Report on Wilton Park Conference WP784
PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT IN CONFLICT-COUNTRIES: THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT
in association with THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION
Monday 6 – Thursday 9 June 2005
Summary
1. The conference sought to examine the role political leaders in conflict-affected countries should play in order to lay the foundations for good governance and sustainable development. In particular the conference considered: political structures and resources governments and parliaments need in order to achieve this objective; priority areas for promoting democracy, economic development and poverty reduction; and how co-operation with interim administrators, the military, private sector, trade unions and NGOs is best conducted.
Conflict-Affected Countries: The Commonwealth Experience
2. All democracies suffer from deficiencies and challenges, irrespective whether they are newly emerging or established democracies; however, the maturity of a democracy will determine the kind of challenges it faces in its democratic development.
3. There is no doubt that it is much easier for rich countries to tackle their democratic deficits as they have access to the resources needed to remedy their weaknesses; whereas the lack of resources in developing countries often makes it harder for newer democracies that wish to tackle challenges and consolidate the democratic gains they have made. First and foremost, though, democracies throughout the Commonwealth need to ensure the independence of their democratic institutions, such as parliament.
4. It is still a point of conjecture as to whether weak parliaments are a result of the failures of parliamentarians or the institution itself. It was noted that often when a new parliament is elected, new parties want to get on with their agenda or program rather than reforming the national assembly to improve and strengthen the institution. Meanwhile, weaknesses in the institution, such as archaic standing orders that prohibit proper debate, combined with what is often the relatively weak position of parliament in relation to the executive, impacts on parliaments’ independence and the ability of parliamentarians to implement reforms.
5. The need for greater parliamentary independence was cited as an essential precondition if parliaments are to fulfill their oversight and accountability function. However, parliaments’ independence can be challenged both from within the country and by external actors, such as donors dictating parliaments’ agenda. It is not necessarily just a matter of the donor community providing additional aid to developing democracies, rather of providing assistance to parliaments to develop processes for better governance and assisting parliaments with the task of setting their own program. If parliaments are strengthened so as to be able to develop an agenda based on domestic demand they will be in a better position to seek donor assistance for each specific component of their domestically driven strategy.
The Degree to which Governments and Parliament Can Contribute to Peacebuilding in Conflict-Affected Countries
6. The political will needed to resolve conflict will only develop when the parties to a conflict perceive that it will be in their own best interest to resolve the conflict, whether because it is evident violence will not lead to their desired outcome or their constituency begins to tire of the violence and seeks change. Traditionally conflict resolution and peacebuilding have been the responsibility of governments in conflict-affected countries, however, parliaments are beginning to play a far more prominent role.
7. Despite their growing contribution to peacebuilding, it is still all too easy for governments to bypass parliaments when seeking to resolve disputes. This raises the question as to what incentives are there for governments to work with parliaments, particularly when conflict resolution often involves confidential dialogue. A distinction needs to be drawn between resolving a conflict and building the peace. Parliaments are integral to bringing about the reforms and conducting the institution building necessary to maintain any peace that has been brokered. First and foremost parliament can put in place the institutions needed to assist with conflict resolution and peacebuilding. There is no universal prescription or model for this; however, parliament is a central stakeholder in reforming established institutions, such as the security services, educational sector and public service, to ensure they are representative and sensitive. In addition, parliament can create new institutions, such as reconciliation commissions, to work towards bridging the gap between divergent parties. Parliament can also provide continuing oversight for these newly reformed or created institutions so as to ensure they are performing their desired function so as to contribute to peacebuilding.
8. Prior to commencing a peace process it is important to understand peace as a spectrum rather than an absolute because to deal with it as an absolute will result in certain expectations being interwoven into the concept of peace, which can prove problematic later in the process. For instance if peace is defined as any violence, rather than a marked reduction in the level of violence, the presence of even the smallest amount of violence will result in the peace process being viewed by the public as a failure. A disconnect between the expectations of people and government can lead to disillusionment with the process. Therefore, management of people’s expectations is very important and is something with which parliamentarians, as the elected representatives of the people, can assist.
9. A preliminary stage of a conflict resolution process is disarmament and demilitarization of the conflicting parties. Often this can be a sticking point as neither side is willing to lay down their arms. The solution to such an impasse is usually to set out a sequence of events which will result in the parties disarming. Certain steps have to taken by one side (milestones) and then reciprocal obligations come into force for the other party to fulfill. In order for this to succeed confidence building measures are needed, along with a transformation of attitudes and a repudiation of the legacy of the past. The sequencing of the stages and confidence building measures are very important.
10. The incentive for the parties to keep working towards meeting the milestones in accordance with the sequence of events and timeline set down is the fact peace and security will bring about greater economic development. In order to ensure that the peace is sustainable, parties need to ensure that the economic development that flows from achieving peace and security will be enjoyed by all members of the community. Furthermore, the greater economic interdependence between the parties that invariably comes about due to the development spurred by peace and greater certainty acts as a future disincentive to return to violent conflict.
11. Sometimes the parties to the conflict will recognize that a conflict needs to be internationalized. This often occurs when the acrimony and lack of trust between the parties is too great for them to be able to resolve the conflict without the assistance of a third party. A representative from the international community, who the conflicting parties have confidence in, can be called upon to act as a facilitator or negotiator. Additionally, a conflict can become internationalized when the security or economic dimension of the conflict has an impact beyond the territorial borders of the parties concerned, thereby drawing the attention of the international community.
12. Ultimately it is governments that must take the lead in negotiating such peace processes; however, they need to be supported by parliaments. Arriving at a peaceful resolution of any conflict will be made easier when the opposition is included in the process and the parliament can develop a cohesive parliamentary position across party lines. The hardening of attitudes by parliamentarians can be problematic; therefore it is prudent to have dispute resolution mechanisms in place to address valid concerns before individual parliamentarians harden their position.
13. Ultimately the three most important factors for government and parliament successfully resolving a conflict and building peace are: timing: any effort can only succeed when insurgent groups recognize they cannot succeed by force or government recognizes it cannot impose its will on others by force; a commitment by all parties to be patient and to work towards the end goal despite setbacks; and involvement of the media and civil society in the process - civil society and the media play an important role in building peace and must exercise their freedom of speech responsibility so as not to enflame the conflict.
The Role of the International Community in Conflict-Affected Countries - What Makes Peacebuilding Work
14. There is no one model for involvement by the international community in conflict-affected countries. Over the years, though, the international community has incrementally built up knowledge, through positive and negative experiences, as to what it can do to assist conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes. When working in conflict-affected countries the international community should be conscious that if there is a perception of excessive international intervention, their role could be construed as an attempt by the international community to impose its will on a sovereign government. Furthermore, the involvement of the international community may result in smaller parties, such as insurgent groups, feeling vulnerable or weakened if they perceives the international community is strengthening the sovereign government to its detriment. Either of these scenarios could potentially unsettle any peace process. For this reason the international community needs to be perceptive and try not to unleash forces opposed to the peace process through their involvement.
15. In addition to these cautionary lessons it is possible to draw some generic lessons as to when it is appropriate for the international community to proceed. The most fundamental lesson that has been learned is that whatever initiative is undertaken there needs to be a combination of national ownership and international support. Conflict-affected countries need to set priorities for themselves, and these priorities must be owned and driven by the people of the country. As such, one of the more important roles for the international community is to assist conflict-affected countries build up their capacity for strategic standard setting and cooperation.
16. Despite growing knowledge as to best practice with respect to the international community’s role in conflict-affected countries there is still much to be learned. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has sought to establish a peacebuilding commission and a standing fund for peacebuilding; the commission could be used as a forum for sharing analysis and developing objectives for the international community’s involvement in conflict-affected countries.
17. In addition to ensuring that initiatives are domestically driven, another lesson garnered from the international community’s experience has been the need for a long-term commitment by the international community to help conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes. If the international community fails to do the job properly it will cost far more in the long-term; therefore, the international community should be wary of ‘donor fatigue.’ A peacebuilding commission at the United Nations could also be used to maintain long-term international assistance in conflict- affected countries.
18. The international community faces a dilemma when assessing its role in conflict-affected countries as to whether it should be purposefully pursuing initiatives that promote its values, such as human rights compliance. Obviously, there is no definitive answer, however, the institutions that the international community often seek to encourage, whether they be related to governance or investment, are usually beneficial to the people of the conflict-affected countries.
19. There is a growing call by conflict-affected countries for greater cooperation by the international financial institutions in accessing resources to help promote economic development. The international financial institutions need to streamline their procedures so governments can access the resources they need to be able to focus on rebuilding their countries. International financial institutions and donors need to prioritize assistance that helps conflict-affected countries move towards an economy suitable for entry into a liberalized trade regime.
