House of FDRE promulgates National Dialogue Commission establishment proclamation
(Parliament news): December 29, 2021: The 2nd Special Sitting of the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the FDRE promulgated a bill of proclamation for the establishment of the National Dialogue Commission of the nation, today.
During the sitting, House Speaker Honourable Tagesse Chaffo said; the prospective Commission shall be neutral, trustworthy and participatory along its line of duties which will align with other pertinent laws of the land.
Honourable Speaker remarked, the Commission is one of the national institutions believed to bring the expected national consensus in the national issues as well as proximity of polarized thoughts. Hence, as to him, the proclamation is of paramount importance.
Chairperson of the Legal, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee, Honourable Etsegenet Mengistu disclosed; the Standing Committee has held public hearings since the day the bill was referred to it for further scrutiny. Public stakeholders form Justice Sector, Civic Societies, Religious Council, Public and Private Media firms, University Scholars and Public Figures were given opportunities to get involved in the process of qualifying the bill, she noted. In addition, concerned bodies from regional and city administrations of the nation were made to take parts in enhancing the scrutiny of the proclamation.
The anticipated leadership of the Commission, according to the Chairperson, shall possess the appropriate capacity needed to lead the Commission at its expected realm and shall be as neutral as possible. The major intention behind the establishment of the Commission is just depleting the disparities regarding the fundamental issues of the national concerns and evolve important discussions in it, she underscored.
During the deliberation, MPs raised questions and forwarded comments on the bill. Honourable Desalegn Channie (PhD) on his part disfavoured the time appropriation of the bill. As to him, the bill of proclamation should have never came forward for resolution in these days where the nation is still in the war conflict and citizens from all corners aren’t at an enabling atmosphere to say their parts in it.
MPs aligning with this aspect added, rather than dealing with the bill, it would be appropriate to render psychological treatment for the war ravaged citizens and bring back them to their original places of which they were internally displaced because of the terrorist military assault launched on them.
On the other hand, MPs who withstood the aforementioned idea said; though it’s too early to speak of public clarity on the proclamation, the proclamation itself paves ways of pivotal importance for narrowing the polarized outlooks being observed even on the same subject.
These MPs added, the proclamation is of paramount importance to bring about lasting solutions to domestic problems using cultural means and binding societal core values. As to them, the proclamation will help the sorting out and identification of obstacles that hinder the most-wanted national consensus and liberate the nation from the challenges that it’s facing nowadays.
Honourable Etsegenet reacted to questions and opinions of MPs and said; the pending rules and regulations will fill the loopholes in the proclamation. The National Dialogue Commission will establish all the necessary operational interaction with Reconciliation Commission and other similar institutions as per the anticipated upcoming dialogues, she indicated.
The House, in its Special Sitting of the 1st year of the 6th term of parliament promulgated the bill of proclamation with a majority vote of abstinence and 13 nays.
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