Iraqi Letter

Iraqi CP statement on Evacuation Day - 31 December 2011

2012-01-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

Statement of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party:

Evacuation Day is Triumph of People’s Will along the Path towards Complete National Independence and Sovereignty

Today, 31^st December 2011, marks the evacuation of the last American soldier from the territories of our country in accordance with the agreement on the withdrawal of military forces signed between the Iraqi government and the U.S. government. This big and important event comes as an embodiment of the will of our people and the struggle of their national forces and organizations, along with the Iraqi Communist Party, against the invasion and war and for the departure of all foreign occupation forces from our territories, the restoration of sovereignty and independence, and the eradication of the heavy legacy and consequences of occupation.

The withdrawal of foreign forces constitutes a prominent national landmark in the life of our people, and an achievement of great importance and significance along the path of consolidating national sovereignty and exercising full control by Iraq over its resources, waters and airspace. It also opens the path wide towards complete sovereignty by removing our country from the provisions of articles of Chapter VII of the UN Charter and its restrictions, which constitutes a violation of national sovereignty and is totally unjust to our people because it is no longer justified. It also paves the way forward towards abolishing the remaining penalties and heavy obligations that were imposed on our country by more than 30 UN Security Council resolutions after the invasion of Kuwait by the Saddam’s dictatorial regime.

This historic achievement by the Iraqi national will could not have been possible without the combined efforts of the national forces, and the unification of their positions on official and popular levels in demanding an end to the presence of foreign forces on the territories of our country. It is also a fruit of the patience of the masses of our people, and their steadfastness and sacrifices. What has been achieved today is truly the triumph of the positions of the national forces of all tendencies, and for policies that coincide with the interests of the people and safeguard their lives. Those positions and policies had called for and worked to remove the occupiers and force them to withdraw their troops, by resorting to all the diverse options and possibilities of peaceful mass and political struggle which were provided by the atmosphere of public freedoms after the fall of the dictatorial regime.

The withdrawal of foreign forces puts the government, and its military and security institutions in particular, in front of new and grave responsibilities, to achieve full readiness and training, consolidate their reconstruction on the basis of the principle of citizenship, efficiency and fidelity to the new Iraq and respect for the Constitution, away from the practice of sectarian "balance", power-sharing and narrow regional and partisan tendencies. However, achieving and maintaining full sovereignty and seizing complete independence of Iraqi national decision-making, in the face of external pressures and interference, requires the strengthening of national unity and consolidating the process of building a democratic civil state on the basis of citizenship and respect for human rights.

These big historical challenges have put all the national forces participating in the political process, and those forces that dominate political power in particular, to a serious test, requiring them to enhance their sense of responsibility towards the destiny of the people and the homeland, by overcoming factionalism, sectarianism, and narrow partisan calculations, and abandoning the policy of competing to share the positions of influence and the spoils which is rejected by the masses of the people.

Unfortunately, the policies and positions of the blocs that are dominating political power at this stage have exposed them, in front of the masses of people as well as their own constituents, as being determined to behave in a strange irresponsible manner. They have been shown to be unconcerned about drawing lessons and averting dangerous consequences that may be caused by their rivalries and disputes.

Instead of thinking about the need for all the participants in the political process to sit at one table to deliberate and discuss the obligations of the post-occupation phase and the mechanisms and tools for its administration, accusations have escalated between the forces that are in control of power and the political situation has exploded once again. It is, this time, a dangerous crisis between the two biggest blocs in the government and parliament, the Iraqiya and the State of Law. A climate of escalating sectarian and regional tensions has developed, with widespread fear and anticipation among all citizens. The fate of the country has once again been held hostage to the conflict between these two blocs and their bickering.

This new reality has revived evil plans of terrorist forces, and provided them with a convenient opportunity to commit a new heinous crime on Thursday, 22^nd December 2011, with hundreds of people killed and wounded.

The present dangerous situation in Iraq has impelled the living forces of society and the parties and personalities that are concerned for the fate of the country, including the Iraqi Communist Party, to speak out to condemn this dangerous game, reaffirming their calls upon the competing parties to realize the gravity of the situation into which they are pushing the country. They have called for starting a national dialogue that includes all the participants in the political process in order to prepare for a broad National Conference which would diffuse the current crisis, correct the path of the political process, and formulate a concrete joint program of action that emphasizes the common national positions among political forces and serves as a road map that is binding on everyone for running the country during the current phase. This conference would also develop real mechanisms for national partnership in government, away from the infamous sectarian-ethnic power-sharing policy.

In this regard, our Party calls upon all political forces and parties, which are concerned for the fate of Iraq and the future of its people, to respond favorably to the sincere calls that have emanated recently from many political and governmental quarters and reflected the desire of broad masses of our people, which have called for everyone to sit at one table and engage in mutual dialogue to diffuse the ongoing crises, search for an effective solution to the current crisis, and save our country from the unknown fate into which it may slide.

Central Committee

Iraqi Communist Party

31^st December 2011

Iraqi Communists celebrate Evacuation Day

2012-01-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

Iraqi Communists' mass rally in Baghdad to celebrate Evacuation Day

Iraqi Communists celebrated the Evacuation Day on 31^st December 2011, marking the departure of American occupation forces from Iraq. A big rally was held in the party headquarters, in Andulus Square in central Baghdad.

The party leader, Comrade Hameed Majid Mousa, addressed the rally, congratulating all Iraqis on this national day, and also extended best wishes for the New Year.

The statement issued by the Central Committee of the party on Evacuation Day was read out by CC member, comrade Ayoub abdul-Wahab.

The program of the event included poetry recital by the well-known poet Nadhem al-Samawi, and also the popular poets Mohammed al-Ezerjawi and Basim al-Dulaimi.

Hundreds of people, who could not get into the main hall, gathered outside the party headquarters, around the statue of the party leader Salam Adel who had been martyred in the fascist coup in February 1963. They were greeted by comrade Mousa as they celebrated the occasion by chanting slogans and waving Iraqi flags.

New Year greetings -- 2012

2012-01-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

Iraqi Communist Party .. Statement on criminal bombings in Baghdad on Thursday 22 Dec. 2011

2011-12-22T15:17:00.000-08:00

Statement of the Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party:

More innocent victims and bloodshed are the price

of policies of ruling political blocs and their infighting

22 December 2011

Our people have once again paid the price for the crimes of terrorists who exploit the unprincipled power grab of political leaders and their infighting. Baghdad and its inhabitants have been terrorized by a series of cowardly bombings that have targeted several areas of the capital today, killing and wounding hundreds of innocent people, in addition to considerable material damage inflicted on the houses of citizens, their shops and other property. These criminal acts, carried out by the remnants of the former regime and their allies, remnants of Al Qaeda and other religious extremists - the enemies of the people, freedom and democracy - have been timed to coincide with the precarious conditions experienced by our country as a result of the grave crisis which the political and security situation has descended to during the past few days, and the intensifying conflict between the leaders of the Iraqiya bloc and the Rule of Law bloc, which has taken a dangerous new turn.
Iraqi patriotic forces, along with millions of our people and also the Iraqi Communist Party, have for years been warning the leaders of the ruling political blocs to stop playing with fire, disregarding the fate of the homeland and the blood of its citizens, and sacrificing them on the altar of their narrow differences and selfishness and their endless fight over the spoils of power.
The Iraqi Communist Party, while condemning the crime that has taken place today 22nd December, and calling for firm punishment of the criminal perpetrators, holds the leaders of the competing political blocs responsible for the deterioration and bloody breaches of security that have occurred this morning in the streets and areas of Baghdad. It also appeals to everyone to heed the voice of reason and rise to the challenge of the grave events that no longer only threaten the fate of the political process, but also threaten the fate of the Iraqi people and homeland and their future. We call upon the masses of our people and the conscious forces to close their ranks and support the armed and security forces in tracking down the terrorist criminals.
These serious developments stress the importance of responding to the sincere calls, and the urgent need, for an all-inclusive National Conference that encompasses all the forces and parties involved in the political process. The convening of this conference should be expedited in order to put an end to the continuous deterioration experienced by the country, and to ensure that it is led to safety through the national program of action that is binding on all.
The danger threatening the country is escalating and there is no time to waste.
We express our sympathy to the families of the victims and our sincere wishes for the recovery of the wounded and injured.

Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party

2011-12-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party

Thursday, December 22 2011 22:06

The Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party held its regular meeting on Friday 9th December 2011. The meeting opened with a minute of silence in memory of comrades and friends who have passed away, and the martyrs of the people who were victims of cowardly acts of terrorism. The Central Committee considered at the meeting the work of the party since its previous meeting on 20th May 2011. In this respect, there was a lively discussion about the performance of the party leadership, specialized committees and party organizations, as well as the outcome of the deliberations of the Advisory Council.
The meeting praised achievements in various fields of party work, and adopted a set of guidelines and actions aimed at further development and enhancement of the performance of the party, and building mass party organizations. It emphasized the need for paying attention to protest and mass movements and popular demands, and defending people's rights and their just causes.
The meeting considered the developments of the political situation in the country, and the multi-faceted crisis, especially the growing crisis of governance, and the atmosphere of mistrust between the political blocs and their fight for power and influence, which is inflicting heavy damage on Iraq’s present and future. This coincides with the imminent full withdrawal of U.S. forces from our country, which we regard a major victory for the will of our people and their aspiration to regain full sovereignty, including ridding the country from the shackles of Chapter VII.
These developments also coincide with the continued struggle of the masses in many Arab countries for democratic change and social justice, and to preserve what has been achieved in some of them and avert the dangers that threaten it.
The Central Committee meeting discussed the ways out of the current crisis in our country, and considered the various initiatives taken by the party and its call for genuine, realistic, peaceful and constitutional solutions to the crisis. This includes the need for all the forces participating in the political process, both those represented in the legislative and executive powers and those not represented, to undertake a serious review of the process, with the aim of reforming it, especially by eliminating the sectarian and ethnic power-sharing system, on which that process was set up, and putting it on sound track which leads to building a civil democratic and federal state, based on the rule of law and institutions that guarantee constitutional rights and freedoms; the state of the citizen and citizenship.
The meeting stressed the need to launch a comprehensive national dialogue, leading to a national conference that lays the foundation to address the current issues, especially those directly affecting the lives of the people, and to chart a joint approach to tackle the crisis of the political system by adopting a joint National Action Charter which everybody should adhere to and implement.
The meeting also stressed the need to act as soon as possible to prepare for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, whether normal or early elections which we consider to be one of the ways out of the political crisis. This requires the enactment of a modern democratic law for political parties, and an election law which eliminates the undemocratic amendments that were previously introduced and also to consider Iraq as a single electoral district. In addition, a new council for the Electoral Commission needs to be set up and a public census must be conducted.
The Central Committee meeting considered the important event of the founding conference of the Democrat Current that was held in October 2011. It underlined the need to continue the efforts to mobilize the forces of this Current, expand its ranks and relations, promote its work and diversify its activities, and open up to the democratic forces and personalities that share its values and objectives as well as its quest for a civil democratic state and achieving social justice.
The meeting called upon the authorities, both legislative and executive, to address the people's issues and their problems of living, to improve the services, address all the outstanding issues, speed up the legislation of laws, activate the supervisory role of the Parliament, improve the performance of state institutions, meet the needs of citizens, combat financial and administrative corruption, and create the atmosphere and prerequisites for the judicial and legislative bodies to perform their required role in an impartial and professional manner, away from the political disputes between the ruling blocs.
The meeting considered at the preparations by the party, and its members and organizations, for holding its 9th National Congress. It endorsed the report on election of Congress delegates and adopted additional measures to complete these preparations.
The meeting also discussed the draft political report to be submitted to the Congress, proposing amendments and additions, and then approved it as a draft for public discussion. It also approved two draft documents of the party program and inner- party rules. Many other measures and decisions were taken relating to the holding of the Congress and providing the prerequisites for its success.
In conclusion, the Central Committee called upon the party organizations and comrades to raise the level of work and achievement, and to culminate all this by holding the 9th National Congress of the party, to be another milestone along the path to enhance the role of the party in political life, and its effective contribution to shaping the course of development of our country, at present and in future.

Video - Marquee of "Tareeq Al-Shaab" - Iraqi CP's newspaper at L'Humanite Festival

2011-09-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Video

http://www.youtube.com/user/iraqicp#p/a/u/0/lYYzDj7Vew0

Marquee of "Tareeq Al-Shaab" - Iraqi CP's newspaper
at L'Humanite Festival

(16-18 September 2011)

Photos .. mass demonstration by democratic forces in Baghdad on 9th Sept. 2011‏

2011-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Photos of mass demonstration by democratic forces in Baghdad (Liberation Square) on Friday 9th Sept. 2011‏

http://www.media.iraqicp.com/images/stories/foto/albqaa/albqaa.html

Iraqi CP: Serious Shortcomings in the Draft Law on Political Parties

2011-08-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Editorial of “Tareeq Al-Shaab”, the daily newspaper of the Iraqi Communist Party

18^th August 2011

Serious Shortcomings in the Draft Law on Political Parties
Require Radical Remedy

The Iraqi parliament, in its session on 1^st August 2011, ended the first reading of the draft law on political parties submitted by the government. The draft law, which has been long-awaited, is regarded as a step in the right direction, as well as stipulating a number of proper democratic principles for setting up and financing parties, and including an emphasis on the adoption of the principle of citizenship as the basis for party formation. But the draft law has triggered a lot of controversy on many of its clauses which have contained serious shortcomings. These shortcomings are considered by some politicians and legal experts as a grave violation of the Constitution in the area of freedoms, amounting to a restriction of these freedoms, and an effort to legitimize blatant interference by the executive branch in the affairs of party life and violating their independence.

The parties are a means to develop political life and organize society, and to raise awareness and enable citizens to participate actively in the management of their affairs. Parties reflect the interests and visions of social classes and strata, and, given the multiplicity and diversity of these interests, parties and pluralism are an objective condition of society, and their political expressions should be respected, maintained and organized democratically. There can be no democracy and no parliamentary democracy without political parties, as they constitute one of the pillars of the democratic system.

The absence of a law for political parties in the past, especially since the adoption of the Constitution in 2005, has been a major shortcoming in the political process and the electoral system. The very serious consequences of this were clearly demonstrated in parliamentary elections, the last of which took place in March 2010 and were marred by grave violations and abuses, which included the absence of controls for the financing of parties. The absence of this law, in addition to other well-known factors, has contributed to emptying the electoral process of its democratic content and imposing the hegemony of the ruling forces, and thus consolidating the hated sectarian and ethnic power-sharing as the basis for the ruling system and deepening its crisis, for which our people have suffered and paid dearly.

Obviously, then, our people have been looking forward to the enactment of a law of parties that would be democratic and not restrictive of freedoms. They have looked forward to a law that would be sober, balanced and neutral, rather than being biased in favor of the ruling forces, safeguarding the interests of the ruling groups and guaranteeing the perpetuation of their hegemony, tightening their grip on political power against the will of the people.

The law that people look forward to should also be a catalyst for the formation of parties, instead of creating obstacles and hindering their proper role in ensuring the widest participation of citizens in political life and achieving the people’s legitimate aspirations. According to jurisprudence, the law should have the following features: it should ensure transparency, independence and freedom, justice and equality, with clarity, conciseness and simplicity.

So, do these features and standards exist in the draft law of parties that was approved by the government and submitted to the parliament?

The most serious issue in the draft law is in Article 2/III, and Article 19/II, which stipulate the formation of the so-called "Department of Political Parties", which belongs to the Ministry of Justice and is headed by an official with the position of director-general!

A quick look at the powers entrusted to this department of the Ministry of Justice reveals the extent of blatant interference that the government would practice in the affairs of political parties in the event the draft law is passed in its current form.

The setting up of such a "department" of the Ministry of Justice would enable the executive branch to interfere in party life and violate democratic rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution. It would mean effectively making the government act as a “controller” over parties and their political activity.

Things do not end here. This "department" and its powers are part of a legislative-procedural system that violates the criteria we have mentioned above which are supposed to be present in any democratic law of parties. The "fingerprints" of the government are evident in the articles and clauses of this draft law, in the following fields:

Specifying the Administrative Judiciary Court as the body that grants the license for founding parties. It is controlled by the executive power.
Broad interference in the internal organization of parties and violation of their rights. Article 32/II constitutes a violation of the principles of freedom and independence. According to the formulations of the law, the rights of parties to decide their own internal systems are usurped by the executive branch. The articles of the draft law, in more than one place, allow the possibility of the executive power withholding the license of a party or suspending its activity.
According to the draft law, principles in a party program that are determined to be identical to those of other parties, and cannot be distinguished from them, are considered a reason not to grant it a license (Article 8/II). In the absence of standards and grounds for such distinguishing, this text would be subject to contradictory interpretations.
Suspending the activity of any party can be done through a report prepared and submitted by an employee in the "Department of Parties."

We must also draw attention to the excessively punitive nature of the draft law, as evident in the "Penal Provisions" in Chapter 10.

There are also vague and confusing formulations, and others that are open to interpretation, in the draft law.

Article 5/II, which stipulates that a party cannot be founded on the basis of "... sectarian, ethnic or nationalist intolerance," does not explain how this intolerance is interpreted and measured. This article also does not mention religious intolerance.

These concise comments on the draft law of political parties do not address all its shortcomings, but have sought to highlight the most important and most serious, those that constitute a grave violation of the freedoms and democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution, in order that they are speedily dealt with in a radical manner to ensure the enactment of a democratic law of parties.

In order to achieve this goal, we reaffirm the need for all the forces of our people - and for researchers, specialists and civil society organizations that are concerned about upholding the rights and freedoms of citizens, without discrimination, and establishing the foundations of a modern democratic civil state - to expedite the submission of their views and comments on the draft law of parties, and for the parliament to deal seriously with what is submitted to it, whether by political parties and blocs represented in parliament or from outside the parliament.

Candlelight Vigil in Baghdad on 3rd anniversary of assassination of Kamel Shiaa

2011-08-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.media.iraqicp.com/images/stories/foto/kamil3/kamil3.html

Candlelight Vigil in Baghdad on 3^rd anniversary

of assassination of Kamel Shiaa

Two hundred people joined a candlelight vigil held in Kahramana square in central Baghdad, on Tuesday evening 23^rd August 2011, to honor the memory of the prominent Iraqi intellectual and communist Kamel Shiaa, who was cowardly assassinated in Baghdad on 23^rd August 2008.

Participants in the vigil, organized by the February Youth Movement, carried posters of Kamel Shiaa and banners calling upon the authorities to declare the results of their investigation into the crime, reveal the identity of the perpetrators and those who planned it, and to bring them to justice.

The event was attended by many intellectuals, representatives of civil society organizations and media people.

http://www.media.iraqicp.com/images/stories/foto/kamil3/kamil3.html

Mass march in Baghdad on anniversary of 14th July 1958 Revolution

2011-07-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Mass march in Baghdad by Democratic Current

on anniversary of 14^th July 1958 Revolution

Despite soaring temperatures in Baghdad’s hot summer, thousands of people marched in the Iraqi capital yesterday to celebrate to the 53^rd anniversary of the 14^th July 1958 Revolution that toppled the monarchy, established the Republic and ushered in significant national democratic transformations.

The march was organized by the Democratic Current with active participation of the Iraqi Communist Party and various democratic organizations and movements.

