AFGHAN PARLIAMENT RECONVENES...AFTER A FASHION

UNCLAS KABUL 002066

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (REMOVED SENSITIVE CAPTION)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN PARLIAMENT RECONVENES...AFTER A FASHION

REF: KABUL 1405


1. (U) SUMMARY: Parliament reconvened, without reaching
quorum, on July 25. Many MPs continue to be outside of Kabul
campaigning for presidential candidates or themselves. They
will continue to meet as scheduled, but if quorum is not
reached in the first few days they will consider a recess
until after the August 20 presidential elections. The
parliament's order of business included a prayer of thanks to
God that no MPs died or were kidnapped over the recess; so
far, eight MPs have been killed since the parliament was
elected in 2005. MPs aired complaints against Coalition
Forces and a female MP accused of obtaining land illegally.
End Summary.

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HOBBLING ALONG
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2. (U) Parliament reconvened with 85 MPs in attendance (121
are needed for quorum). Lower House Yunus Speaker Qanooni
told us in a private meeting on July 20 that the parliament
will continue to meet as scheduled, but if quorum is not
reached in the first few days, they may again consider a
recess until after the August 20 presidential elections.
Some speculated many Karzai-supporters were in attendance to
show unity. Female MP Qadria Parast (Kabul, Tajik) expressed
surprise that 85 MPs came, and claimed parliament "would not
be able to do anything" until after the elections, because
without quorum they cannot make any binding legislative
decisions. Qanooni asked the committees to meet July 26 to
discuss the upcoming legislative agenda. The parliament gave
thanks to God that no MPs died or were kidnapped over the
recess; so far, eight have been killed since the 2005
elections.

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COMPLAINTS AGAINST COALITION FORCES
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3. (U) MP Sayed Gailani (Paktika, Pashtun) said Coalition
Forces were listening to "false informers" in Paktika as they
tried to locate the kidnapped U.S. soldier there. MP Abdul
Khan (Nangarhar, Pashtun) said Coalition Forces launched an
attack in the Shirqad district of Nangarhar province, killing
four civilians. He claimed they were "attacking the houses
of innocent people." Speaker Qanooni said the false
informers needed to be brought to justice, and called for the
MPs in question to write a letter explaining the details of
these cases to the Coalition Forces. He said it was not
enough to "just talk about it."

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FEMALE MP ACCUSED OF ABUSE OF POWER
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4. (U) Four male MPs accused female MP Parween Durani
(Kuchi, Pashtun) of abusing her MP position to illegally
obtain land and other benefits; Parween was not in
attendance. The accusers included fellow-Kuchi
representative and other Pashtuns. In a rare show of female
solidarity - in particular from another ethnic group - MP
Fatima Aziz (Kunduz, Tajik) defended Parween, saying these
were only allegations, and that she was being accused because
she was a female. This led to some vociferous debate, to
include more MPs calling for disciplinary action against
Parween. Speaker Qanooni sent the matter to the Committee on
the Protection of MPs for further investigation.


EIKENBERRY