The IFTU Foreign Representative Abdullah Muhsin addressed a successful fringe meeting at the NATFHE conference and the conference also passed the following Emergency Motion supporting the IFTU.
“Conference condemns the application of crude military force by the US, the UK and their allies in Iraq, intensifying opposition to occupation. Conference notes the brutal actions of the occupying powers and the resultant breakdown of any trust by all sectors of Iraqi society.
In the light of recent developments in Iraq, in particular the massacre in Falluja and emerging revelations of systematic torture by the occupying forces, conference calls upon the British government to distance itself from morally bankrupt US government.
Conference is shocked by the mounting evidence of abuse of Iraqi prisoners carried out by US and UK troops. Conference notes the recent shocking photographs of torture and humiliation of Iraqi detainees by coalition troops, and allegations of murder of detainees and civilians. Conference wishes to register its disgust at the degrading treatment of Iraqis, which, it believes. Is not the result of improper behaviour by a few individuals, but reflects a deep-seated racist attitude by those responsible for prosecuting this war. It believes that only total withdrawal of all occupation troops will end such abuse.
Conference:
- believes coalition should withdraw urgently and process of rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure, public services and education system should be in the hands of the Iraqis themselves, with aid from international agencies if requested.
- Support the rights of Iraqi people to crate their own democratic structure, free of outside interference, with Iraqi trade unionists playing a key role in rebuilding their country.
- Calls for an international authority to work with Iraqi representative structures, including the IFTU, on the re-building of Iraq and arranging for the establishment of civil society.
- Conference urges NATFHE and the TUC to make contact with Iraqi trade unionists and explore ways to encourage the rebirth of an independent trade union education movement in Iraq and urges branches to twin with Iraqi towns and educational institutions.