The march began in Firdos Square and moved towards Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, which has been the focus of popular protests in recent months. The march was warmly welcomed by passers-by and shop owners in Saadoun Street and Liberation Square. The occasion was marked by a festive atmosphere, with marchers raising flags of the 14^th July 1958 flag and emblem of the Republic. At Tahrir Square, a speech was delivered by the Democratic Current, followed by poems and songs presented by the February Youth Movement. Trophies were also handed to winners of a sprint event for youths that was organized to celebrate the occasion.

Iraqi CP - Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee

2011-06-14T11:03:00.000-07:00

Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee

of the Iraqi Communist Party

(20th May 2011)

http://www.english.iraqicp.com/history/85-communique-of-the-meeting-of-the-central-committee-of-the-iraqi-communist-party-20th-may-2011.html

English translation of full text

Missing Iraq money ( $6.6 billion) may have been stolen, auditors say

2011-06-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

Missing Iraq money( $6.6 billion) may have been stolen, auditors say

U.S. Defense officials still cannot say what happened to $6.6 billion, sent by the planeload in cash and intended for Iraq's reconstruction after the start of the war.

By Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times
June 13, 2011
Reporting from Washington

After the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, the George W. Bush administration flooded the conquered country with so much cash to pay for reconstruction and other projects in the first year that a new unit of measurement was born.

Pentagon officials determined that one giant C-130 Hercules cargo plane could carry $2.4 billion in shrink-wrapped bricks of $100 bills. They sent an initial full planeload of cash, followed by 20 other flights to Iraq by May 2004 in a $12-billion haul that U.S. officials believe to be the biggest international cash airlift of all time.

This month, the Pentagon and the Iraqi government are finally closing the books on the program that handled all those Benjamins. But despite years of audits and investigations, U.S. Defense officials still cannot say what happened to $6.6 billion in cash — enough to run the Los Angeles Unified School District or the Chicago Public Schools for a year, among many other things.

For the first time, federal auditors are suggesting that some or all of the cash may have been stolen, not just mislaid in an accounting error. Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, an office created by Congress, said the missing $6.6 billion may be "the largest theft of funds in national history."

The mystery is a growing embarrassment to the Pentagon, and an irritant to Washington's relations with Baghdad. Iraqi officials are threatening to go to court to reclaim the money, which came from Iraqi oil sales, seized Iraqi assets and surplus funds from the United Nations' oil-for-food program.

It's fair to say that Congress, which has already shelled out $61 billion of U.S. taxpayer money for similar reconstruction and development projects in Iraq, is none too thrilled either.

"Congress is not looking forward to having to spend billions of our money to make up for billions of their money that we can't account for, and can't seem to find," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), who presided over hearings on waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq six years ago when he headed the House Government Reform Committee.

Theft of such a staggering sum might seem unlikely, but U.S. officials aren't ruling it out. Some U.S. contractors were accused of siphoning off tens of millions in kickbacks and graft during the post-invasion period, especially in its chaotic early days. But Iraqi officials were viewed as prime offenders.

The U.S. cash airlift was a desperation measure, organized when the Bush administration was eager to restore government services and a shattered economy to give Iraqis confidence that the new order would be a drastic improvement on Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

The White House decided to use the money in the so-called Development Fund for Iraq, which was created by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to hold money amassed during the years when Hussein's regime was under crippling economic and trade sanctions.

The cash was carried by tractor-trailer trucks from the fortress-like Federal Reserve currency repository in East Rutherford, N.J., to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, then flown to Baghdad. U.S. officials there stored the hoard in a basement vault at one of Hussein's former palaces, and at U.S. military bases, and eventually distributed the money to Iraqi ministries and contractors.

But U.S. officials often didn't have time or staff to keep strict financial controls. Millions of dollars were stuffed in gunnysacks and hauled on pickups to Iraqi agencies or contractors, officials have testified.

House Government Reform Committee investigators charged in 2005 that U.S. officials "used virtually no financial controls to account for these enormous cash withdrawals once they arrived in Iraq, and there is evidence of substantial waste, fraud and abuse in the actual spending and disbursement of the Iraqi funds."

Pentagon officials have contended for the last six years that they could account for the money if given enough time to track down the records. But repeated attempts to find the documentation, or better yet the cash, were fruitless.

Iraqi officials argue that the U.S. government was supposed to safeguard the stash under a 2004 legal agreement it signed with Iraq. That makes Washington responsible, they say.

Abdul Basit Turki Saeed, Iraq's chief auditor and president of the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit, has warned U.S. officials that his government will go to court if necessary to recoup the missing money.

"Clearly Iraq has an interest in looking after its assets and protecting them," said Samir Sumaidaie, Iraq's ambassador to the United States.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills, pictured last month, has held hearings on waste and fraud in Iraq.

Interview on Palestine satellite TV with Mufid al-Jazairy

2011-06-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

Interview tomorrow on Palestine satellite TV, with Mufid al-Jazairy, member of the Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party .. at 1.00 pm Baghdad time

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-18-12-11/4067-2011-06-12-18-09-13.html

Demonstrators in Tahrir Square - Baghdad: Early elections is the way out of the crisis

2011-06-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Demonstrators in Tahrir Square - Baghdad (10 June 2011): Early elections is the way out of the crisis .. and a popular demand

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-18-04-44/4056-2011-06-12-09-40-22.html

Demonstration in Kirkuk (10 June 2011) - organised by the Iraqi Communist Party and the Kudistan Communist Party

2011-06-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Demonstration in Kirkuk (10 June 2011) - organised by the Iraqi Communist Party and the Kudistan Communist Party .. against the sectarian-ethnic power sharing system, rampant corruption, unemployment (especially among youth and university graduates), and deteriorating services

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-49-26/4055-2011-06-12-09-37-40.html

Repressive measures against Trade Unionists in Iraq's Oil Sector"

2011-06-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Repressive measures against Trade Unionists in Iraq's Oil Sector" ... article published in "Tareeq Al-Shaab" (the daily newspaper of the Iraqi Communist Party) - 12 June 2011

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-44-43/4050-2011-06-12-09-14-21.html

Oil & Gas Union in North Oil Company condemns the repressive measures by Ministry of Oil

2011-06-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

Oil & Gas Union in North Oil Company (in Kirkuk - Iraq) condemns the repressive measures by the Ministry of Oil against the trade unionist Jamal Abdul Jabbar

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-44-43/4064-2011-06-12-17-45-03.html

Picket by the Iraqi community in Stockholm in front of the Iraqi Embassy (11 June 2011)

2011-06-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

Picket by the Iraqi community in Stockholm - Sweden in front of the Iraqi Embassy (11 June 2011) protesting against the repressive measures taken by the Iraqi government against civil rights and the right of expression, assembly and demonstration

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-49-26/4037-2011-06-11-16-39-24.html

Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation statement (in Arabic) about the Friday (10 June) demonstration

2011-06-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation statement - IDYF - (in Arabic) about the Friday demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad on Friday 10 June 2011. The statement demanded that the government stops terrorizing peaceful demonstrators and spreading fear among Iraqi citizens

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-48-06/4027-2011-06-10-22-56-51.html

Demonstration in Muthanna province, Samawah city (10 June 2011)

2011-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Demonstration in Muthanna province, Samawah city (10 June 2011), calling for jobs for the unemployed, electricity, services ... and for early elections

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-49-26/4039-2011-06-11-16-44-56.html

Demonstration in Najaf (10 June 2011)

2011-06-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Demonstration in Najaf (10 June 2011) calling for reform and change, for jobs and better services, combating corruption, improving services ... and early elections

Photo - Demonstration in Basra (Friday 10 June) organized by the Democratic Movement

2011-06-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Photo - Demonstration in Basra (Friday 10 June 2011) organized by the Democratic Movement .. against corruption and lack of basic services in Basra (Iraq's second-largest city), and calling for early elections.
The banners in Arabic read, "We demand the electricity" and "fighting corruption."

Photo - Thugs attacking Friday demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad (10 June 2011)

2011-06-14T07:44:00.001-07:00

Photo - Thugs attacking Friday demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad (10 June 2011)

Statement of the Democratic Movement in Dhi Qar (Nasiriyah) province

2011-06-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Statement (in Arabic) issued by the Coordinating Committee of the Democratic Movement in Dhi Qar (Nasiriyah) province

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-49-26/4025-2011-06-10-20-15-19.html

Anti-government protest blocked in Iraq

2011-06-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Anti-government protest blocked in Iraq

By Tim Craig, Published: June 10

BAGHDAD — An anti-government protest scheduled for Friday in Iraq’s capital was quashed after several participants reported being beaten with sticks and clubs to make way for a counter-demonstration.
Following the end of a 100-day cooling-off period requested by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, students and activists had been expected to flock to Baghdad’s Tahrir Square to press for reforms and more government services.
Instead, several thousand Maliki supporters showed up at the square early Friday demanding the execution of a Sunni man suspected of killing nearly 70 Shiites at a wedding in 2006.
Despite being greatly outnumbered, several hundred anti-government demonstrators attempted to hold their protest in a different part of Tahrir Square. But within minutes, they said, groups of men carrying sticks and clubs demanded that they leave.
“They dragged me from the fence and beat me,” said Wafa Sheba, a women’s rights activist. “We went to the security forces and tried to complain, but security forces said they were not going to interfere.”
Daniel Smith, an American freelance journalist and activist, said the scene was reminiscent of the violence in Cairo when men armed with crude weapons tried to disrupt the demonstrations that forced Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from power in February.
“There were lots of people with sticks,” Smith said. “They were saying: ‘We’re with Maliki. You’re Baathists.’ ”
The violence coincides with efforts by Maliki, a Shiite, to keep Iraq’s relatively small anti-government protest movement from spreading.
In February, nearly two dozen people were killed in violent clashes between demonstrators and security personnel across Iraq. To quell the unrest, Maliki asked protesters to give his government 100 days to evaluate the performance of ministers in addressing concerns such as a lack of clean water and electricity.
The 100 days were up this week, but Maliki has yet to announce whether he plans to ask any ministers to resign.
In recent weeks, human rights officials have accused Maliki of trying to stifle dissent through detentions and raids on protest organizers’ offices.
Two weeks ago, four men were thrown in an unmarked van in Tahrir Square when they tried to attend an anti-government demonstration. The men, including three students, were detained for 10 days for allegedly carrying false identification. They were released Tuesday following pressure from international human rights organizations.
Earlier this week, protest organizers had predicted that thousands of demonstrators would gather in Tahrir Square on Friday to mark the end of the cooling-off period.
Late Thursday, however, security forces imposed a tight cordon around the square. According to one security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter freely, police and Iraqi army personnel were told the square was being reserved for the Shiite demonstrators. Thousands of people were bused in for the counter-demonstration, which included signs and chants in support of Maliki, TV footage showed.
Janaat Basim, 28, an anti-government protester, did not know about the pro-Maliki event until she and her friends arrived in Tahrir Square about 9 a.m.
After a thorough security screening, Basim said, they were allowed into the square but were quickly surrounded by “nine or 10 men with sticks.” After calling her and her friends “communists” and “prostitutes,” she said, the men began hitting them.
At least one of Basim’s friends had part of a tooth knocked out, she said. She questioned how the men were allowed to get weapons into the square.
“If security forces were doing their jobs, how can these people enter the square with sticks?” she said.

