International Campaign Against Islamic Republic Atrocities
To: All Labour and Human Rights Organizations
International Campaign Against Islamic Republic Atrocities Islamic republic intends to execute tens of prisoners Join the international campaign to save life of political prisoners, those condemned to be stoned, to free imprisoned labour activists, students and women
Sign the petition and ask others to sign
The Islamic republic of Iran has embarked on a new wave of suppression. In the recent days it has executed a number of prisoners, stoned some to death and arrested a number of labour, student and activist of women?s movement in Iran. This is part of its assault to intimidate the rising protest movement in Iran.
Number of arrest and summarily executions has risen dramatically. Last week, the Islamic regime stoned Jafa Kiyani to death in Takistan. ? On Saturday 14 July, in northern city of Tabriz, Horiyeh, was executed in public for having sex out of wedlock. On the same day 3 others were hanged in the same city. It was announced that in a few days time, Mokarameh Ebrahimi, mother of 5 children would be stoned to death. The Leaders of the Islamic Republic have announced last week that they have verified the execution of 20 young people.
Mansour Osdanloo, leader of the Tehran Bus drivers Union has been kidnapped and imprisoned. Furthermore they have announced that religious police would be doubled in city parks and streets to prevent teenage boys and girls mixing and floating religious ethics?
While Mahmoud Salehi, a leading labour activist, is still in prison, they have continued to put on trial two other labour activists, Shieth Amani and Sadeeg Karimi, from the city of Sanandaj for organizing celebrations of May 1st international workers day . The Islamic republic has turned to violent aggression at the very time when it is in deep crisis and protest movement in Iran is escalating. The so called petrol protest in opposition to hike in petrol prices in Iran is an example. The increase in religious police to impose hejab is an attempt by the Islamic republic to confront this movement which really indicates that Iranian society is rejecting the Islamic imposition and its policies.
We will confront this assault and will defeat it! We have announce an international campaign against atrocities of the Islamic Republic and call on every to join this campaign. Sign this petition and ask others to take part. We ask all labour and human rights organizations to put pressure on, by writing to the leaders of the Islamic regime, in protest to stop their atrocities. We the undersigned demand that:
Unconditional Freedom for all political prisoners and recent detainees Abolition of cruel and inhumane stoning laws and immediate release of the 13 waiting stoning. Repeal the sentences of execution for 20 children and young adults including Shahla Jahed and Kobra Rahmanpour
Free Mahmoud salehi, Mansour osdanloo and all labour activist who have been arrested for organizing protest and strike. End persecution of May 1st activist including leaders of unemployed union Sheith Amani and Sadeeg Karimi . Free detained students and end to harassment of student in the university; Close security and religious police in universities. End harassment of teenage boys and girls and free imprisoned youth. Free all those arrested following the recent petrol protests Mina Ahadi Spokesperson for the international campaign against atrocities in Iran July 14th 2007 Signed by:
International labour solidarity
International Committee against executions
International Committee against stoning
Committee for freedom of political prisoners in Iran
Hambastegi international federation of refugees
International Campaign in defence of womens right in Iran( Germany, England, Malmo and Stockholm in Sweden)
Children First now!
Society against religion
Friends of women in the middle east association
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Student news Iran
Student news
Fear from expansion of students' protests has made universities officials decide to close down all the dorms to prevent students from gathering
Art faculty of Tehran University
On the evening of Sunday July the 15th few students of the Art faculty of Tehran University referred to the student central office to clarify the situation with their dorm and their summer semester. Instead they found themselves brutally attacked and beaten by the security guards and police forces. A number of students were injured; the condition of some of them has been reported as critical and one of the students is admitted to the ICU of one of the nearby hospitals. From Monday and in continuation with these protests, art students went into a strike and started a mass protest refusing to show up at the exam sessions and announcing that final exams will be cancelled. During their gathering they protested against the attack on students, against the atmosphere of repression in the university. They asked the Dean of university to resign and the head of security to step down, and asked that their problems regarding the dorm and summer semester be solved. After these protests, 22 students of the art faculty of Tehran University have been called in by the disciplinary committee. Eight of these are members of the student union.
Tehran Polytechnic University
Nine students of Tehran Polytechnic University are detained at Evin prison. It is now 2 months that these students are under the most severe tortures. The Islamic government is trying to make them confess to false allegations and charges made by the government.
Ninth of July anniversary
Eight years ago, when Tehran University students started large protests against governmental terror and censorship, many ordinary people joined the protests which continued for 6 days. The government repressed the protests brutally by arresting many students and individuals, some of which are still in prison. In that day the governmental forces threw a student from a third floor window and killed him.
This year on the anniversary of the Ninth of July, students and ordinary people of Tehran gathered around Tehran Polytechnic University and Tehran University to hold a large protest. Police and anti-protest forces savagely attacked people, preventing the gathering from starting and arresting 16 students.
Tehran Allameh-Tabatabyee University
According to the news received by the CYO's news headquarter, on Saturday July 14th, students of Allameh University gathered to protest against the closure of the dorms during summer. Through one of the security guards, the Dean of the university, Mr. Shariati, asked the police forces to attack the students. Many students were injured. Some were arrested but subsequently released, except one student whose location is unknown. Students continued their protests on Sunday morning and stressing on their demands but thus far no positive response has been heard from the University Dean.
http://cyoiran.wordpress.com/
Fear from expansion of students' protests has made universities officials decide to close down all the dorms to prevent students from gathering
Art faculty of Tehran University
On the evening of Sunday July the 15th few students of the Art faculty of Tehran University referred to the student central office to clarify the situation with their dorm and their summer semester. Instead they found themselves brutally attacked and beaten by the security guards and police forces. A number of students were injured; the condition of some of them has been reported as critical and one of the students is admitted to the ICU of one of the nearby hospitals. From Monday and in continuation with these protests, art students went into a strike and started a mass protest refusing to show up at the exam sessions and announcing that final exams will be cancelled. During their gathering they protested against the attack on students, against the atmosphere of repression in the university. They asked the Dean of university to resign and the head of security to step down, and asked that their problems regarding the dorm and summer semester be solved. After these protests, 22 students of the art faculty of Tehran University have been called in by the disciplinary committee. Eight of these are members of the student union.
Tehran Polytechnic University
Nine students of Tehran Polytechnic University are detained at Evin prison. It is now 2 months that these students are under the most severe tortures. The Islamic government is trying to make them confess to false allegations and charges made by the government.
Ninth of July anniversary
Eight years ago, when Tehran University students started large protests against governmental terror and censorship, many ordinary people joined the protests which continued for 6 days. The government repressed the protests brutally by arresting many students and individuals, some of which are still in prison. In that day the governmental forces threw a student from a third floor window and killed him.
This year on the anniversary of the Ninth of July, students and ordinary people of Tehran gathered around Tehran Polytechnic University and Tehran University to hold a large protest. Police and anti-protest forces savagely attacked people, preventing the gathering from starting and arresting 16 students.
Tehran Allameh-Tabatabyee University
According to the news received by the CYO's news headquarter, on Saturday July 14th, students of Allameh University gathered to protest against the closure of the dorms during summer. Through one of the security guards, the Dean of the university, Mr. Shariati, asked the police forces to attack the students. Many students were injured. Some were arrested but subsequently released, except one student whose location is unknown. Students continued their protests on Sunday morning and stressing on their demands but thus far no positive response has been heard from the University Dean.
http://cyoiran.wordpress.com/
Saturday, 28 July 2007
Basra Workers
Basra workers of the Gas sector: update
While working in their night shift, two workers of the South Gas Company, Khor Al Zubair area, were stung by poisonous scorpions in June 2007. Both workers had to wait overnight and endure the poison effects because of the lack of a night-time clinic, an ambulance, and an telephone operator which can call the general hospital. Another worker, Gtafeh Nissan Telfah, had died two years ago from a heart attack for the same reason, i.e. the non-availability of an ambulance.
Two Gas workers from Khor Al Zubair were poisoned by gases of propane and butane. As a result, they suffocated and fainted because of the failure of the workplace to provide sufficient precautions.
In the fluid isolation/ Natural Gas Liquids site (NGL) in the North Rumaila field, the workers are assigned to hazardous tasks without adequate precaution for workplace safety; they clean the "Vessels" in ways which cause burns and injuries to them.
The South Gas Company workers demand to be paid the remaining annual benefits (20% of the total amount), similar to the other oil sectors' workers.
Firemen of the oil sector do not receive danger benefits although they frequently put out fires of the oil and the non-oil sectors. The Old Factory does not have a fire-fighting vehicle or any fire extinguishing equipment in Khor Al Zubair although the reservoirs of the factory are full of gas. Consequently, any accident of fire will put the lives of the employees under danger and will destroy the factory.
The gas sector workers are subject to inhaling Ethylene, a hazardous gas which results in many ailments if inhaled for long periods. Many were harmed as a result of inhaling this gas during the fire accident of the operating units in the petrochemicals last February.
Report was prepared by: Faisal Kassim and Sabah Dnaiyef Shahan.
