THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 4/18-4/23: ISAF BRIEFS MPS

UNCLAS KABUL 001042 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT, 4/18-4/23: ISAF BRIEFS MPS ON CIVILIAN CASUALTIES REF: A. KABUL 997 ¶B. KABUL 969 After beginning the week with a chaotic debate and vote of confidence in favor of Information Minister Abdul Karim Khoram in the Lower House (ref A),both houses of Parliament ended the week with sessions that failed to gain a quorum. Among the issues raised in plenary or committee sessions this week were: - ISAF Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Dutton briefed the Lower House Defense Committee on April 23 on its investigations of civilian casualty incidents. MPs expressed gratitude for the briefing, which they said was the first ISAF effort to engage Parliament, but hoped it was only the beginning of a longer discussion on how to improve coordination between ISAF and Afghan security forces, and limit civilian casualty incidents. - MPs from Khost continued their walkout over a civilian casualty incident in that province more than a week ago (ref B). One MP said the walkout would continue until MPs saw progress in the government's effort to limit such incidents. Upper House debates this week focused mostly on the Khost and other civilian casualty incidents. - With no quorum present for its final session of the week, the Lower House deferred action on laws involving police reform, private security companies, and the electoral system. Some MPs expressed concern that the electoral law needed to be passed before June in order to apply to the 2010 parliamentary elections, and urged a quick resolution to the disputes holding up a vote. MPs are divided over the issue of seats allocated to Kuchi nomads. Non-Pashtun MPs generally want to reduce the current 10 seats in the Lower House, all held by Pashtun Kuchis. Many Pashtun MPs defend the allocation and believe any change in the number would require amending the Constitution. RICCIARDONE