Demonstrators in Najaf foil attempt by security forces to arrest a student activist

2011-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Demonstrators in Najaf (10 June 2011) foil attempt by security forces to arrest a student activist

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-22-05-28-38/4024-2011-06-10-17-57-28.html

Mass demonstration in the city of Nasiriyah, 10th June

2011-06-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mass demonstration in the city of Nasiriyah, 10th June

calling for political reform and early elections, denouncing violations of democratic rights and the Constitution, and demanding better services

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-49-26/4054-2011-06-12-09-28-07.html

Four Young activists hold press conference in Baghdad (8 June) after their release

2011-06-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

Four Young activists hold press conference in Baghdad (8 June) after their release

.. exposing "kidnap", maltreatment by security forces, and demanding official apology and compensation

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-17-48-06/4011-2011-06-09-22-14-35.html

Interview with Raid Fahmi, member of the Politburo of the Iraqi Communist Party

2011-06-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Interview with Raid Fahmi, member of the Politburo of the Iraqi Communist Party

“Al-Ittihad” newspaper - 6 June 2011

http://www.iraqicp.com/2010-11-21-18-04-44/4008-2011-06-09-20-03-41.html

Demonstration in Basrah (10 June 2011) calls for early elections

2011-06-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

Demonstration in Basrah (10 June 2011)

organized by the Democratic Movement

calls for early elections

Iraqi Four Youth activists released.. and describe maltreatment during detention

2011-06-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Four Youth activists released.. and describe maltreatment during detention

We were arrested for participating in demonstrations

Security forces fabricated the charge of forging false identity papers

The Iraqi authorities released yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 7^th May 2011) the four young activists who had been arrested in Baghdad on 27^th May 2011 while on their way to participate in a demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad. But their release was made on a “bail guarantee”.

In an interview with the Iraqi CP's daily newspaper “Tareeq Al-Shaab” (8June 2011), the four youths stressed that the charge against them (forging identification papers) was "fabricated.”

They said that they were arrested for participating in the peaceful demonstrations calling for political reform, combating corruption and the provision of services to the people.

Ali al-Jaf, one of the released youths, said that the morale of his colleagues has been high because of the big local and international solidarity which their cause received, noting that the solidarity campaign helped to stop the maltreatment to which they were subjected.

He described the treatment they received during their detention in the Intelligence headquarters of Karkh district as being "like the treatment of terrorists.” He confirmed that they were beaten and insulted, and subjected to blackmail and intimidation by security men.

Al-Jaf, who is a university student, said that the process of their release took two days, and that the "fabricated" charge against them has not been dropped.

His colleague Jihad Jalil said that they were "not satisfied" with their release on bail, "because we are innocent of this charge which was fabricated against us.” Jihad demanded an apology from the government "for the physical and psychological harm that was inflicted on us, as well as defaming our reputation.”

He explained that “it was not an arrest, but an act of kidnapping. Plain-clothed security agents arrested us and hit us, in full view of security forces present near Tahrir Square, and they shoved us into ambulances.”

Jalil, a worker, described how they were treated during their detention. He said that in "the first day of our detention, we spent nearly ten hours in the prison yard, under the scorching sun, while being handcuffed and with our heads covered in black bags. This continued for three days."

Amnesty International: four activists remain detained in Iraq

2011-06-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International

URGENT ACTION

four activists remain detained in Iraq

The seven remaining activists from the Ayna Haqqi NGO that had been detained in Baghdad on 28 May have been released. However four activists that were detained during protests on 27 May remain in detention.

On 28 May, Iraqi security forces detained at least 11 activists from the headquarters of Ayna Haqqi (“Where is my right”), a local NGO. Four of those arrested were released the day after but the other seven continued to be detained. On 3 June the activists that remained in detention were released. Sources in Iraq say they are in good health and that they have been released without charges, although Amnesty International has not been able to verify this.

Four other activists who were detained on 27 May, Ahmed Alaa al Baghdadi, Jihad Jalil Ibrahim, Muayyad Faisal al-Tayeb and Ali Abdul Khaliq al Jaf, remain in detention and still have not seen their families or lawyers, however sources in Baghdad have confirmed that visits by family and lawyers should be allowed from 11 June.

The four men, aged between 19 and 29, were arrested in Baghdad on 27 May just before a planned demonstration. They had previously called for and participated in peaceful demonstrations in protest against deteriorating economic and other living conditions in Iraq. They are accused of possessing false ID cards. However, Amnesty International is concerned that their arrests and detention may be directly linked to their involvement in peaceful protests involving the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

PROTESTERS DETAINED, AT RISK OF TORTURE

2011-06-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International

URGENT ACTION

PROTESTERS DETAINED, AT RISK OF TORTURE

A group of pro-reform activists have been allowed no contact with the outside world since they were detained on 27 and 28 May in Baghdad. They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

Ahmed Alaa al Baghdadi, Jihad Jalil Ibrahim, Muayyad Faisal al-Tayeb and Ali Abdul Khaliq al Jaf were taken from Tahrir Square in central Baghdad at 9.30am on 27 May, just before a planned demonstration started. They were apparently driven away in an ambulance by men in plain clothes, believed to be security officials. The four activists had previously called for and participated in peaceful demonstrations in protest against deteriorating economic and other living conditions in Iraq.

The four men, aged between 19 and 29, are being held in the al-Muthanna airbase prison in Baghdad. They are said to be facing possible trial on 5 June accused of possessing false ID cards. However, Amnesty International is concerned that their arrests and detention may be directly linked to their involvement in peaceful protests involving the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The authorities have refused requests by their families and lawyers to be allowed to visit them, heightening concern that they could be subject to torture or other ill-treatment.

On 28 May, Iraqi security forces detained at least 11 other activists while they were meeting in Baghdad at the headquarters of Ayna Haqqi (Where is my right), a local NGO. Those detained include the NGO’s secretary general, Ahmed Mohammad Ahmed; four of those arrested were later released but he and others continued to be detained and have also been denied access to their families and lawyers. They too are believed to be held at al-Muthanna airbase prison in Baghdad and to have been detained on account of their involvement in organizing peaceful demonstrations in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.

Amnesty International has recently documented cases of other protesters who were tortured or otherwise ill-treated shortly after their arrest and while they were detained incommunicado by Iraq security forces.

Urgent Call for the Release of Protesters Detained by Iraqi Security Forces

2011-06-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Urgent Call for the Release of Protesters

Detained by Iraqi Security Forces

A number of protesters participating in the demonstration in in Tahrir Square in Baghdad this morning, Friday 27^th May 2011, have been detained by security men. Among the detainees are four youths:
- Jihad Jalil
- Ali Abdul-Khaliq Al-Jaf
- Mouayad Faisal Al-Tayyeb
- Ahmed Alaa al-Baghdadi

While declaring solidarity with the detained youths, the General Union of Students in the Republic of Iraq (GUSIR) and the Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation (IDYF) strongly condemn this practice which raises deep concern about a return of the authoritarian repressive mentality. We also condemn the measures taken by the Iraqi government in recent days imposing restrictions on the freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

We call upon the Iraqi government to immediately release the four detainees, and all the detainees who participated in peaceful demonstrations. The government must respect human rights and the right of expression and peaceful demonstration as stipulated by the Iraqi Constitution.

We reaffirm our support in this regard for all the legitimate demands of our people that have called for reform of the regime, combating corruption, the provision of services and ensuring a dignified life and social justice.

General Union of Students in the Republic of Iraq (GUSIR)

Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation (IDYF)
Baghdad 27^th May 2011

Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party Holds its Regular Meeting

2011-05-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party Holds its Regular Meeting (20^th May 2011)

The Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party held a regular meeting on Friday 20^th May 2011.

The meeting began with a minute of silence in memory of party members and supporters who had passed away, and in recognition of their contribution to the people and the party.

The party daily newspaper “Tareeq Al-Shaab” (People’s Path) has reported that the meeting discussed the work of the Party, its leadership, central bodies and organizations during the period since the previous meeting of the Central Committee held in November 2010. The meeting also praised the achievements made during that period, and identified the shortcomings and defined the means to address them.

The CC meeting discussed at length the political developments in Iraq during the same period, and dealt with various aspects of the ongoing crisis of the sectarian and ethnic power sharing system and its negative effects in various walks of life.

The meeting identified the tasks of the party during the coming period, and the prerequisites for activating its role, expanding its activities, and developing its relations with the masses in various locations, adopting their demands and defending them.

“Tareeq Al-Shaab” also reported that the Central Committee paid particular attention to the popular protest movements, highlighting the just demands made by the demonstrators.