20. Debt forgiveness for conflict-affected countries is welcome; however, there are no guarantees that the money that would have had to have been repaid will be used for proper purposes. The international community needs to ensure that there are mechanisms for fiscal discipline so that the money that would have been used to pay debt will be put towards the work that needs to be done. Fiscal discipline can only be guaranteed if there is some form of accountability; parliaments need to be strengthened so that they can contribute to the decisions as to how these funds are spent and keep governments accountable. One of the best means of ensuring parliament can provide oversight over expenditure is by requiring the draft budget be brought before parliament and ensuring parliament has the capacity to provide proper oversight.
Global Parliamentary Cooperation in Promoting Socio-Economic Development and Peacebuilding
21. Globalization has acted as an impetus for greater cooperation on all fronts, whether in relation to curbing pollution, human trafficking or for security. Cooperation needs to occur at all levels and between all actors, including between parliaments and parliamentarians. This greater interdependence has resulted in a call for more global governance. In terms of supra-national governance the Europe Union (EU) is the most developed, but the operation of the EU is perceived as being undemocratic. The EU model is not suitable for every region around the world, but is an example of how there has been cooperation between states to create a parliament aimed at promoting socio-economic development and peacebuilding.
22. In addition to the European Union there are many regional organizations that have parliamentary assemblies as well as many parliamentary associations that have formed for an array of reasons, from regional groupings to networks of parliamentarians concerned about specific issues. This process has also led to the creation of parliamentary associations for the international institutions, such as the Parliamentary Network for the World Bank (PNOWB). The United Nations has been identified as one international organization parliamentarians find it difficult to engage with. For this reason a unit should be established at the United Nations to assist parliamentarians’ engagement.
23. The Cardoso Report, undertaken for the United Nations, recommends that as part of global parliamentary cooperation ministers traveling for international meetings should address parliament in the country they are visiting and when sending a national delegation to an international meeting, nations should involve parliamentarians who can attend the meeting as full participants. These initiatives would aid parliamentary cooperation.
Adequate Oversight of the Military, Police and Intelligence Services by Parliament
24. The military, police and intelligence services are three state institutions/ agencies that fall within the broader definition of the security sector. They are considered part of the security sector because they have the legitimate authority to use force, to order force or to threaten to use force. Examples of other agencies that fall within this definition of the security sector include paramilitary forces, presidential guards, military and civilian intelligence and security services, coast and border guards, and customs authorities.
25. This expanding definition of the security sector is in line with the broadening of the concept of security at an international level; most notably with the introduction of the concept of human security that was embraced by the High Level Panel and by the United Nations Secretary-General in his report entitled In Larger Freedom. The notion of human security acknowledges the interplay between security and development. Furthermore, there are increasing links between external and internal security issues as new threats to security (whether it be terrorism or environmental threats) are not primarily military, therefore cannot be countered by purely military capacity and know-how.
26. The evolving notion of human security and the broader definition of the security sector have alienated many parliamentarians who have shown great resistance to learning about the security sector. The lack of interest by parliamentarians may change; however, in the meantime the feeling that the security sector knows best inhibits the ability to develop good policy on the issue. Furthermore, the continued lack of engagement by parliaments hinders their ability to be able to provide oversight of the security sector.
27. Parliament plays a vital role in keeping the security sector accountable, both in terms of ensuring probity of decision-making and oversight of the security sector budget. There need to be strong parliamentary processes to guard against corruption, particularly with respect to procurement. Furthermore, the need for oversight differs depending on the country in question, but in conflict-affected countries oversight should also have regard to the actions of the security services, in particular the police, to ensure they are acting within their mandate and not provoking further unrest.
28. Calls for secrecy with respect to security sector information or reticence by the security sector to provide such information to parliament is unfounded. Obviously the security sector should keep its intelligence and operational plan for military operations secret; however, details with respect to defense and security planning should be freely furnished to parliament. Ultimately information relating to defense planning does not constitute a state secret and is often available via alternate sources – as such there is no justification for withholding this information from parliament. The objective is to avoid a system where there is no control over the security sector; however, in order for parliament to provide oversight the security sector must be forthcoming with the information parliament needs to keep the sector accountable.
Preventing Exclusion: Ensuring a Level Playing Field for Opposition Parties
29. There is no single model that can be implemented in order to create a level playing field for political parties. Preventing the exclusion of opposition parties is important because if you exclude opposition parties you are simultaneously excluding from the political process those people they represent. It is a foundational democratic principle that the minority respects the right of the majority to make decisions, so long as the majority respects the right of the minority to dissent. Ensuring a level playing field enables fair competition whilst providing the minority with the right to be represented and provide their dissenting opinion.
30. When seeking to establish a level playing field there are four topics that are of particular interest:
a. regulating political participation; the legal environment must support political parties. Laws should not act as a tool to restrict access to the political process for individuals or parties. For this reason the description of a party should be as broad as possible;
b. inclusive electoral process: there should be a multi-party approach to electoral administration, whether in the form of having representatives from all parties involved in the electoral administration or independent parties administering the electoral process. Vote monitoring by opposition parties should be permitted as well as free access to the media. Instead of using legislation to regulate the conduct of parties leading up to and during electoral processes, negotiations should be undertaken between all parties to develop codes of conduct for political participation;
c. use or abuse of state resources: a permanent and professional civil service should be nurtured in order to avert the use or abuse of state resources to undermine fair participation by opposition parties. There needs to be a clear demarcation between the work of the governing party and the executive. In addition, state resources need to be allocated to opposition parties in order for them to function, research and scrutinize the actions and policies of the governing party. Regulations with respect to the financing of political parties is important – if some resources are provided by the state and there is a limit on what you can spend it discourages corruption and the amount political parties need to raise;
d. a healthy and functioning legislature: a healthy legislature is often the product of an independent speaker. Usually the speaker comes from the ruling party, but they nevertheless need to be above partisan politics and should be open to engage in a consultation process with the opposition to set the legislative agenda. A healthy committee structure can also assist opposition groups level the playing field to a large extent. Committees are the forums in which opposition parties are often best able to contribute to deliberations on substantive issues.
31. You can implement the reforms above; however, successfully developing a more equal playing field is often dependent on the personalities present in the chamber. Some parliamentarians are more inclined to reach across the floor in a more inclusive approach to politics, whereby the opposition parties are accommodated in the conduct of parliament. Often this can manifest itself in the committee structure where likeminded parliamentarians, irrespective of the party which they belong to, can work together.
Drawing Upon the Human Resources, Traditions and Political Structures of Previous Regimes
32. The process of change from one regime to another is a very complex and difficult issue as it is not possible to suddenly sever continuity with the past without risking chaos and instability. Real change is best managed through a gradual but substantive change of the underlying purposes and aims of government and parliament.
33. In many countries divisions have led to serious and prolonged inter and intra-communal violence. Democracy is not so much agreeing across the gulf of such divisions, rather the model we use to express our disagreements without killing each other and resorting to violence. When a situation arises where politicians abuse their power and exercise it in their own interests rather than in the interests of the community they are often characterized as bad people, and any system that allowed them to take power must be a bad system. The solution to such a dilemma is, thus, to find good people to put into a good system. It is at this juncture in the conflict cycle that it is pertinent to consider to what extent governments and parliaments can draw upon the human resources, traditions and political structures of previous regimes.
34. Good government should seek to serve the entire community; it is contrary to this objective to simply clear out the people who belonged to previous human resources, traditions and political structures since these people are part of the whole community. Obviously some of the more prominent leaders would need to be removed and some people would need to make way in order to ensure the human resources reflect the composition of the community. However, there will always be some from the old regime who have a positive contribution to make to building and strengthening the new system. The aim should be to draw upon the good representatives from the old regime and good representatives from the new regime, who together can build competence and draw upon historical memory and ethics in order to craft a professional civil service, which gives their loyalty to parliament rather than the ruling party, and is governed by a civil service commission.
35. Political structures and procedures need to be able to accommodate the complex relationships that exist within the community. Such procedures and structures should build on those structures that are available by changing, adapting, adding to or transforming what is there, rather than abolishing everything and starting again. Every community has some traditional structures for dealing with violence and aggression, such as different forms of democracy, or it would not have survived as a community. The skill is to identify these structures and use or transform them rather than adopting foreign ways of doing things, which may have worked elsewhere, but not necessarily in the situation at hand. As such, including people from all elements of the community, with their history and traditions, and transforming the political structures which are available is the most productive means of bringing about lasting change.
Ensuring the Equitable Representation of Minorities and Women in Parliament
36. Parliament has the potential to act as a forum for airing concerns and seeking resolutions to problems before they escalate into violent conflict. In order to understand the problems facing society and to build a common vision to address these problems parliament needs to reflect the make-up of the community. If parliament is to better reflect the social, ethnic, religious, economic and gender differences in the community, parliament needs to ensure more equitable representation of minority groups and women. This end will only be achieved if government, political organizations and civil society work together to ensure that the parliamentarians reflect the composition of the divergent groups of people they represent.
