By By Alaa Al-Huwaijel
BAGHDAD, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- Iraq's politicians were busy discussing a draft bill on a political settlement in the country, proposed by the National Iraqi Alliance (NIA) leader Ammar Al-Hakim, when another one on Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces (PMUs) was approved by the parliament.
The PMUs law, passed by majority and not by consensus, came to cast a heavy shadow on the potential political settlement in Iraq, and instead of bridging the gap among the political parties, it broadened disagreements.
In retaliation, just hours after 208 out of the total 328 MPs voted for the PMU bill, Vice President Osama Al-Nujaifi, leader of the United for Reform Coalition, announced his rejection of the political settlement bill. The vote was boycotted by the Sunni lawmakers.
Leaders of the Union of National Forces (UNF) said that approving the PMUs law, discarding Sunni MPs remarks on the bill, only reflected "dictatorship of the majority," and prompts no talk of political settlement.
Legislators from the NIA and the Kurdish Alliance (KA) provided the majority in the vote and the bill was passed on November 26.
Iraq cannot be managed through parliamentary majority, MP Talib Al-Mamouri from the United for Reform Coalition, told KUNA. Political consensus is a must for issuing such fateful legislations, he stressed.
Al-Mamouri noted that they had certain reservations about the PMUs bill; however, it was "approved against our will, and then they talk about a political settlement!" All components of the UNF refused to receive a copy of the political settlement bill from the Representative of the UN Secretary General in Iraq J?n Kubis who brought it from the NIA, MP Noura Al-Bujari from the UNF told KUNA.
She added that the UN official had met with UNF leaders, among them Vice-President Al-Nujaifi, parliament Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri, leader of Al-Hall (Solution) Bloc Jamal al-Karbouli a representative from the Al-Wataniya (National Coalition), the ministers of electricity and planning as well as a host of MPs to hand them over a copy of the bill.
All of them refused to receive the bill, Al-Bujari said, protesting the approval of the PMUs law.
Kubis promised he would have intensive meetings this week with the NIA, especially leader Al-Hakim to discuss the disagreements.
So far the content of the political settlement bill has not yet been revealed, and according to NIA that drew it up, it is still a draft that needs all other political parties to add their remarks before announcing it.
The NIA is trying to water down the strict stance adopted by the UNF The UNF rejects the political settlement bill, but it does not represent all the Sunni components, leader in Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), Mohammad Al-Miahi, said.
There are other Sunni parties not involved in the political process, he added, noting that the NIA would have no bargains over 'martyrs' blood." On its part, the Iraqi Government is trying to quash fears by the political powers of newly-approved Al-Hashd law, vowing to consider the demands of the UNF in the executive procedures.
Leader of Al-Hall Bloc Jamal al-Karbouli told the Iraqi TV that Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi who would lead the PMUs, promised of fulfill all the demands, namely setting a quota for each party in Al-Hashd, which entails effective participation of the Sunni components.
Al-Abadi tried in his weekly press conference on Tuesday to highlight the positive aspects of the PMUs law, saying it would legalize the use of arms, confining them to the state.
He added that the units would also be part of the security system of the country, in addition to maintaining the rights of those who defended their country".
"It seems that the Premier is not much excited about the political settlement bill.
"I am not against the settlement document; But settlement with whom?," he wondered.
Al-Abadi said that there is more need for social reconciliation, as the so-called Islamic State (IS) had managed to sow seeds of discord among the Iraqi social components.
Observers believe that the crisis of confidence that has aggravated among the Iraqi political parties after the PMUs law was passed, is heading to a solution.
They agree that a political settlement in Iraq is inevitable and for the good of all, in line with the principle of 'No winners and no losers." A UNF lawmaker, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that negotiations are underway for a political settlement. He said political talks and meetings are being held among leaders of parties to overcome the points of disagreement. (end) ahh.msa