The government of Iraq should immediately investigate and bring to justice those responsible for a targeted campaign of intimidation and violence against Iraqi youth seen as belonging to the non-conformist “emo” subculture, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission said today. The attacks have created an atmosphere of terror among those who see themselves as potential victims. To read full report please click here: http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/iraq-investigate-emo-attacks-2012-03-16

حملة لإدانة جرائم قتل شباب – الايمو – في العراق

http://www.ahewar.org/camp/i.asp?id=339&ref=1#new

Breaking News

Center for Trade Union & Workers Services (CTUWS), February 29, 2012:

Misdemeanor court of Helwan sentenced in absentia, six months imprisonment on Kamal Abbas, CTUWS general coordinator, on February 26, 2012 in the case NO. 988 of the year 2012 (Misdemeanor of Helwan) for insult a public officer” – according to a referral decision – ” Ismail Ibrahim Fahmy is the Acting President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF)!, during his speech of the delegation of (ETUF), at  the Session No. 100 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). “

The sessions of the ILO witnessed on Thursday June 9, 2011 a serious confrontation between two Egyptian sides: the official Egyptian Trade Union Federation which belonged to the former regime on one side and both the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services and the Egyptian Independent Trade Union Federation on the other side. Kamal Abbas, the General Coordinator of CTUWS interrupted Ismail Fahmy the Acting President of ETUF while he was delivering his speech. Abbas expressed his rejection that the ETUF continues to represent the Egyptian workers.

CTUWS is Expressing its deep concern over the issuance of such a judgment for Kamal Abbas, CTUWS general coordinator, without any clear reason of the law, But declare its refusal to apply sanctions of imprisonment on the Egyptian citizens on the basis of legal materials worthy cancellation because of the violation freedom of expression and human rights, and contrary to the Egyptian Constitutional Declaration as it includes the Article No. 12 states that “freedom of opinion is guaranteed, and every one has the right to express his opinion and publish it either orally , written, photography or other means of expression within the limits of the law, and self-criticism and constructive criticism to ensure the safety of national construction”.

The CTUWS while intends to appeal the court ruling, they confirm continuing its struggle for the right of Egyptian workers in their effort of building Independent Trade Union Organizations. These Independent Trade Union Organizations which should not be headed by “public officers”, but workers leaders and trade unionists defending workers’ interests.

The Egyptian workers should have the right to choose their representatives who speak on their behalf .. CTUWS demands together with all democratic forces that defending freedom of expression to cancel sanctions that is restricting freedom of expression.

CTUWS is calling for these democratic forces for solidarity to face the fierce war which launched by the regime officers.

###

Falah Al Yasiri, Director General of the Legal Department at the ministry attended the meeting as well.

The meeting discussed the latest trade unions developments and the wiliness of the GFIW to hold fair and open workers trade unions elections.

The Minister stressed on the importance of trade unions independence and on non governmental interference. He said the sole role of the government –and its institutions– is to assist unions to hold workers elections within the next four months. He stressed non government interference in workers elections.  

The GFIW delegation emphasised on trade unions independence and its readiness to organize workers trade unions elections according to International Labour Organization standards that are free from narrow partisan gain by any political party.

The meeting also discussed the current draft labour law which fails to comply with international Labour Organization standards and in practically, the rights of public sector workers to trade union representations. Both agreed to coordinate efforts to apply pressure on the Parliament to modify the Draft in order to allow public sector workers the rights to organize and join unions. Both agreed to hold further joint consultation and coordination meetings for the preparation of workers elections and for monitoring the progress of current draft labour law.  

The GFIW delegation had—earlier on the same day- met Khalid Shwani, the Parliament Head of the Legal Committee and informed him of the GFIW concerns over the current Labour Law Draft which will be presented to Parliament, soon, for debate and adoption.

The GFIW delegation stressed that parliament should debate the original draft labour law that was submitted by the Council of Shwara and not the one submitted by the Council of Ministers to Parliament. The council of Minister had modified the council of Shwra’s draft by removing key article that allows public sector workers the right to organize.  The GFIW called on Parliament to abolish labour resolution 150 of 1987.

Mr Shwani, the Parliament Head of the Legal Committee, promised to inform Parliament of the GFIW concerns when the draft labour is debated.

The GFIW delegation previously had met Member of Parliament Yonadim Kana, the Head of Parliament Labour and Social Affairs Committee to discuss the current draft labour law and to inform him of the GFIW concerns about it.

Mr. Kana expressed his full understanding of the rights of working people to join trade union organizations including public sector workers according to the Iraqi constitution and international standards.  

GFIW

Baghdad

February 1 2012

www.iraqitradeunions.org

g_f_i_w@yahoo.com

Fax + 1516704200

Tahrir SQ. Al Rasheed Street. Baghdad Iraq

You are aware of the national political crisis our country is experiencing, which is considered to be deeper and more profound than recent past crises, as it is gravely endangering the post-2003 national political process.  