37. Representative parliaments are in a far better position to work towards peace as they can develop a more inclusive vision for the country. The presence of women and minorities in parliament brings additional perspectives to deliberations and enables those representatives to contribute to the oversight of government and set the agenda for parliamentary business. This can be achieved by establishing specific committees, such as gender committees, or simply by having members of minority groups represented on general committees, such as the public accounts committee. For instance, anecdotal evidence suggests that women parliamentarians have an important role to play in developing gender sensitive budgets in some African nations, in particular ensuring the budget is more focused on positive outcomes and basics, such as food security.
38. Women and minority groups still face many challenges in entering public office. For instance unequal access to education and economic inequality serve as ongoing barriers to women and members of minority groups who want to enter parliament. Furthermore, political parties have to want to broaden their membership and provide opportunities for women and minority groups to enter parliament if their numbers are to increase. Sometimes the number of parliamentarians who are women or from minority groups can be facilitated through legislation requiring a percentage of women or a specific minority group, such as youth, to be nominated by any one party at each election or allocating specific seats in parliament for women and other minority groups.
Strategies for Parliaments in Conflict-Affected Countries to Improve Oversight of the Executive and Prioritize Development Needs
39. Parliaments in conflict-affected countries face an uphill battle in performing their function and often face a hostile executive who are used to exercising executive power relatively freely during times of conflict. Such governments are usually reticent to submit to the oversight of parliament during a conflict or in the post-conflict phase. The premise of parliamentary oversight is that government is about stewardship and someone must keep government focused on stewardship. In conflict-affected countries the onus rests with parliamentarians to improve the status and effectiveness of parliament so that they can keep government focused on stewardship.
40. If parliament is to perform its functions effectively it needs to posses a high level of independence, including an independent salary scheme and civil service support that has administrative independence from the rest of the civil service; these features are necessary preconditions to ensure that the executive cannot stand-over parliament.
41. There are a couple of ways in which parliaments in conflict-affected countries can improve oversight. The first strategy is to promote the role of speaker as a non-partisan position that should be given to a member who is willing and able to operate above partisan politics. Aside from needing to be non-partisan when conducting business on the floor of parliament and implementing standing orders, the speaker is also a pivotal agent who should protect the independence of parliament from interference from the executive. In situations where the executive seeks to impose its will on parliament, the speaker is the person who should respond to such interference by affirming parliament’s independence and proceeding to implement parliamentary business in accordance with parliament’s self prescribed agenda.
42. The second strategy for improving oversight is strengthening the committee structure. Parliamentary committees are powerful tools of oversight as they bring out spectacular information and governments are often timid in the face of well reasoned and researched reports produced by well resourced committees. Oversight in the context of where it matters is not an easy job though; often attempts by committees to provide oversight will be shunned or stalled by the government. It is also a costly process as the effectiveness of oversight committees are often dependent on sufficient administrative and research support.
43. Access to specialized parliamentary offices, such as a budget office, provides additional support, particularly with regard to very important but highly technical areas such as the financial or security sector. Such specialized offices ensure parliamentarians can properly oversee these important but complex areas of executive decision-making. From a donor perspective, providing assistance for the formation and operation of specialized parliamentary offices, such as a parliamentary budget office, strengthens established accountability structures, rather than developing parallel structures from scratch. Furthermore, the provision of project funds rather than budget support to the executive makes it far easier for parliament to oversee expenditure of donor funds as the executive is barred from moving the funds around.
44. Even if parliaments can strengthen their oversight capacity, the success of their oversight will still be dependent on the support shown by the public for parliament’s ongoing work. If the community is not interested in hearing about corrupt practices or the misdeeds of the government, there will be little incentive for the government to be responsive to the criticisms of parliament and government will continue to act as if it had impunity. Accordingly, it is important for parliamentarians to live up to the same standards of openness and accountability they hold the government to and then undertake outreach to the media and the community to explain the role of parliament, whilst facilitating the flow of information about parliamentary business so as to generate public support for their efforts.
Ensuring a Balanced Framework for a Free Media through Freedom of Information, Privacy, Defamation and Other Legislation
45. The media has a very important role to play in conflict-affected countries. The media’s most significant contributions include:
a. introducing divergent communities to each other. This can be done in many ways and is dependent on the media available; however, even informational and entertainment programs, such as soap operas, which portray people from all walks of life living and working together help break down misconceptions and animosities. The media can help deconstruct the ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality that is a hurdle to reconciliation;
b. Helping to keep decision-makers accountable. There will always be an abuse of power in conflict scenarios. Conflict situations are a cocktail for corruption, specifically because decision-making is so often surrounded by secrecy; and
c. the media can facilitate dialogue surrounding decision-making.
46. Having outlined the role of the media in conflict-affected countries, it is prudent to examine the legal and regulatory environment necessary to facilitate the media fulfilling their role. Freedom of expression provides the freedom to seek, hear and impart ideas. Any restriction on human rights has to be proportional, for example defamation and hate speech laws are considered a proportional restriction on the exercise of freedom of expression. It should be noted though that hate speech is a symptom and passing legislation forbidding hate speech should not be in lieu of tackling the cause of the hate in the first place. With respect to defamation, the law should not require an individual to prove the truth of everything that is published. The standard should be that under the circumstances it is reasonable and in the public interest to have published the material.
47. Freedom of expression extends to the right of the public to access governmental information. Accordingly, government and parliament should facilitate the passage of access to information legislation. The presence of such legislation can play a very important role in leveling the playing field between the government and parliament and between the majority party and opposition. When determining whether to disclose information in response to a request for information under access to information legislation, the presumption should be in favor of disclosure.
48. National security is one of the most prevalent exceptions to the rule of disclosure. If government refuses to disclosure information requested under an access to information regime for national security reasons, the onus should be on the government to prove that disclosure of the information or document would harm the national interest. Furthermore, Official Secrets Acts or secrecy laws should not override access to information laws. Whistleblower protections should also be considered so as to encourage greater accountability. Transitional situations are always complicated; however, experience has taught us that you need to put up with some excesses of freedom of expression and that controlling the flow of information will not solve anything.
49. Politicians often cite media bias as the reason for their poor relationship with the media. These concerns often precipitate a call for greater regulation of the media industry. International standards suggest that if a country insists on regulation of the media industry, the regulator should be independent of government and parliament so as to guarantee the continued independence of the media. If the media does not remain independent its capacity to make a contribution to peacebuilding and good governance in conflict-affected countries will be hampered. Finally, parliament needs to show leadership by championing freedom of expression and leading by example by making parliamentary information, processes and procedures open and transparent.
The Promotion of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Legislation to Build Reconciliation
50. The period immediately after the cessation of violence often results in the establishment of some form of transitional government. Such transitional arrangements have three main benefits – they provide some semblance of structure and order after a period of anarchy or chaos; they provide all parties with more time to finalize more permanent arrangements; and their transitional nature ensures those who are not completely satisfied with the interim arrangements will have an incentive to stay within the process and seek to have their interests better represented in the final arrangements rather than returning to violent conflict.
51. Problems can arise, though, when those elected under an interim constitution seek to change the arrangements so as to extend the life of the interim government in order to complete a constitution-building process. This could be construed as an attempt to consolidate power, at the expense of the rule of law, and result in some actors withdrawing from the interim arrangements and jeopardizing the peace. Any attempt to move beyond the timetable or provisions of the interim arrangement should only be undertaken by consensus and with regard to the impact on a fragile peace.
52. An additional concern is that in the interim period the strengthened executive may seek to solve problems by, once again, resorting to violence. If the parliament is weak it may not be in a position to protest such a move.
53. Once a conflict-affected country has moved beyond the transitional period and has established a legitimate government, based on the rule of law, it is possible to turn to reconciling past antagonists. A method that has been employed in a number of conflict-affected countries has been the establishment of a reconciliation commission. Such a commission should be properly funded and should seek to make sure that no one feels excluded from the process. The focus of such procedures should be on the victims, with the aim of helping them move beyond the acts of aggression; as such reconciliation commissions should be a grass-roots effort.
Mitchell O’Brien
4 July 2005
Wilton Park Reports are brief summaries of the main points and conclusions of a conference. The reports reflect rapporteurs’ personal interpretation of proceedings – as such they do not constitute any institutional policy of Wilton Park nor do they necessarily represent the views of the rapporteurs.
IRAQ INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES (IIST)
Hosted By London Middle East Institute (LMEI)
INVITES YOU TO A WORKSHOP ON
DEBATING THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION OF IRAQ:
WHAT SHOULD BE AMENDED BEFORE REFERENDUM?
The IIST is organizing a workshop/conference on the draft constitution submitted to the Iraq Constituent Assembly. Advocates of democracy, pluralism, federalism, bills of rights, women’s and minority rights should have a chance to voice their concerns and express their wishes. The workshop/conference will focus on one major question: What should be amended? A nationwide advocacy campaign will follow to inform political actors and legislators and amend the constitution.