The meeting stressed that the party was, and remains, fully committed to the popular masses, supporting their constitutional right of assembly and peaceful demonstration.

The Central Committee also considered the ongoing preparations for convening the 9^th National Congress of the party.

A comprehensive Communiqué will be issued soon about the CC meeting and its deliberations and outcome.

Iraqis wage grassroots fight for democracy

2011-05-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

Iraqis wage grassroots fight for democracy

by: Susan Webb

People's World

April 5 2011

Eight years after the U.S. invaded Iraq, the Iraqi people are waging a grassroots fight for democracy and an economy that works for them.
Some democratic trappings are in place. Violence is markedly down, even though bombings and similar attacks continue. The United States is scheduled to withdraw its remaining 46,000 troops by the end of this year.
And the U.S. media has lost interest, unless it is to report the latest bombing, the deaths of four U.S. troops this week, or the ravings of Donald Trump, who thinks the U.S. should stay in Iraq and "keep the oil ... take what's necessary for us and we pay our self back $1.5 trillion or more."
But for the sixth week in a row, Iraqis demonstrated last Friday in Baghdad's Tahrir Square and around the country, demanding jobs, public services, worker rights, civil rights and liberties, and an end to corruption. It is an unprecedented development for Iraq.
Since February 25, thousands have marched and rallied in nearly every one of Iraq's 18 provinces.
According to the General Federation of Iraqi Workers, they have come out "to protest the failure of the Iraqi state to listen to the Iraqis' demands."
The protests have led to the resignations of two provincial governors, the mayor of Baghdad and other officials.
A newly emerging nationwide Democratic Current is at the heart of this movement. Leaders say it is an expression of wide sectors of grassroots Iraqi society, including people who are not members of any organized group.
Local committees are being formed around the country, and preparations are under way for a national conference to be held in the next month or two, to lay the basis for "a sustainable organization."
The Iraqi Communist Party is one of the key organizers of this movement. In a phone interview from Baghdad last week, Raid Fahmi, a member of the ICP's leadership, said this "very diverse" mass movement opens a "very promising prospect" for his country.
At the local level, Fahmi noted, neighborhood "popular control" committees are being set up to monitor public services, investigate problems, meet with the authorities to get action, and supervise their actions. "We believe these committees will have a very direct impact on the provision of services," he said.
This movement is also key to ending the U.S. occupation, Fahmi said.

Why the ferment?

Unemployment is around 25 percent, and another 33 percent are underemployed. About a fourth of the population lives below the poverty line. Thousands of internal refugees, displaced by past sectarian violence, still face what is being termed a humanitarian crisis. Electricity remains sporadic in many areas, and other basic services continue to lag.
Iraq's oil production and exports are slowly increasing. That would indicate that government revenues are benefiting. But the Iraqi public is still waiting to benefit.
The current Iraqi government, headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of the Islamist Dawa party, is an uneasy marriage of rival sectarian power-blocs, consumed primarily with ensuring their hold on power - a legacy of the policies of the U.S. occupation. The Parliament elected last year excludes minority, left and progressive voices because of an undemocratic election law forced through with pressure from the U.S.
The government's failure to fulfill its campaign promises to improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis - and the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia - triggered the protests.
But after weeks of rallies and marches, Alsumaria television reported March 26, "demonstrators complain that their demands have not been addressed." There are now mounting calls for dissolving provincial councils, accused of corruption and incompetence, and holding new local elections.
The parties in power have been "more or less speechless" in the face of the protests, Fahmi said. "They have been unable to mobilize their own supporters, because their base shares the views of the protesters."
Instead, the government turned to repression.
Maliki tried to shut down the first mass demonstration, Feb. 25, imposing a curfew in Baghdad and sending security forces to block access to Tahrir Square. Several leading Shii clerics warned against participation.
Protesters have been arrested and some badly beaten. Journalists have been targeted. Following the Feb. 25 demonstration in Baghdad, several reporters were dragged from a restaurant and tortured in a Defense Ministry detention center. When their ordeal was exposed on TV, the government had to issue a public apology. Yet, the next Friday, in Basra, four reporters covering the demonstrations there were badly beaten. During the March 7 demonstrations, three reporters were "disappeared," and later found to have been arrested.
A few weeks ago the government tried to evict the Communist Party and another party active in the protests from their Baghdad offices. The blatantly political effort backfired, generating considerable media coverage and popular support for the ICP. The government backed off, and the parties are expected to keep their offices.
The mass protest movement has, in effect, been an open challenge to the ruling Islamist parties and senior Islamic clerics, seriously undermining their credibility.
The protests "have power far beyond their numbers" because they are "in tune with the public sentiment," Fahmi said.
Meanwhile, the government is not doing what is necessary to get Iraq's security setup ready for the end-of-the-year U.S. withdrawal date, Fahmi said. Because of the narrow political wrangling, the country is still without ministers of defense, interior and national security. Hints are being floated of keeping U.S. military forces in Iraq, at a string of U.S. bases around the country. Yet "very strong public opinion in Iraq will not accept foreign bases," Fahmi said. Mass political pressure will be needed to ensure an end to the U.S. occupation, he said.

Photo: Workers rally at the Industry Ministry in Baghdad, March 29, demanding abolition of Saddam-Hussein-era union restrictions still in effect, enactment of a labor law that adheres to international standards, and reinstatement of worker activists fired by Saddam's regime. General Federation of Iraqi Workers

Photos of May Day celebration and march in central Baghdad -- 1st May 2011

2011-05-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

Photos of May Day celebration and march in central Baghdad -- 1st May 2011
organized by the Iraqi Communist Party and Workers' Unions

http://www.media.iraqicp.com/images/stories/foto/1maj2011/1maj2011.html

Photos from Baghdad demonstration in Tahreer (Liberatio) Square - on 25th February 2011

2011-03-07T06:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.media.iraqicp.com/images/stories/foto/25shbat/25shbat.html

Iraqi CP - Authorities’ request to vacate CP headquarters and newspaper offices is politically motivated

2011-03-06T18:43:00.000-08:00

Iraqi Communist Party: Authorities’ request to vacate CP headquarters and newspaper offices is politically motivated

In a sudden move, units of the federal police arrived on Sunday morning, 6^th March 2011, at the main headquarters of the Iraqi Communist Party in Andulus Square in central Baghdad, as well as the headquarters of its daily newspaper “Tareeq Al-Shaab” (The People’s Path) in Abu Nuwas Street, and requested that both places are vacated within 24 hours, on the basis of official orders. The pretext for this move is that the two premises are state property and should therefore be handed back. A period of one week, however, has now been provisionally agreed to settle the issue with the relevant authorities.

A statement issued by “Tareeq Al-Shaab” has pointed out that these measures targeting the Iraqi CP have come in the wake of the recent mass protest actions throughout Iraq, and the Communist Party’s strong support for the people’s legitimate demands. As a result, the politicization of the issue regarding the above-mentioned premises raises deep concern about the respect of democratic rights and freedoms.

The statement has also said that the authorities had previously given approval for a request by the Communist Party to rent both premises which have been occupied by the party for several years. The Prime Minister’s office itself had issued several directives, most recently on 12 January 2011, requesting the executive authorities to postpone the eviction process.

Furthermore, “Tareeq Al-Shaab” has pointed out that several properties belonging to the Iraqi Communist Party that were confiscated by Saddam’s dictatorial regime have not yet been returned to the party despite continued efforts.

Iraqi CP: Glory to the heroic people of Egypt!

2011-02-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

Iraqi Communist Party:

Glory to the heroic people of Egypt!
Glory to the masses, the makers of history!

With overwhelming joy and deep satisfaction, our Party along with the Iraqi people have received the resounding victory achieved by the revolutionary Egyptian popular masses, forcing the tyrannical head of the regime of oppression, injustice and corruption to comply with their will and hide, out of sight and away from the arena where the new history of Egypt, the Arab region and surrounding area is being made.

These are unique times through which we are living with the great people of Egypt who are following the trail of the brave Tunisian people, challenging mightily their oppressors and exploiters, and overthrowing those who had tormented and humiliated them for more than thirty years, acted recklessly against their interests and accumulated enormous illegitimate wealth at the expense of their misery and suffering.

The Egyptian masses have performed a great feat, and they are charting their path ahead with unflinching determination and firm belief in the legitimacy of their national and humanitarian cause, towards a better future in freedom, democracy and social justice; towards a decent life that ensures human dignity and human rights.

It is an example of people’s struggle that will inevitably be victorious, no matter how long the path is and regardless of tyranny and great sacrifices. It provides a new lesson; one which is more eloquent and brighter, to our Arab peoples and all peoples, on their unlimited ability to seize their right to determine their own destiny and make their own future.

While deeply applauding, in these extraordinary hours, the triumphant revolutionary people of Egypt, and congratulating them on their historic victory, we call upon their courageous masses and their national and democratic forces and parties to unite their ranks and unify efforts to build a people’s Egypt that enjoys democracy, dignity and social justice. The withdrawal of the regime’s head from the field of battle does not mean that the hated regime itself has surrendered and ended, because it still has claws and teeth, lurking in the background to subvert the victory that has been achieved with precious blood. It is assisted in this endeavor by dark forces, at home and abroad, with evil intentions and schemes.

In this context, we also express the hope that the leadership of the Egyptian army, which has become responsible for the administration of the country, will act speedily to implement its announcement that it is not a substitute for the legitimacy that satisfies the people, by abolishing the state of emergency, dissolving the sham parliament, preparing to hold free and fair elections, and forming a civil government made up of well-known national figures and symbols, that undertakes to conduct of the affairs of the country during the transitional period, and set up a Constituent Assembly to prepare a new democratic civil constitution for the country.

Total victory for the heroic Egyptian people, and glory to the memory of their martyrs!

Glory to the popular masses, the makers of history!

