Iraqi CP demonstration in Basra

Basra .. Demonstration organized by the Communist Party
defends the rights of employees dismissed for political reasons

The provincial organization of the Iraqi Communist Party in Basra, in southern Iraq, staged a mass demonstration on Saturday 31 October 2009, demanding the rights of employees dismissed for political reasons under the former dictatorial regime. The demonstration was joined by hundreds of citizens and party supporters.

Tens of banners called for restoring the rights of people who had been dismissed from their jobs, that are guaranteed by the laws and legislations enacted by subsequent governments since April 2003.

The demonstrators shouted slogans calling for an end to the unjust measures taken by the so-called "Verification Committee" in the Prime Minister's Office by annulling previous decisions to reinstate former employees who had been dismissed for political reasons under the dictatorship. Thousands more such employees had their ranks or job titles unfairly demoted.
Demonstrators chanted: "We, the victims of the dictator.. shall not accept the return of injustice".

When the march reached the headquarters of Basra's provincial council, comrade Abass al-Jourani read out a memorandum from the provincial committee of the Iraqi Communist Party that took up the demands of thousands of employees who had been dismissed for political reasons. The memorandum, addressed to the Iraqi Parliament, referred to the injustice suffered by political activists as a result of the policies of the dictatorship under which Iraqis had languished for several decades. It stressed the need to put an end to all unjust and bureaucratic measures, and to assign the responsibility for this issue to people who give priority to addressing the grievances of the victims.