9-10 September 2005-08-17
London University, SOAS, Brunei Building, Room B102
Day One: Workshop, Constitutional experts’ views and community discussion
9 September (Friday, Afternoon)
4.30 p.m. Registration
5-8 p.m. Two Sessions
Day Two: Communities’ Concerns and Recommendation
10 September (Saturday)
First Session 11-2.00 p.m. Views
Second Session 4-6 p.m. Recommendations for amendment
Contact phone numbers: 0208 5780600; (mobile: 0795 104 3371);
(mobile) 0790567897; 02075392209; 07952790016
Contact e-mail address: flaeh1@btopenworld.com; saadkt3@yahoo.com
Nearest Tubes: Russell Square (Piccadilly line), and Tottenham Court Road (Central line)
Rules of Contribution
1- On Day One we will all listen to constitutional experts. They will try to develop a comparative view on the Draft Constitution.
All participants are invited to ask and/or comment to develop major thematic points. Questions will have 3 minutes; comments will have five minutes each.
2- Day Two, Session One:
Representatives of groups and communities will present 7-10 minutes each
on a basic question: What is wrong with the Draft from the specific
interest/view of each group or community..
3- Day Two: Session two: Another set of representatives of the same groups/communities would present a specific proposal to amend the constitution in line with their interests and values. Each proposal should be written and presented in Five minutes, to allow for as much proposals as possible.
4- Each interest group or community will be represented by a minimum of five participants. Larger participation is welcomed.
THE IRAQ INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES (IIST) invites you to a workshop:
DEBATING THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION OF IRAQ:
WHAT SHOULD BE AMENDED BEFORE REFERENDUM?
9-10 September 2005-08-17
London University,
SOAS, Brunei Building
The IIST is organizing a workshop/conference on the draft constitution submitted to the Iraq Constituent Assembly.
Advocates of democracy, pluralism, federalism, bills of rights, women’s and minority rights should have a chance to voice their concerns and express their wishes.
The workshop/conference will focus on one major question: What should be amended?
A nationwide advocacy campaign will follow to inform political actors and legislators and amend the constitution.
Day One: Workshop, Constitutional experts’ views and community discussion
9 September (Friday, Afternoon)
4.30 p.m. Registration
5-8 p.m. Two Sessions
Day Two: Communities’ Concerns and Recommendation
10 September (Saturday)
First Session 11-2.00 p.m. Views
Second Session 4-6 p.m. Recommendations for amendment
Contact phone numbers: 0208 5780600; (mobile: 0795 104 3371); (mobile) 0795 279
Contact e-mail address: flaeh1@btopenworld.com; saadkt3@yahoo.com
11 July 2005
TUC welcome for London United vigil
Commenting on Ken Livingstone’s announcement of a vigil involving the Greater London Authority, the TUC and faith communities on Thursday evening in Trafalgar Square to mark the London bombings, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'This will be the opportunity for London to come together to show sympathy for the victims, defiance to the terrorists, thanks to the emergency services and to unite as a city proud of its diversity.'
Text of Ken Livingstone’s statement:
'On Thursday 14 July London will remember all of those who died last Thursday and show its defiance of those who try to change the character of our city through terror.
'At noon millions of Londoners will observe two minutes silence. Every bus in the city will stop, businesses will stop and I want everyone who can to come out of their workplaces and homes onto the streets of London to remember those who died and to show their complete defiance of the terrorists.
'At 1pm books of condolences will be opened in Trafalgar Square for all Londoners and visitors to the city to sign throughout the day.
'At 6pm Londoners are invited to a vigil in Trafalgar Square to remember those who died, to show that London will not be moved from our city's goal of building an open, tolerant, multi-racial and multi-cultural society showing the world its future and to thank the heroes of the transport and emergency services who saved so many lives last Thursday.
'The vigil is organised with the Trades Union Congress and representatives of London' s different faiths and communities. There will be readings and poems by prominent Londoners, different communities and some of those from the transport and emergency services.'
UK Biggest turnout at the NUM Gala
(11/7/05) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis today praised the role of public service workers who had to deal with the aftermath of the London tube and bus bombings.
“The tragic and appalling events of 7 July 2005 will remain with us all for a very long time," he said. "Our thoughts go out to all those who have lost loved ones and to those who were injured in these horrific attacks.
“I know there have been many individual acts of heroism and I know how readily the public went to the aid of those injured. But I do want to pay a special tribute to all those public service workers, many of whom are UNISON members, who responded with quiet efficiency, dedication and determination.
“They have shown over the past few days just how much the public service ethos matters in our society. They have worked round the clock to rescue, treat or care for the victims, regardless of their own safety and comfort. Many of them have witnessed scenes too terrible to contemplate.
“Their task continues. They deserve and should get our support and respect not just for the work they are now doing but for the work they do day in day out dealing with the public’s individual tragedies.
“Thank you to all public service workers from UNISON and all the communities you serve.”
The Morning Star (Saturday 25 June 2005)
KARL STEWART reports from a UNISON fringe meeting on the bloody state of occupied Iraq
KURDISH Iraqi trade unionist Shadya Mohamad told a UNISON fringe meeting on Thursday night of the chilling warning that she had received before travelling to Britain - "Don't get your face on TV while you're over there or, when you come back, someone might try to kill you."
Ms Mohamad received the warning from family friends when she told them that she had been invited to Britain as a fraternal guest of the public-sector union.
She and other union representatives from the war-torn country spelled out the dangers that they face on a daily basis, as they appealed for solidarity and support from their British sisters and brothers.
The ongoing conflict in Iraq is not, they all insisted, a simple matter of "the occupiers versus the resistance."
There is also the developing Iraqi working class movement. A movement which is often, sometimes literally, caught in the crossfire.
Organisations such as the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) and Kurdistan General Workers' Union Syndicates (KGWU) have their own industrial, social and political agenda and work closely together towards their common goal of a "sovereign, democratic, federal and secular Iraq."
As a result of this, the IFTU has been targeted by both the occupation forces - the US military attacked their Baghdad offices last year - and by insurgents who kidnapped and murdered Hadi Saleh, one of their leaders, in January.
However, the unions blame Iraq's mounting death toll squarely on the war and occupation. Speakers called for the removal of all foreign forces and insisted that they neither asked for nor supported the invasion or the continuing occupation.
"It was opposed by the Iraqi working-class movement, as it was by you, right from the beginning," said IFTU executive member Abid Hashim
"And, when over a million of you marched against the invasion, we saluted you for the solidarity that you showed us.
"We wanted the removal of the Saddam regime and the cleansing of the army and security services to have happened at the hands of we Iraqis ourselves, not by the occupiers," he stressed.
Many years of internal repression, war, invasion and now occupation and terrorist attacks have all, in Mr Hashim's words, "impacted severely on the Iraqi working class" and although they are determined to keep fighting for Iraqi workers' rights, they are appealing for support and solidarity from trade unions in Britain and elsewhere.
In response to questions asking what British trade unionists could do to help, Mr Hashim said that their most pressing needs are resources for training and education, which are "absolutely essential."
The Iraqi federation wants to create a workers' academy he said, explaining that this could be used to educate, train and develop a new generation of union leaders, organisers and activists.
UNISON deputy general secretary Keith Sonnett, who has visited Iraq with a TUC-organised delegation, suggested that unions could provide language training and that branches and regions could set up "twinning" arrangements with their Iraqi equivalents.
People's Weekly World Newspaper: June 25, 2005
Author: Susan Webb
Six Iraqi union leaders touring the U.S. this week called for an end to the U.S. occupation and expressed hope that American workers would support their efforts to protect Iraqi workers’ rights and defeat privatization. U.S. Labor Against the War sponsored the 17-day, 25-city tour by the representatives of three major labor organizations in Iraq.
The delegation met with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney June 14. Earlier, they met with the AFL-CIO’s international affairs staff and were guests at a brown-bag lunch the federation hosted. The AFL-CIO has invited the three Iraqi labor groups to attend its convention in July.
The Iraqi unionists also met with Communication Workers President Morton Bahr and with top Service Employees union officials.
On Capitol Hill, the delegation spoke at a congressional briefing sponsored by Democratic Reps. Sam Farr, John Conyers Jr., Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, Dennis Kucinich and Jesse Jackson Jr.
At a Washington press conference, Faleh Abbood Umara, general secretary of the Basra-based General Union of Oil Employees, said the U.S. occupation aims “to manipulate and control the Iraqi economy in the interests of the American government. We will oppose it all the way.”
Adnan A. Rashed, executive officer of the Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metals Workers, representing the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, said, “In the Iraqi labor movement, we made it clear that change through war will produce complex issues and not bring democracy.” Addressing the U.S. labor movement, he said, “We expect you to put pressure on your own government, added to what we are doing, to get rid of the occupation forces.”
Falah Alwan, president of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq, noted that, with unemployment as high as 70 percent in Iraq and steep wage and benefit cuts imposed by the U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority, the employers’ strongest weapon against workers seeking to organize is to threaten them with replacement by the unemployed.
