Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU):
International Representative,
Abdullah Muhsin,
c/o UNISON,
1 Mabledon Place,
London WC1H 9AJ.
Tel’: 00 44 79 76 84 68 68
Email: abdullahmuhsin@iraqitradeunions.org
News Release:
DATE: Friday, 15 April, 2005
SUBJECT: TERRORISTS CONFESS TO MURDER OF IRAQI RAILWAY WORKERS
The dramatic confession, live on an Iraqi TV station, by a group of terrorists to the brutal and horrific murder of a group of Iraqi railway workers has been followed in the last week by re-opening of passenger railway services on the affected line between Baghdad, Basra and Mosul, Iraq's capital and her second and third largest cities, the IFTU reports from Baghdad.
Iraqi Security forces in Mosul report they have caught the criminal killers of 4 Iraqi railway workers; Kasim Shahin (train driver), Maithem Shaker Obeid (train driver), Ahmed Ibrahim (train controller - guard) and Zeyad Tariq (railway security guard) who were murdered on 27 October 2004 when their train carrying consumer goods was attacked on the railway line between Mosul and Baghdad. On the night of 27/28 October 2004, terrorists attacked the train with mortar fire, setting the train on fire, killing all those working on it and mutilating their bodies.
On March 27 2005, 'Iraqia TV' broadcast the confessions of a group of terrorists who admitted to killing the 4 railway workers and mutilating the bodies. The IFTU reporting the murders on 3 November 2004 issued a statement; 'Terrorists Murder Iraqi Workers' http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/000102.html, which called on: "the Iraqi government and security authorities to take legal measures to bring the murderers to justice, and to ensure the safety of Iraqi railway workers and all workers, in defence of our homeland, people and working class."
Following the announcement by the Iraqi security forces and the televised confession by the group of killers to the crime against our martyred brothers, the railway workers, the IFTU is calling on the Iraqi Justice authorities to bring legal proceedings swiftly against the murderers.
The IFTU-affiliated Railworkers' Union also reports that on Saturday 9 April 2005 passenger train services resumed operation between Baghdad, Basra and Mosul following several months' enforced suspension due to the cowardly attacks by terrorists, such as that mentioned above. The IFTU greeted this good news with confidence that the re-opened train services will be of great benefit to the Iraqi people and contribute to the re-building of a democratic and federal Iraq.
- Statement ends -