Political Bureau – Central Committee

Iraqi Communist Party

11^th February 2011

Iraqi CP - In Solidarity with the Uprising of Masses of Egyptian People

2011-01-31T14:02:00.000-08:00

29 January 2011

Statement of the Political bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party

In Solidarity with the Uprising of Masses of Egyptian People

Our peoples will not be subjugated from now on... They will not tolerate the stifling of their legitimate aspirations towards democracy!

The Egyptian masses, full of resentment and discontent in Cairo and other cities, have in the past hours continued defying the rule of tyranny, corruption, misery and "inheritance", in their heroic struggle for radical reforms in the political life to achieve freedoms, real constitutional democratic life and social justice which they had been denied for decades.

The means and methods used by the ruling regime, starting with the brutal repression that led to the death of dozens, injuring hundreds and arresting thousands at the hands of the vicious security forces, through cutting off domestic and international communications via mobile networks and internet, then declaring a curfew and deploying the army in the streets, and eventually retreating officially and announcing the dismissal of the government, were all unable to extinguish the torch of mass struggle for radical democratic change and to stop the overwhelming storm of protest that has swept the whole of Egypt involving millions of people led by the masses of young people. These methods have instead led to sharpening the resolve of the rebellious masses, and to raising stronger and clearer slogans against the regime and its ruling party, and against its leader, despite the attempts of some to blur the real objectives of the rebellious Egyptian masses.

These developments and the overall events which swept Egypt in recent days, as well as the heroic uprising of the Tunisian people, along with the angry popular movements in Yemen, Jordan and Sudan, have proved that the oppressive and despotic Arab regimes can no longer deceive the peoples and suppress their will and yearning for democracy, and a free and dignified life. It has become clear that these deprived peoples and their vibrant forces that are struggling for freedom, bread and happiness, can no longer acquiesce to the confiscation of their fundamental rights and the stifling of their legitimate aspirations under false slogans. They have realized from the lessons of their bitter experience the close interrelationship between the struggle for national causes and the issue of political and social democracy.

While declaring our solidarity with the masses of the Egyptian people and their patriotic and democratic forces, and calling for an end to all acts of repression by the regime against their legitimate struggle, we reaffirm our full and consistent support for the just demands of the masses of Egyptian democratic change, and for establishing a system of freedom, democracy and social justice.

Iraqi CP - Victory for the Uprising of the Tunisian People!

2011-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

The Iraqi Communist Party

Victory for the Uprising of the Tunisian People!

The masses of the Tunisian popular uprising culminated yesterday their heroic struggle, that continued throughout the past four weeks against the regime of tyranny and oppression which had strangled them for about a quarter of a century, with a remarkable victory reflected in the shameful escape of the head of the collapsed regime, Zein al-Abidin Ben Ali, from the country, haunted by curses and besieged by condemnations.

In the course of their daily struggle, which was full of determination and perseverance and involved the people in all areas of the country including the capital Tunis, the rising masses made great sacrifices in blood and lives, and offered unforgettable examples on steadfastness, dedication and sacrifice.

The masses also demonstrated deep awareness when they linked, from the outset, their economic demands with political demands, raising the slogan of bread and freedom, and when they rejected the false promises of the vanquished President before he fled, and demanded that he should step down unconditionally.

The Tunisian masses are today demonstrating political maturity, as they reject and resist the ploys of the tyrant’s stooges who are maneuvering to perpetuate his hated regime even though without him, and as they exert efforts to chart Tunisia’s path towards real democracy.

While expressing our firm solidarity with the masses of the courageous Tunisian uprising and their patriotic and democratic forces, and sharing their joy for the victory they achieved yesterday, we recognize like them that this victory is only preliminary, and that the decisive and final victory is contingent on continuing the struggle until the overthrow of the whole of Ben Ali's authoritarian regime, in accordance with the eloquent slogan raised by the Tunisian masses: Insurrection, Insurrection Until the Regime Falls! And until the path ahead is wide-open for the establishment of a democratic regime as demanded by the masses, and for which they have given, and continue to render, great sacrifices.

What has happened in Tunisia is an example for our Arab peoples and all the peoples who are fighting for their freedom, bread and happiness, and for their legitimate aspirations in establishing the political, economic and social system which they desire: a system of democracy, peace and social justice.

Political Bureau – Central Committee

Iraqi Communist Party

15 January 2011

Iraqi CP - New Year Greetings

2011-01-31T13:42:00.000-08:00

2011-01-31T13:37:00.000-08:00

Iraqi CP - Contribution to the12th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties - Johannesburg – South Africa

2011-01-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

Contribution of the Iraqi Communist Party

12^th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties

Johannesburg – South Africa

(3-5 December 2010)

Azet Sadik (Political Bureau – Central Committee of Iraqi CP)

Dear Comrades,

I convey to you the wholehearted greetings of Iraqi Communists, and their best wishes for the success of the 12^th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties, so as to contribute to developing the role of our movement in building a global front against neo-liberal globalisation and imperialism, for peace, democracy, social progress and socialism.

We express our thanks to the fraternal Communist Party of South Africa for hosting this International Meeting, which will also provide the opportunity to reiterate our solidarity with the peoples of Africa and their progressive movements in their struggles for liberation, peace, democracy, and social and economic development, to build a better world, free of exploitation, dependence, oppression, poverty, hunger and social and economic backwardness.

We also seize this opportunity to express, from this international forum, our gratitude for the international solidarity extended to our Iraqi people, democratic forces and Communist Party in the ongoing struggle, under extremely difficult and complex conditions, to end the occupation, restore full national sovereignty and independence and build a unified democratic and federal Iraq.

Dear Comrades,

The destructive consequences of the ongoing global financial crisis of capitalist economies give the main theme of this International Meeting renewed dimensions with greater relevance. This situation makes it more essential for our movement, with its communist and workers’ parties, in addition to the broad range of social forces and strata on the international level, that have been harmed by the hegemony of globalized capitalism with its neo-liberal model, to develop effective forms of organization and action for their struggle on the international level against this globalized capitalist onslaught.

As already pointed out in the 11^th International Meeting, held in New Delhi late last year, there is a consensus that the current crisis is an expression of the internal contradictions of globalized capitalism. One of its main features is the dominance of the financial character (financiarisation) of capitalist economy, the free movement of capital across borders and the removal of all national regulations controlling it. This has led to an enormous expansion of speculative activities, at the expense of productive activities, and the diminished relative weight of real economy and reduced national sovereignty. All this has been associated with high levels of unemployment, sharp polarization in wealth and income distribution, and the fragmentation of the social fabric of society. This fragmentation will intensify with the failure of economies of capitalist countries to sustain their social welfare system, coupled with the vicious attack on this system, and transferring the burden of the crisis onto the tax-payers who have been forced to pay hundreds of billions of dollars to save bankrupt financial institutions. The latest such example is Ireland, with more economies in Europe threatened with a similar fate.

It is important to note that on the level of consciousness and ideas, the crisis has provided a fertile ground for the revival of extreme reactionary ideas (racism, chauvinism, extreme religious ideologies..). All this has led to intensified contradictions and conflicts, with dominant capitalist forces resorting to blatant violence and local wars to suppress the forces opposed to them.

The contradictions of globalized capitalism have driven a broad and expanding spectrum of social forces to oppose it. Not only the working class and middle strata are involved, but also some capitalist strata are drawn into this opposition. The “cultural” dimension has also acquired a growing importance, as many social and political forces get involved in the struggle driven by the need to defend their ethnic or religious identity.

This complex scene opens up a big potential for developing protest movements that acquire an anti-capitalist content. But there are also ideological and political challenges that face the efforts to achieve the necessary alliances and unite the diverse demands in a coherent current that is opposed to imperialism and, at the same time, advocates a progressive political, economic and social project.

One of the biggest among these challenges and difficulties is to combine between the fight for national liberation, independence and getting rid of the hegemony of globalized capitalism and the struggle for democracy; both social and political. Disregarding any of these two closely interconnected aspects of struggle will lead to a serious imbalance and contradictory alignments. The struggle against imperialism must therefore be closely combined with the fight for democracy and peace.

It is also important to note the diverse nature of the forces and strata whose interests clash with those of globalized monopoly capitalism and its political power, and the relative weakness of social solidarity as a result of the changes brought about by modern technologies of production, make it necessary to create a variety of flexible forms of alliances and a variety of causes for which joint struggles are waged.

One other issue which also need to be addressed in analysis is the relationship between the class struggle and other struggles. The progressive dimension of these other struggles should be determined by their social content.

It is not be possible here go into more detail about these important issues. But it is important to stress that the global financial crisis has marked the failure of the extreme neo-liberal model of capitalism which had been dominant over more than two decades. This has opened up new prospects with promising potential for the resurgence and expansion of the struggles waged by forces that are not only opposed to globalism but to capitalism itself.

The most important conclusion to be drawn from the current global crisis is that the world will never be the same as it was before it blew up. A new balance of forces is expected to emerge despite all the obstacles and resistance put up by globalized capitalism, thus opening up new opportunities and providing possibilities for change and building a better world.

Dear Comrades,

The current international climate has put forward, more than ever before, the need to develop Left alternatives and united action of progressive forces against war, neo-liberalism and imperialism, as well as combating far right and reactionary tendencies on the international level, and promoting socialist ideas and goals. This is closely interconnected with strengthening international solidarity against the warmongering policies of imperialism and the onslaught of capitalist globalization, and providing genuine support for ongoing struggles all over the world for peace, freedom, democracy and social progress.

