Democratic Palestine : 27 (ص 34)
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- عنوان
- Democratic Palestine : 27 (ص 34)
- المحتوى
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in the Soviet Union, particularly after
the CPSU’s 27th congress, indicate the
importance of democracy. On the other
hand, there is the situation in the Arab
world where some regimes have used
economic and political advances to
obscure the question of democracy.
This points to the importance of
democracy and to the negative effects
on the society when democracy is lack-
ing.
Undoubtedly, the issue of democracy
is relevant to the Palestinian people.
We can even say that our need for
democracy, for mobilizing the
capabilities of every Palestinian, is an
urgent need, particularly in view of the
nature of the conflict in which our
masses are a major party.
Can we say that the existence of free
speech, which we are proud of in the
Palestinian arena, is democracy? The
answer is no! Free speech constitutes
only one aspect of democracy. It does
not encompass the full scope or mean-
ing of democracy. After instituting free
speech and developing democratic
concepts, the method should be outlin-
ed whereby the will of the society can be
extracted and materialized... In this
way, we could reach decisions despite
the multiplicity of opinions.
My aim is to point to the importance
of the PLO institutions, through which
democracy could be achieved...
THE PNC AND PROPOR-
TIONAL REPRESENTATION
According to the PLO’s internal
regulations, the Palestinian National
Council (PNC) should convene every
year; every four years, the membership
of the council should be selected anew.
In the past, due to both internal and
external reasons, the PNC did not
convene every year. Thus, in practice, a
new council has been selected about
every three sessions of the PNC
(editor’s note).
According to the organizational
rules, the Palestinian National Council
(PNC) should convene once a year.
Therefore a new session should be held
in April next year. It is well-known that
the term of the presiding council (the
6th) with its old composition, has ex-
pired. Thus, a new PNC should be
formed. This raises the question of
whether we are ready to conduct a
courageous and scientific evaluation
capable of overcoming the discrepan-
cies of the past. This demands that we
take continuous, cumulative steps
towards achieving democracy.
There have been discrepancies in the
composition of the preceding councils.
Some felt that when the PNC convened,
it was an occasion for the minority to
exercise its dictatorship over the ma-
jority, the majority being forced to say
yes to the minority in order to protect
national unity. Others contend that the
PNC’s composition allows for the
hegemony of a single faction. Isn’t
there a solution that satisfies all - that
makes all feel that the PNC’s composi-
tion has an objective basis?
Unfortunately, due to the exceptional
circumstances in which the Palestinian
people live, we cannot hold elections.
Had we had that opportunity, we
would have reached a solution to this
problem, even if only a partial one.
How can we then, in the light of this
reality, solve the issue?
During the dialogue that preceded the
PNC’s unifying session and during the
session itself, discussion focused on the
view that it was necessary to define the
PNC membership in accordance with
the percentage of representation allot-
ted to the independents, the (resistance)
organizations, the unions, etc... What
is required is to determine the basis on
which these percentages are decided...
This problem can only be resolved
through the principle of proportional
representation, in order to form a
democratic PNC in which everybody
adheres completely to the resolutions
adopted... What are the standards for
determining the representation of each
organization?
As an example, we in the PFLP feel
that we are wronged and should be bet-
ter represented. Outlining a set of
standards would make it possible to
know what the PFLP represents. The
number of seats allotted to the PFLP in
the PNC could be determined on that
basis. This would be applied to all
organizations, including Fatah, that we
think is overrepresented.
... | therefore introduce a proposi-
tion which I hope will be discussed,
calling for the Executive Committe, in
cooperation with the PNC president to
begin preparing to evaluate the forma-
tion of the next PNC, at least by
January. This means determining the
number of representatives for in-
dependents, (resistance) organizations
and mass unions, and the percentage of
each (resistance) organization. In this
way, by next March, we would have a
list of names, and the PNC could con-
vene in April.
TOWARDS A NEW
CONCEPT OF THE
CENTRAL COUNCIL
Given the resolutions adopted at the
April PNC concerning the tasks and
powers of the Central Council, this
council should embark on a new ex-
perience. As I understand the resolu-
tions, the tasks of the Central Council
are as follows: (1) insuring the Ex-
ecutive Committee’s adherence to the
PNC’s resolutions and holding it ac-
countable; (2) evaluating the Executive
Committee’s activities between PNC
sessions; and (3) issuing guidelines for
the Executive Committee’s work. In the
light of this, our task is to confirm the
new concept of this institution...
THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
While I express the PFLP’s satisfac-
tion with the regularity of the Executive
Committee’s meetings so far, I criticize
the delay of the Executive Committee in
agreeing on a set of internal regulations
for itself... (this has since been drafted
-editor’s note). I also hope that the Ex-
ecutive Committee completes prepara-
tion of the various sets of internal
regulations which outline the tasks and
powers of each department of the PLO. - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 27
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