News From Parliaments Around the Globe -- February 22, 2007

Four arrested for killings of parliament members in Guatemala
One of the dead was son of El Salvador's death squad founder
Associated Press
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Launched:02/22/2007 08:54:10 AM PST

GUATEMALA CITY Four Guatemalan men were arrested today in connection with the killing of three Central American Parliament members, including the son of the alleged founder of El Salvadors death squads.
The assailants repeatedly shot Eduardo DAbuisson, son of El Salvadors late right-wing leader Roberto DAbuisson, two other Salvadoran officials and their driver before setting them on fire while they were still alive, officials said. Their charred bodies were found Monday along a road about 20 miles southeast of Guatemala City.

Radio Sonora reported the suspects are two high-ranking police officials and two police investigators. All four, the radio said, were assigned to a special unit to combat youth gangs.

Today, police spokeswoman Maria Jose Fernandez told The Associated Press four suspects were being held, but declined to confirm if they were members of the police department or give any details until officials hold a press conference later in the day.

The three slain politicians DAbuisson, William Pichinte and Ramon Gonzalez represented El Salvador at the Central American Parliament, which is based in Guatemala City and has 132 members representing five of the seven Central American nations. They were all members of El Salvadors ruling party, ARENA.

Officials, including El Salvadors president, said they suspect the slayings were politically motivated. Investigators have not given a motive.

President Tony Saca and other leading members of the ARENA party received DAbuissons body Wednesday. DAbuisson, whose father founded ARENA, was to be buried Thursday.

This is one of the saddest days in the history of the ARENA party, and one of the saddest days in the history of El Salvador, said Saca, who is to meet with President Bush next week. Saca said the FBI has been asked for help in the investigation.

DAbuisson, 32, was serving his first term in public office and was not viewed as a controversial figure.

His late father was embroiled in scandals as the alleged founder of El Salvadors death squads during its civil war from 1980-92. The death squads were responsible for the kidnap, torture, and murder of tens of thousands of civilians.

His father, who died of throat cancer in 1992, was accused by a U.N. truth commission of having ordered the killing of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, but an amnesty granted at the end of the war prevented him from going to trial.




TMK to march to Parliament for reservation

By Prof MH Jawahirullah

The Milli Gazette

22 February 2007

Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), in cooperation with a number of Muslim organisations, will conduct a march to Parliament, followed by a demonstration, on 7 March. Besides 5000 volunteers of TMMK coming to the capital from Tamilnadu, Muslims from various states will also assemble in Delhi to participate in this programme which has been called “Delhi Chalo, Huq Manwawo”. The march to Parliament and the demonstration are to demand exclusive reservation for Muslims and the implementation of affirmative measures in the light of the Sachar Committee report.

TMMK will also organise a social justice conference at Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi, in the evening of same day. It will be addressed by central ministers, members of Parliament and prominent leaders of the Muslim community.

A good number of parties, which now constitute the United Progressive Alliance, promised during the general elections in 2004 that exclusive reservation in Government jobs and educational opportunities would be provided to Muslims. The Congress party, which leads the UPA coalition, specifically mentioned in its election manifesto that the exclusive reservation for Muslims would be extended to the whole of the country on the pattern of Karnataka and Kerala states.

The Congress Manifesto for the 2004 Parliament elections had given Muslims the following promise: “The Congress has provided for reservations for Muslims in Kerala and Karnataka in government employment and education on the grounds that they are a socially and educationally backward class. The Congress is committed to adopting this policy for socially and educationally backward sections among Muslims and other religious minorities on a national scale.” Similarly, the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government (CMP) states the following: “The UPA will establish a National Commission to see how best the welfare of socially and economically backward sections among religious and linguistic minorities, including reservations in education and employment, is enhanced. The Commission will be given six months to submit its report."

The National Commission of Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice Ranganathan Mishra has been in existence for more than a year. However, it it yet to submit its report.

The UPA Government has now passed the halfway mark of its rule. Yet the promises made by it and its constituents during the elections have not become a reality.
The Justice Rajindar Sachar Committee has done a remarkable job by preparing an excellent report on the status of the largest minority of India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a number of occasions has stressed that his government will take measures to alleviate the condition of the minorities.

