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No Constitution Can Be Formed Under Occupation: Hekmatyar
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| The constitution was aimed at giving legitimacy to U.S.-led occupation forces and grant it a constitutional immunity, Hekmatyar |
By
Husbanullah Mutawakel, IOL Afghanistan Correspondent
BESHAWAR,
June 19 (IslamOnline.net) - While a new constitution is currently
being prepared for Afghanistan under U.S. supervision, former Afghani
Premiere and head of the Islamic Party Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
slammed the constitution as a game of the "puppet
government" aiming at giving legitimacy to U.S.-led occupation
forces.
Being
under U.S. occupation and the lack of a central government that
controls all Afghani states are not suitable circumstances to issue a
constitution, Hekmatyar said in a statement a copy of which was sent
to IslamOnline.net on Wednesday, June 18.
He
also called for fighting
U.S. occupation before proceeding to prepare a constitution.
“A
new constitution can not be issued while U.S.-led forces are still
occupying the Afghani capital and towns, deploying their military
bases in Bagram, Khawagah, Roush, Khost, Gardez and Qandhaz and
killing and detaining Afghanis,” Hekmatyar said.
Hekmatyar,
who was declared a “terrorist” by Washington last
year, said the constitution was aimed at giving legitimacy to United
States-led "occupation forces" and grant it a constitutional
immunity.
"The
game of constitution making by (the) Afghan puppet government is a
joke and farce like the Loya Jirga," the statement said,
referring to the traditional tribal assembly which created the current
18-month transitional government last year.
He
added that to pass a new constitution, the country should be free and
the people should have freedom of opinion, will as well as
independence. The country should also be governed by a popular
government, approved by the Afghani people, he said.
"Under
the Geneva Convention, no occupation force has the right to make
changes in text books and the constitution of occupied
countries," the statement's added.
Constitution
Of The People
“The
Shura Council representing the people should be the sole body
preparing the new constitution. It should monitor all its stages. Such
a constitution should observe customs, traditions and cultural
heritage of the people,” Hekmatyar said.
“This
can be done in a free country that does not suffer under the yoke of
occupation. The parliament should be elected by the people in a free
atmosphere, away from internal and external pressures.
“According
to Geneva Treaty, signed by most of the world states including U.S.,
the occupying forces may not interfere in the constitution,
educational curricula and penal codes of the occupied countries. Yet,
U.S.-led troops would like to draw up the constitution after modifying
our curricula and judicial systems” he added.
Hekmatyar
called upon “the foreign troops to leave Afghanistan, ensure its
national independence and grant it the right of self-determination and
the right to nominate its real representatives through transparent
elections.”
They
Supported The Russians, Now The Americans
“Unfortunately,
some intellectuals have joined the occupying forces due to their
differences with the Mujahideens. Such intellectuals had previously
supported the Russian invasion and participated in battles waged by
the Russian troops against their own people,” he said.
“Some
of them deemed the Russian invasion of Afghanistan as a war against
backwardness and imperialism. They call for continuous existence of
foreign troops in Afghanistan.
“Social
change in Afghanistan will not be changed by means of force. Once
those invaders leave, such changes will be ignored by the Afghani
people,” he underlined.
“Occupying
forces will not remain in Afghanistan for good. They must leave to
settle internal problems at home or to resist freedom fighters
elsewhere in the world. Hence, such arbitrary rulers will collapse and
will not find refuge anywhere.”
A
Central Government
Meanwhile,
Hekmatyar emphasized the need for a central government that controls
all provinces in order to create a strong constitution. He said that
the current government can not provide security for its people as the
head of the government himself is protected by the U.S. forces inside
the Presidential premises.
He
pointed out to the lack of security in different towns and to the
constant fighting among internal groups of the government, leading to
the death of tens of innocent people.
He
wondered about the benefits of the new constitution as long as the
government does not move to settle the problems of the people.
“Did
the previous constitution solve the problems of the government? Did it
provide security, accommodation, food, clothing, treatment and
education to the people? Did it prevent robbery, treachery, bribery,
internal wars and homicide? What do they expect from that new
constitution?” Hekmatyar
asked.
The
first written constitution known in Afghanistan was during the reign
of king Amanullah in 1920. It included 73 articles. The second
constitution was under the regime of king Mohammed Nader Khan in 1928
comprising 110 articles. The third was in 1969 with 128 articles and
the fourth was in 1974, comprising of 13 sections and 136 articles.
The
fifth constitution was applied in 1978 with 68 articles, while the
sixth was in 1985 with 13 sections and 149 articles. It was amended in
1988. The government of Burhanul-Din Rabbani prepared a new
constitution in 1991, but it was not put into force.
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