A key demand is revocation of Saddam Hussein’s 1987 law barring unionization of the public sector, which still includes most of the Iraqi economy, notably the oil industry, as well as anti-labor edicts issued by U.S. occupation boss, Paul Bremer. The unions want a labor code drafted by the unions themselves.
Gene Bruskin, a USLAW co-convener, said an emotional high point in Washington was a gathering at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, a largely African American church, whose minister, the Rev. Graylan Hagler, is an outspoken peace and social justice advocate. Moved by Hagler’s remarks, the Iraqi labor leaders jumped up with tears in their eyes and hugged him.
In New York, a labor breakfast June 17 with 50 U.S. trade unionists was followed by a meeting with religious and community leaders hosted by United for Peace and Justice, and an evening panel with 250 union and peace activists. The IFTU’s Rashed said the U.S. occupation has brought “the destruction of the Iraqi infrastructure, Iraqi institutions, civil service and the whole fabric of society.”
“The Iraqi people have all the resources, qualities, education, expertise to rebuild Iraq,” he said. “We will not accept the hegemony of a foreign power.”
The IFTU includes 12 unions in 15 provinces and three unions in Iraqi Kurdistan. Besides ending the occupation, Rashad said, “Our three economic fronts are to confront all privatization, the introduction of market economy and the intervention of international institutions like the World Bank.”
In Chicago, Alwan and Amjad Ali Aljawhry of the FWCUI told a June 17 meeting of some 200 labor and peace activists hosted by UNITE HERE that the Iraqi labor movement “has its own alternative” to the occupation. “We are establishing a new labor tradition,” Alwan said. “I will not exaggerate — this is the first time we are electing representatives and leaders. The tradition in Iraq was to have unions under total regime control.”
“In order to build a secular and progressive labor movement,” Alwan said, “we need the world labor movement to stand by us.” He urged an immediate end to the U.S. occupation as an important first step. The Iraqi unionists also spoke at Rainbow/PUSH the next morning.
In Berkeley, Calif., June 19, over 250 people at St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church heard Umara and GUOE President Hassan Juma’a Awad describe their struggle to regain union rights and conditions. Having reconstituted their union just 11 days after the U.S. takeover of Baghdad in April 2003, the GUOE defeated contracting firm KBR’s effort to take over the worksites they represent. KBR is a Halliburton subsidiary. A three-day strike in August 2003 won the workers a doubling of their wages. Despite the lack of official recognition, the union now has 23,000 members at 10 oil and gas companies.
The Iraqi unionists also spoke before three Bay Area central labor councils and at events organized by International Longshore and Warehouse Union locals.
USLAW’s Bruskin told the World the Iraqi labor delegation “captured the imagination of hundreds of trade unionists” who worked on the many events around the country. The tour “reached out beyond our usual audience,” he said, giving labor activism against the war “some real credibility.” A resolution opposing the occupation is expected to be presented at the upcoming AFL-CIO convention.
suewebb@pww.org
Mark Almberg, Marilyn Bechtel, Libero Della Piana and PAI news service contributed to this story.
The Washington Times:
By Alexandra Klaren
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Washington, DC, Jun. 9 (UPI) -- Iraqi labor leaders plan to meet with U.S. lawmakers and other officials to drum up support for greater workers' rights in Iraq, organizers say.
"This is a chance for people in the U.S., especially working people, to hear from Iraqis themselves about what they want to have happen with their country," David Bacon, a labor journalist and co-organizer of the tour, told United Press International. "Unions are a fundamental building block of Iraqi civil society and if Iraq is going to become a democratic country, trade unions must play a very important role in determining what direction that is."
The group, invited by U.S. Labor Against The War, a Washington-based non-governmental organization, arrives in Washington Friday to begin a June 10-24 national tour that takes them to 20 cities. Members from the Iraqi Federations of Trade Unions, the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq, and General Union of Oil Employees plan to meet with U.S. workers, union leaders, members of Congress and others to seek help for greater rights in Iraq.
"We have more resources than them," Bacon said. "They could use the help of U.S. unions and working people in terms of trying to change their status."
President Bush, in his 2004 State of the Union address, said he would send Congress a proposal to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy, a body created in 1983 to work with pro-democracy groups around the world through non-governmental efforts.
"I will send you (Congress) a proposal to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy, and to focus its new work on the development of free elections, and free markets, free press, and free labor unions in the Middle East," he said. "And above all, we will finish the historic work of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq, so those nations can light the way for others, and help transform a troubled part of the world."
Despite his statements, however, laws that prohibit labor organizing still exist in Iraq.
When the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority took over Iraq following the ouster of President Saddam Hussein in 2003, chief L. Paul Bremer implemented 100 orders that repealed a huge chunk of the Iraqi legal structure. Not on the list, however - as noted by Matthew Harwood in the April 2005 issue of the Washington Monthly -- was Saddam's 1987 Labor Code, which reclassified workers of large state enterprises, the majority of Iraqi workers, as civil servants, denying them the right to form unions in the public sector.
"Much of the CPA's effort in Baghdad was devoted to helping create a conservative's ideal state, complete with a 15-percent flat tax on individual and corporate income," Harwood wrote.
Gene Bruskin, a USLAW co-convener, said there was some language in the transitional law that says unions should have a right to organize, but there was no implementation.
"Iraq's economy is organized around basic industries that are publicly owned so if you have a clause in the transitional law that says that unions have a right to organize but public employees don't, it's a meaningless clause," he told UPI.
Iraqi labor leaders have made significant efforts in working with the U.N.-backed International Labor Organization to develop a new labor code that they hope will be a part of the new Iraqi constitution, which is still on the drawing board.
"I think it's broadly recognized by virtually every democratic leader and government and society in the world that you cannot have democracy without free trade unions," Bruskin said. "And so we think it's really important for people in the U.S. to hear directly from Iraqis, and these Iraqis in particular, because they represent secular, democratic, progressive voices."
Of almost equal concern to Iraqi workers is the issue of privatization. Later in his article, Harwood wrote, "Bremer's crew was so zealous that they tried, in September 2003, to privatize virtually the whole economy -- 200 state-owned firms."
Since the new Iraqi government has come to power, these ideas have found new life. According to the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Iraqi Industry Minister Mohammed Abdullah, following Iraq's new strategy to create a liberal free-market economy, recently drew up plans to partially privatize the majority of Iraq's 45 state-owned companies, including its lucrative oil sector.
Supporters of the minister's plan say it will help Iraq become a competitive economy.
"I think what they (the new Iraqi government) are talking about is opening up the economy to private investment of Iraqis and foreign investment in order to provide the capital for more rapid economic growth and that would benefit all Iraqis including Iraqi oil workers," James Phillips, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington think tank, told UPI.
The six Iraqi labor leaders who arrive in Washington Friday, say, however, the plan will lead to job losses as new private owners may seek to reduce labor costs by cutting the work force. They argue the money necessary to rebuild Iraq must come from the heart of the country's economy: the oil industry.
"Any funds for the reconstruction of Iraq, everything from schools and hospitals to rebuilding the industry itself, essentially has to be paid for out of that oil income," Bacon said. Privatization, he says, would be disadvantageous because "most of the oil would go to the multinationals rather than to the Iraqis."
14 Jun 2005
Reuters
By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - Iraqi trade unionists called on Tuesday for a bigger voice in Iraq where they said they were targeted for attacks by insurgents and intimidated by the U.S and Iraqi military.
Six leaders of the Iraqi trade union movement, who said they represent hundreds of thousands of workers in Iraq, are on a two-week visit to the United States to raise the profile of their groups.
"We need to get our voices heard and by coming to the United States we hope this will happen," said Adnan Rashed, executive officer of the Union of Mechanics, Printing and Metal Workers.
"We are trying so hard to organize workers and make our lives better," he said, adding he hoped the new Iraqi constitution would take workers' rights into account.
Brought to the United States by a group called U.S. Labor Against the War, which opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the union leaders also called for foreign forces to leave.
Speaking at a news conference translated from Arabic, the unionists said their attempts to mobilize workers were being thwarted by all sides -- from foreign companies working in Iraq to insurgents and the U.S. and Iraqi military.
Rashed said at least 10 of their unionists had been killed and tortured by insurgents and others were constantly harassed and intimidated for trying to mobilize workers.
Union offices have been shut down and raided, and eight activists were arrested by U.S. forces in 2003 and held for seven months until they were released, said Rashed.
"We have a very difficult time," said Rashed.
Falah Alwan of the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq, cited a case where a woman working at a grain silo was labeled mentally unstable for organizing protests.
Faleh Abbood Umara of the General Union of Oil Workers demanded that U.S. forces quit Iraq.
His union has actively opposed the use of U.S. companies in Iraq, such as Halliburton
The unionists are visiting 20 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, before returning to Iraq on June 26.