The Sachar Committee findings have brought out the facts about the poor educational, social, economic conditions of Muslims in the country. The report clearly establishes the need for proactive steps including reservations in education, resources, jobs as well as in legislative bodies for this extremely backward section of the society. Muslims constitute a large segment of the Indians who continue to suffer in all spheres of social, economic and pubic life due to lack of proper education, discriminatory policies and deep rooted bias. The Sachar report has also nailed the canards propagated by certain elements who have harped on the theory of “appeasement” of Muslims.

It is in this background that TMMK has decided to hold a rally in Delhi on 7 March. It will commence at 10 AM from Jama Masjid and proceed towards Parliament. At the end of the procession there will be a demonstration in front of Parliament which would be addressed by prominent leaders of various Muslim organisations. In the evening TMMK will to conduct a Sscial justice conference in Ambedkar Bhavan.

The march to Parliament is organised to remind and demand the UPA Government to fulfil the promises given to the Muslim community during the last Parliament elections and to take positive affirmative actions in the light of the suggestions of the Justice Rajendar Sachar Committee.

Prof. Jawahirullah is president of TMMK (www.tmmk.in). He may be contacted at tmmk@tmmk.in





Church condemns “senseless” killing of female MP
Qaiser Felix
The president of the Bishops’ Conference expressed condolence and condemnation about the murder of Punjab minister Zil-e-Huma Usman, by a religious fanatic. He stressed the need to promote tolerance in mosques and churches and for the government and civil society to work to stop extremism.


Lahore (AsiaNews) – The Pakistani Church has strongly condemned the “senseless violence” that on 20 February claimed the life of Zil-e-Huma Usman, a woman who was social affairs minister of Punjab. Condemnation was voiced by Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan. Speaking to AsiaNews, he expressed condolence for the woman’s family and appealed to the government “to control and curb this intolerance against women who should be given freedom and right to chose.”



On 20 February, Mohammad Sarwar, described by police as a “fanatic”, killed the 37-year-old minister in her hometown of Gujranwala north of Lahore. She was about to address her supporters when a bullet pierced her head. The woman died shortly afterwards in hospital. Her funeral was held yesterday afternoon.

Police immediately arrested Sarwar, a 40-year-old man who owns a hardware shop in Gujranwala and has nine children. They said he was a “religious fanatic” who “considers it contrary to the teachings of Allah for a woman to become a minister.” Sarwar belongs to the Ahle Hadith sect that has “its own interpretation of Islam”. Police said the criminal showed no regrets during interrogations: “I killed her out of the conviction that she was leading an un-Islamic life and an evil influence on other women.” The central and local authorities have promised a thorough trial and severe sentence after having gathered all the necessary evidence against the suspect.



Mgr Saldanha said: “The fanatical attitude of the killer should prompt one to find out who is teaching people to do such inhuman things. We are a developing country and such episodes take us back to the past. There is a need to educate people about tolerance through mosques and churches and not only the government but also the public should take steps in this regard. Politicians and media can play a vital role.” The bishop said the time had come for Pakistanis to adapt their stands and attitudes to the demands of modernity.



The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairperson, Asma Jahangir, said described the killing of Zile Huma as a sign of intolerance in the country. “Despite the government’s claims, extremism is on the rise and no efforts are being made to stop it.” Asma said the suspect had already confessed to killing six prostitutes in 2002, for which he had never been penalized. “If justice had worked then, this tragedy would not have occurred,” she added.



Zil-e-Huma Usman was a supporter of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and his policy of “enlightened moderation” aimed at guaranteeing the rights of women.






In near future a discussion to take place in Turkish parliament on 301st article
22.02.2007 14:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In near future the controversial 301st article of Turkish Penal Code will be discussed in the parliament of the country, Turkish PM Rejep Tayyep Erdogan stated. “I shall listen opinions of my colleagues, but I have my own viewpoint concerning this problem. Summing up we will put this issue under the discussion of parliament. It will be done in a very near future, Erdogan stated, Turkish Media reports. The 301st article supposes criminal punishment for “insulting Turkishness”. Armenian-Turkish ‘Agos’ bilingual weekly editor-in-chief slain Hrant Dink and Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk were prosecuted under this article.