The recent Meeting of Arab Left, held in Beirut (22-23 October 2010), stressed the need for the Left forces in the region to regain their role and develop a realistic program of national-social liberation, based on struggle for democratic change, employing legitimate means of struggle and taking into consideration the specifics of each country. Tackling the deep crises that are caused by the policies of Arab regimes and their subservience to global neo-liberal capitalism, especially poverty and unemployment, requires developing concrete proposals for a program of economic revival and social development, including comprehensive development as an alternative to the policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Achieving these objectives requires activating the role of the Left in the social movement and developing a critical political vision towards the existing regimes. The principal aim of a distinguished program for change to be adopted by the Left should be the setting up of a national democratic regime, with a socialist perspective, that constitutes an alternative to subservient regimes. In this context, the forces of the Left need to mobilize the workers, peasants and progressive intellectuals into a mass movement to achieve real democratic change. Major tasks for such a movement include the fight for both, closely interconnected, aspects of democracy: political and social. Democracy, and building a state of law and institutions, based on the principles of citizenship, is a firm guarantee against sectarian divisions. In this respect, it is of utmost importance for the Left to uphold and defend human rights and fundamental democratic and trade union rights, especially women’s rights, as part and parcel of the big national issues.

Dear Comrades,

In addition to the destructive consequences of the deepening systemic crisis of globalized capitalism, there are also grave dangers to world peace. Over the past two decades, the unipolar world order led by the US that has resulted in grave violations of international legitimacy and resorting to war and aggression (as was the case in the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003). As part of its attempts to impose its hegemony on the world, it has not hesitated to ignite the flames of “local” wars. Here again, the fight for peace and against the warmongering policies of imperialism is closely interconnected with the struggle for political democracy and social progress.

In this context, I would like to say a few words about the situation in Iraq.

Seven and a half years after the US war on Iraq, the collapse of the dictatorial regime, and occupation, the struggle to end the foreign military presence continues to be closely interconnected with the struggle to rebuild the new Iraqi state and determine both its content and character.

Under these complex and difficult conditions, a ferocious battle is continuing, not only over power and wealth, but also over formulating the political, economic, social and cultural orientation, that will determine the features of the new Iraqi state that will emerge. It can be said that national, democratic and social tasks combine and interact. Therefore, along with the task of ending the occupation and its legacy, restoring full national sovereignty and independence, we have the tasks of eliminating the legacy of decades of fascist-type dictatorship, restructuring Iraqi economy and rebuilding the state on a democratic federal basis. International and regional factors interfere, making the struggle even more complex and intensified. Our party has put forward its own vision, encapsulated in the Patriotic Democratic Project, that aims at building a modern democratic state; a state based on law and institutions and the principles of citizenship, ensuring democracy and social justice, as opposed to sectarian projects and a return to dictatorship, whether nationalist or religious.

Dear Comrades,

The political vacuum that followed the Iraqi elections in March 2010, and continued for 8 months, helped anti-people forces to escalate criminal terrorist acts. Such heinous acts took place on 10^th May 2010 in Baghdad, Hilla and Basra with at least 110 people killed in a series of bombings and armed attacks. In the city of Hilla, south of the capital, 40 workers were killed and 250 others were wounded when three car bombs exploded outside a textile factory, targeting workers as they were leaving the factory. These atrocities and their perpetrators must be strongly and unequivocally condemned by fraternal communist and workers parties, as well as all progressive and peace-loving forces.

Those barbaric attacks that targeted Iraqi workers exposed once again the true anti-people nature of the so-called "resistance" that claims to be fighting the occupation. It is made up of the most reactionary Islamists, remnants of Saddam's Baathist fascist-type regime and gangs of organized crime. Among their principal objectives is stirring up sectarian sedition, destroying national unity, and sabotaging the country's infrastructure. They have rendered, and continue to render, a free service to the American occupation by providing pretexts for its continuation and impeding the speedy eviction of foreign forces, achieving their complete withdrawal and eliminating the consequences of occupation..

Dear Comrades,

Our Party, the leading force of the Left in Iraq, is currently engaged in relentless efforts to achieve unity in action of the democratic forces, and to transform the Democratic Current into an effective principal force in the ongoing intensified struggle over the future of Iraq. This vision requires greater efforts to involve the trade union movement and democratic organizations, especially those of women, youth, students and other civil society organizations, in mass struggles to defend human and democratic rights of workers and people. During recent weeks, conferences of democratic forces have been held in several provinces, as part of a process that will be culminated in a national conference to be held in Baghdad.

Iraqi Communists are determined to strengthen their links to the broadest popular masses, including workers, peasants, students and intellectuals, and all popular strata that aspire for freedom and democracy; taking up their demands, and defending their role in deciding our country’s destiny.

In the difficult struggle that lies ahead, we look forward to active and concrete solidarity from fraternal parties. This will acquire greater significance in the coming months, as Iraq prepares to end the US military presence by the end of 2011, continue the struggle to eliminate the legacy of occupation, restore its national sovereignty and independence, defeat sectarianism and anti-people forces, and achieve the national democratic alternative.

Our Party has unlimited confidence in the Iraqi people and their ability to continue their struggle, despite all difficulties and obstacles, to defeat terrorism and sectarianism, eliminate the legacy of dictatorship and American occupation, restore full national sovereignty, lay the foundations for a state based on institutions, justice and law, and build a unified federal democratic Iraq.

* * * * * * *

Iraqi CP - Contribution to the International Conference Organized by AKEL

2011-01-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

IRAQI COMMUNIST PARTY

Contribution to the International Conference

Organized by AKEL

(25^th November 2010)

“The struggle of the Left and the fight of the peoples for global peace and security against the imperialistic Order”

Dear Comrades,

The topic for this Conference should be discussed in the context of the need to develop left alternatives and united action of progressive forces against war, neo-liberalism and imperialism, as well as combating far right and reactionary tendencies on the international level, and promoting socialist ideas and goals. This is closely interconnected with strengthening international solidarity against the warmongering policies of imperialism and the onslaught of capitalist globalization, and the need to provide genuine support for ongoing struggles all over the world for peace, freedom, democracy and social progress.

The events of September 11, 2001 had a grave and dangerous impact on the situation in the Middle East, particularly in relation to the situation in Iraq (following the American war and occupation in Iraq), the US military presence in the area, the intensified aggression of Zionist rulers in Israel, the path of the peace process and the Arab-Israeli conflict, as also the situation in Iran and mounting dangers of a new military conflict in the region, with grave consequences for world peace.

The Middle East region is still suffering the consequences of the so-called “war on terror” and attempts by the US to impose its hegemony over the area in accordance with its security and strategic interests. It is important to note in this respect that this imperialist offensive exposed the true state of the Arab regimes and their shameful failure to face up to these challenges. Most of these regimes rushed to declare their allegiance to the US, with total disregard to the causes of the Arab peoples.

As a result, calls and demands by the popular masses in the Arab world for democratic freedoms mounted, to enable them to defend the independence of their countries and achieve economic and social development. But these legitimate demands were met with vicious repression and violations of human and democratic rights. Furthermore, some Arab regimes exploited the rise of religious fundamentalism and the activities of extremist Islamist groups (that enjoy generous funding), as well as the hysterical climate that accompanied the US “war on terror”, to crush what was left of a relative margin of freedom in their countries. Thus we witnessed a significant escalation in repressive policies, especially by dictatorial and despotic regimes.

It is therefore of great importance to stress here, once again, the vital lesson learnt from bitter experiences of the Arab peoples since the June 1967 War; that the absence of freedoms and democracy serves the interests of imperialism and Zionism, and their schemes of war, occupation and hegemony. It is only when people enjoy freedom and democracy that they can safeguard their national independence and sovereignty, and can confront imperialist pressures and schemes. Only then they will be able to decide their own destiny with their own free will.

It is also worth mentioning here that a meeting of Communist parties in the Arab countries was held in July 2010, in Damascus, to discuss the situation in the area, with particular emphasis on solidarity with the Palestinian people. It was attended by the Syrian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Egyptian Communist parties, the Palestinian People’s Party, and the Party of Progress & Socialism in Morocco.

The meeting called for greater efforts on regional and international levels to support the struggle of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation. On Iraq, the final statement said that the meeting agreed “to support the struggle of the Iraqi people to eliminate the American occupation and its legacy in Iraq, to achieve a national democratic regime, preserve Iraq’s unity, and condemn all forms of terrorism suffered by the Iraqi people”.

Dear Comrades,

Our Party, the leading force of the Left in Iraq, is currently engaged in relentless efforts to achieve unity in action of the democratic forces, and to transform the democratic current into an effective principal force in the ongoing intensified struggle over the future of Iraq. This vision requires greater efforts to involve the trade union movement and democratic organizations, especially those of women, youth, students and other civil society organizations, in mass struggles to defend human and democratic rights of workers and people. During recent weeks, conferences of democratic forces have been held in several provinces, as part of a process that will be culminated in a national conference to be held in Baghdad.

* * * * * *

Iraqi Communist Party

· Website: www.iraqicp.com

· Email: salamsaadi@hotmail.co.uk

icpinter@yahoo.co.uk

Iraqi CP - Excerpts from the Communiqué of the Central Committee

2011-01-31T13:12:00.000-08:00

Excerpts from the Communiqué of the Meeting of the

Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party

• Crisis of government formation reflects a broader crisis of the political system .. and threatens the prospect of the political process

• A Democratic Current, playing an active role in political life and decision-making, is more necessary than ever before

The Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party held a meeting on 5^th November 2010 devoted to discussing the developments in the country in its various aspects since the previous meeting that was held last April. The meeting focused above all on issues of the political crisis, the harm caused by the delay in forming the government, the security situation, the suffering of people as a result of deteriorating living conditions and public services, the growing popular protest movement, and the progress of efforts to rally the forces of the Democratic Current and unify their capabilities.

The following are some of the main points in the Communiqué issued by the Central Committee meeting:

The failure of the lists that won the elections to reach agreements necessary to form a new government has raised legitimate questions about the real dimensions of the crisis facing the country.

This crisis has revealed the serious elements of weakness and faults in the political process, in the process of rebuilding state institutions, and in the constitutional mechanisms that govern the work of the executive and legislative branches.