Gas Workers' Union Committee – Basrah
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
While working in their night shift, two workers of the South Gas Company, Khor Al Zubair area, were stung by poisonous scorpions in June 2007. Both workers had to wait overnight and endure the poison effects because of the lack of a night-time clinic, an ambulance, and an telephone operator which can call the general hospital. Another worker, Gtafeh Nissan Telfah, had died two years ago from a heart attack for the same reason, i.e. the non-availability of an ambulance.
Two Gas workers from Khor Al Zubair were poisoned by gases of propane and butane. As a result, they suffocated and fainted because of the failure of the workplace to provide sufficient precautions.
In the fluid isolation/ Natural Gas Liquids site (NGL) in the North Rumaila field, the workers are assigned to hazardous tasks without adequate precaution for workplace safety; they clean the "Vessels" in ways which cause burns and injuries to them.
The South Gas Company workers demand to be paid the remaining annual benefits (20% of the total amount), similar to the other oil sectors' workers.
Firemen of the oil sector do not receive danger benefits although they frequently put out fires of the oil and the non-oil sectors. The Old Factory does not have a fire-fighting vehicle or any fire extinguishing equipment in Khor Al Zubair although the reservoirs of the factory are full of gas. Consequently, any accident of fire will put the lives of the employees under danger and will destroy the factory.
The gas sector workers are subject to inhaling Ethylene, a hazardous gas which results in many ailments if inhaled for long periods. Many were harmed as a result of inhaling this gas during the fire accident of the operating units in the petrochemicals last February.
Report was prepared by: Faisal Kassim and Sabah Dnaiyef Shahan.
Gas Workers' Union Committee – Basrah
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq
Motion Regarding Iraqi Oil Law
Motion Regarding Iraqi Oil Law
This branch/union notes
The US/UK occupation of Iraq, which began in March 2003.
That Iraq is an oil rich country.
Trade unions in many sectors of industry in Iraq, including the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions.
That US companies have been researched and named by US Labour Against the War to have interests in taking over Iraqi assets including its oil.
That US government and troops have put pressure on the Iraqi government to sign a law, which effectively privatises Iraq’s oil. Unions in the oil sector have been on strike several times to try to resist such moves. They also have demands related to wages and working conditions, including a demand for wage increases; the payment of a previously agreed bonus that is based on the distribution to workers of a proportion of oil revenues achieved by the company; no salary deductions to be made for granted vacation days; and the delivery of land parcels for housing to workers. The IFOU wrote to the Minister of Oil in June 2007, outlining their demands.
In June 2007, the army surrounded oil workers while US helicopters were above them, trying to intimidate the IFOU.
This Branch/Union Condemns
The sending in of troops to crush a legitimate strike by the IFOU
This Branch/Union believes
The US has put such pressure on the Iraqi government to sign the oil law quickly, so oil profits go to US companies rather than to the Iraqi people.
That the US/UK occupation has been a disaster and the US is keen to gain “something for its investment” of troops in Iraq.
That the Iraqi people should be allowed to decide the future of their oil and its revenue.
That the strike should be settled by negotiation with the IFOU and the Iraqi government. The US should leave the oil fields and the whole country of Iraq.
That the trade unions in Iraq are its best hope for a stable and secular future.
This Branch/Union resolves
To lobby our MPs, MSPs to use their influence to tell the US to leave the Iraqi people to decide the destiny of their oil.
To send a message of solidarity to the IFOU and support their demands a settlement should be reached by negotiation without pressure from the US.
To circulate information from Iraqi trades unions in relation to the strikes and struggles of Iraqi unions to keep control of their oil, petrol, gas and other strategic resources.
To make a donation to the TUC Iraq appeal and affiliate to Iraq Union Solidarity or Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland.
This branch/union notes
The US/UK occupation of Iraq, which began in March 2003.
That Iraq is an oil rich country.
Trade unions in many sectors of industry in Iraq, including the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions.
That US companies have been researched and named by US Labour Against the War to have interests in taking over Iraqi assets including its oil.
That US government and troops have put pressure on the Iraqi government to sign a law, which effectively privatises Iraq’s oil. Unions in the oil sector have been on strike several times to try to resist such moves. They also have demands related to wages and working conditions, including a demand for wage increases; the payment of a previously agreed bonus that is based on the distribution to workers of a proportion of oil revenues achieved by the company; no salary deductions to be made for granted vacation days; and the delivery of land parcels for housing to workers. The IFOU wrote to the Minister of Oil in June 2007, outlining their demands.
In June 2007, the army surrounded oil workers while US helicopters were above them, trying to intimidate the IFOU.
This Branch/Union Condemns
The sending in of troops to crush a legitimate strike by the IFOU
This Branch/Union believes
The US has put such pressure on the Iraqi government to sign the oil law quickly, so oil profits go to US companies rather than to the Iraqi people.
That the US/UK occupation has been a disaster and the US is keen to gain “something for its investment” of troops in Iraq.
That the Iraqi people should be allowed to decide the future of their oil and its revenue.
That the strike should be settled by negotiation with the IFOU and the Iraqi government. The US should leave the oil fields and the whole country of Iraq.
That the trade unions in Iraq are its best hope for a stable and secular future.
This Branch/Union resolves
To lobby our MPs, MSPs to use their influence to tell the US to leave the Iraqi people to decide the destiny of their oil.
To send a message of solidarity to the IFOU and support their demands a settlement should be reached by negotiation without pressure from the US.
To circulate information from Iraqi trades unions in relation to the strikes and struggles of Iraqi unions to keep control of their oil, petrol, gas and other strategic resources.
To make a donation to the TUC Iraq appeal and affiliate to Iraq Union Solidarity or Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland.
Monday, 23 July 2007
GWIF
http://www.iraqtradeunions.org/
http://www.petitiononline.com/iq2007/petition.html
Stop the killing, Kidnapping and Intimidation of Journalists in Iraq
http://www.petitiononline.com/iq2007/petition.html
Stop the killing, Kidnapping and Intimidation of Journalists in Iraq
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Free Mansour Ossanloo !
Mansour Ossanloo, the president of the Iranian independent bus workers’ union was kidnapped by plain clothes police on Tuesday 10 July and taken to the notorious Evin prison.
Ossanloo was stopped while he was returning home by a public transit bus in Tehran. According to Iranian workers’ sources, a Peugeot car stopped the bus and unidentified plain clothes agents attacked him - beating him severely while telling people that he was a thief! Ossanloo tried to identify himself as the president of the union for the witnesses in order to get help but the agents stopped him.
Security forces tried to arrest Ossanlou in similar circumstances in May. Then, Ossanloo freed himself because people rushed to help. But this time the agents did not give him any chance.
Last November Ossanloo kidnapped and incarcerated in Evin prison. After enduring a month of detention, he was released. Before that, Ossanloo was imprisoned from December 2005 for eight months. Earlier this year a Tehran revolutionary Court issued a prison sentence of five years against Ossanloo, but his lawyer had filed an appeal and his case was in process.
A few days before Ossanlou’s kidnapping, Ebrahim Madadi, the union’s vice president, was arrested by uniformed police officers but freed a day after without charges following union protest.
This is part of a new wave of suppression in Iran against labour activists as well as women’s rights activists and students. At thee time armed security forces attacked protesting students at Amir Kabir University in Tehran and arrested six students. Worker activist Mahmoud Salehi has been jailed since April this year and has been deliberately denied life-saving medical treatment by the authorities.
Messages of protest can be sent via Labour Start
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Iraq Commission Video
Iraq Commission hearings on Video including Houzan Mahmood interview
http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/I/the_iraq_commission/video.html
http://www.channel4.com/news/microsites/I/the_iraq_commission/video.html
Glasgow Meeting
Dear IUSS Supporters,
The next IUSS meeting will be next Monday, July 23rd at 7pm,
Partick Burgh Hall, Burgh Hall Road, Partick. Please make every effort to attend, we have a lot to organise including action to protest against the oil law, a demonstration and public meeting in Edinburgh, feedback from our meeting with Bill Wilson MSP among other things!
Please see and sign the petiton below from Houzan.
Comradely,
Pauline Bradley
http://iraqunionsolidarityscotland.blogspot.com
Dear Pauline and all
Here is the link of our petition in English:
http://www.petitiononline.com/iraqoil/petition.html
PLease sign it, and send it to as many people as possible
Many thanks
Houzan Mahmoud
The next IUSS meeting will be next Monday, July 23rd at 7pm,
Partick Burgh Hall, Burgh Hall Road, Partick. Please make every effort to attend, we have a lot to organise including action to protest against the oil law, a demonstration and public meeting in Edinburgh, feedback from our meeting with Bill Wilson MSP among other things!
Please see and sign the petiton below from Houzan.