Kenya: Tear gas puzzle at Parliament

Story by OWINO OPONDO
Publication Date: 2/22/2007
Unused tear gas canisters were found within Parliament buildings yesterday.

The find immediately threw into panic police officers responsible for securing the country’s seat of power — and left members of Parliament raising question marks about their security within its precincts.

National Assembly Speaker Francis ole Kaparo immediately issued a circular to all MPs telling them they will now have to undergo security checks before entering Parliament.

Although the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Samuel Ndindiri, maintained that the six unexploded canisters were found “inside the perimeter fence of the main Parliament Buildings”, sources told the Nation that they were found in one of the pigeonholes where letters to MPs are dropped.

A parliamentary employee is said to have stumbled on the canisters in the morning while cleaning the pigeonholes where mail to East African Legislative Assembly members are usually placed.

The office, which serves as a private lobby for MPs, is located on the ground floor. It is to the left of the Speaker’s Walk, which leads to the debating chamber.

Sources said the parliamentary employee who found the canisters immediately alerted the acting Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr Alloys Lekulo.

On being informed of the find, Mr Kaparo summoned Mr Ndindiri and the officer in charge of Parliament Police Station to his office.

Later, members of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) also met to discuss the matter.

The PSC is responsible for the welfare of MPs and staff of the National Assembly, including their security.

It is said Mr Kaparo wanted to be told why the security lapse took place, and who was responsible.

More police officers were deployed to the two gates to Parliament to inspect vehicles and control visitors to the buildings.

Unravel mystery

Police ballistic experts were called in to take the canisters and help in unravelling the mystery of who might have taken them to the lobby.

Parliament buildings are guarded round the clock by officers from the Sergeant-at-arms, the Army and the Police.

But yesterday’s security lapse is not the first. The House, whose yearly budget for security runs into millions of shillings, was invaded by thieves two years ago.

The gangsters went to the accounts offices and made away with several computers. No one was ever arrested in connection with the theft.

A few months later, during the official state opening of Parliament, a stranger strolled into the Chamber and sat near President Kibaki.

The man later claimed he was an old friend of Mr Kibaki.






Nepal parliament orders action against king

Indo-Asian News Service

Kathmandu, February 22, 2007













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Nepal King Gyanendra's Democracy Day message to the nation has landed him in trouble with parliament asking the government to take action against the monarch for his "unconstitutional" act - an unprecedented gesture in a country where kings were revered as the incarnate of god.

On Monday, observed as Democracy Day in Nepal to celebrate the end of an oppressive regime in 1950, the king had issued a statement, defending his coup two years ago and subsequent 15-month rule as being dictated by public wish and the failure of the then prime minister to hold elections in time.

The statement came as a surprise. According to the new constitution of Nepal, the king no longer has any role, remaining "suspended" till the June elections decide if the crown should remain or make way for a republic.

The royal message triggered rallies and demonstrations in the capital as well as outer districts.

Besides the Maoists and political parties, civil society members, lawyers and other professional organisations also condemned the statement.

As a sequel to the unrest, former deputy prime minister Ram Chandra Poudel tabled a proposal in parliament Wednesday, asking for action against the king for his "unconstitutional, unnecessary and undemocratic" statement.

"Monarchy always suppressed people's rights," the leader from the Nepali Congress party, once a supporter of the crown, told the house.

"It shows the king and democracy can't go together."

While a communist party is demanding an answer from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the Maoists are pressing for an immediate amendment to the constitution to abolish monarchy without waiting for elections in June.

Newly nominated Maoist MP Dev Gurung has asked the house to revise the new constitution and add a provision that will allow the impeachment of King Gyanendra if two-thirds of the MPs agree to the proposal.

"If we accord Gyanendra the status of constitutional or ceremonial king, he could conspire again to get the leaders of political parties arrested," Gurung said.

"We should not wait till the elections to decide the fate of the crown."

Another former deputy prime minister, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, whose Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist party is the second biggest in the ruling alliance, has demanded that the prime minister inform the house what action the government plans to initiate against the king.

