Ref : ICEM07/ENGC/37
Brussels, 3 April 2007
Prime Minister of Iraq Jawad al-Maliki
iraqigov@yahoo.com
Dear Prime Minister,
On behalf of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Unions, the Global Union Federation, representing 20 million workers in the Mine, Energy, Chemical and related Process Industries I wish to express to you my utter condemnation of the abduction, torture and subsequent murder of Najim Abd-Jasem the General Secretary of the Mechanic Workers Union, a member union of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW).
We have been informed by GFIW that Brother Najim was abducted by criminal militias in Baghdad on the afternoon of the 27th March 2007. His body was found three days later on 30 March 2007. Signs of torture were evident all over his body.
Brother Najim was one of the key leading trade unionists who help to establish the IFTU now the GFIW after the fall of Saddam’s dictatorship and was elected as the General Secretary of the Mechanics Workers Union in late 2003. Under the former dictatorship of Saddam, he worked for the Health Ministry as a mechanic before he was dismissed because of his opposition to Saddam’s yellow unions. He then joined the underground trade union movement (WDTUM) and fought against the former dictatorial regime. 2003 He was well known internationally having attended many national and international seminars and training programs. He leaves a widow and four children.
His appalling murder is yet another sign of a clearly systematic campaign underway in Iraq to eliminate the leadership of the newly formed independent and democratic unions that strongly oppose sectarianism. Following recent attacks on the head office of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW) as well as previous murders and abductions of union officials we call on you to ensure that your government upholds internationally recognised rights, including full respect for the fundamental human and trade union rights of workers. Workers and trade unionists must be able to carry out their normal activities in your country without fearing for the lives. Genuine and democratic trade unions are a cornerstone of democracy and at the same time are a force for reconciliation, peace and stability in a society.
It is essential that you order an immediate and thorough investigation into this appalling murder as well as other recent attacks on the GFIW.
Yours sincerely,
Manfred Warda
General Secretary