Comradely,
Pauline Bradley
http://iraqunionsolidarityscotland.blogspot.com
Dear Pauline and all
Here is the link of our petition in English:
http://www.petitiononline.com/iraqoil/petition.html
PLease sign it, and send it to as many people as possible
Many thanks
Houzan Mahmoud
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
MSP Welcomes visit
Please address all correspondence to:
Dr Bill Wilson MSP
Scottish Parliament
EH99 1SP
Tel. 0131 3486805
Fax. 0131 3486806
e-mail:
Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
10 July 2007
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
MSP WELCOMES VISIT OF IRAQ OIL UNION LEADER TO UK: “NOW LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE OIL LAW!”
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, today welcomed the announcement that the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) had been granted a visa to visit the UK and would be in the country from Tuesday July 10th until Thursday July 19th.
Dr Wilson’s comments followed his press release of 23 June and his Parliamentary motions of 18 June in which attacked the proposed Oil Law in Iraq and accused multinational corporations and the US and UK governments of effectively usurping control of Iraq’s oil resources [see bottom of this document for full details].
Dr Wilson said, “I was disturbed to learn earlier that Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi, President of the 26,000-strong IFOU, was unable to visit the UK and present the objections of union members to the Oil Law to the authorities and public in the UK, as he could not get a visa. I wrote to both David Miliband, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and to Dominic Asquith, the British Ambassador to Iraq, to urge them to ensure that Hassan Jumaa be issued with a visa as soon as possible.
“I am delighted that the leader of the Iraq oil union will now be allowed to make his argument within the UK. To deny the Iraq people the right to put their argument to the people of the UK would have been nothing less than dishonest. There is strong opposition in Iraq to passing a law which takes control of Iraqi oil from the people of Iraq and hands it to the multi-nationals — it is right that the voice of that opposition should be heard in the UK.
“Both Blair and Bush assured us that this war was not about oil but about democracy. If this assurance is to be even vaguely believable then both the UK and US governments must end all pressure on the Iraqi government to pass this law. Admiral Fallon must withdraw his deadline (for the Oil Law to be adopted by the end of this month), and the UK, the USA and the IMF must accept that Iraq’s oil belongs to the Iraqi people.”
Background Information
1. Text of letter sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, on 3 July
The Right Honourable David Miliband
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Dear Mr Miliband
Granting the President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions a visa to visit the UK
Congratulations on your recent appointment. I wish you well in what will undoubtedly be a challenging position, not least because of the situation in Iraq, an aspect of which I wish to direct your attention to in this communication.
The UK Ambassador to Iraq, the Hon. Dominic Asquith, stated last August: “Our objective is a shared one: to build a strong, united, democratic, and stable Iraq, with a government that exercises full sovereignty and authority through effective institutions trusted by its citizens.”
He also said: “The Iraqi people need to have confidence in their government and all its institutions to improve their lives. […] The future of Iraq lies firmly in Iraqi hands. As the British people see Iraqis themselves – ordinary people, business people, officials and politicians alike – take control of their lives, so our determination to help you succeed strengthens.”
His statements seem at odds with the current situation. Iraqi politicians and oil workers find themselves under pressure to accede to the private development agendas of multinational companies through exclusive contracts lasting up to 30 years, the effect of signing up to the currently proposed Oil Law. The corporate interests of multinationals have been represented thus far by the governments of the UK and the USA through the current Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law, which they have been party to since July 2006. You will know that Admiral William Fallon (Commander of US Central Command) insisted to Prime Minister Maliki that the new Oil Law be signed by the end of July. This law effectively cedes the state's sovereignty and control over the development of the majority of Iraq's oil reserves to multinational companies. Denying a visa to Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi (President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions) at this time amounts to denying the people of Iraq a fair opportunity to present their objections to an international audience and to denying the UK electorate balanced information on developments in Iraq. It also flatly contradicts the spirit and letter of the statements made by the UK’s ambassador to Iraq. I trust you will arrange for a visa for Hassan Jumaa immediately, with the deadline for the signing of the anti-democratic and rapacious Oil Law so near.
I look forward to receiving reassurance on this matter.
2. Website of the General Union of Oil Employees in Basra
http://www.basraoilunion.org/
3. Previous Press Release (dated 23 June 2007)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, MSP DEMANDS: SCOTTISH SOLDIERS DYING TO LINE POCKETS OF MULTINATIONALS?
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, yesterday made an outspoken plea for Iraqi Oil to remain in the hands of Iraqis. He was speaking after meeting Ewa Jasiewicz, researcher/campaigner with Platform, a group concerned about the currently proposed Iraqi Oil Law, legislation that would effectively sign over the exploitation of that nation’s oil reserves, and most oil-related profits, to multinational companies.
Dr Wilson’s impassioned comments came only five days after he lodged two parliamentary motions expressing concern about the Oil Law and the circumstances surrounding it. He explained that he had been deeply disturbed for many years by the situation in Iraq and found the ongoing hypocrisy of the UK and US governments and their flagrant disregard for the welfare of Iraqis shameful and repugnant. “When Ewa Jasiewicz contacted me after hearing of my Scottish Parliamentary motions on the issue, and told me she would be talking on the issue at the University of Strathclyde, I was keen to meet her. We discussed how we could best raise awareness of the blatant extortion that the Oil Law amounts to. I told her that if I could do anything to help restore justice and democracy in that abused nation I would be delighted to help.”
Dr Wilson likened what happened with Scottish oil in 1979 to what is currently happening in Iraq, but implied that if Scots had been upset by the usurpation of their natural resources then they should be even more disturbed by the Iraqi situation: “The USA is pushing the Oil Law so hard that the Iraqi government believes it will be brought down if it does not pass it. The US military — Admiral Fallon — has given the Iraq government a deadline of the end of July. The UK government admits to supplying the Iraqi government with advice, advice provided over the barrel of a rifle.”
He said that it was totally inappropriate to push for the Oil Law to be signed when Iraq was an occupied country torn by civil war: “As I understand it the proposed legislation will dictate the way Iraq’s oil is exploited for the next thirty years. This is akin to what happened with the carving up of Africa when indigenous peoples were tricked into signing their land and resources away for a pittance. Here the Iraqi trade unions, and people as a whole, are firmly against it, but they are being forced into it — sometimes at gunpoint. Protesting oil workers have been threatened with death. Scottish soldiers are dying there too —is it to line the pockets of the multinationals rather than to promote democracy? The facts suggest their blood is being spilled primarily to buy cheap oil for the likes of BP — one of the “advisers” provided by the UK was the former head of BP Azerbaijan. You’d have to be very naïve not to believe that expropriating the oil wasn’t a major reason for invasion.”
Dr Wilson attacked not only the roles of the US and UK governments and the large oil companies but also that of the International Monetary Fund, pointing out that the IMF had made financial support for Iraq conditional upon acceptance of the Oil Law.
Speaking of Scotland’s attitude to developments in Iraq, Dr Wilson said that he understood the ministers in the Scottish government did not sign Scottish Parliamentary Motions but he was pleased to note that First Minister Alex Salmond had already given a lead to the way the SNP-led government should view the matter — by signing Katy Clark’s Early Day Motion 1180 in London in his capacity as Westminster MP. Dr Wilson said he also wished to congratulate Ms Clark, Labour MP for Ayrshire North and Arran, for her integrity in making a stand against the UK government’s position, and similarly congratulate John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, for his EDMs, “…And, of course, my congratulations to Platform, for their outstanding campaigning on this issue. It was a privilege to meet Ewa Jasiewicz and I wish her, Platform, and the Hands Off Iraqi Oil campaign every success.”
He concluded with the remark: “The attitudes taken by the UK and Scottish governments could speak volumes. I trust the nation of Scotland will not want the blood and oil of Iraqis on its conscience, not to mention the blood of our own soldiers. Iraqi oil for the Iraqis. No more blood for oil. I shall be making these points to all those I meet at tomorrow's SNP National Council meeting.”
[The National Council Meeting is taking place today at the Dynamic Earth centre.]
Background Information to press release dated 23 June 2007
a) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike
S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it.
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil
S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery.
b) WESTMINISTER EARLY DAY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 20 March 2007
Short Title: Iraqi Oil Law
EDM-1180 Katy Clark (Ayrshire North and Arran) (Labour): That this House notes that Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil and that decisions about the future of Iraq's oil industry will have a major bearing on that country; further notes that the constitution of Iraq states that oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq; expresses concern that the British Government, in its involvement in the drafting of Iraq's new oil laws, has sought the views of international oil companies regarding the possible types of contracts that the Iraqi government should offer; believes that decisions on the Iraqi oil industry should be made by the Iraqi people without outside interference; and calls on the Government to disclose to the House all representations it has made in relation to the oil law.
See also John McDonnell’s EDMs:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33467&SESSION=885
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33468&SESSION=885
c) EWA JASIEWICZ/PLATFORM/HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL
Ewa Jasiewicz
Researcher/Campaigner
PLATFORM
http://www.carbonweb.org/iraq
020 7403 3738
0044 7749 421 576
Hands Off Iraqi Oil: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=256&parent=39
Useful links and quotes: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=56&parent=4
-ends-
Dr Bill Wilson MSP
Scottish Parliament
EH99 1SP
Tel. 0131 3486805
Fax. 0131 3486806
e-mail:
Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
10 July 2007
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
MSP WELCOMES VISIT OF IRAQ OIL UNION LEADER TO UK: “NOW LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE OIL LAW!”