After the proposal for action against the king was approved by an overwhelming majority of legislators cutting across party lines, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said Koirala would call a meeting of the ruling alliance as well as the Maoists to decide on what steps to take against King Gyanendra.

This is the first time that Nepal's parliament has endorsed the decision to take action against the crown.

However, though the move was unprecedented, so far, all action against the king and royal family has remained confined to paper.

The government has not been able to make the royals disclose the extent of their wealth or cut down the number of employees in the royal palace.

It has not made public the report of a high-level commission formed after the fall of the royal regime to bring to task ministers and officials responsible for trying to suppress the anti-king protests.

It could not even make the king answer the questionnaire sent by the commission during its interrogation of royalist ministers.







Jack Straw MP argues that Parliament must change way it interacts with citizens


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The Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw yesterday argued that Parliament had to change the way in which it interacted with citizens whilst staunchly defending the role of political parties.

In the week that 1.7 million people signed a Downing Street e-petition against road charging, Mr Straw said to an audience of the New Local Government Network that he supported the innovation. He said:

“I think there is a strong argument that Parliament should embrace innovations such as e-petitions, as it is able to provide an institutional framework within which petitions can be considered, debated and assessed – thus getting beyond the superficial headlines about numbers of signatories”.

Mr Straw also called for Parliament and political parties to play a greater role in citizens’ lives, whilst recognising that both need to be modernised. He said:

“The reputation of both has suffered unfairly. Parliament is not a toothless, tired body and political parties are not corrupt institutions. Yet both need to be refreshed in their different ways”.

Reflecting on the current debate over Lords reform, Mr Straw said that a reformed House of Lords “would be an important step towards a more pluralist constitutional structure”.

Responding to Mr Straw’s comments, Director of NLGN Chris Leslie called for a reformed House of Lords to become a ‘Guardian of Devolution’, that would reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom. He argued:

“The sense of disconnect arising from the current Lords membership isn’t only because they are unelected – it is also because they are palpably unrepresentative of the society over which they legislate.

The composition of the Lords must of course better reflect the gender balance, ethnic diversity and even age diversity – but I would argue that there must be another equally important consideration: national diversity

National Diversity is the need to represent the many, not just the few. The need to cast the net wider than the SW1 postcode to ensure all corners of the country have a voice”.

The New Local Government Network (NLGN) is an independent think tank, seeking to transform public services, revitalise local political leadership and empower local communities.






Ukraine: Parliament disrupted after power shutoff
Journal Staff Report


KIEV, Feb. 21 – Parliament’s work was disrupted on Wednesday after a group of opposition lawmakers had locked themselves in the building’s main power supply room to force the government coalition to support legislation reducing utility prices.

Lawmakers loyal to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko seized the room and shut the power supplies after the pro-government coalition had refused to debate the bill aimed at cutting the prices.

The action underscores a mounting pressure on the coalition as Tymoshenko had also summoned up hundreds of her supporters to take to the streets in many Ukrainian cities demanding to lower prices.

“The government has been urgently looking into what can be done to amend the budget,” Oleksandr Turchynov, a senior member of the Tymoshenko group, said shortly after the power supplies were shut. “They have been also working on a bill to reduce the prices. We welcome this.”

The standoff in Parliament shows that political crisis in Ukraine has been deepening and now involving the Tymoshenko group, the largest opposition group in Parliament.

The crisis has so far been centering on a confrontation between the pro-Russian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, and pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko.

Yanukovych has been since September 2006 seeking to diminish Yushchenko’s powers in order to change the country’s foreign policy, in particular to slow down Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

The joining of the Tymoshenko group into play, coupled with coordinated actions throughout the regions, adds mounting pressure on Yanukovych, whose popularity has been waning due to steep rise in utility prices since January 1.

Yanukovych apparently fears the coordinated action between Yushchenko and Tymoshenko may create conditions for the president to dismiss Parliament and to call early election.

Tymoshenko, who strongly backs the early election, believes that Yanukovych’s waning popularity could lead to the collapse of his Regions Party at the election and would eventually change the government.

