|
Afghanistan Nears Adopting Constitution
Afghanistanâs grand council made progress Sunday toward adopting a landmark post-Taliban constitution despite an enduring divide over President Hamid Karzaiâs wish for a strongly centralized state. Opinion appeared split on issues such as human rights and the powers of the president. But eight days into the council, or loya jirga, its chairman said he was ready to assess proposed amendments to the draft, which would then be put to a vote. ``The brothers and sisters have done a great job,ââ Council Chairman Sibghatullah Mujaddedi said at a news conference. ``I expect and hope that this debate wonât take much longer, because everyone has had ample chance to express their views.ââKarzai has pressed for swift ratification of the charter, which should lead to presidential elections next June and crown a two-year drive to stabilize the country after the fall of the Taliban.Fascinating — Afghans might actually have a working government in the end. Whenâs the last time that happened? Mujaddedi gave no indication of which way the majority were leaning on critical issues. But U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad met with Karzai and said Saturday that delegates appeared to favor a presidential system. Some delegates who left the closely guarded jirga site on a Kabul college campus to speak to reporters Sunday said they were happy with the deliberations. ``There is a democratic atmosphere. Everyone can say what they want,ââ said Mujaher Anwari, an Uzbek from Jawzjan province who said he supports a presidential system. Should we remind our pals on the left who made this democratic spirit possible? But others said they would protest the concentration of powers desired by Karzai, who has said he wants to stand in the June presidential vote. Farooq Wardak, the director of the countryâs constitutional commission acknowledged that opponents of the presidency could make a final push to stop it. ``As you know, the type of regime is an object of discussion,ââ Wardak said. ``If there is a need for voting on one or two issues, there will be voting.ââ Ballots, not bullets. Whoda thunk?
Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-22 |
|
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=23151 |