....

(Voice #2): I will tell you your next project

(Voice #1:) (Interrupts): I will tell you one thing; I give you 7,000 each for 5 projects. That's it and don't talk about it anymore. For five projects, I will give you 7,000 dollars each for a total of 35.000. With Engineer Saheb as a witness, this amount will be your salary so we don't have to discuss it anymore. I have to cover this money somehow in the project. I will make this your salary. Is this okay?

(Voice #2): Swear to Allah, no, Engineer Saheb. We will make the report according to (the value of) 7,000."

(Voice #1:) Look, this is fair. I agreed to 7,000.

(Voice #2): Make this 40,000.

(Voice #1:) For all five projects?

(Voice #2): No, no. For four projects.

(Voice #3): The value of this project is 15,000 but Engineer Saheb brought the price down to 10.000. Give us 10,000 per project, Allah is Great, end of discussion.

(Voice #1:) 40,000 for all the projects....

(Voice #3:) No, no.

(Voice #1:) and don't talk about it anymore.

(Voice #4): No, no.

(Voice #2): This is the first time... [Unintelligible]

(Voice #1:) Accept this offer and we will give you check ("Hawallah")

(Voice #2): Engineer Saheb Faisal Jan [Jan means "dear."], I have asked 10,000 dollars for this project, we will give a rapport accordingly (to the value of 10,000 dollars).

(Voice #1:) Look, you are not helping me out as someone from the same district. (Voice #2): I asked for 15,000 but Engineer Saheb made it 10,000.

(Voice #1:) Engineer Saheb, who is from another district, reduced it by 5,000 but what are you going to give me?

(Voices 1, 2, 3 and 4 talking unintelligibly)

(Voices 1, 3 and 4 stand up)

(Voice #2): Engineer Faisel Jan, give 10,000 for each project and no more discussion. Allah is Great.

(Voice #1:) 9,000. I swear to Allah, I will not increase one more Rupia.... 9,000. The day after tomorrow come here and get your check ("hawallah") and go and get your money. Next time when you come, the check ("hawallah") is ready: next week.

(Voice #4): Please give us your telephone number. Give your business card than because you are

moving from this office. (Voice #1:) They will transfer money tomorrow to our account. The day after tomorrow you will get your money.

(Voice #2): What time?

(Voice #1:) Around 2:00. Today, we are moving from this office. This is my first telephone number. (1 continues to give them directions to the address of the new office. They say goodbye and the door closes).