The Fix is In

Why have true democratic processes when you can change the rules for ratification? Moreover, why not change the rules for ratification in an unannounced meeting so that the agenda can be secret and non-confrontational? Why not ignore the Sunni population and all of their demands? Why not redraft the constitution in an American image? Why should boycotting Sunni’s be included in the democratic process?

It seems that all of the above statements have come true. In a late Sunday night session, unbeknownst to all peoples (Sunni), a rule change went into effect which will make the ratification of the ‘new’ constitution almost automatic. In effect, to reject the constitution it will now take 2/3 of all registered (the old rule was for all voters registered or not) voters in 3 of the 18 provinces. In other words, using the total number of registered voters as a base line, lets say 50,000 in each province; the rejection must be 2/3 of 50,000 in three provinces.

The underlining problem is that not all registered voters will vote and a non vote is a vote for the constitution. With a war torn country and civil unrest; turn out for the ratification will be extremely small. An indication of this scale is presented by Adnan al-Janub, a Sunni lawmaker, “This (the rule change) is a mockery of democracy a mockery of law. Many Sunnis have been telling me they didn’t believe in this democratic process, and now I believe they are vindicated.” So would you participate in a system that is not representative of you or your family? In fact this new rule has further marginalized the Sunni population. In effect, this transition discounts them from the rule of law which will ultimately decide their fate. They have become a stranger in a strange land, a recipe for strife and unrest.