Yushchenko badly needs to change the government to a more loyal one in order to continue his pro-Western foreign policy, including his plans to speed up accession to NATO.

Yushchenko’s party, Our Ukraine, the second largest opposition group in Parliament, has recently signed a deal with Tymoshenko to coordinate their actions in the standoff with Yanukovych.

Tymoshenko, who has been traveling throughout the regions over the past two days seeking to stir up the protests against the Yanukovych government, on Wednesday returned to Kiev apparently for a meeting with Yushchenko.

“I don’t rule out that she will have the meeting with the president,” Turchynov said.

Tymoshenko’s traveling throughout the regions join similar actions by other popular politicians, such as Yuriy Lutsenko, a former internal affairs minister, who has been mustering thousands of supporters for a march on Kiev.

Lutsenko, an ally of Yushchenko, pledged to summon up thousands of protesters for the march later this year to put pressure on Yanukovych for his apparent refusal to speed up reforms.

The developments on Wednesday forced the Yanukovych government to issue a statement that accuses the presidential office of attempts to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. (tl/ez)






Ukrainian parliament rejects Yushchenko cabinet candidatesThursday 22 February 2007 12:44vote +50%
Importance
Ratingvote -Political deadlock in Ukraine continued on Thursday with the country's national parliament the Verhovna Rada rejecting candidates to two senior government posts nominated by President Viktor Yushchenko.Only 196 members of the 450-seat house supported Volodymyr Ogryzko to head the foreign ministry, a post empty since the pro-Russia parliament majority forced the resignation of a pro-Europe foreign minister in December.

Ogryzko, like Yushchenko, is a supporter of closer relations between Ukraine and Europe.

Voting for a new head for the national intelligence agency the SBU was an even greater defeat for Yushchenko, with only 190 MPs supporting the candidacy of Viktor Korol, a long-service public worker.

The SBU chairmanship, although not part of the cabinet, is considered one of Ukraine's most sensitive and important government jobs, due to the secret police's ability to collect incriminating evidence against government opponents.

Korol in comments to press after the vote called for a "de-politicization of the SBU, in the national interest. "

Yushchenko's office had no early comment on the twin legislative failures.

The vote left Ukraine's tattered foreign policy unchanged. Since the sacking of anti-Russia foreign minister Borys Tarasiuk in December, the Ukrainian government has pursued two distinct foreign policies: a pro-Europe one pushed by members of the presidential administration, and a pro-Russia one advanced by the cabinet, which is controlled by the parliament majority.

Ukraine's parliament and president have been mired in a constitutional crisis for almost a year, a key issue of the dispute being which cabinet officers should be appointed by the executive and legislative branches.

Murky constitutional language, and a willingness by lawmakers to ignore even more clearly-worded sections of the constitution, have left the country's government in a deadlock.

Opposition politicians for months have been calling for new elections to resolve the impasse - an idea rejected by the parliament majority as lacking constitutional precedent. dpa sbk pmc






