Iraqi politicians under pressure to submit new constitution
Work is under way today to reach agreement with Sunni groups
Baghdad (AsiaNews) The Iraqi parliament should vote for the new constitution before the day is out. But no parliamentary sitting has been scheduled as yet. Leaders are locked in a fight against time to do away with disagreement on burning issues which divide the population and ethnic groups.
On Monday, the Commission charged with drawing up the constitution presented a draft which was rejected by Sunni delegates.
Meanwhile, yesterday the new charter secured the backing of the Kurdish regional parliament. The Kurds managed to get the Peshmerga militias recognized as a regional defence force. This approval means that a positive outcome in today's vote in parliament is a mathematical certainty: Kurds and Shi'ites enjoy a large majority of 210 out of 275 seats. But the president himself Jalal Talabani (a Kurd) said there was need to "respect the demand of Sunnis because the constitution is not to serve only a certain category of people but for the whole of Iraq". Yesterday the president met representatives of all the communities to come to an agreement. Today he met Sunni representative Saleh al-Motlag (see photos).
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafaari said agreement had been reached on 151 articles (out of 153), including the issue of federalism and regional autonomy. But Sunni leaders continue to say there is no unanimity about federalism; the role Islam shall play in the legislation; the sharing of oil revenue and the treatment of former Baath party members. The Sunnis fear above all that petrol revenue will be pumped into the Kurdish north and the Shi'ite south, and that a federal structure could weaken the central state especially in its dealings with neighbouring states and that they will become a minority without political or economical power. Ultimately they fear revenge from groups who were victims of violence in the time of Saddam Hussein, when the Sunni community enjoyed great power.
For the rest, the constitution seems to grant freedom of expression, declares that no law "may contradict democratic standards" and prohibits torture. Opening up to secularization of the state a novelty for a Muslim-dominated country it affirms that Islam is only "a major source" of the law. Further, it guarantees a quarter of parliamentary seats to women and grants legal recognition to some ethnic minorities like Turkomans and Assyrians.
If accepted by parliament, the new constitution will be submitted to the scrutiny of the nation in a referendum planned for 15 October. The Pentagon has decided to send an additional 1500 troops to guarantee security during the referendum and the election for a new government slated for 15 December. Radical Islamic groups have broadcast messages via internet threatening violence and attacks to sink the referendum.
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22/06/2005
