MUSCAT, 23 August 2004 — Since last Wednesday Iraq has begun implementing its first democratic process following the removal of the Saddam regime.
The Iraqi National Congress, comprising all political spectrums, has concluded its sessions, electing 81 of the 100 members who would make the interim Parliament to build a modern Iraq.
The Iraqi National Congress will continue till the general elections scheduled for the beginning of 2005, enjoying limited powers, ratifying the budget for 2005 and monitoring the implementation of law and order.
The interim Parliament saw the light of the day after some difficulties caused by internal disputes among political and tribal parties and organizations concerning the voting system and opposition to the Allawi government from some quarters. Some commentators considered these disputes a natural outcome in a country subjected to one-party system for so long. What is significant, however, is the continuation of the interim Parliament in establishing a base for sound democracy and national rule, giving no excuse for the occupation forces to stay on for years, dictating their terms to the Iraqis.
The interim Parliament is the last chance for the Iraqis to save their country from disintegration and chaos that followed the collapse of the old regime. This is the first time that the Iraqis sat together and discussed the political issues of their nation under the umbrella of a united Parliament.
The occupation, from the era of American civil administrator Paul Bremer to the appointment of Iyad Allawi’s government, has turned Iraq into small states where fragmented groups defend themselves with all possible weapons and where survival of the fittest is the principle.
Some Iraqis and Arabs outside Iraq do cast doubts on the interim Iraqi Parliament’s legitimacy, arguing that it has been born under the occupation authority and does not represent the will of the Iraqis. Nonetheless, the majority of Iraqis who belong to the political parties and clans participating in the Iraqi National Congress think that the interim Parliament is a ray of hope for the Iraqis to regain the sovereignty of their country and build the judicial, legislative and executive pillars of their state.
This could be true because the very first step taken by the Iraqi National Congress was tackling the most sensitive issue — the bloodbath in Najaf. The Congress formed a special delegation that succeeded in convincing Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr to accept the conditions put forward by the interim Iraqi government to lay down weapons, turn the Mahdi Army into a political organization and participate in the new life promoted by the Iraqi National Congress. If everything works out well, this will be the first success for the Iraqi political forces and the biggest challenge they shouldered as they have begun efforts toward solving problems of their country on their own, away from the authority and influence of the occupation forces.
Moqtada Sadr represents a significant and strong current, which is growing day by day. His willingness to consider the request of the Iraqi National Congress to stop the bloodshed indicates that there is a real chance for the leaders of the various Iraqi political currents to accept one another and live peacefully together in Iraq, giving no chance to religious or ideological conflicts being promoted by the occupation forces and the Western media.
The keenness of the political forces on unity would help the interim government, and the future elected government to solve insecurity and restore a secure life for all Iraqis.
The Iraqis should preserve this interim Parliament as a symbol of their unity against occupation, instead of internal fighting, beheading the innocents and frightening innocent people.
A chance better than this experiment, which has gathered all political currents under one umbrella, might never make itself available.
— Essa bin Mohammed Al-Zedjali is editor in chief of The Times of Oman.