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, today welcomed the announcement that the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) had been granted a visa to visit the UK and would be in the country from Tuesday July 10th until Thursday July 19th.
Dr Wilson’s comments followed his press release of 23 June and his Parliamentary motions of 18 June in which attacked the proposed Oil Law in Iraq and accused multinational corporations and the US and UK governments of effectively usurping control of Iraq’s oil resources [see bottom of this document for full details].
Dr Wilson said, “I was disturbed to learn earlier that Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi, President of the 26,000-strong IFOU, was unable to visit the UK and present the objections of union members to the Oil Law to the authorities and public in the UK, as he could not get a visa. I wrote to both David Miliband, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and to Dominic Asquith, the British Ambassador to Iraq, to urge them to ensure that Hassan Jumaa be issued with a visa as soon as possible.
“I am delighted that the leader of the Iraq oil union will now be allowed to make his argument within the UK. To deny the Iraq people the right to put their argument to the people of the UK would have been nothing less than dishonest. There is strong opposition in Iraq to passing a law which takes control of Iraqi oil from the people of Iraq and hands it to the multi-nationals — it is right that the voice of that opposition should be heard in the UK.
“Both Blair and Bush assured us that this war was not about oil but about democracy. If this assurance is to be even vaguely believable then both the UK and US governments must end all pressure on the Iraqi government to pass this law. Admiral Fallon must withdraw his deadline (for the Oil Law to be adopted by the end of this month), and the UK, the USA and the IMF must accept that Iraq’s oil belongs to the Iraqi people.”
Background Information
1. Text of letter sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, on 3 July
The Right Honourable David Miliband
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Dear Mr Miliband
Granting the President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions a visa to visit the UK
Congratulations on your recent appointment. I wish you well in what will undoubtedly be a challenging position, not least because of the situation in Iraq, an aspect of which I wish to direct your attention to in this communication.
The UK Ambassador to Iraq, the Hon. Dominic Asquith, stated last August: “Our objective is a shared one: to build a strong, united, democratic, and stable Iraq, with a government that exercises full sovereignty and authority through effective institutions trusted by its citizens.”
He also said: “The Iraqi people need to have confidence in their government and all its institutions to improve their lives. […] The future of Iraq lies firmly in Iraqi hands. As the British people see Iraqis themselves – ordinary people, business people, officials and politicians alike – take control of their lives, so our determination to help you succeed strengthens.”
His statements seem at odds with the current situation. Iraqi politicians and oil workers find themselves under pressure to accede to the private development agendas of multinational companies through exclusive contracts lasting up to 30 years, the effect of signing up to the currently proposed Oil Law. The corporate interests of multinationals have been represented thus far by the governments of the UK and the USA through the current Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law, which they have been party to since July 2006. You will know that Admiral William Fallon (Commander of US Central Command) insisted to Prime Minister Maliki that the new Oil Law be signed by the end of July. This law effectively cedes the state's sovereignty and control over the development of the majority of Iraq's oil reserves to multinational companies. Denying a visa to Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi (President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions) at this time amounts to denying the people of Iraq a fair opportunity to present their objections to an international audience and to denying the UK electorate balanced information on developments in Iraq. It also flatly contradicts the spirit and letter of the statements made by the UK’s ambassador to Iraq. I trust you will arrange for a visa for Hassan Jumaa immediately, with the deadline for the signing of the anti-democratic and rapacious Oil Law so near.
I look forward to receiving reassurance on this matter.
2. Website of the General Union of Oil Employees in Basra
http://www.basraoilunion.org/
3. Previous Press Release (dated 23 June 2007)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, MSP DEMANDS: SCOTTISH SOLDIERS DYING TO LINE POCKETS OF MULTINATIONALS?
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, yesterday made an outspoken plea for Iraqi Oil to remain in the hands of Iraqis. He was speaking after meeting Ewa Jasiewicz, researcher/campaigner with Platform, a group concerned about the currently proposed Iraqi Oil Law, legislation that would effectively sign over the exploitation of that nation’s oil reserves, and most oil-related profits, to multinational companies.
Dr Wilson’s impassioned comments came only five days after he lodged two parliamentary motions expressing concern about the Oil Law and the circumstances surrounding it. He explained that he had been deeply disturbed for many years by the situation in Iraq and found the ongoing hypocrisy of the UK and US governments and their flagrant disregard for the welfare of Iraqis shameful and repugnant. “When Ewa Jasiewicz contacted me after hearing of my Scottish Parliamentary motions on the issue, and told me she would be talking on the issue at the University of Strathclyde, I was keen to meet her. We discussed how we could best raise awareness of the blatant extortion that the Oil Law amounts to. I told her that if I could do anything to help restore justice and democracy in that abused nation I would be delighted to help.”
Dr Wilson likened what happened with Scottish oil in 1979 to what is currently happening in Iraq, but implied that if Scots had been upset by the usurpation of their natural resources then they should be even more disturbed by the Iraqi situation: “The USA is pushing the Oil Law so hard that the Iraqi government believes it will be brought down if it does not pass it. The US military — Admiral Fallon — has given the Iraq government a deadline of the end of July. The UK government admits to supplying the Iraqi government with advice, advice provided over the barrel of a rifle.”
He said that it was totally inappropriate to push for the Oil Law to be signed when Iraq was an occupied country torn by civil war: “As I understand it the proposed legislation will dictate the way Iraq’s oil is exploited for the next thirty years. This is akin to what happened with the carving up of Africa when indigenous peoples were tricked into signing their land and resources away for a pittance. Here the Iraqi trade unions, and people as a whole, are firmly against it, but they are being forced into it — sometimes at gunpoint. Protesting oil workers have been threatened with death. Scottish soldiers are dying there too —is it to line the pockets of the multinationals rather than to promote democracy? The facts suggest their blood is being spilled primarily to buy cheap oil for the likes of BP — one of the “advisers” provided by the UK was the former head of BP Azerbaijan. You’d have to be very naïve not to believe that expropriating the oil wasn’t a major reason for invasion.”
Dr Wilson attacked not only the roles of the US and UK governments and the large oil companies but also that of the International Monetary Fund, pointing out that the IMF had made financial support for Iraq conditional upon acceptance of the Oil Law.
Speaking of Scotland’s attitude to developments in Iraq, Dr Wilson said that he understood the ministers in the Scottish government did not sign Scottish Parliamentary Motions but he was pleased to note that First Minister Alex Salmond had already given a lead to the way the SNP-led government should view the matter — by signing Katy Clark’s Early Day Motion 1180 in London in his capacity as Westminster MP. Dr Wilson said he also wished to congratulate Ms Clark, Labour MP for Ayrshire North and Arran, for her integrity in making a stand against the UK government’s position, and similarly congratulate John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, for his EDMs, “…And, of course, my congratulations to Platform, for their outstanding campaigning on this issue. It was a privilege to meet Ewa Jasiewicz and I wish her, Platform, and the Hands Off Iraqi Oil campaign every success.”
He concluded with the remark: “The attitudes taken by the UK and Scottish governments could speak volumes. I trust the nation of Scotland will not want the blood and oil of Iraqis on its conscience, not to mention the blood of our own soldiers. Iraqi oil for the Iraqis. No more blood for oil. I shall be making these points to all those I meet at tomorrow's SNP National Council meeting.”
[The National Council Meeting is taking place today at the Dynamic Earth centre.]
Background Information to press release dated 23 June 2007
a) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike
S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it.
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil
S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery.
b) WESTMINISTER EARLY DAY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 20 March 2007
Short Title: Iraqi Oil Law
EDM-1180 Katy Clark (Ayrshire North and Arran) (Labour): That this House notes that Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil and that decisions about the future of Iraq's oil industry will have a major bearing on that country; further notes that the constitution of Iraq states that oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq; expresses concern that the British Government, in its involvement in the drafting of Iraq's new oil laws, has sought the views of international oil companies regarding the possible types of contracts that the Iraqi government should offer; believes that decisions on the Iraqi oil industry should be made by the Iraqi people without outside interference; and calls on the Government to disclose to the House all representations it has made in relation to the oil law.
See also John McDonnell’s EDMs:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33467&SESSION=885
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33468&SESSION=885
c) EWA JASIEWICZ/PLATFORM/HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL
Ewa Jasiewicz
Researcher/Campaigner
PLATFORM
http://www.carbonweb.org/iraq
020 7403 3738
0044 7749 421 576
Hands Off Iraqi Oil: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=256&parent=39
Useful links and quotes: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=56&parent=4
-ends-
Press Release
Please address all correspondence to:
Dr Bill Wilson MSP
Scottish Parliament
EH99 1SP
Tel. 0131 3486805
Fax. 0131 3486806
e-mail:
Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
10 July 2007
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
MSP WELCOMES VISIT OF IRAQ OIL UNION LEADER TO UK: “NOW LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE OIL LAW!”
