Author: garykent

Saddam’s Mass Graves Saddam’s mass graves are being uncovered. There are 62 pages of powerful and moving photographs of the mass graves at http://massgraves.info

Alex Gordon conducted interviews with IFTU members in Britain as part of an exchange with Unison. They outline how they defeated anti-women proposals and took back their headquarters from US troops. The full text can be found at the IFTU web site by clicking above.

Extract from Commons debate on 29th November Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): How widely known is the holding of the general election in Iraq among the Iraqi people? A short time ago, it seemed that it was not well known; perhaps people had other things to be bothered and worried about. There might be some indication in terms of the number of people who have registered to vote or are expected to register and in the number of local elections that have already been held to prepare people for a coming general election.

We note the view of the Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid al-Bayati “Using force that kills civilians on a large scale is a mistake. The logic of occupation must end.”

This CLP is alarmed that military action against the terrorists in Falluja and other towns will result in large scale loss of civilian life. The aerial bombardment of a built-up civilian area will drive ordinary Iraqis towards the men of violence. We implore the Labour government to exercise all its influence to prevent these casualties and to pursue all political and humanitarian channels to resolve the crisis. We urge the Labour Government to do all it can to support the UN process that envisages a democratic sovereign Iraq and to support all democratic forces within Iraq, including the newly emerging … Continue reading Labour Friends of Iraq model motion on Military Action and Falluja

New Statesman Monday 1st November 2004 The left, in the form of the Stop the War Coalition, has fallen out even with Iraqi comrades who opposed the war. Why? Because those comrades don’t see hostage-takers and decapitators as resistance fighters.

EDM 1799 TRADE UNIONS IN IRAQ 25.10.04 John Mann 53 signatures That this House notes that free trade unionism is a key ingredient of a move from totalitarianism to democracy; welcomes the renewal of free trade unionism in Iraq; and calls on the Government to give assistance and priority to the strengthening of this movement. As an Amendment to John Mann’s proposed Motion (TRADE UNIONS IN IRAQ): EDM 1799A1 TRADE UNIONS IN IRAQ Amdt. line 4: 03.11.04 Jeremy Corbyn 2 signatures by encouraging the Iraqi government to ensure all public sector employees enjoy full trade union rights in line with … Continue reading Commons motions on Iraqi trade unions

Extract from Defence Questions in the Commons, 25th October Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab): Would it not make more sense to have American troops in Iraq under British control rather than British troops under American control? Have we not made a better fist of things than the Americans, whose activities have been disastrous? Mr. Hoon: From time to time in Iraq, British troops have been under American control and American troops have been under British control. That is in the nature of coalition operations.

Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition claims (Guardian October 25) that “Our position, which is the same as that adopted at the TUC conference, is that an early date be set for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq”. But that is not the whole story. The officers of the Stop the War Coalition released a statement condemning the IFTU as collaborators while ominously warning that “The StWC recognises once more the legitimacy of the struggle of Iraqis, by whatever means they find necessary’. The newspaper she supports, Socialist Worker, calls the IFTU a ‘fake union’. And … Continue reading Response by Alan Johnson to Lindsey German

The following information about the timetable and rules for the Iraqi elections of 2005 is taken from the website of the Iraqi Pro-Democracy Party.