The Barre Montpelier Times Argus: Commentary
June 19, 2005
Adnan Rashed spent years in exile when labor unions were outlawed in his native Iraq. The 56-year-old was a prime mover in the Workers' Democratic Trade Union Movement, which was a giant thorn in the side of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Rashed returned home shortly after the end of Hussein's brutal regime — which murdered thousands of workers — and promptly got to work organizing fellow laborers. The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, on whose executive council he sits, is now 200,000 strong, with workers from all walks of Iraqi life.
It's an impressive accomplishment in an occupied country brutalized first by a madman dictator and now, for three years, by the ravages of war. Organizing labor in a country where 70 percent of the workforce is unemployed, and in which unions had been outlawed for nearly three decades, is a daunting task.
Rashed was in the United States last week to talk about what he and fellow workers face in Iraq.
But, more importantly, his planned visit to Vermont — he was expected to attend a potluck supper in Montpelier on Saturday night — should give us pause about the state of labor worldwide and about the delicate thread by which most of the world's workers hang onto a sustainable livelihood.
"The state of labor has only gotten worse," said Dawn Stanger, vice president of the Vermont Workers' Center, a member of the Teamsters union and a 16-year employee of United Parcel Service. "Someone else has used the line, 'trade unions are the canary in the coal mines.'"
And the canary is dying. In Iraq, the signs are obvious and not wholly unexpected.
According to Vermont Labor Against the War — the workers' center is part of the group — the war and occupation have brought on "the illegalization of their unions, the imminent threat of the privatization of most of the public sector by foreign corporations and a 70 percent unemployment rate."
The signs are obvious here, too. Union membership is at an all-time low in this country, driven in part by hard-line bargaining by multinational corporations who routinely decide that workers are expendable "assets."
Promised pensions are being yanked, wages are stagnant and government is increasingly hostile to workers.
A perfect example of that right here in Vermont is the recent fight over the elimination of an early retirement program that had been a part of the benefits package promised to full-time faculty at the Vermont State Colleges.
In addition to losing a retirement option — a disturbing and far-too-common trend in American businesses — the professors bore the brunt of name-calling by Gov. James Douglas.
He suggested that professors were receiving a too-generous benefit that was no longer affordable. He called them "big labor" and "special interests." And he excoriated their political benefactors for having the temerity to stand up to the eradication of worker security.
On a national level, the current political leadership is indifferent to labor most of the time, and, when it comes to issues such as wages, benefits and trade, it is downright hostile.
In Iraq, Rashed and his fellow workers are living under the shadow of Washington-forced economic and political policies that are not bringing stability or security to vast swaths of people.
To Stanger, Rashed should not be fighting against the interests of America and its multi-billion dollar corporations. She said, unions should be exploited for what they are best at fostering: a democratic lifting of their members' economic boats.
"I think we've given the troops in Iraq an impossible mission," Stanger said. "You can't push democracy, it has to rise from within. Trade unions are an effective way of doing that."
I think the reverse also is true. In America, ignoring the plight of workers can only serve to weaken our own democracy.
Darren Allen writes weekly about Vermont issues, people and events. You can reach him at darren.allen@timesargus.com.
Political Affairs Magazine: By Joel Wendland
6-17-05
Recent reports by two large trade union federations praised Iraqi workers for rebuilding their labor movement after the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime, in the face of war and terrorism, and in the face of anti-worker policies imposed by the occupying authorities and the governing coalition.
The first report was prepared by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the umbrella federation of British trade unions. It was written after a delegation of union leaders traveled to Iraq in March of this year.
Because of security concerns, the TUC delegation stayed in the northern Kurdish region. During the visit, the delegation met with a broad cross section of Kurdish and Iraqi unions and representatives of the main Kurdish political parties and government.
The delegation met with the leaderships of the Kurdish General Workers Syndicate Union in Dohuk, a large number of Kurdish white-collar unions/professional associations including the Teachers Union, the Chemists Union, doctors’, dentists’ and lawyers’ associations. The delegation also visited non-unionized fire fighters.
After this, the delegation met with the national leadership of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), the largest trade union federation in Iraq, as well as its local leaders from Mosul and Kirkuk who had traveled to Kurdistan.
TUC called for continuing to work with IFTU and urged international recognition of the Kurdish unions. TUC offered training programs for union leaders and rank and file members. The union also called for raising funds to aid the IFTU in opening offices, acquiring technology, and training purposes.
The report by the AFL-CIO came after a meeting with AFL-CIO head John Sweeney by a diverse group of Iraqi trade union leaders who have just launched a tour of the US.
The AFL-CIO, affiliated unions and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) are assisting Iraqi unions in building an effective union movement while trying to create a secure peace under very difficult and complicated circumstances.
The AFL-CIO reports that Iraqi unionists are fighting for labor laws that help workers organize and enable them to win good working conditions and better living standards. Iraq’s union leaders also plan to help ensure a bigger role in the economy and the union movement for working women, who make up 60 percent of the workforce.
Under harsh economic conditions, including an unemployment rate at 50 percent and widespread violence sometimes aimed at workers who are joining or organizing independent unions (such as IFTU), workers are struggling to dismantle the legacy of the Hussein dictatorship. This legacy includes a union movement that in the past served the interests of the dictatorship.
One of the main fights Iraqi unions are leading is to prevent privatization of Iraq’s oil industry. Iraqi workers are calling for solidarity with US workers and are asking for support for their efforts.
Neither report addressed the Iraqi labor movement’s strong opposition, with the leadership of the IFTU, to the occupation of their country by the US and the UK, as well as the violence that targets workers and other non-combatants that has torn their country apart since the US-led war began.
Neither report addressed in much detail the demand that workers in Iraq have made for a sovereign democratic state, a system that respects the diversity of Iraq’s religious constituencies, creates protections for civil rights and liberties, protects the basic social safety net, and institutionalizes worker rights.
For more information on Iraq's labor movement, its history and current activities and views, click here.
--Reach Joel Wendland at jwendland@politicalaffairs.net.
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 06/09/05 09:36
Iraqi trade union leaders from three union organizations will tour the U.S. from June 10-26 under the sponsorship of U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), a group composed of state labor federations, central labor councils and local unions.
The tour features representatives the Iraqi Federation of Labor (IFTU), General Union of Oil Employees–Basra (GUOE), and the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions of Iraq (FWCUI).
This will be the first opportunity to hear directly from Iraqis about the crisis conditions facing Iraq’s workers under the U.S. occupation. The trade unionists will speak about their struggles against the U.S.-corporate-inspired privatization drive and the occupation, and for a secular, democratic country that respects trade union rights.
The tour will begin with five days (June 10-15) in Washington, D.C., with a meeting with the national AFL-CIO leadership, a congressional briefing and a National Press Club event.
Tour events organized so far include meetings with labor bodies and public meetings. United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) is helping to organize these events. Local peace groups, faith-based organizations and community groups are also participating.
A preliminary schedule of the tour follows:
East Coast tour featuring the IFTU: Baltimore, June 15; New York City, June 16-17; Vermont, June 18-19; Boston, June 20-21; Hartford, Conn., June 22; Stony Brook, N.Y., June 23; Philadelphia, June 24.
Midwest and South (FWCUI): St. Paul, Minn., June 16; Chicago, June 17-18; Atlanta, June 18-19; New Orleans, June 18; Detroit, June 19; Madison, Wis., & Milwaukee, June 20; Pittsburgh, June 21; Buffalo, N.Y., June 22-23; Cleveland, June 24.
West Coast (GUOE): Los Angeles, June 16-18; San Francisco Bay Area, June 16 and June 19-21; Portland, June 22; Seattle, June 23.
To get the most up-to-date information about the events, visit USLAW’s web site, www.uslaboragainstwar.org.
The IFTU was invited to address the British TUC's South West regional conference held in Croyde Bay, Devon on 22-23 April 2005.
The IFTU repesentative joined a number of speakers including Jon Gray, Chair of the South West TUC, Andrew May, Director Equality South West and Frances O'Grady, the TUC Deputy General Secretary.
The IFTU International representative addressed conference on the morning of 23 April 2005 and gave two interview to BBC regional radio and a local newspaper.
IFTU address to the SW TUC Annual General Meeting, 22-23 April 2005:
"Most of you will, like me and my comrades in the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), have opposed the war. I don't regret doing so and I would do so again.
"I believed that the Iraqi people had other ways to overthrow Saddam Hussein's despicable fascist-type dictatorship.
"But things have changed for us Iraqis. Our new priorities are to keep Iraq intact (the risks of Iraq descending into civil war are still real), to build a strong independent and democratic trade union movement and to create a federal democratic and fully sovereign Iraq.
"The election at the end of January represented an historic breakthrough. 60 per cent of Iraq's population – 8.5 million people – went to the polls to elect a 275-member Transitional Assembly.
"Without intimidation, elections irregularities and incompetence, we would have seen an even higher turnout. But the bland expression 'went to the polls' hardly captures what happened on January 30 2005.