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, today welcomed the announcement that the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) had been granted a visa to visit the UK and would be in the country from Tuesday July 10th until Thursday July 19th.
Dr Wilson’s comments followed his press release of 23 June and his Parliamentary motions of 18 June in which attacked the proposed Oil Law in Iraq and accused multinational corporations and the US and UK governments of effectively usurping control of Iraq’s oil resources [see bottom of this document for full details].
Dr Wilson said, “I was disturbed to learn earlier that Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi, President of the 26,000-strong IFOU, was unable to visit the UK and present the objections of union members to the Oil Law to the authorities and public in the UK, as he could not get a visa. I wrote to both David Miliband, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and to Dominic Asquith, the British Ambassador to Iraq, to urge them to ensure that Hassan Jumaa be issued with a visa as soon as possible.
“I am delighted that the leader of the Iraq oil union will now be allowed to make his argument within the UK. To deny the Iraq people the right to put their argument to the people of the UK would have been nothing less than dishonest. There is strong opposition in Iraq to passing a law which takes control of Iraqi oil from the people of Iraq and hands it to the multi-nationals — it is right that the voice of that opposition should be heard in the UK.
“Both Blair and Bush assured us that this war was not about oil but about democracy. If this assurance is to be even vaguely believable then both the UK and US governments must end all pressure on the Iraqi government to pass this law. Admiral Fallon must withdraw his deadline (for the Oil Law to be adopted by the end of this month), and the UK, the USA and the IMF must accept that Iraq’s oil belongs to the Iraqi people.”
Background Information
1. Text of letter sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, on 3 July
The Right Honourable David Miliband
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Dear Mr Miliband
Granting the President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions a visa to visit the UK
Congratulations on your recent appointment. I wish you well in what will undoubtedly be a challenging position, not least because of the situation in Iraq, an aspect of which I wish to direct your attention to in this communication.
The UK Ambassador to Iraq, the Hon. Dominic Asquith, stated last August: “Our objective is a shared one: to build a strong, united, democratic, and stable Iraq, with a government that exercises full sovereignty and authority through effective institutions trusted by its citizens.”
He also said: “The Iraqi people need to have confidence in their government and all its institutions to improve their lives. […] The future of Iraq lies firmly in Iraqi hands. As the British people see Iraqis themselves – ordinary people, business people, officials and politicians alike – take control of their lives, so our determination to help you succeed strengthens.”
His statements seem at odds with the current situation. Iraqi politicians and oil workers find themselves under pressure to accede to the private development agendas of multinational companies through exclusive contracts lasting up to 30 years, the effect of signing up to the currently proposed Oil Law. The corporate interests of multinationals have been represented thus far by the governments of the UK and the USA through the current Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law, which they have been party to since July 2006. You will know that Admiral William Fallon (Commander of US Central Command) insisted to Prime Minister Maliki that the new Oil Law be signed by the end of July. This law effectively cedes the state's sovereignty and control over the development of the majority of Iraq's oil reserves to multinational companies. Denying a visa to Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi (President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions) at this time amounts to denying the people of Iraq a fair opportunity to present their objections to an international audience and to denying the UK electorate balanced information on developments in Iraq. It also flatly contradicts the spirit and letter of the statements made by the UK’s ambassador to Iraq. I trust you will arrange for a visa for Hassan Jumaa immediately, with the deadline for the signing of the anti-democratic and rapacious Oil Law so near.
I look forward to receiving reassurance on this matter.
2. Website of the General Union of Oil Employees in Basra
http://www.basraoilunion.org/
3. Previous Press Release (dated 23 June 2007)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, MSP DEMANDS: SCOTTISH SOLDIERS DYING TO LINE POCKETS OF MULTINATIONALS?
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, yesterday made an outspoken plea for Iraqi Oil to remain in the hands of Iraqis. He was speaking after meeting Ewa Jasiewicz, researcher/campaigner with Platform, a group concerned about the currently proposed Iraqi Oil Law, legislation that would effectively sign over the exploitation of that nation’s oil reserves, and most oil-related profits, to multinational companies.
Dr Wilson’s impassioned comments came only five days after he lodged two parliamentary motions expressing concern about the Oil Law and the circumstances surrounding it. He explained that he had been deeply disturbed for many years by the situation in Iraq and found the ongoing hypocrisy of the UK and US governments and their flagrant disregard for the welfare of Iraqis shameful and repugnant. “When Ewa Jasiewicz contacted me after hearing of my Scottish Parliamentary motions on the issue, and told me she would be talking on the issue at the University of Strathclyde, I was keen to meet her. We discussed how we could best raise awareness of the blatant extortion that the Oil Law amounts to. I told her that if I could do anything to help restore justice and democracy in that abused nation I would be delighted to help.”
Dr Wilson likened what happened with Scottish oil in 1979 to what is currently happening in Iraq, but implied that if Scots had been upset by the usurpation of their natural resources then they should be even more disturbed by the Iraqi situation: “The USA is pushing the Oil Law so hard that the Iraqi government believes it will be brought down if it does not pass it. The US military — Admiral Fallon — has given the Iraq government a deadline of the end of July. The UK government admits to supplying the Iraqi government with advice, advice provided over the barrel of a rifle.”
He said that it was totally inappropriate to push for the Oil Law to be signed when Iraq was an occupied country torn by civil war: “As I understand it the proposed legislation will dictate the way Iraq’s oil is exploited for the next thirty years. This is akin to what happened with the carving up of Africa when indigenous peoples were tricked into signing their land and resources away for a pittance. Here the Iraqi trade unions, and people as a whole, are firmly against it, but they are being forced into it — sometimes at gunpoint. Protesting oil workers have been threatened with death. Scottish soldiers are dying there too —is it to line the pockets of the multinationals rather than to promote democracy? The facts suggest their blood is being spilled primarily to buy cheap oil for the likes of BP — one of the “advisers” provided by the UK was the former head of BP Azerbaijan. You’d have to be very naïve not to believe that expropriating the oil wasn’t a major reason for invasion.”
Dr Wilson attacked not only the roles of the US and UK governments and the large oil companies but also that of the International Monetary Fund, pointing out that the IMF had made financial support for Iraq conditional upon acceptance of the Oil Law.
Speaking of Scotland’s attitude to developments in Iraq, Dr Wilson said that he understood the ministers in the Scottish government did not sign Scottish Parliamentary Motions but he was pleased to note that First Minister Alex Salmond had already given a lead to the way the SNP-led government should view the matter — by signing Katy Clark’s Early Day Motion 1180 in London in his capacity as Westminster MP. Dr Wilson said he also wished to congratulate Ms Clark, Labour MP for Ayrshire North and Arran, for her integrity in making a stand against the UK government’s position, and similarly congratulate John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, for his EDMs, “…And, of course, my congratulations to Platform, for their outstanding campaigning on this issue. It was a privilege to meet Ewa Jasiewicz and I wish her, Platform, and the Hands Off Iraqi Oil campaign every success.”
He concluded with the remark: “The attitudes taken by the UK and Scottish governments could speak volumes. I trust the nation of Scotland will not want the blood and oil of Iraqis on its conscience, not to mention the blood of our own soldiers. Iraqi oil for the Iraqis. No more blood for oil. I shall be making these points to all those I meet at tomorrow's SNP National Council meeting.”
[The National Council Meeting is taking place today at the Dynamic Earth centre.]
Background Information to press release dated 23 June 2007
a) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike
S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it.
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil
S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery.
b) WESTMINISTER EARLY DAY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 20 March 2007
Short Title: Iraqi Oil Law
EDM-1180 Katy Clark (Ayrshire North and Arran) (Labour): That this House notes that Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil and that decisions about the future of Iraq's oil industry will have a major bearing on that country; further notes that the constitution of Iraq states that oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq; expresses concern that the British Government, in its involvement in the drafting of Iraq's new oil laws, has sought the views of international oil companies regarding the possible types of contracts that the Iraqi government should offer; believes that decisions on the Iraqi oil industry should be made by the Iraqi people without outside interference; and calls on the Government to disclose to the House all representations it has made in relation to the oil law.
See also John McDonnell’s EDMs:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33467&SESSION=885
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33468&SESSION=885
c) EWA JASIEWICZ/PLATFORM/HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL
Ewa Jasiewicz
Researcher/Campaigner
PLATFORM
http://www.carbonweb.org/iraq
020 7403 3738
0044 7749 421 576
Hands Off Iraqi Oil: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=256&parent=39
Useful links and quotes: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=56&parent=4
-ends-
Dr Bill Wilson MSP
Scottish Parliament
EH99 1SP
Tel. 0131 3486805
Fax. 0131 3486806
e-mail:
Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
10 July 2007
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
MSP WELCOMES VISIT OF IRAQ OIL UNION LEADER TO UK: “NOW LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE OIL LAW!”
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, today welcomed the announcement that the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) had been granted a visa to visit the UK and would be in the country from Tuesday July 10th until Thursday July 19th.
