Here’s an interesting story: a national policy paper emerged recently, entitled “Rights to Assembly in the Jordanian Legislations”. Produced by Fayez Shakhatreh, a contracted legal expert to the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), the 74-page report has supposedly caused some debate, bringing together representatives from the government and civil society organizations to discuss it yesterday. Among other things, the report cites that amendments to political parties, societies and associations laws are an obstacle to the emergence of real political life. The report also went on to discuss hostility towards freedoms and political parties, describing November’s elections as “empty of any kind of intellectual or political rhetoric that would provide solutions to social, economic and security challenges faced”. Moreover, it attacked the one-man one-vote system as well as the new draft law that seeks to reform the way political parties function in the country and will see a dissolve of most of the 37 parties still around.
Now here’s what I found interesting about this piece of news:
Of the 16 Parliamentarians who were invited to the discussion, not one of them showed up. No one elected by the people, to represent the people, showed up to do just that.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Political Development and Minister of State for Legal Affairs, Kamal Nasser, representing the government, assured everyone (as usual) that “the government will study and take seriously the recommendations of this conference”.
President of the Arab Organisation for Human Rights, Hani Dahleh, said: “The recommendations of this conference will be put in a drawer to collect dust at the ministry and will not be taken seriously.”
Sigh.
What do you think?
None showed up?! That’s a pretty sad state of affairs, I’m afriad. Does it list which 16 were invited? I am curious what’s wrong with one-man one-vote? Is it a particular of the way it’s implemented here in Jordan? Thanks for the, as usual, thought provoking post Nas.
Nas i don’t think it’s really strange that none of them showed up,the last parliment members in lots of very important descecion making sessions didnt show up and they cancelled the sessions because the the minnimum number weren’t asembeled .
So correct me if im wrong, their simplest form of their job is to attend the sessions and vote yes for everthing the government throws at them and still thet couldn’t do that!!?!
so what about an extra parliament session r u kidding me “)
Actually their robbing the peoples money their taking salaries from our taxes and not even doing the simplest function of their job!!
Meanwhile, the parliment has called for a SECRET session to discuss the shooting prices…
Do you really think anything would have happened even if they had shown up, anyway it’s cold outside why would they even think of leaving the comforts of home. (sarcasm).
I feel like a pill for heart beat and a glass of warm water… am sure we are going to get out of this to the better, its the human history that teaches us so. I am bored from when and afraid from how.