UN condemns Iraq charter change

[cal04]

The United Nations has criticised changes to Iraq's electoral law that make it harder for Iraqis to reject the draft constitution. The two-thirds majority needed in three provinces to defeat the constitution will now be counted from all registered - as opposed to actual - voters.

"We have expressed our position to the national assembly and to the leadership of the government," said Jose Aranaz, a legal adviser to the UN electoral team in Iraq, in an interview with Reuters news agency. Mr Aranaz said parliament's decision was unacceptable and would not meet international standards.
"Hopefully by tomorrow the situation will be clarified," he said.

On Monday Saleh al-Mutlaq, of the Sunni group Iraqi National Dialogue, called the change the voting law a "clear forgery". "They want this constitution to pass despite the will of the people," he added. The interim constitution drawn up under US administrator Paul Bremer in 2003 says the following about the issue: "The general referendum will be successful and the draft constitution ratified if a majority of the voters in Iraq approve and if two-thirds of the voters in three or more governorates do not reject it."

But on Sunday, MPs said a No vote from two-thirds of "registered" voters was needed for a veto. The new interpretation keeps the clause stipulating that only half of actual voters are needed for the text to be adopted

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4309164.stm

[downindixie]

1. "UN condemns Iraq charter change"

So if the change stands thare will be no Sunni's voting and the Shia's win?

[newyawker99]

9. Hi downindixie!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[afdip]

2. bushco sez "dis is how we . . . .

do it in texas."

[cantstandbush]

3. Exporting corrupt democracy. That's what we are doing.

We never can play fair at anything. If we can't win by the rules, we change the rules. so why not in Iraq too?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Wow, I'd missed the original story totally

That's such a blatant fix to make sure the constitution is passed. Getting 2/3 of registered voters to vote one way is nearly impossible. Combining that with 'half of actual voters' to get it passed, this means the Sunnis stand almost no chance of stopping the constitution.

[saigon68]

5. That's OK I'm sure the Resistance will "WEIGH IN" at some point

God help the next batch of "Volunteers" out to civilize the towel heads

[Oreo]

6. Democracy is on the march...

Unfortunately nobody seems to know where it marched to.
If you should happen to see Democracy, let her know she's needed.

[FlashHarry]

7. New Rules on Iraqi Vote May Violate Standards, U.N. Says

NY Times story here

<snip>
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 4 - The United Nations said today that newly adopted rules for the coming Iraqi constitutional referendum appeared to violate accepted international standards for elections.

United Nations officials met in Baghdad with Iraq's Kurdish and Shiite political legislators who had quietly adopted the new rules on Sunday. The rule change would make it virtually impossible for the constitution to fail and has infuriated many Sunni Arab political leaders who oppose the document.
</snip>

Well, well, well. What a surprise.

On edit, this may be a dupe. Original thread here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1825899

[anotherdrew]

8. what a friken joke, so many dead for this travesty? it's an abomination

bush and his whole gang need to pay dearly and for the rest of their lives for this hell they have brought to us all and especially the iraqis