|
Sunnis, Sadr Followers Mobilize Against Iraq Charter
 |
|
"We
are unhappy and reject the constitution," said Al-Motlag.
(Reuters)
|
BAGHDAD,
August 29, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Iraqi
Sunnis, along with a major Shiite faction, began Monday, August 29,
rallying followers against the hard-passed draft constitution, casting
heavy doubts the document could make it through an October 15
referendum.
In
a worrying sign for the government and its US backers, leaders of
Sunni Arabs like imams and tribal chiefs were encouraging people to
register for the referendum, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"Everybody
is registering to vote in the referendum -- this constitution is
against Iraq as a united Arab Islamic nation," Sheikh Majed
Jassim Al-Showah told AFP.
Another
local tribal leader said the city's "imams are encouraging
everybody to vote (in their sermons) at prayers every Friday."
But
Sunnis are not alone. Shiite firebrand leader Moqtada Al-Sadr, only
minutes after the draft was read in the National Assembly, made it
clear he would give it the thumps-down.
"It
is not the time for federalism under occupation. It will draw a lot of
trouble," Abbas Rubie, political director of the Sadr group, was
quoted as saying by the Christian Science Monitor.
President
Jalal Talabani said Sunday, August 28, the charter was ready to be put
for vote in a referendum.
Iraqi
MPs concluded Sunday a special session on the final text sponsored by
the Shiite and Kurdish blocs without a vote due to the Sunni
opposition, leaving the final decision for the public in the
referendum.
The
final text describes Iraq as a "republican, parliamentary,
democratic and federal" country.
It
refers to Islam as " a main source of legislation" and
sticks to wording that Iraq is "part of the Islamic world and its
Arab people are part of the Arab nation".
Vote
Down
In
Fallujah, which was recaptured by US-led troops in a massive offensive
late last year, residents were already registering for the referendum
in large numbers in a bid to shoot the charter down.
"We're
very worried about our future situation -- all the Sunnis are going to
vote because last time we lost our power in Iraq," said Ahmed
al-Ali, a 44-year-old doctor who did not vote in national elections
but has already registered his name for the referendum.
Ali
said the charter writers were agents of neighboring countries, in
particular Iran, and that Sunnis were registering their names despite
posters going up in the town threatening participants with death.
In
the "city of the mosques", a symbol of Sunni Arab
resistance, voter participation encouraged by community leaders like
imams and tribal chiefs marks a massive shift.
In
January parliamentary elections the city's powerful Sunni scholars
urged a boycott and armed fighters resisting the US-led occupation
forces ordered voters to stay away from the process.
Whether
Fallujah's attitude is indicative of other towns in the restive Sunni
heartland remains to be seen.
The
rules for October's referendum stipulate that the constitution fails
if it is rejected by two-thirds of voters in three provinces.
Sunni
Arabs form a majority in at least three provinces: Al-Anbar, Ninevah
and Salaheddin.
Major
Shift
 |
|
Sadr
followers say they will vote against the charter. (Reuters)
|
US
officials say hundreds have been coming to sign up each day since
voter registration centers opened two weeks ago in Fallujah.
John
Weston, a US embassy official based in Fallujah for the last 14
months, said although it was hard to predict Sunni political dynamics,
Fallujah's shift in opinion was significant.
"Just
six months ago people here couldn't care less about what happened in
Baghdad," said Weston, who holds weekly meetings with various
sectors of Fallujah society.
US
forces have effectively sealed off entry points to the city, allowing
in families returning to their devastated homes.
In
Tikrit, hundreds of Sunnis took to the streets to protest the draft
and its provisions for a fully federal Iraq with autonomous regions in
Arab as well as Kurdish areas.
"No,
No, To The Constitution -- Yes, Yes To A United Iraq," read one
of the banners brandished by the demonstrators in a show of strength
that could spread in the run-up to the referendum, according to AFP.
Sunni
negotiators have warned that the text would be defeated and that the
resulting setback to the political process would pour further fuel on
the already out-of-control situation.
"We
are unhappy and reject the constitution," said Sunni panelist
drafting Saleh Al-Motlag.
"Anyone
who tries to impose views forcefully on the public may actually aid an
escalation of violence," he warned.
Changes
Urged
In
a related development, one of Iraq's biggest Sunni parties said Monday
that it might back the country's constitution, but it urged changes to
the proposed text.
The
Iraqi Islamic Party said there was still room for negotiation on the
constitution, according to Reuters.
"We
have not signed the constitution and we still have the time starting
from now until the referendum comes," party spokesman Tareq
Al-Hashemi told a news conference.
"We
might say yes to the constitution if the disputed points are
resolved."
Arab
League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has described the Iraqi draft as
"dangerous".
|