Dr Wilson’s comments followed his press release of 23 June and his Parliamentary motions of 18 June in which attacked the proposed Oil Law in Iraq and accused multinational corporations and the US and UK governments of effectively usurping control of Iraq’s oil resources [see bottom of this document for full details].
Dr Wilson said, “I was disturbed to learn earlier that Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi, President of the 26,000-strong IFOU, was unable to visit the UK and present the objections of union members to the Oil Law to the authorities and public in the UK, as he could not get a visa. I wrote to both David Miliband, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and to Dominic Asquith, the British Ambassador to Iraq, to urge them to ensure that Hassan Jumaa be issued with a visa as soon as possible.
“I am delighted that the leader of the Iraq oil union will now be allowed to make his argument within the UK. To deny the Iraq people the right to put their argument to the people of the UK would have been nothing less than dishonest. There is strong opposition in Iraq to passing a law which takes control of Iraqi oil from the people of Iraq and hands it to the multi-nationals — it is right that the voice of that opposition should be heard in the UK.
“Both Blair and Bush assured us that this war was not about oil but about democracy. If this assurance is to be even vaguely believable then both the UK and US governments must end all pressure on the Iraqi government to pass this law. Admiral Fallon must withdraw his deadline (for the Oil Law to be adopted by the end of this month), and the UK, the USA and the IMF must accept that Iraq’s oil belongs to the Iraqi people.”
Background Information
1. Text of letter sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, on 3 July
The Right Honourable David Miliband
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Dear Mr Miliband
Granting the President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions a visa to visit the UK
Congratulations on your recent appointment. I wish you well in what will undoubtedly be a challenging position, not least because of the situation in Iraq, an aspect of which I wish to direct your attention to in this communication.
The UK Ambassador to Iraq, the Hon. Dominic Asquith, stated last August: “Our objective is a shared one: to build a strong, united, democratic, and stable Iraq, with a government that exercises full sovereignty and authority through effective institutions trusted by its citizens.”
He also said: “The Iraqi people need to have confidence in their government and all its institutions to improve their lives. […] The future of Iraq lies firmly in Iraqi hands. As the British people see Iraqis themselves – ordinary people, business people, officials and politicians alike – take control of their lives, so our determination to help you succeed strengthens.”
His statements seem at odds with the current situation. Iraqi politicians and oil workers find themselves under pressure to accede to the private development agendas of multinational companies through exclusive contracts lasting up to 30 years, the effect of signing up to the currently proposed Oil Law. The corporate interests of multinationals have been represented thus far by the governments of the UK and the USA through the current Iraqi Hydrocarbon Law, which they have been party to since July 2006. You will know that Admiral William Fallon (Commander of US Central Command) insisted to Prime Minister Maliki that the new Oil Law be signed by the end of July. This law effectively cedes the state's sovereignty and control over the development of the majority of Iraq's oil reserves to multinational companies. Denying a visa to Hassan Jumaa Awad al Assadi (President of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions) at this time amounts to denying the people of Iraq a fair opportunity to present their objections to an international audience and to denying the UK electorate balanced information on developments in Iraq. It also flatly contradicts the spirit and letter of the statements made by the UK’s ambassador to Iraq. I trust you will arrange for a visa for Hassan Jumaa immediately, with the deadline for the signing of the anti-democratic and rapacious Oil Law so near.
I look forward to receiving reassurance on this matter.
2. Website of the General Union of Oil Employees in Basra
http://www.basraoilunion.org/
3. Previous Press Release (dated 23 June 2007)
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, MSP DEMANDS: SCOTTISH SOLDIERS DYING TO LINE POCKETS OF MULTINATIONALS?
Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, yesterday made an outspoken plea for Iraqi Oil to remain in the hands of Iraqis. He was speaking after meeting Ewa Jasiewicz, researcher/campaigner with Platform, a group concerned about the currently proposed Iraqi Oil Law, legislation that would effectively sign over the exploitation of that nation’s oil reserves, and most oil-related profits, to multinational companies.
Dr Wilson’s impassioned comments came only five days after he lodged two parliamentary motions expressing concern about the Oil Law and the circumstances surrounding it. He explained that he had been deeply disturbed for many years by the situation in Iraq and found the ongoing hypocrisy of the UK and US governments and their flagrant disregard for the welfare of Iraqis shameful and repugnant. “When Ewa Jasiewicz contacted me after hearing of my Scottish Parliamentary motions on the issue, and told me she would be talking on the issue at the University of Strathclyde, I was keen to meet her. We discussed how we could best raise awareness of the blatant extortion that the Oil Law amounts to. I told her that if I could do anything to help restore justice and democracy in that abused nation I would be delighted to help.”
Dr Wilson likened what happened with Scottish oil in 1979 to what is currently happening in Iraq, but implied that if Scots had been upset by the usurpation of their natural resources then they should be even more disturbed by the Iraqi situation: “The USA is pushing the Oil Law so hard that the Iraqi government believes it will be brought down if it does not pass it. The US military — Admiral Fallon — has given the Iraq government a deadline of the end of July. The UK government admits to supplying the Iraqi government with advice, advice provided over the barrel of a rifle.”
He said that it was totally inappropriate to push for the Oil Law to be signed when Iraq was an occupied country torn by civil war: “As I understand it the proposed legislation will dictate the way Iraq’s oil is exploited for the next thirty years. This is akin to what happened with the carving up of Africa when indigenous peoples were tricked into signing their land and resources away for a pittance. Here the Iraqi trade unions, and people as a whole, are firmly against it, but they are being forced into it — sometimes at gunpoint. Protesting oil workers have been threatened with death. Scottish soldiers are dying there too —is it to line the pockets of the multinationals rather than to promote democracy? The facts suggest their blood is being spilled primarily to buy cheap oil for the likes of BP — one of the “advisers” provided by the UK was the former head of BP Azerbaijan. You’d have to be very naïve not to believe that expropriating the oil wasn’t a major reason for invasion.”
Dr Wilson attacked not only the roles of the US and UK governments and the large oil companies but also that of the International Monetary Fund, pointing out that the IMF had made financial support for Iraq conditional upon acceptance of the Oil Law.
Speaking of Scotland’s attitude to developments in Iraq, Dr Wilson said that he understood the ministers in the Scottish government did not sign Scottish Parliamentary Motions but he was pleased to note that First Minister Alex Salmond had already given a lead to the way the SNP-led government should view the matter — by signing Katy Clark’s Early Day Motion 1180 in London in his capacity as Westminster MP. Dr Wilson said he also wished to congratulate Ms Clark, Labour MP for Ayrshire North and Arran, for her integrity in making a stand against the UK government’s position, and similarly congratulate John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, for his EDMs, “…And, of course, my congratulations to Platform, for their outstanding campaigning on this issue. It was a privilege to meet Ewa Jasiewicz and I wish her, Platform, and the Hands Off Iraqi Oil campaign every success.”
He concluded with the remark: “The attitudes taken by the UK and Scottish governments could speak volumes. I trust the nation of Scotland will not want the blood and oil of Iraqis on its conscience, not to mention the blood of our own soldiers. Iraqi oil for the Iraqis. No more blood for oil. I shall be making these points to all those I meet at tomorrow's SNP National Council meeting.”
[The National Council Meeting is taking place today at the Dynamic Earth centre.]
Background Information to press release dated 23 June 2007
a) SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike
S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it.
Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil
S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery.
b) WESTMINISTER EARLY DAY MOTIONS
Date of Lodging: 20 March 2007
Short Title: Iraqi Oil Law
EDM-1180 Katy Clark (Ayrshire North and Arran) (Labour): That this House notes that Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil and that decisions about the future of Iraq's oil industry will have a major bearing on that country; further notes that the constitution of Iraq states that oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq; expresses concern that the British Government, in its involvement in the drafting of Iraq's new oil laws, has sought the views of international oil companies regarding the possible types of contracts that the Iraqi government should offer; believes that decisions on the Iraqi oil industry should be made by the Iraqi people without outside interference; and calls on the Government to disclose to the House all representations it has made in relation to the oil law.
See also John McDonnell’s EDMs:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33467&SESSION=885
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33468&SESSION=885
c) EWA JASIEWICZ/PLATFORM/HANDS OFF IRAQI OIL
Ewa Jasiewicz
Researcher/Campaigner
PLATFORM
http://www.carbonweb.org/iraq
020 7403 3738
0044 7749 421 576
Hands Off Iraqi Oil: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=256&parent=39
Useful links and quotes: http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=56&parent=4
-ends-
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
http://blog.frombaghdadtonewyork.com/BaghdadNY/Blog/
Welcome here. Our goal is to provide the world with facts about Iraq and Iraqi people. We want to show the world the truth about how Iraqi people really feel.
Welcome here. Our goal is to provide the world with facts about Iraq and Iraqi people. We want to show the world the truth about how Iraqi people really feel.
Iraqi Union Leaders Call for an End to the Occupation By David Bacon
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?
