Iraqi draft constitution vote postponed 3 days to address 'some points that are still outstanding'

[yllus]

Iraqi Leaders Delay Charter Vote for 3 Days to Seek Consensus

Aug. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi leaders put off a vote on a draft constitution for three days in an attempt to resolve differences among Sunnis, Kurds and Shiites and open the way for an October referendum on a permanent government.

"We received the draft of the constitution'' from the charter-writing commission, Iraqi National Assembly President Hachim al-Hasani said yesterday in a state television broadcast within 10 minutes of a midnight deadline in Baghdad to submit the document to lawmakers. "But there are some points that are still outstanding and need to be addressed in the next three days.''

Khalilzad said on CNN that an issue of contention was how to treat Baath Party loyalists of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein and to what extent any punishment would be balanced with national reconciliation efforts. The parliament speaker, al-Hasani, told reporters that the distribution of power among the presidency, legislature and Cabinet was also at issue, the Washington Post reported on its Web site.

The state television broadcast of the parliament showed the country's leadership, including the prime minister, a Shiite, and President Jalal Talabani, one of the country's most prominent Kurdish leaders, in attendance for the session. Sunni politicians were vocal in their dissatisfaction.

"Until this moment, the principle on consensus has not been met yet,'' Tariq al-Hashimi of the Iraqi Islamic Party, the nation's largest Sunni political group, said on CNN. "I hope the outstanding issues will be modified, as they should, in the next few days.''

The charter will establish the shape of the permanent Iraqi government, the rights of citizens and the sharing of oil revenue, among other issues. The U.S. and its allies see the step as crucial in giving Iraq the stability necessary to fend off insurgents and put the oil-based economy on track for growth.

To summarize, the vast bulk of the constitution seems to be written down, but some of the most important decisions seem to be undecided. As is to be expected, I suppose - nobody is going to want to 'give' on the issue of strong or loose federalism, or how prominent a role Islam should play in the legal system.

Much credit where credit's due: To the long-suffering Shias for keeping their cool despite being hammered by violence multiple times a day. To the Kurds, for not jumping up and demanding autonomy outright like they clearly wish to do - recognizing the reality of the situation was a big step. Finally, to the Sunnis for braving the insurgency to take part, as critical and uncooperative as they sometimes tend to be.

Yet another wait begins, this time a 72 hour one to see if some major outstanding issues can finally be resolved. However, it seems like no faction is about to throw up their hands and walk away from the table altogether - these talks are too vital for that kind of breakdown to occur. Hopefully that train of thought lasts through Thursday!

 

[yllus]

Text of Proposed Iraq Constitution

 

[EatSpam]

Article 109

Oil and gas are the property of all the Iraqi people in regions and provinces

Interesting, so the gas and oil is nationalized. Won't make the free market faithful too happy.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Article 109

Oil and gas are the property of all the Iraqi people in regions and provinces.

I'd like to see them try and manage that one.

Edit: Woops. Your post wasn't there when I was reading it, Spam.

 

[Hacp]

Why not though? Better to share the oil wealth than to have one part of Iraq claim all the oil.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Article 109

Oil and gas are the property of all the Iraqi people in regions and provinces

Interesting, so the gas and oil is nationalized. Won't make the free market faithful too happy.

own't matter at all so as long as the economy is oil based...Iraq should try VERY hard to diversify its economy, because to put all your eggs in one basket will be the ruin of it

also hopefully the idea of a weak cenral govrenment will be eliminated.

edit:

after reading the constitution, many points seem useless. A constitution should be written outside the scope of time, to honor ideas and principles outside of the given time period....to mention Saddam and the Ba'ath Party is an insult as it means short term. To guarantee human rights for all, prohobit torture, and gurantee saftey for all. etc. is what is simply needed, nothing more. no need to mention saddam, or terrorists, or anything else ridiculous like that.

also, i personally disgaree with all the hoopla about "regions"...sounds waay to similar to what the kurds are looking for.

 

[conjur]

Well, the Sunnis aren't buying it now:

Sunnis say no chance for Iraq constitution deal
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BAK947253.htm

BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) - With a referendum on Iraq's constitution two weeks away, Arab Sunnis remain fiercely opposed to the draft, stepping up pressure on the United States to broker a last-minute deal to ease sectarian divisions.

"The constitution issue is dead until the referendum," said Sunni negotiator Hussein al-Falluji on Thursday. "We will vote 'No' and we will not accept the American policy of aggression to get what they want. There is no way we will support it."

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Article 109

Oil and gas are the property of all the Iraqi people in regions and provinces

Interesting, so the gas and oil is nationalized. Won't make the free market faithful too happy.

Couldn't that mean that oil and gas are the property of all Iraqis in a particular region or province?

Maybe it's the translation that's off. In English (not Bushspeak), one might say "oil and gas are the property of all Iraqi people" or "Iraqi oil and gas are the property of all Iraqi people."

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: conjur
Well, the Sunnis aren't buying it now:

Sunnis say no chance for Iraq constitution deal
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BAK947253.htm

BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) - With a referendum on Iraq's constitution two weeks away, Arab Sunnis remain fiercely opposed to the draft, stepping up pressure on the United States to broker a last-minute deal to ease sectarian divisions.

"The constitution issue is dead until the referendum," said Sunni negotiator Hussein al-Falluji on Thursday. "We will vote 'No' and we will not accept the American policy of aggression to get what they want. There is no way we will support it."

The Sunnis have a problem with trying to grab more than their fair share of power. Their minority dominance of Iraq for the last decades apparently has clouded their view of what is fair and balanced and they can't quite seem to get it into their heads that they are no longer the only and final word on things.

They can try to take an obstinate stance like they did last January but it's only going to end up biting them in the @ss again.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Sunni's policy: My way or no way.

That happened in the elections, it will happen again.

A much as they will scream about the US being there and pushing the US guidelines, they are scared that if the US leaves, paybacks will occur (possibly with government blessings).