Malawi: Parliament wastes 30 minutes on RP, passes bill
by George Ntonya, 22 February 2007 - 05:12:02
Members of Parliament Wednesday afternoon wasted about 30 minutes arguing over whether or not the Republican Party (RP) should be recognised by the House, forcing First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje to adjourn business prematurely.
Pandemonium broke out a few minutes after Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe tabled Bill Number 1 of 2007 seeking Parliament’s authorisation to allow government to borrow US$30 million (about K4.2 billion) from the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China (RoC) for construction of the controversial Karonga-Chitipa Road.
The debate started well when Chilenje allowed Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF) and People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) spokespersons for finance Respicious Dzanjalimodzi, Leonard Mangulama and Mark Katsonga Phiri to respond to Gondwe’s statement.
But a point of order by Minister of Lands Henry Phoya against recognition of the RP in the House quickly rendered the First Deputy Speaker helpless because of uncontrollable interjections that followed.
While some MPs who entered the House on the RP ticket but are now in government supported Phoya, their colleagues on the opposition side argued that the party was still recognised and that Steven Malamba, RP MP for Nsanje Lalanje, should be allowed to make a response.
A visibly angry Chilenje, after consultation with the clerks in front of her, ruled that records of the House indicated that the RP existed in Parliament and merited time to respond to the bill.
“The RP has never been recognised the way it is being recognised today,” leader of the House on government business Henry Chimunthu Banda argued against Chilenje, saying that the parliamentarians had not been informed of the RP’s position, hence their objection.
MP for Zomba Ntonya Berson Lijenda (Independent) urged fellow MPs not to waste time on less important issues but his plea was in vain as the RP MPs on both sides of the House outdid each other, forcing Chilenje to prematurely adjourn the deliberations. The RP was never given an opportunity to respond when the House resumed almost 45 minutes later.
“The matter has been referred to the Business Committee,” announced Chilenje, who also entered Parliament on the RP ticket.
Consequently, the House extended business to ensure that the bill, the first to be tabled during the current sitting, was passed.
Gondwe told the House that the US$30 million loan would be repaid in 20 years with 3.5 percent interest. The minister also said there is a grace period of ten and a half years.
He said that the road project started with a US$15 million grant RoC provided to the Malawi government.
Although the minister spelt out some conditions of the loan, MPs on the opposition felt cheated, saying they needed copies of the loan agreement before passing the bill. However, they unanimously supported it, saying the Karonga-Chitipa Road is long overdue.
“What we need now is action,” said Mangulama.
Like other MPs who spoke on the bill, Katsonga said that the bituminised road would not only boost economic activities between the two districts but would also act as an easy link between Malawi and other countries.
The opposition urged the government to ensure that the contractor, from the Republic of China, does high quality work.





Turkish MPs to try to hinder adoption of Armenian Genocide resolution
22.02.2007 16:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Three separate delegations of Turkish parliamentarians are going to depart for Washington in order to urge their American colleagues not to adopt the Armenian Genocide resolution. Delegations, which include representatives from ruling and opposition parties, will visit the U.S.A. at the end of February and beginning of March, since discussions on the resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled for April. During his last visit to the United States Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called the Congress not to adopt the resolution, otherwise, in his words, the American-Turkish relations can be exposed to serious risk. It is also worth mentioning that this year adoption of Armenian Genocide resolution is quite possible, since Democrats, who make majority in the Congress, are in favor of the document, RFE RL reports.





Adoption of Armenian Genocide resolution by U.S. Congress to become a historic event
22.02.2007 14:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the 110th U.S. Congress if approved, will become a historic event, ARF Dashnaktsutyun representative Armen Roustamyan responded to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist during a press conference in Yerevan. He said, in order to adopt this resolution the most favorable moment has come. “Democrats make majority in the U.S. Congress, who have always been for recognizing the Armenian Genocide. And the most important thing here is that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks for it, and a lot of things depend on her,” Roustamyan stressed. He is sure that this very step by the United States will result in Armenian Genocide recognition in a number of European countries. “The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. is a issue of security for Armenia and the whole region. It will mean that the 3+3+2 formula of regional security offered to Armenia, where “2” are the U.S.A. and EU, is viable. Among other things, some progress is possible in Armenian-Turkish relations,” Armen Roustamyan said.

In 2001 an attempt was made in the U.S. Congress to adopt such a resolution, but House Speaker Rep. Dennis Hastert blocked discussions. The current voting is scheduled for April 2007





Malta: Parliament: Legal aid services not up to standard – Labour MP

Amendments to the Administrative Justice Bill were discussed in Parliament on Tuesday, including the setting up of the Tribunals of Administrative Justice.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici stated that more discussion and amendments would be needed before making this bill an official law.

Labour MP Anglu Farrugia spoke about the composition of the members of the Tribunals of Administrative Justice. He stated that such members should constitute an independent body, that would be neutral when dealing with cases of justice.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici described the set-up of the various tribunals. He stated that these would be divided into clusters according to the specialised sectors, for instance those of agriculture, income tax or VAT.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici stated that the court hearings of such a nature would not only be heard in the Law Courts of Malta but also that of Gozo. He also stated that should a new building to house the Law Courts be built in Gozo, these hearings would be heard in this venue. Comments were passed about the fact that the court house in Gozo appears to be inaccessible for many, especially those with physical mobility problems.