TAP talks to Faleh Abood Umara, general secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, and Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, president of the Electrical Workers Union of Iraq.The American Prospect online, July 6, 2007 see also: Article: Iraqi Oil: A Benchmark or a Giveaway? Why Iraqi oil workers oppose the much-vaunted oil law.http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles? Photoessay: Unions Struggle to Protect Iraqi
Oilhttp://www.prospect.org/cs/articles/feature_unions_struggle_to_protect_iraqi_oil
David Bacon: Recently the oil workers union went on strike for two days. What was the strike about?
Faleh Abood Umara: We have many problems in the oil industry. Some time ago we met with the Prime Minister of Iraq, discussed them, and reached an agreement. We asked the minister of oil to implement that agreement, and he refused. He was supposed to organize a special congress with oil workers in the south, to provide land for building workers' homes, to raise our pay, to implement profit sharing, and to suspend the implementation of the new oil law. Our discussions with the oil minister didn't change the situation, so we announced we would go on strike.
Bacon: What objection does the union have to the proposed oil law?
Umara: The new law will give the control of all oil royalties and production to foreign oil companies. It will allow them to do whatever they want in our oil fields, and we won't have the ability to intervene, or even to observe. The oil law doesn't envision the existence of our oil union, nor will in include us as a member of the so-called Oil Congress. The most dangerous part of the law is the production-sharing agreement. We reject this kind of agreement absolutely. The law will rob Iraq of its main resource -- its oil. It will undermine the sovereignty of Iraq and our people.
Bacon: What would be the impact of the oil law on the ability of Iraq to rebuild after the war and occupation?
Umara: If the law is ratified, there will be no reconstruction. The U.S. will keep its hegemony over Iraq.
Bacon: Hashmeya, when I saw you in Basra in 2005, your union was fighting the management of the electric power stations over working conditions and subcontracting of the work of your members. What is their situation today?
Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein: Iraqi power stations and other facilities suffered a lot of damage during the war, going back to the time of Saddam Hussein. He didn't give contracts to foreign corporations, and depended on the indigenous resources in the country. After the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime, we saw something new. Even the simplest job was given to a contractor.As a result, the buildings of the electrical authority were filled with unemployed workers. We protested against this, and for a time, our industry's management would not accept the workers' demands. We demonstrated in front of the Basra mayor's office and submitted our demands to the governor. Of our seven demands, the two most important were first, stopping unnecessary contracting, and second, stopping the corruption throughout the management. Finally, we agreed with the managers that contracts would only be given out for jobs that were beyond the ability of Iraqi workers.
Bacon: What do the members of your union earn?
Muhsin: At the beginning of the occupation, the administration of L. Paul Bremer decreed wage grades for workers that were very oppressive. His system had 11 grades. The eleventh grade starts at $50 a month, and the first grade maxes out at $1,300 a month. You can see the disparity. No one can survive on $50 a month, while a tiny group receives much more. The maximum that a laborer in our industry can earn is grade 5 -- about $250, or hardly enough to survive. We have demanded that the ministry change this law, but even if they do, compensation will still be very low.
Bacon: Faleh, the oil union challenged the Bremer pay grades in 2004. What do oil workers make now?
Umara: The grades imposed by Bremer applied to workers all over Iraq. We objected to them at that time, and threatened to strike. After we met with the first Oil Minister, we were able to adjust the schedule. Compensation in oil is now completely different from that in other fields. We have eliminated the eleventh and tenth grades, for instance. There's a small improvement, but the prices in the market are going up all the time.
Bacon: I've visited the homes of oil workers, and many people still sleep in the same room, and while families have enough to eat, they live in very basic conditions.
Umara: Conditions are very tough. An oil worker in the fourth grade gets about 600,000 dinars, or about $400 a month. A small refrigerator for your house costs $200. That's half your salary. Could you survive on $200 for a month? The working conditions are also very difficult. But to be fair, it's better than it was during the time of Saddam Hussein. In the oil and electricity industries we asked for a special bonus of 30 percent, and managed to get it because of the strength of our two unions. God willing, we are going to continue improving the wages.
Bacon: Hashmeya, how was your union organized and how were you chosen to head it?
Muhsin: After the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime, in September 2003, we organized labor committees in many workplaces. I was elected head of the committee where I work. Then, at the first conference for all workers in our industry, in May, 2004, I was elected head of the union. All our union's officers are volunteers. We have a democratic process with internal bylaws, and all the different kinds of work in the industry have to be represented. We have a convention every two years, and at our second convention in June, 2006, I was re-elected unanimously. But because of the government decree which seized all union funds in Iraq, we have no money or any way to collect dues. The activists in all our unions, even in the electricity and oil industries, contribute as much as we can from our own wages, and that's what we use for all our union's activities.
Bacon: What is the attitude of the men in the union towards you as a woman?
Muhsin: At the beginning there was some difficulty, but now it's much easier. The workers elected me. They come to me with their problems, and we do our best to solve them. We have five sub-unions in our industry, and many women have union membership cards. We put their pictures on our posters to show them off.
Bacon: When I was in Baghdad in October, 2003, Bremer and the Coalition Provisional Authority published lists of state-owned enterprises that they intended to sell to private owners. Were there electrical enterprises on those lists? Are there plans to privatize electric power generation?
Muhsin: The power situation in Iraq is deteriorating very fast. We cannot get spare parts to replace ones that break or wear out. The terrorists sabotage the transmission lines and generating stations. Management corruption is very widespread. There has been no improvement in this situation at all, and people suffer from constant blackouts. In the labor movement, we think this situation has been deliberately created so that people will conclude that something must be done, and that the only alternative is the privatization of electric power generation.On May 23 of this year we protested this situation. We asked the Electricity Ministry to improve the transmission system. We threatened to strike the transmission lines and substations, and cut power to the oil pumping stations.
This would just have been a first step. When the electricity minister understood what we were planning, he agreed to discussions and we postponed the strike. But three days ago my union told me that they were again starting plans for a strike because those discussions were going nowhere. The government announced a crash program to improve the transmission lines and the entire system, but the money for it disappeared. Our objective is to force immediate improvements in the system, and we've given the minister plans and alternatives showing how this can be done. We are the experts in our own industry.
Bacon: Last month, the president of the oil union wrote to the U.S. Congress saying it wanted the occupation to end, and the troops to leave, but that it didn't want the oil law imposed as a condition for this. How does the oil union propose that the occupation should end?
Umara: All the problems in Iraq come from the occupation. Our oil union and all the other unions in Iraq believe we can't rebuild our country so long as the occupation is going on. The occupation fosters the enormous corruption. We ask people in the U.S. to tell their government to leave as soon as possible. The troops should be evacuated, without making the implementation of the oil law a condition.The U.S. administration wants to control our oil resources of our country, so our letter to the U.S. Congress asked your leaders to stop making proposals that violate the will of the vast majority of our people. We have plenty of oil experts in Iraq, who are perfectly capable of managing the oil industry. The Southern Oil Company, where our union is based, is the only enterprise in Iraq currently producing oil. We're exporting 2,250,000 barrels a day, all managed by Iraqi experts, and produced by Iraqi hands.Bacon: Many people say that if the troops leave, there is no civil society capable of governing the country. Do you agree with this?
Umara: There are many cities in Iraq controlled by the Iraqi administration. These cities are quite secure, while the cities controlled by the occupation troops see continuous killing and carnage. As long as we have an occupation, we'll have more sabotage and killing.But when people from the local tribes control the security, they have expelled the al-Qaeda forces and those others who are terrorizing people. This means we can protect ourselves and bring security to our nation, with no need of the U.S. forces. To those who believe that if the U.S. troops leave there will be chaos, I say, let them go, and if we fight each other afterwards, let us do that. We are being killed by the thousands already. If the occupation continues, there will only be more blood shed by the U.S. forces and the Iraqi people.
Bacon: Hashmeya, your union belongs to another union federation. What does your federation think should happen with the occupation?
Muhsin: The electrical workers union belongs to the General Union of Iraqi Workers, and we want the occupation to end as soon as possible. All Iraqi unions want this.After the collapse of the regime all the borders were open. Many people, intruders, came to Iraq. Many were al-Qaeda and others, who brought weapons and explosives. There was no inspection at the border at all. As an occupied nation under UN Resolution 1483, the United States was obligated to protect and guarantee our security. But the very first thing [they] did was throw the borders open. Given this experience, we're not expecting to have much security in Iraq so long as the United States is there.Some towns are secure, but wherever you see the U.S. forces, you see a lot of terror and sabotage. We want the United States to leave. Of course, it takes time and it's not an easy operation. The logistics are tough. But our first and last demand is that the occupation end as soon as possible.
Bacon: The Bush administration says it envisions the presence of an occupation force for many years, comparing the situation to the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea. What do you think of that possibility?
Muhsin: If it was up to Bush, he'd occupy the world. But that's not what the nations of the world want. Would they accept occupation, as we have had to do? Our nation does not want to be occupied, and we'll do our best to end it.
For more articles and images on Iraq's unions, see http://dbacon.igc.org/Iraq/iraq.htm
http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?
