Author: garykent

Statement issued by the General Union of Oil Workers and Technicians (GUOWT), a GFIW affiliated union. The oil workers unions sent a delegation to meet up with oil minister on the 6 August to discuss the current crisis but the minister refused to meet them. The GUOWT issued a statement on the 2 August and again on the 7 August deploring the approach taken by the Oil Minister and called on him to withdraw the memo sent and signed by his legal adviser Mr Laith abd al Hussein, on 18 July 2007 under his personal instruction to the Iraqi oil … Continue reading Iraqi Oil Minister revives Saddams anti-union Law

See Dave Aaronovitch article in the Times, which examines a recent editorial in the New York Times. He says: But what could readers make of there being not one single word in the editorial about what Iraqis themselves wanted the US to do? Not one. Iraqi democrats were depicted merely as being people to be airlifted out of the green zone when the Saigon moment arrived. The calls from Iraqi politicians, local leaders in Anbar, the Kurds and many other groups for the Americans to stay on for the time being were not even referred to. That is true unilateralism.

See here for details of trade union action in Basra.

Omar says that the results so far have been astounding, and please allow me to say that I am proud of the change in attitude many of my fellow Iraqis are showing.

See this moving description of daily life in Baghdad. Hat tip to Harry Barnes

Our Joint President Dave Anderson has asked all candidates for the deputy leadership of their Labour Party for their views on solidarity with the Iraqi labour movement. The first response is from Alan Johnson MP. Gary Kent Director LFIQ As a Trade Unionist myself, I have been inspired by the resurgence of the Trade Union movement in Iraq and see this as a key example of a new, democratic, pluralist society emerging. On the specific question of Iraqi government policy, it is not a matter that I feel we should necessarily directly interfere in. I will use my influence to … Continue reading Deputy Leadership Response on Iraq

In response to LFIQ supporter, Sharon Hodgson, the Minister for the Middle East, Dr. Kim Howells, answers questions on the the role of trade unions and the need to overturn restrictions on their activity. And LFIQ Joint President Ann Clwyd emphasises the potential of the unions in fostering reconciliation. Here is the full record from FCO questions on 5th June. 5. Mrs. Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead, East and Washington, West) (Lab): If she will make a statement on the position of trade unions in Iraq. The Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Kim Howells): The Iraqi Government should recognise the importance … Continue reading Support in Commons for Iraqi unions

Adam Wolfe offers a detailed overview of interlinking events which may either bring stability to the region or harden sectarian fractures.

David Bosco in the Boston Globe examines the positions of human rights group on the surge and the debate on the withdrawal of troops and urges them to engage.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari is interviewed on his trip to Australia. He makes it clear that the consequences of a precipitate withdrawal of foreign troops would be terrible. He says: The country would disintegrate, it would be divided. There would be civil war, slaughter, sectarian war. There would be mayhem. International terrorists would find there would be a safe haven in Iraq, a much more important and sympathetic safe haven than they found in Afghanistan, and they will attack others from there. Iraq’s neighbours will be tempted to cross its borders and establish zones of influence there. Text of … Continue reading Iraqi foreign minister on consequences of troops out