Islah Party Speaks Out: We will take part in elections, but we are still undecided on amendments [Archives:2001/06/Law & Diplomacy]
February 5 2001
He said that local councils would contribute to the achievement of fair distribution of development projects and general basic services and would give people an important role to manage their local affairs.
Giving a broad look at the past experience of similar councils, Qahtan dismissed any similarities between the two experiences saying that the present planned councils would be elected amid a political race in which many political parties are taking part, while there used to be only one party in the past.
About what responsibilities the elected councils would shoulder, he put great emphasis on financial resources without which none of the councils will be able to carry out their assigned duties. There will be great responsibilities once enough financial resources are made available to these councils, he said.
Appointing a governor who will be the most important and powerful figure in the local councils has been interpreted by opposition parties as a means to control and limit the authority of local councils. The Islah party seems to have a similar impression. However, Mr. Qahtan hoped for the governors commitment to make the experience a success. In this case the appointed governors will support the local councils with whatever guarantees are needed for the success of their duties and responsibilities, he said.
Mr. Qahtan attributed the reticence of international organizations to supervise the elections to the suddenness of the announcement of the elections. In developed democracies transparency is considered a basic pillar in ensuring human rights and duties. Secrecy is not acceptable except in military or wars, he said. I think you should address this question to those organizations to provide your readers with more answers, he added.
On the debatable issue of constitutional amendments, he affirmed Islahs support for the opposition coordination which will say NO to the amendments. The PGC agreed to sit at the dialogue table with the opposition. Although dialogue was set on the level of the parliamentary blocs it was still fruitful, he said.
However, he said that the amendments did not meet what they were looking for. But there is something called probability in politics, he said, That is why the Islah party agreed with the amendments after that. However, the final decision is yet to be announced. Now it is the turn of people to say yes or no to the amendments.
Some politicians accuse the Supreme Election Committee of siding with the ruling party. In this context Mr. Qahtan said: The Supreme Election Committee does not want to appear as siding with the ruling party. But, in the present circumstances in a country like ours, keeping neutrality with the executive authority is something doubtful. I hope talks with all parties would achieve a clear vision about the guarantee of neutrality of the SLC, he said
Denying any kind of coordination with the PGC and other parties, he described such news as false rumors, adding that Islahs participation in the referendum and the local elections has been decided on by the Partys Second General Conference.
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