Dr Farrugia asked about the tariffs which people would be expected to pay when filing a court application. He argued that it is imperative to specify a nominal fee in order for this to be standard and fair for all. He also stated that there should also be a nominal fee stated for the filing of an appeal case and for the appointment of a lawyer. Dr Farrugia insisted on this issue, in order to avoid any type of abuse.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici agreed with this matter as this would enable clients to be aware from the start of the fees which they would be expected to pay.

A discussion ensued with regard to the function and responsibilities of those lawyers working in the legal aid service. Dr Farrugia emphasised that there are many problems with this service. He stated that although it is means-tested to help those who are financially unable to pay for private legal representation, the system still does not work to their benefit.

He continued to argue that the service is not an accessible or efficient one. He stated that people who make use of this service are not receiving good quality lawyers, who are willing to do their utmost to help their clients. He mentioned that legal aid should be of the optimum standard, because at present results are not being reaped.

He also mentioned that some of those people who are unable to afford legal representation choose not to continue with the court case for financial reasons. Dr Farrugia also insisted that it is a person’s fundamental right to be provided with the best legal service, even if such a person does not afford private representation. He also said that whenever a lawyer in legal aid does not carry out his or her job in an efficient manner, they would be putting down their own profession. Labour MP Jose Herrera agreed with Dr Farrugia’s intervention.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici stated that although there was some truth in what Dr Farrugia stated, there are many lawyers who work in legal aid who do provide a very efficient service.





Bulgarian Parliament to discuss draft bill for election of MEPs



22 February 2007 | 09:43 | FOCUS News Agency



Sofia. The Bulgarian law for election of MEPs will be discussed in the country’s Parliament today on second reading, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency informed.
The draft bill was passed on first reading on December 15th, 2006. Last week discussion of some texts from the bill caused fierce arguments in the plenary hall and outside. The ‘residence’ principle of the law continues to cause reactions.
According to this principle, only Bulgarian citizens, who have been residing for at least three months in Bulgaria or any other EU state prior to the elections will be allowed to vote.






Holyrood far from 'closure' warn MSPs
IAN SWANSON
SCOTTISH POLITICAL EDITOR (iswanson@edinburghnews.com)
MSPs today warned the saga of the Holyrood parliament building was not over yet - despite the official "closure" of the project.

Presiding Officer George Reid yesterday announced the final cost of the building was £414.4 million - £16.1m down on the previous figure - and said it was time for the parliament to have a fresh start. But as he spoke, a bucket caught drips from a leaky roof in the lobby.

Mr Reid said none of the consultants or contractors involved in the project would be sued.

Legal advice costing £600,000 had concluded the expense and uncertainty involved meant it would not be value for money. But the parliament will take legal action over the collapse of a beam in the debating chamber.

Mr Reid said the parliament should never have cost as much as it did and blamed the type of contract chosen by the old Scottish Office for most of the problems.

A report revealed officials are still wrangling with contractors over a leak in the car park and a puddle outside the committee towers.

Complaints about cold temperatures in Queensberry House may mean extra heating has to be installed. External gates which were too heavy for their hinges have yet to be sorted.

Measures are still being considered to cut the risk of people falling into the ponds in front of the building. And the leak in the "black and white" lobby is still being investigated, as are leaks in several of the MSPs' "think bubble" windows.

Lib Dem backbencher Donald Gorrie said: "It sounds as if it isn't 'closure' at all if they are still to get all these things sorted."

A parliament spokesman said there were six "defects" which were still a matter of dispute.




Sri Lanka Marxists agitate in Parliament, demand abrogation of Ceasefire Agreement
Thursday, February 22, 2007, 15:12 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara, while adjourning the House, requested the JVP MPs not to initiate terrorism in Parliament.
Feb 22, Colombo: Protests by MPs from the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) prompted the Speaker to adjourn the Sri Lankan Parliament today. The MPs oppose the Ceasefire Agreement between the government and LTTE, which was signed five years ago today.

JVP propaganda secretary and parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa, making a special statement, said the Parliament had to know the government's principles regarding the Ceasefire Agreement.