TAP talks to Faleh Abood Umara, general secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, and Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, president of the Electrical Workers Union of Iraq.The American Prospect online, July 6, 2007 see also: Article: Iraqi Oil: A Benchmark or a Giveaway? Why Iraqi oil workers oppose the much-vaunted oil law.http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles? Photoessay: Unions Struggle to Protect Iraqi
Oilhttp://www.prospect.org/cs/articles/feature_unions_struggle_to_protect_iraqi_oil
David Bacon: Recently the oil workers union went on strike for two days. What was the strike about?
Faleh Abood Umara: We have many problems in the oil industry. Some time ago we met with the Prime Minister of Iraq, discussed them, and reached an agreement. We asked the minister of oil to implement that agreement, and he refused. He was supposed to organize a special congress with oil workers in the south, to provide land for building workers' homes, to raise our pay, to implement profit sharing, and to suspend the implementation of the new oil law. Our discussions with the oil minister didn't change the situation, so we announced we would go on strike.
Bacon: What objection does the union have to the proposed oil law?
Umara: The new law will give the control of all oil royalties and production to foreign oil companies. It will allow them to do whatever they want in our oil fields, and we won't have the ability to intervene, or even to observe. The oil law doesn't envision the existence of our oil union, nor will in include us as a member of the so-called Oil Congress. The most dangerous part of the law is the production-sharing agreement. We reject this kind of agreement absolutely. The law will rob Iraq of its main resource -- its oil. It will undermine the sovereignty of Iraq and our people.
Bacon: What would be the impact of the oil law on the ability of Iraq to rebuild after the war and occupation?
Umara: If the law is ratified, there will be no reconstruction. The U.S. will keep its hegemony over Iraq.
Bacon: Hashmeya, when I saw you in Basra in 2005, your union was fighting the management of the electric power stations over working conditions and subcontracting of the work of your members. What is their situation today?
Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein: Iraqi power stations and other facilities suffered a lot of damage during the war, going back to the time of Saddam Hussein. He didn't give contracts to foreign corporations, and depended on the indigenous resources in the country. After the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime, we saw something new. Even the simplest job was given to a contractor.As a result, the buildings of the electrical authority were filled with unemployed workers. We protested against this, and for a time, our industry's management would not accept the workers' demands. We demonstrated in front of the Basra mayor's office and submitted our demands to the governor. Of our seven demands, the two most important were first, stopping unnecessary contracting, and second, stopping the corruption throughout the management. Finally, we agreed with the managers that contracts would only be given out for jobs that were beyond the ability of Iraqi workers.
Bacon: What do the members of your union earn?
Muhsin: At the beginning of the occupation, the administration of L. Paul Bremer decreed wage grades for workers that were very oppressive. His system had 11 grades. The eleventh grade starts at $50 a month, and the first grade maxes out at $1,300 a month. You can see the disparity. No one can survive on $50 a month, while a tiny group receives much more. The maximum that a laborer in our industry can earn is grade 5 -- about $250, or hardly enough to survive. We have demanded that the ministry change this law, but even if they do, compensation will still be very low.
Bacon: Faleh, the oil union challenged the Bremer pay grades in 2004. What do oil workers make now?
Umara: The grades imposed by Bremer applied to workers all over Iraq. We objected to them at that time, and threatened to strike. After we met with the first Oil Minister, we were able to adjust the schedule. Compensation in oil is now completely different from that in other fields. We have eliminated the eleventh and tenth grades, for instance. There's a small improvement, but the prices in the market are going up all the time.
Bacon: I've visited the homes of oil workers, and many people still sleep in the same room, and while families have enough to eat, they live in very basic conditions.
Umara: Conditions are very tough. An oil worker in the fourth grade gets about 600,000 dinars, or about $400 a month. A small refrigerator for your house costs $200. That's half your salary. Could you survive on $200 for a month? The working conditions are also very difficult. But to be fair, it's better than it was during the time of Saddam Hussein. In the oil and electricity industries we asked for a special bonus of 30 percent, and managed to get it because of the strength of our two unions. God willing, we are going to continue improving the wages.
Bacon: Hashmeya, how was your union organized and how were you chosen to head it?
Muhsin: After the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime, in September 2003, we organized labor committees in many workplaces. I was elected head of the committee where I work. Then, at the first conference for all workers in our industry, in May, 2004, I was elected head of the union. All our union's officers are volunteers. We have a democratic process with internal bylaws, and all the different kinds of work in the industry have to be represented. We have a convention every two years, and at our second convention in June, 2006, I was re-elected unanimously. But because of the government decree which seized all union funds in Iraq, we have no money or any way to collect dues. The activists in all our unions, even in the electricity and oil industries, contribute as much as we can from our own wages, and that's what we use for all our union's activities.
Bacon: What is the attitude of the men in the union towards you as a woman?
Muhsin: At the beginning there was some difficulty, but now it's much easier. The workers elected me. They come to me with their problems, and we do our best to solve them. We have five sub-unions in our industry, and many women have union membership cards. We put their pictures on our posters to show them off.
Bacon: When I was in Baghdad in October, 2003, Bremer and the Coalition Provisional Authority published lists of state-owned enterprises that they intended to sell to private owners. Were there electrical enterprises on those lists? Are there plans to privatize electric power generation?
Muhsin: The power situation in Iraq is deteriorating very fast. We cannot get spare parts to replace ones that break or wear out. The terrorists sabotage the transmission lines and generating stations. Management corruption is very widespread. There has been no improvement in this situation at all, and people suffer from constant blackouts. In the labor movement, we think this situation has been deliberately created so that people will conclude that something must be done, and that the only alternative is the privatization of electric power generation.On May 23 of this year we protested this situation. We asked the Electricity Ministry to improve the transmission system. We threatened to strike the transmission lines and substations, and cut power to the oil pumping stations.
This would just have been a first step. When the electricity minister understood what we were planning, he agreed to discussions and we postponed the strike. But three days ago my union told me that they were again starting plans for a strike because those discussions were going nowhere. The government announced a crash program to improve the transmission lines and the entire system, but the money for it disappeared. Our objective is to force immediate improvements in the system, and we've given the minister plans and alternatives showing how this can be done. We are the experts in our own industry.
Bacon: Last month, the president of the oil union wrote to the U.S. Congress saying it wanted the occupation to end, and the troops to leave, but that it didn't want the oil law imposed as a condition for this. How does the oil union propose that the occupation should end?
Umara: All the problems in Iraq come from the occupation. Our oil union and all the other unions in Iraq believe we can't rebuild our country so long as the occupation is going on. The occupation fosters the enormous corruption. We ask people in the U.S. to tell their government to leave as soon as possible. The troops should be evacuated, without making the implementation of the oil law a condition.The U.S. administration wants to control our oil resources of our country, so our letter to the U.S. Congress asked your leaders to stop making proposals that violate the will of the vast majority of our people. We have plenty of oil experts in Iraq, who are perfectly capable of managing the oil industry. The Southern Oil Company, where our union is based, is the only enterprise in Iraq currently producing oil. We're exporting 2,250,000 barrels a day, all managed by Iraqi experts, and produced by Iraqi hands.Bacon: Many people say that if the troops leave, there is no civil society capable of governing the country. Do you agree with this?
Umara: There are many cities in Iraq controlled by the Iraqi administration. These cities are quite secure, while the cities controlled by the occupation troops see continuous killing and carnage. As long as we have an occupation, we'll have more sabotage and killing.But when people from the local tribes control the security, they have expelled the al-Qaeda forces and those others who are terrorizing people. This means we can protect ourselves and bring security to our nation, with no need of the U.S. forces. To those who believe that if the U.S. troops leave there will be chaos, I say, let them go, and if we fight each other afterwards, let us do that. We are being killed by the thousands already. If the occupation continues, there will only be more blood shed by the U.S. forces and the Iraqi people.
Bacon: Hashmeya, your union belongs to another union federation. What does your federation think should happen with the occupation?
Muhsin: The electrical workers union belongs to the General Union of Iraqi Workers, and we want the occupation to end as soon as possible. All Iraqi unions want this.After the collapse of the regime all the borders were open. Many people, intruders, came to Iraq. Many were al-Qaeda and others, who brought weapons and explosives. There was no inspection at the border at all. As an occupied nation under UN Resolution 1483, the United States was obligated to protect and guarantee our security. But the very first thing [they] did was throw the borders open. Given this experience, we're not expecting to have much security in Iraq so long as the United States is there.Some towns are secure, but wherever you see the U.S. forces, you see a lot of terror and sabotage. We want the United States to leave. Of course, it takes time and it's not an easy operation. The logistics are tough. But our first and last demand is that the occupation end as soon as possible.
Bacon: The Bush administration says it envisions the presence of an occupation force for many years, comparing the situation to the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea. What do you think of that possibility?
Muhsin: If it was up to Bush, he'd occupy the world. But that's not what the nations of the world want. Would they accept occupation, as we have had to do? Our nation does not want to be occupied, and we'll do our best to end it.
For more articles and images on Iraq's unions, see http://dbacon.igc.org/Iraq/iraq.htm
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