Draft Baath law approved
"Iraq's prime minister and president have approved a draft law allowing many former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to return to their government jobs, and it could be voted on this week, officials said Monday.
The legislation, seen by the United States as crucial to pacifying Iraq, will go to parliament as soon as it is reviewed by cabinet officials, said Ahmed Shames, a spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
. . . Under U.S. pressure, Maliki agreed last year to readdress the issue of former Baathists by early this year. Some U.S. officials had recently warned that the efforts were stalled.
The draft, which was released by the U.S. Embassy early Tuesday, would let all but the three highest levels of Baathists return to their jobs, provided they had not been involved in criminal activity. All those who lost their jobs would collect a pension." [1]
"[T]housands more former Baathists would be allowed to hold government jobs than under the current law. Former Baathists who return to government work would have to sign a pledge that they would refrain from making political statements about the current government.
The law would also set a three-month time limit for Iraqi citizens who have complaints against former Baathists to bring a claim. Then the courts would have six months to rule. Any claims brought subsequently would be thrown out.
The goal of the new law is to take a step toward reconciling Sunnis and Shiites, said Dr. Sadiq al-Raqadi, a political adviser to Mr. Maliki.
'The reason for the new law is that the government wants to finish these cases; they want to close the files of the Baathists,' he said. 'This is an effort to find a solution for the problem of the Baathists.' " [2]
source
[1] Brulliard, Karin. (The Washington Post). Proposed Iraqi Law Would Restore Jobs For Baath Members. March 27, 2007.
[2] Rubin, Alissa J. (The New York Times). Iraqis Announce New Steps Aimed at Reconciling Sunnis and Shiites. March 27, 2007.
posted: thursday, march 28, 2007, 12:56 AM ET
update: thursday, march 28, 2007, 12:59 AM ET
tags: iraq baath maliki
The legislation, seen by the United States as crucial to pacifying Iraq, will go to parliament as soon as it is reviewed by cabinet officials, said Ahmed Shames, a spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
. . . Under U.S. pressure, Maliki agreed last year to readdress the issue of former Baathists by early this year. Some U.S. officials had recently warned that the efforts were stalled.
The draft, which was released by the U.S. Embassy early Tuesday, would let all but the three highest levels of Baathists return to their jobs, provided they had not been involved in criminal activity. All those who lost their jobs would collect a pension." [1]
"[T]housands more former Baathists would be allowed to hold government jobs than under the current law. Former Baathists who return to government work would have to sign a pledge that they would refrain from making political statements about the current government.
The law would also set a three-month time limit for Iraqi citizens who have complaints against former Baathists to bring a claim. Then the courts would have six months to rule. Any claims brought subsequently would be thrown out.
The goal of the new law is to take a step toward reconciling Sunnis and Shiites, said Dr. Sadiq al-Raqadi, a political adviser to Mr. Maliki.
'The reason for the new law is that the government wants to finish these cases; they want to close the files of the Baathists,' he said. 'This is an effort to find a solution for the problem of the Baathists.' " [2]
source
[1] Brulliard, Karin. (The Washington Post). Proposed Iraqi Law Would Restore Jobs For Baath Members. March 27, 2007.
[2] Rubin, Alissa J. (The New York Times). Iraqis Announce New Steps Aimed at Reconciling Sunnis and Shiites. March 27, 2007.
posted: thursday, march 28, 2007, 12:56 AM ET
update: thursday, march 28, 2007, 12:59 AM ET
tags: iraq baath maliki
Labels: de-baathification, iraq, jalal talabani, nuri al-maliki
posted by eric at 11:44 PM
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