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V CORPS ADVISORS HELPING TO ESTABLISH DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES IN IRAQ

V Corps Release

Release Date: 12/04/2003

By Cpl. Todd Pruden 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Capt. Lance Lauchengco inputs data into his hand-held computer organizer to remind himself of important details. After all, he has a busy job -- aiding in the establishment of a new government here is history in the making.

Capt. Lance Lauchengco, the government development officer for V Corps' 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, is an advisor for the neighborhood and district advisory councils within his unit's sector here. With the help of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the brigade's soldiers, the West Point graduate is helpig develop a democratic system of government for the people of Iraq.

"Our involvement is to mentor the district councils, so that they are more efficient and better able to perform their governing functions," said Lauchengco. "Our function is to provide advice and recommendations."

There are three levels of municipal government in Baghdad, the captain explained.

The first and most localized are the neighborhood advisory councils, whose members were selected by citizens who attended the first neighborhood meetings here. The neighborhood councils are led by a chairman, with the number of council members varying from neighborhood to neighborhood. The neighborhood councils report to the district councils, as well as a U.S. military company-level commander.

The district advisory council members were selected by each neighborhood council within the district to represent the neighborhood, but the chairperson of a neighborhood council does not serve on the district council.

The district councils report to the Baghdad city council, presently called the Interim City Advisory Council, as well as a U.S. military battalion-level commander. Members of the city council were selected by the district council and are members of the councils they represent. The number of representatives each district has on the city council is based on population within their district. All city council members are also members of a district and a neighborhood council.

"The power that they have is that (the U.S. military) listens (to the councils), and we encourage their advice and recommendations," said Lauchengco. "So many people are listening to what the DAC members have to say. That has in effect, given them significant leadership after the war."

Lauchengco says the primary issues that have been addressed and have been resolved or are in the process of being worked out relate to schools, electricity and sewage.

For example, the captain explained, "We asked each neighborhood to provide a list of schools they wanted to be renovated."

"The neighborhoods passed their list up to the district council and the district council then gave (the 2nd BCT) the list of the schools they wanted renovated. Using the Commander's Emergency Response Program, we renovated about $200 million worth of schools."

It sounds pretty impressive, but Lauchengco said things did not start out smoothly.

"When we first started, the district councils didn't know how to make recommendations, have discussions or reach a consensus," said Lauchengco.

He explained that a process was created to make the democratic system run more smoothly. The process involves what are called "implementing documents." The neighborhood and district councils make recommendations and proposals and pass them along in writing to the higher council.

"These implementing documents are the vehicle by which each council gets their voice heard by the next higher level," said Lauchengco. Committees were formed within the councils to deal with more specific issues, he said.

"One of the early problems of the district councils was that they became a large, disorganized, debating society. To shake that and to be more productive, we created committees so that the discussions and debating could occur in the committees."

Although the councils appear to be working out well and are becoming more organized and productive, they still do not have legislative powers yet. Lauchengco said the idea at this stage is to get the councils ready for self-governance and the phase the councils are in is a learning phase. The plan is to give complete governing control to the Iraqi people by June 2004.

"It's very enjoyable to see democracy taking hold and to see the enthusiasm that the council members bring to their jobs. They embrace democracy," he said.