In order for the GFIW to do its share and work with rest of Iraqis to ward off this dangerous threat, our GFIW must be united and strong; led by competent, sincere and principled trade unionists with high integrity, grassroots credentials who are deeply imbedded in democratic trade union struggles for workers’ rights and justice and independence from the hegemony of post-2003 governments and political parties. 

However, a number of GFIW leaders who sit as executive members, and as leaders of the GFIW branches and national private sector unions, do not adhere to or abide by democratic trade union values such as openness, independence and transparency and workers’ unity, but instead they employ covert methods of forgery such as falsifying workers elections; bribery and intimidation including threats. These violations were evident at the GFIW National Council Meeting on 18 January 2012.

We had called repeatedly for convening this National Council Meeting with the aim of addressing internal democratic deficits so as to move forward united, but those calls fell on deaf ears. However, despite our suspicion of government interference in the planning and timing of the 18^th January National Council Meeting, we agreed to join and take active part in it.  The stealth unwritten agenda of the meeting was cooked and prepared in advance by the then acting president of the GFIW with help of outside dominant political forces in government without prior knowledge of the whole leadership of the GFIW.

Your brothers and sisters whom you trusted to lead you over the last nine years pledge to carry on the struggle to clean up our trade union movement, the GFIW, from all impurities, and promise to defend unions’ democracy and independence, and above all stand firmly by workers’ interests. 

We affirm our commitment to conduct fair, genuine and transparent workers’ elections based on democratic rules and procedures.        

O Working People,

The GFIW is keen to keep you informed about grave trade union violations and wrong internal unions’ procedures conducted by some members of the GFIW leadership under the supervision of dominants elements within the government.  These flagrant trade unions violations were repeated at the GFIW National Council meeting on 18^th January 2012. We detail the following violations:

1-    Deliberate exclusion of GFIW executive members and regional offices in the preparation and setting of the agenda of the national meeting. The meeting had no progress report. If such a report was presented which should have been done by normal standard, then it should have detailed last year GFIW work which includes grave trade union violations that the GFIW experienced April-May 2011 at the hands of some of its executives when they falsified workers’ elections under the direction and auspices of a dominant elements within the government.   

2-    Brother Uday Rashid, the president of the Textile and leather products union was prevented and denied the right to enter the meeting. Brother Ali Shamkhi, the President of the Mechanic Workers Union was also prevented from joining the meeting. Two unknown persons were brought in to take the seats of the above two union presidents. It is worth noting that the above-mentioned two have been very outspoken in expressing their views about government interference.  When the meeting was challenged about these grave violations, no explanation was provided. 

           None of the public sector unions were invited.  

3-    Brother Saad Jassim, vice president of the GFIW in Maysan Province, was prevented from entering the meeting hall and instead an unknown person with no previous trade unions credentials was brought in to take his place instead.

4-    Mr Jabar Denbos was invited to attend the National Council meeting without the approval or knowledge of the whole GFIW leadership. Mr Denbos had previously been dismissed from his executive post because he had physically attacked the president of the Construction and Wood Workers Union who openly opposed the falsification of workers’ elections by government stooges in the executive of the GFIW.

5-    The inappropriate behavior and bad practices of the Chairperson of the meeting who appointed himself to post; refused to allow the meeting to appoint delegates to organize names of speakers and issues of debates; decided who speaks and who does not, controlled who enters the meeting and who is not allowed to enter. In simple words, he followed and executed the scenario planned by his political official master.

6-    Five security (officials) were employed for the day who exercised total control over who is allowed to enter the meeting and who is not allowed, executing the chairperson’s desire and his political masters.

7-    Inaccuracies in the process of sorting and counting of election results meant that final results were wrong.

Sisters and Brothers,

At this difficult stage which our trade union movement is experiencing, we pledge to you [workers of Iraq] that we shall carry out our professional and moral duties in building a united and strong trade union movement capable of defending workers’ interests in Iraq.  A movement that leads the struggle from the front for democratic trade union values such as transparency, independence and above all serving the interests of workers.

Due to the violations conducted before and during 18^th January 2012 meeting, we, members of the 18^th January national meeting of the GFIW (members of the executive, delegates of the unions and GFIW regional centers) reject the results and deliberations of the 18^th January National Council Meeting due to the suspicious planning and executing of the meeting.

We shall continue to expose trade unions violations and work to cleanse our movement from abusers and continue to expose, isolate and dismiss elements that were imposed forcibly to lead the movement. We emphasis on the importance of speeding up the preparations to hold democratic trade unions elections free from forgery. 

No to the falsification and distortion of the will of Iraqi workers. No to the tampering in Iraqi unions.

Long Live Workers’ Unity, the guarantee to secure legitimate workers rights.

GFIW

Baghdad, 25 January 2012

Tahrir Sq. Al rasheed Street. Baghdad, Iraq,

Email: g­_f_i­_w@yahoo.com

Website: www.iraqitradeunions.org

Fax: +1516704200

Tels: 8173030–    8153829 —  8153825– 8153817