Quarrels Impede Afghan Loya Jirga Process

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 13, 2002

Quarrels Impede Afghan Loya Jirga Process

The head of the Afghan transitional government has not been elected as scheduled during the Wednesday's session of the Loya Jirga since the process was impeded by heated debate among 1,551 delegates,

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The head of the Afghan transitional government has not been elected as scheduled during the Wednesday's session of the Loya Jirga since the process was impeded by heated debate among 1,551 delegates,

According to the agenda announced by Ismael Qasemyar, Chairman of the Loya Jirga Special Commission, on Wednesday's morning, the head of the transitional government will be elected after one chairman, two deputies and two secretaries for the Loya Jirga are chosen by the delegates.

After the session started in the morning, delegates were eager to express their opinions on subjects ranging from the national anthem to the qualification of the candidate for the chairman for the Loya Jirga.

Delegates are crowded standing behind the microphones, and someshouted their views. Because some of them could not focus on the candidate issue and talked about other things, Qasemyar asked for discipline time after time.

However, one delegate argued that most of the delegates come from families with no enough food and clothing, and it should be the delegates who decide what to say instead of the special commission.

A delegate of Tajik ethnic group said he disagreed to give the title of "Father of the Nation" to the former king.

"If I go home and my mother asks me who should I call father, my own father or the king, what should I do?" he said.

Some complained that they are not allowed to know the agenda beforehand and they don't know how to choose a candidate.

Before the session was adjourned at noon, more than 10 candidates for the chairman and dozens of candidates for deputies and secretaries had been nominated.

The afternoon session still featured quarrels and debates. Until press time, chairman of the Loya Jirga has not been elected.

Ashraf Ghani, director of Afghan Assistance Coordination Authority, said at a news briefing in the afternoon that the agenda for Wednesday could have been settled in three hours. The reason why it did not happen is that people really want to talk. The nature of the debate is not only about the chairman, but the will of the people to be sovereign, to be independent and to be united as well.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullah Abdullah said proceedingsshould be ended on June 16 as scheduled, "we are hopeful that by then the Loya Jirga will arrive to a desired conclusion and decision."

He reiterated that former king Mohammed Zahir Shah would not bea candidate for the head of the transitional government.

Ahmad Wali Massood, brother of the assassinated Northern Alliance commander Ahmed Shah Masood, said that this morning's session of the Loya Jirga is a full expression of democracy, national unity, pride and confidence to talk about different dimension of issues.

The Emergency Loya Jirga, opened on Tuesday, aims to select a transitional government which will lead the war-torn Afghanistan to 2004.

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