Feb. 1
IRAQ:
Shiite leader wants modern Islam, but execution for Saddam
Shiite powerbroker Ibrahim Jaafari might get into trouble with his wife if
he called for an Iraq where women could not drive, but he has no
hesitation about supporting the death penalty for Saddam Hussein.
The current vice president is a key leader of the fundamentalist alliance
expected to become the biggest single bloc in the Iraqi national assembly
after the historic weekend election.
Some talk of Jaafari as a prime minister in the next government or in the
near future.
A powerful Shiite government might worry some people outside of Iraq, but
in an interview with AFP Jaafari sought to reassure that he wants Sunni
Muslims, who boycotted the election, to be involved and he does not want a
state that mirrors the theocracy in neighbouring Iran.
Jaafari, a doctor by training, is said to have close links with Iran.
After his Hezb al-Dawa al-Islamiyya (Islamic Call Party) took up arms
against Saddam's regime, he fled to Iran in the early 1980s before moving
to London in 1989. His 5 children still live in Britain and his wife
worked there.
Jaafari was among the 1st exiled leaders to return after the 2003 US-led
invasion. He was the 1st president of the now-defunct governing council
named by the United States that year.
When talks were underway over the fundamental law which serves as Iraq's
interim constitution, Jaafari was among those who favoured Islam as the
only source of legislation.
But he distances himself from a hard line.
"Secularism originally meant opposing God and religion. Now it is not the
same. Islam has changed too. It is different from country to country.
"It is true that some countries stop women from attending schools and
others do not let women drive. For me that would be a problem. My wife is
a surgeon, she cuts open abdomens, and I would never stop her doing
surgery."
Jaafari said he wants social justice and human rights and points to the US
example of a strongly religious country that keeps state affairs separate.
"The currency clearly states 'In God we trust'. Yet this doesn't
necessarily mean that all Americans believe in God."
But he would like Islam to be Iraq's official religion. "It would be
logical to mention Islam in the constitution. But it does not have to
resemble Iran if that what is on your mind."
Jaafari, like many Iraqis, takes a hard line, however, on the kind of
justice they want for the the country's former dictator.
"I think it is a public demand that his trial go ahead as soon as
possible, it would not be right to delay the trial. Yesterday I spoke with
the judge in the case. He said they will expedite the trial."
In the publicised mass purges of Shiites, members of Jaafari's Dawa party
lost their lives.
"I think there is a need to excute the one who committed these crimes. But
I will accept any result on condition that it is fair and organized by a
fair government."
Jaafari's party is part of the United Iraqi Alliance, backed by Grand
Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Iranian-born spiritual head of Iraq's Shiites.
Others in the alliance including Finance Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and
nuclear scientist Hussein al-Shahrastani are also possible candidates for
the prime minister's post.
Jaafari said that if asked to become premier he would not refuse.
Jaafari believes a withdrawal of US troops battling the Sunni insurgency
anytime soon could lead to a civil war.
"Despite their presence here in Iraq, terrorism exists," Jaafari said.
"Can you imagine what will happen if we ask them to leave. This could mean
the beginning of a civil war."
"We are trying our best not to have a civil war but if the multinational
forces leave now, certainly there will be more and more assassinations,
bombings and victims."
Improving security -- so Iraq can ask US and British forces to leave --
and forming a government that can satisfy the aspirations of the Sunni
minority community, will be 2 key tasks for the next government, according
to the vice president.
The Sunnis monopolised power under Saddam and for decades before. Many
fear the prospect of Shiites taking control.
Jaafari said there was no sense of revenge. "We want Shiites back in power
but at the same time we don't want to do what Saddam did."
Jaafari suggested top posts could be shared between the Shiites, Sunnis
and Kurds.
"It is most likely that the next prime minister would be a Shiite, while
the president and the head of the parliament would be a Sunni and a Kurd."
(source: Turkish Press)
AUSTRALIA:
PM urges clemency for death row man
Prime Minister John Howard said today he would ask for clemency for
Melbourne man Nguyen Tuong Van who is facing the death penalty in
Singapore for heroin trafficking.
Mr Howard said he would raise the Australian's case with Singaporean Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong when they met later today.
Last October, Nguyen, 24, of Mulgrave in Melbourne's south-east, lost an
appeal against his conviction and mandatory death sentence for drug
trafficking.
"There are compassionate circumstances in that particular case and I'll be
putting those compassionate circumstances to the prime minister, yes," Mr
Howard told reporters in Singapore.
He said Nguyen cooperated with authorities and was trying to raise money
to help a family member.
"He has cooperated with the authorities and he was, although engaged in a
criminal act as found by the courts of Singapore, he was endeavouring to
secure financial resources to help a family member," Mr Howard said.
"And I'll be putting those issues and other matters in the hope that they
will be taken into account by the president of Singapore in the final
decision that he must make in relation to whether or not the death penalty
is carried out."
Asked if the execution of Nguyen would affect bilateral relations between
Australia and Singapore, Mr Howard replied: "Look, I think we have to keep
a balance here.
"I believe there's a very good case for clemency but people must
understand that the laws of Singapore are well known and I think we'll
leave it at that."
(source: The Age)