"Even as lines of voters were being blown up by homicidal bombers from the so-called 'resistance' they cast their ballot. One family saw their son blown up, did their duty to his body in the morning, and then insisted they vote in the afternoon in honour of his memory. These are the martyrs of the new Iraqi democracy.
"January 30 2005 was a triumph of democracy and the human sprit and humanity. Of course, the shadow of Saddam's brutal dictatorship is long. Iraq will not be transformed overnight. And now, after decades of repression, sanctions and war, we are now facing a terrorist network that actually targets trade unionists.
"A railway worker has been beheaded, his head placed on his stomach and prominently displayed. My friend and colleague, Hadi Saleh, the IFTU's International Secretary, was tortured and murdered, horribly, by remnants of Saddam's secret police. Rocket-propelled grenades have been fired at trade union headquarters.
"The international labour movement has risen as one to condemn the killing of Hadi and to extend the hand of solidarity to the IFTU. If Hadi had survived he would have been vindicated by the tremendous turnout at the elections.
"This election will enable Iraqis to move forward. Already the terrorists and ex-Saddam loyalists are in retreat. The great majority of Iraqis are battling for a new democratic, federal and united Iraq, governed by a secular constitution and the rule of law, parliamentary democracy and a proper separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and an independent judiciary.
"A new police force and army that are culturally different from Saddam's repressive apparatus are being trained and will be ready soon. They played a crucial role in providing security during the 30th January elections and should be commended. But the process of building new Iraqi security forces is slow. They are insufficiently trained and remain small in size. As yet they are incapable of taking full responsibility for securing Iraq’s large borders and protecting civilians and maintaining law and order. It is vital that efforts are redoubled until Iraq has security forces able to defend the country and the civilians. These forces must be beholden to no political party or individual but loyal only to the Iraqi constitution and its people.
"The political key to defeating sectarian violence is to develop a secular constitution that accommodates the aspirations of all Iraqis, including the Iraqi Kurds, for autonomy within a federal structure.
"Will Islam be the main source for the new constitution? Compromise must be reached here. Iraq has many other religious communities and discrimination against non-Muslims would be unjust.
"The success of Iraqi nation building also lies with the growth of civil society. Genuine democracy cannot be imposed from above but must be built from below, through a strong social movement composed of free political parties, non-governmental organisations, environmental agencies and free unions.
"Iraq's economy was abused by Saddam. Pulverised by his wars, bled by the consequent sanctions, devastated by the invasion of 2003, Iraq is crying out for emergency reconstruction. All sectors need rebuilding with foreign investment but national assets must remain publicly owned. We urgently need to diversify – 95 per cent of our income currently derives from oil.
"An emergency reconstruction of Iraq – a Plan for the people of Iraq – can kick start the economy, improve the quality of life of the people and dry-up the recruitment pool for extremists who feed on poverty. Such a Plan for Iraq would help cement the UN political structure put in place after the fall of Saddam with the aim of building a new, secure and democratic Iraq.
"Many Iraqi workers remain suspicious of the very term 'union', because of the repression they endured at the hands of Saddam's 'yellow unions' – part of the state machine of terror. To remedy this, the IFTU will commence a cultural project. A bus will function as a travelling theatre visiting workplaces and communities to promote the basic tenets of trade unionism and dismantle the culture of fear.
"Right now, the new unions have little or nothing. Some have buildings, but they are in severe disrepair after the war and subsequent looting. We need computers and fax machines.
"The TUC has launched an appeal for Iraqi unions and recently held a conference to boost solidarity and help us train our members and officers.
"The IFTU is an integral part of the international trade union movement and has received support from international federations as well as many British unions.
"Free trade unionism is growing in this more fertile political climate. The IFTU now represents 12 individual unions and has a membership of at least 200,000. The new and independent teachers' union has 75,000 members in Baghdad alone and 16 branches throughout Iraq. The Kurdistan Workers Syndicate Union has about 100,000 members. We all work together for a federal, democratic and secular Iraq.
"Perhaps most significantly to left-wing critics of the war, we are mobilising to persuade the incoming Assembly to enact a progressive labour code that will allow workers to challenge the economic occupation of our country.
"The IFTU recently led a successful strike of Hotel Workers in Baghdad. In Basra the IFTU led a solidarity march with students, male and female, who have been beaten by the Islamic hardliners for holding a picnic.
"Iraq is being reborn. The lengthy negotiations between the various parties eventually delivered a deal sharing out the key positions of the state. Hopes are high that a broadly based national government can be formed. This development would further attract those political groups, which initially boycotted the political process and the elections but are now looking to join in.
"Please do not be fooled by the news. There is still too much intimidation and violence – and not only against the IFTU - but the so-called "resistance" is increasingly withering and the majority of areas in Iraq are now secure.
"The UN should also take an active role in compelling neighbouring countries to guard their borders and to prevent the continued influx of foreign fundamentalist fighters into Iraq seeking to incite sectarian conflict.
"A strong labour movement is vital to our goal of rebuilding Iraq on the basis of social justice and unity. We desperately need the support of progressives around the world if basic social democratic and labour values are to take root in Iraq. Progressives desperately need an example of social democracy in the region. We need each other."
US Labor Against the War are publicising the following Appeal Statement launched following the brutal murder of Hadi Saleh (IFTU International Secretary) in Baghdad earlier this year.
Campaign for Peace and Democracy Statement Condemning Attacks on Iraqi Trade Unionists
Circulation began January 23, 2005. Please sign on.
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CPD's past statements have been widely publicized, and with your help we will also aim to publicize this statement as broadly as possible.
Thank you,
Joanne Landy, Thomas Harrison, Jennifer Scarlott, Co-Directors, CPD
OPPONENTS OF THE OCCUPATION CONDEMN ATTACKS ON IRAQI TRADE UNIONISTS
"We, who opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq and who call for an immediate end to the occupation of that country, are appalled by the torture and assassination in Baghdad on January 4, 2005 of Hadi Salih, International Officer of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). There are also disturbing reports of intimidation, death threats and murders targeting other IFTU members, trade unionists in general, and political activists."
"We utterly condemn the assassination of Hadi Salih. We call upon all sides in the conflict in Iraq to respect the rights of non-combatants as required by international law and to recognize the rights of workers to organize freely, without threat or harm, in trade unions of their own choosing in accordance with International Labor Organization (ILO) standards."
"We believe that the physical targeting of trade unionists is in no way politically or morally acceptable, even though we disagree strongly with the IFTU's support of UN Resolution 1546, which supports the U.S. military presence in Iraq. This resolution has been used by the Bush Administration to justify keeping U.S. troops in the country."
"We also oppose the victory of those elements of the resistance whose agenda is to impose a repressive, authoritarian regime on the Iraqi people, whether that regime is Baathist or theocratic-fundamentalist. We do not know whether such authoritarian elements have gained decisive control over the resistance to the U.S. forces and their Iraqi and international allies. We do know, however, that the continuing occupation of Iraq, which grows more brutal with every passing day, only strengthens these elements, increases their influence over the resistance and makes their ultimate victory more likely."
"We further oppose the occupation because it is part and parcel of an imperial U.S. foreign policy that shores up undemocratic regimes like those of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, gives one-sided support to Israel against the Palestinians, and promotes unjust, inequitable economic policies throughout the world. Not only in Iraq but throughout the Middle East and globally U.S. foreign and military policy either directly or indirectly subverts freedom and democracy."
For further information about the issue, please contact us at cpd@igc.org
US Labor Against the War (USLAW) strongly condemns the continued assassinations of Iraqi union leaders. On February 18, Ali Hassan Abd (Abu Fahad), was murdered. He was a leader of the Oil and Gas Workers Union at Baghdad's Al Doura refinery, an affiliate of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions. His assassination was especially brutal, as he was walking home with his young children when gunmen ran up and shot him.
About 100 trade unionists from Britain and Iraq attended a one-day conference on Monday 14 February organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) at its Congress House headquarters in London to discuss methods of building practical solidarity with Iraq’s growing trade union movement.
The conference’s opening plenary session was addressed by a range of leading international and British speakers, including Mr Walid Hamdan head of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Regional Office for Arab States, and Amaya Fernandez representative of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), Mr Harry Barnes MP and Mr Ghasib Hassan representing the Executive Committee of the IFTU.
Conference was chaired by TUC General Council member and NASUWT Honorary Treasurer, Sue Rogers who grew up in Kirkuk. UNISON Deputy General Secretary Keith Sonnet and Owen Tudor head of the TUC European and International Relations also addressed the conference.
After the plenary session conference was split into three workshops in which Iraqi trade unionists were able to have direct discussions with their British colleagues.
In addition to representatives of Iraqi union federations attending the conference (included the IFTU), the Kurdistan Workers Syndicate, the Iraqi Teachers Union, and the Iraqi Journalists' Union also sent representatives. There were also representatives from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the International Chemical, Energy & Mining Federation (ICEM) and the American Solidarity Center.