Meanwhile, JVP Trincomalee District parliamentarian Jayantha Wijesekara removed the Mace by force to protest against the government for not “responding properly”. This prompted the Speaker to adjourn the Parliament.

“The President, Parliament, judiciary and the people were cheated when the Ceasefire Agreement as signed on the 22nd of February, 2002,” Mr. Weerawansa said.

“Even United National Party (UNP) Minister G.L. Peiris answered my question raised at this House on 19th February, 2002, saying no such preparation was there to sign an agreement, and once the preliminary document is drafted by Norway, it would be made public.

“Later on the 21st when Hon. Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara, then a UNP Minister, was enquired about any agreement was likely to be signed [sic], he also responded saying no such arrangement was with the government. However, within few hours, the Minister G.L. Peiris announced to the media that on the following day, a MoU for ceasefire was to be signed with LTTE.”

Mr. Weerawansa blamed the government, UNP, international community and LTTE for joining on one platform to protect the 'treacherous' Ceasefire Agreement.

When Minister Siripala de Silva declared that the Prime Minister would soon clarify the government's stance on the Ceasefire Agreement, JVP MPs moved to the well of Parliament, shouting slogans angrily.

Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara, while adjourning the House, requested the JVP MPs not to initiate terrorism in Parliament.





Parliament approved an extension of the Bulgarian mission in Iraq by one year


SOFIA (bnn)- The motion was backed by 146 of the 240 MPs sitting in the Bulgarian Parliament, with 17 votes against and one abstention.

The risks for the Bulgarian troops and possible scenarios for Iraq were set out before the MPs by Defence Minister Vesselin Bliznakov.
Under the parliamentary resolution, Bulgaria will commit a new contingent of up to 155 service persons, including a 120-strong company and a 35-person National Support Element, to provide perimeter security at the Multi-National Force - Iraq Temporary Interview and Protection Facility at Camp Ashraf (Northeast of Baghdad) for one more year until March 31, 2008. The Multi-National Force is mandated in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1723 (2006) of November 28, 2006, adopted in connection with a letter from the Prime Minister of Iraq, and all subsequent applicable resolutions of the Security Council.
Camp Ashraf houses some 3,500 members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled Iranian opposition group interned in Iraq, who enjoy protected status under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Parliament also ratified an agreement with the US signed on February 2, 2007, for the extension of the Bulgarian mission in Iraq. The agreement regulates the military technological and logistical aspects of the Bulgarian participation and the status of Bulgarian service persons on Iraqi territory.
The Bulgarian contingent will be under the operational and tactical command of the US forces but Bulgaria will retain its criminal, civil and disciplinary jurisdiction in respect of all Bulgarian service persons for the duration of the mission. /bnn/






India: Parliament budget session to be rescheduled
Posted on : Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:54:00 GMT | Author : Indo Asian News Service
News Category : India (World)

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New Delhi, Feb 22 With the Election Commission announcing the dates for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the second half of the budget session of parliament is likely to be rescheduled, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said Thursday.

The new dates will be decided after consulting with all the political parties at the Business Advisory Committee meeting Feb 26, Dasmunsi said after a meeting of the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.


This proposed rescheduling will make no difference to the main budgetary business of parliament that starts Friday.

The railway budget will be presented by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Feb 26, the Economic Survey will be tabled on Feb 27 and on Feb 28 the union budget will be presented by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.

'I have been advised to keep in mind three aspects while seeking all-party consensus on the rescheduling of the budget session, that the originally planned 42 sittings should not be compromised. Secondly that the financial business obligations should be fully taken care of and third that the standing committees of the various ministries get full time to discuss and deliberate on the demands of their respective ministries,'' said Dasmunsi.

The budget session of parliament consists of two parts with a recess of a few weeks in between. The first session is taken up by the presentation of the railway and general budgets and the second is devoted to discussions and their passage.

This year too, roughly, the same exercise was being followed. But after the announcement of the Uttar Pradesh election that may keep many of the MPs engaged in campaigns there, the second session is likely to be rescheduled, he indicated.


(c) Indo-Asian News Service