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Afghanis Constitution was built upon debris of fifty-year long inter-group conflicts. Although it gained sovereignty since the eighteenth century, democracy-oriented constitution was only taken place in no longer than 10 years. With such relatively new Constitution, challenge and obstacles are still eyeing the country which located in the Centre of Asia, in its effort of indoctrinating the values to the people.   

Friday (11/7) situated at Constitutional Court delegation room, member of Independent Commission for Overseeing the Implementation of Constitution Lutforrahman Saeed accompanied by Afghan Ambassador to RI Ghulam Sakhi Ghairat, paid a visit to Constitutional Court (MKRI) to further learn Indonesia’s attempt in implementing its Constitution to the people.

“Our Constitution is yet to be understood by the most of our people, we want to learn from Indonesia about the implementation of its constitution.  We see that Indonesia has succeeded of dispersing its constitution to the people, hence its advanced democracy. One day we hope Afghanistan has its own Constitutional Court,” Lutforrahman said.

In response to it, Chief Justice Hamdan Zoelva who was accompanied by Secretary-general Janedjri M. Gaffar stated that Indonesia was also once experienced prolong ponder about the constitution, whether it would be Islamic or Unitary Republic. Eventually, its founding fathers agreed that Indonesia must take form of Unitary in order to keep its unity.

“Muslims compose 85% of Indonesia’s population. They play important role in constructing national law, many of our specific regulations derive from Sharia which later being adjusted with Pancasila to be impelemented in even broader citizens,” Hamdan explained.

Lutforrahman himself said that constitution implementation in Afghanistan is contended by the prolong conflict and the emergence of menacing interest groups. He cited that Afghanistan is lack of particular ideology like Pancasila which is able to interpret national culture values into feasible set to be applied by the people.

Harmonious Islam

Meanwhile, Ambassador Ghulam Ghairat said in the Afghanistan was once prosperous and peace entity, multicultural societies live side to side to uphold advanced civilization renowned in Central Asia. Afghanistan was once a hub for Islam’s penetration before it reached Southeast Asia.

“But everything changed due to the dire conflicts, emerging menacing fundamental groups in the Country,” Ghulam said.

However, Ghulam hinted that Afghanistan is seeing many improvements, stability is relatively secured and the former Sovyet ally is in the edge of prospering its citizens.

“We want to learn from Indonesia because we share something in common, both countries have vast numbers of muslim […] Indonesian muslims are good muslims and yet, they can manage to mingle with modern  society,” Ghulam said.

 (Winandriyo Kun Anggianto)                   

 

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