Among the Iraqi federations attending the TUC-hosted conference surprisingly was a representative of the General Federation of Iraqi Trade Unions (GFTU), the national trade union centre controlled by the former Saddamist dictatorship.
Many British unions sent delegates, including the CWU, PCS, Unison, GMB, Connect, NASUWT, NATFHE, T&GWU, FBU, Amicus, Prospect, NUJ, TSSA, NUT, RMT, and Community. In a least two cases, these unions were represented by their general secretaries (NATFHE and RMT).
The IFTU also held separate meetings with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), the National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA) at their respective headquarters.
The IFTU also addressed the West Midlands Regional Council of manufacturing union AMICUS at the union’s Birmingham Regional Office. A meeting with Harry Barnes Labour MP was held at the House of Commons.
As part of an effort to build support for and solidarity with the newly formed IFTU, Mr Hadi Ali the vice president and Abdullah Muhsin, its foreign representative visited Spain, Belgium and the UK.
Spain
Hadi Ali and Abdullah Muhsin participated in the 8th conference of the Confederacion Sindical Comisiones Obreas (CCOO) one of the two Main Spanish trade union confederations, from 20-25 April 2004 Madrid. The IFTU vice president addressed a meeting of 120 international trade union organizations from 60 countries.
The IFTU is very grateful to our Spanish colleagues for organizing a brief meeting with the second major Spanish confederacione, the Union Generale De Trabajadors (UGT). The IFTU delegation briefly met Mr. Manuel Bonmati , The International Secretary of the UGT.
The Spanish Labour Minister addressed the CCOO 8th conference and the Spanish Prime Minister phoned a message of support to the conference.
The IFTU delegation held a number of; meetings with various trade union organizations present at the 8th conference, including the Indian General Secretary of the Centre of Indian trade Unions Mr. P.R Krishnan and the International Secretary of the Federation of the Korean Trade Unions Mr Kang, Choong-Ho. Both trade union organizations invited the IFTU to visit their countries and meet with their trade union centres.
Italy
The IFTU delegation was invited to Italy from 26-29th April by the Confederacione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL) and the Federacione Impiegati Operais Metallugici Nationale (FIOM). The IFTU delegation held fruitful meetings with the International Secretary of the CGIL, Titti Di Salvo and the General Secretary of FIOM and its International Secretary Alesandra Mecozzi and the Diretor of CISL Lugi Cal the second major trade union confederation and Gabriele Stamegna from the international department of UIL, the third major trade union federation in Italy.
The IFTU also held talks with the Democrats of the Left (DS) International Secretary Marina Sereni MP who issued a supportive news release.
Belgium
The IFTU delegation then travelled to Brussels on the 30th of April and met Mr. Guy Ryder, the General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).
Mr Ryder pledged support and further co-operation.
Mr Ryder’s office has had arranged a meeting with Fred Higgs, the General Secretary of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Worker’s Unions (ICEM) and Jim Cafferson Director of the ICEM also in Brussels. Mr Higgs has invited four leaders of the Iraqi Oil and Gas Union to visit Brussels to examine further co-operation.
The IFTU delegates then met Jon Greenwald, the vice- president of the International Crisis Group.
Britain
The IFTU delegation visited Britain 13-18th May 2004 and held a meeting with the assistant General Secretary Kay Carberry of the TUC and several meetings with union leaders including Tony Donaghy, the President of the RMT, Paul Mackney and Paul Bennett of NATFHE.
Mr Hadi Ali the Vice President of the IFTU held a meeting with Harry Barnes Labour MP.
Mr Harry Barnes organized a highly successful meeting in the House of Commons for Mr Hadi Ali, the IFTU Vice-President. Mr Ali briefed cross party Parliamentarians and British journalists on the current political situation, the 30th June transfer of power to the Iraqis and the end of occupation and the progress of the IFTU. Representatives of the Foreign Office and the Labour attaché of the American Embassy were also present at the meeting.
Mr Ali and the IFTU delegation held a brief meeting with Mr Denis MacShane, Minister for Europe.
The IFTU was invited during March 2004 to address several regional TUC council meetings (Bath, Oxford, and Cambridge at which a £100 was donated by the Cambridge Council) and two Branch meeting of the T&G (the Parliamentary branch of the House of Commons which donated £300 and the 1/128 Branch which also donated £250). The IFTU also addressed the RMT Black and Ethnic Minority Conference on 16 March and on 30 March addressed the Haringey Trade Union Council, at which £110 was raised.
At all meetings the discussion focused on the experience of building unions and the process Iraqi trade unionsts went through for election to trade union committees. The role of women in the union and in the leadership of the union was also discussed. And the major issue facing the IFTU, apart from consolidation of the current structure and the lack of funds and resources such as premises, is to campaign for reducing unemployment by increasing job opportunities and for increasing the wages of Iraqi workers. The IFTU also wants to put an end to the acts of terrorism against Iraqi working people, especially the train and oil tanker drivers.
If your trade union wishes to have an IFTU speaker, see the 'contact details' part of our website.
Baghdad 7 March 2004
c/o Mechanics Union,
Baghdad,
Unity District 'al wahda'
Area 902
Street 12
House No 14
Greetings to all British women Trade Unionists and to delegates at the TUC Women's Conference
Dear Sisters,
We send our sincere good wishes and solidarity to all British women trade unionists on International Women's Day.
Women all over the world celebrate this international occasion as a spur to their struggles for social and economic rights.
For Iraqi women trade unionists, the key struggle is to build and strengthen the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). Strong and vibrant trade unionism is a crucial component of democracy.
For us it is also urgent to increase the participation of women at all levels within the Iraqi trade-union movement: locally, nationally and, of course, in the leadership, as well as in wider Iraqi society.
The IFTU, alongside other Iraqi women's organisations, has resisted attempts to curtail women's rights, and have won the repeal of Law 137 which would have abolished many women's rights, including those of education, the custody of their children, inheritance and the right to divorce
Our aim is to achieve a secular and democratic Iraq that will secure women's social, economic and political rights.
We look forward to your support and solidarity.
In solidarity,
Women's Committee,
IFTU
7 March 2004
The London-based representative of the IFTU held a briefing in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 24 March 2004 to update parliamentarians and media on three current issues:
Recognition of the new IFTU by international labour centres.
The signing of the new Iraqi Transitional Administrative Law.
The recent ICFTU led fact-finding mission to Iraq.
The meeting was addressed by Abdullah Muhsin who also held a highly successful meeting with TUC International Secretary Owen Tudor a day earlier.
The meeting was chaired by Harry Barnes MP and attended by Rob Marris MP and Kelvin Hopkins MP as well as Robert G. Smith for Ann Clwyd, the Prime Minister's human rights envoy to Iraq and Alan Lloyd, for Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock, John Crowley of the Daily Telegraph, Eric Lee of LabourStart, and Gary Kent. Apologies and support were received from several Labour and Conservative MPs, who were away on parliamentary business. Contact was later made with the BBC.
The meeting heard about the positive position of the IFTU with regard to the Iraqi Transitional Administrative Law. "This document, despite its drawbacks, offers a balanced system of governance, giving clear separation between the three state institutions, and it guarantees (in Article 13) the right to form and join a union and the right to strike. It also guarantees the role of women with the leadership of the state and its institutions." And it also recognized Iraq as a federal state.
The drawbacks include no mention of social welfare provision, nor the role of the U.N., nor the role of the occupation forces during the two-year transition.
Nevertheless, it is a truly radical document, Muhsin concluded.
Representatives of the Iraqi Federation of Workers' Trade Unions (IFTU)
held a highly successful briefing in the House of Commons on Wednesday
21st January to update parliamentarians on the current situation in
Iraq.
The meeting was addressed by Hadi Salih, the International Secretary of
the IFTU, during a two-day visit to the UK, which also included a
successful meeting with the TUC International Officer, Owen Tudor.
The meeting was chaired by Harry Barnes MP and attended by Lord Bill
Jordan (a former leader of the British AEEU engineering union), Alice
Mahon MP, Ernie Ross MP and Mark Todd MP, who is a parliamentary aide to
Baroness Symons, the Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for the
Middle East.
In addition, representatives of Ann Clwyd and the Association of
University Teachers were present for the detailed briefing.
Abdullah Muhsin, the IFTU representative in Britain was also present.
Apologies were given by several Labour and Conservative MPs on what was
a busy day in Parliament.
The meeting heard an outline of the history of Iraqi trades unionism,
how it was repressed under Saddam Hussein, its efforts to rebuild itself
as part of a new civil society in Iraq and the role of the yellow unions
set up by Saddam Hussein as well as discussion on the recent US raid on
its temporary headquarters in Baghdad.
All agreed that it was a highly informative meeting and expressed their
enthusiasm to help the Iraqi trade union movement to play a positive
role in the new society in that country