Arafat refuses to sign anti-corruption legislation
Christian and Muslim law-makers criticise president's actions.
Ramallah (AsiaNews/Agencies) Yasser Arafat refused to sign anti-corruption legislation as demanded by Palestinian law-makers.
In a long and tense speech to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the old leader admitted he made mistakes and pledged to clean up the Palestinian National Authority and eliminate widespread corruption; never the less, he rebuffed all demands for anti-corruption laws to back his commitment.
According to Azmi Shouabi, a participant to a follow-up meeting, Arafat told pro-reform lawmakers "that my speech ... was enough and that there is no need for any signatures or law."
For years Arafat has been criticised both at home and abroad. He is accused of micromanaging power and of lack of transparency in government spending. Corruption and nepotism in the security services come in for special criticism.
In yesterday's PLC session Ramallah PLC member Abdul Sawad Salah interrupted Mr Arafat shouting: "You are protecting the corrupt." Mr Arafat replied he was protecting all Palestinians, including the corrupt. But ddissatisfaction remains widespread.
After the session Mr Salah said: "Arafat just spoke about general things and the past and mouthed slogans. He thinks he can continue with this and cheat the people."
Many observers pointed out that back in May 2002 Arafat had done the same: speech before the PLC carried live on television, admission of errors, and pledge to reform and call elections. But in the last two years, nothing much changed.
Hannan Ashrawi, an Orthodox Christian and a PLC member, said that Mr Arafat's behaviour has two main features: a desire to avoid change until the last possible moment, and an ability to do just enough to defuse a potentially explosive situation.
"It remains to be seen," Ms Ashrawi added, "whether this time he will go beyond that and institute reforms in an organised way rather than a sporadic and isolated fashion." (DS)
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27/05/2021 14:50