A closer look at the roots of this crisis, and seeking to determine the conditions and the factors that led to its emergence and continuation, reveals, in the final analysis, that it is a concrete reflection and embodiment of the crisis in the system of government itself which was produced by the political process.

Accordingly, it is the duty of all the forces that desire the continuation of the political process until it achieves its goal of building an independent unified democratic federal civil state, to take into account the task of reforming the political process, after conducting a critical review of the institutional frameworks and structures that it produced, and the rules and practices it has been based upon.

The political stalemate caused by the inconclusive results of the recent elections has resulted not only from the shortcomings and negative aspects that accompanied the electoral process, but also from the continued dominance of sub-identities - sectarian, tribal and ethnic - in the setting up and formation of dominant political blocs, and in guiding the behavior and choices of voters, at the expense of political programs and considerations of competence, integrity and loyalty of candidates.

In the name of so-called "balance" between "components" in the distribution of higher posts in the state, sectarian and ethnic power-sharing has been consolidated in building state institution.

Grave implications of power-sharing system

The Central Committee meeting drew attention to the grave implications of adopting this power-sharing system in state-building, as reflected in the fragmentation in the work of ministries, the lack of harmony within them, the difficulty in developing common visions and decision-making, poor overall performance, the emergence of different centers of power, the creation of an environment conducive to the spread of financial and administrative corruption, the violation of the principle of citizenship and equal rights of citizens, and other negative manifestations.

With the prolongation of the crisis and the intensification of deadlock and growing political tension, despite all the parties declaring their desire to work together within a participatory government, anxiety in society increased as a result of the continued political and constitutional vacuum, while the economic situation worsened.

This deep concern turned into anger, and this found its expression in a variety of protest movements that held actions in Baghdad and several provinces.

The competing dominant forces each behaved in a similar manner by sticking to their interests and share of power, influence and spoils, and defending them tenaciously, even if this led to exposing the country’s security and interests to grave threats.

These forces were not prepared to reconsider their positions, despite the dangers of further deterioration of security, the paralysis of economic life and worsening public services.

Blatant external interference

These forces did not hesitate to accept the blatant interference by neighboring states and some international powers, and to seek deals with them, even going as far as pleading with them, in utter disregard of national sovereignty.

The crisis brought to light, on the other hand, the gap between words and deeds of the dominant forces.

The continuation of the crisis, with its accompanying violation of the Constitution and circumventing the will of the voters, will undermine citizens’ trust in the electoral process and weaken their respect for the Constitution. It also encourages the promotion once again of coup-type and unconstitutional solutions.

In light of the above, the present deadlock only seems to be a natural outcome. Meanwhile, a legitimate question is raised: whether this situation can produce a solution, and lead to the formation of a government free of the faults of its predecessors and their weakness, shortcomings and failures.

Possible solutions to the crisis and their complications

There are different views regarding the government formation and possible solutions to the crisis. However, all the possible combinations face serious problems that prevent their achievement.

The major obstacle here does not lie in the differences of political visions and projects of the blocs, which seem possible to surpass. It is rather reflected in fighting over the principal posts, and the scrambling and competition between the leading figures to monopolize them. So it seems that the continuation of the crisis is likely, unless there is a sudden change in attitudes.

However, each of the possible solutions to the crisis carries with it elements of instability, and involves many complexities.

If a government of partnership that includes all the winning blocs is set up, it is difficult to imagine that the tension in their mutual relations, the exchange of accusations and confrontational positions, that continued over the past months, will not leave their negative impact on the government, the harmony among its members, the atmosphere of mutual trust within it and unity in positions. This will therefore impact the effectiveness of the government and its ability to deliver. On the other hand, the formation of a majority government would increase the tension of the general situation, intensify the dissatisfaction of some neighboring states and push them towards further illegitimate interference. In all cases, the process of decision-making and formulating state policy would become more complex, and will necessarily affect the performance of the government.

Growing popular discontent and protest movement

Discontent has mounted among the people against the backdrop of the failure of dominant forces to make any headway, and the emptiness and floundering of their political and media discourse. Some of this discontent has been manifested in various forms, taking in some cases a violent and undisciplined character and being employed for narrow political purposes. Other forms of protest, however, came about in response to appeals and initiatives by the democratic forces and civil society organizations in Baghdad and other provinces.

The slogans and demands raised in demonstrations, sit-ins and signature-collection campaigns focused on holding the dominant political forces responsible for the delay in forming the government, and the resulting political and constitutional vacuum with subsequent implications that are full of dangers on various levels. In addition, the protest movement demanded that these forces should expedite the formation of the government in response to higher national interests, otherwise – if they fail to do so – they should hand the task back to the voters by dissolving the Parliament and calling new elections.

Crisis of governance and system

The Central Committee meeting pointed out that Iraq is today facing a severe political crisis that reflects a more comprehensive crisis in governance and political system alike. This crisis is threatening the prospect of the political process, i.e. that of building a fully sovereign unified federal democratic state, and a system of constitutional rule based on the principles of citizenship, the separation of powers and the peaceful transfer of power, ensuring freedoms, human rights and the pluralistic nature of the ethnic, religious and denominational structure of the Iraqi people, and ensuring political, ethnic and cultural rights for all of them.

Crisis and incomplete national sovereignty

The Central Committee meeting also noted that there is no longer any doubt that the formation of the government is not a purely Iraqi affair. This situation reflects the non-fulfillment of the prerequisites of full Iraqi sovereignty in decision-making and handling its territory, wealth and security. The task of ending the legacy of occupation, and eliminating the legacy of crimes and destruction by the ousted dictatorial regime, is therefore still outstanding and lays the basis for the need for unity of national forces and the formation of a government that embodies this unity and takes into account the outcome of elections.

Government of "participation" and the concept of "components"

The slogan of “participatory government” comes close to this content, but diverges from it by substituting the concept of “components”, which is based on ethnic, religious and sectarian identity and affiliation, in place of political characterization and classification that spans ethnic, religious and sectarian lines. Perhaps one of the causes of the current impasse lies in this “components” understanding and practice, as the coalitions that are based on the representation of such components do not necessarily provide a common ground for the visions and political programs that are necessary for effective joint rule.

The principles employed by the dominant forces to set up the government, whether in the form of partnership or majority, involve in their essence the seeds of the problem. In the best case, compromises and consensus can be reached between the dominant forces that allow the formation of the government, provided that powers, positions and privileges are distributed in a satisfactory manner for all parties. The problem lies in that this can only be achieved, in the prevailing atmosphere of distrust, through the sectarian and ethnic power-sharing system, which is at the heart of the crisis and its continuation.

Conversely, the popular and mass political pressure can be an influential force in pushing the dominant forces to agree on forming a government of real national unity, or in forcing them to admit failure and go back again to the electorate. This is what our Party is working for by activating its work among the masses and developing joint work with the forces of the Democratic Current.

Most dangerous effects of the crisis

Perhaps the most dangerous effect of the political crisis is that it diminishes attention to the intensified contradiction and conflict between the people's national forces and the forces of terrorism and regression, and undermines vigilance towards the activities of the latter, allowing them greater freedom in the planning and implementation of their criminal operations.

On the other hand, the crisis has showed that the dominant forces are frustrated by the Constitution, do not show respect for its provisions, and do not hesitate sometimes to impose restrictions on public freedoms.

Democratic Current

The experience of the political process, and governments emanating from it in recent years, shows that their successes and failures are closely associated with the extent that they have been close to or distant from the National Democratic Plan. The current political crisis, and its repercussions on people's lives and their consciousness, does not only highlight the need, more than ever before, for a Democratic Current that exercises political influence, presence and representation and plays an active role in the country’s political life and in decision-making. It also highlights the fact that the Democratic Current has favorable conditions that are better than in previous periods.

The aim of efforts to activate the Democratic Current, as a political and societal current, is in the final analysis to organize and mobilize the forces that have an interest in adopting the National Democratic Plan and working enthusiastically and consistently in order to promote this plan as the one that holds the real and decisive solutions to the country's crisis.

Towards a broad mass movement

The growing discontent among the various sections of our people presents our party with many tasks that include adopting people’s demands, organizing campaigns and activities encapsulating these demands, confronting attempts to violate human rights and impose restrictions on certain freedoms set forth in the Constitution, and putting an end to the blatant interference in the affairs of associations, trade unions and civil society organizations. They also include exerting efforts to attract more and more forces and strata to participate in campaigning and protest activity.

This is also needed in connection with increasing concern over the reported expected deficit of $23 billion in the budget for 2011. It is feared that this deficit will be dealt with at the expense of the welfare of citizens, and through the looting of recent gains including the stabilization of teachers’ salaries and the enactment of a military pension law, and through further reduction of ration cards and the social protection network.

What is dangerous here is that as long as solutions put forward by the dominant forces continue to revolve within the logic of sectarian and ethnic power-sharing, they will remain unable to live up to the tasks required for building a modern democratic civil state, based on the rule of law and institutions. It is quite clear that fulfilling these tasks is linked to a large extent to the adoption of the National Democratic Plan.

It is therefore necessary to continue and increase efforts to expand mass action, pressing for the formation of the government and for it to carry out its obligations and responsibilities fully towards the citizens, and for the Parliament to take up its role in full, after responding to the decision of the Federal Court to end the open session, and begin to carry out its oversight role and legislative work.

At the same time, efforts should continue to unify the ranks of the forces and figures of the Democratic Current, to maximize its influence in political life and in shaping our country’s present and future.

* * * * * * * *

Iraqi Communist Party

Website: www.iraqicp.com

Email: salamsaadi@hotmail.co.uk

Iraqi Letter

Iraqi CP statement on Evacuation Day - 31 December 2011

Iraqi Communists celebrate Evacuation Day

New Year greetings -- 2012

Iraqi Communist Party .. Statement on criminal bombings in Baghdad on Thursday 22 Dec. 2011

Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party

Video - Marquee of "Tareeq Al-Shaab" - Iraqi CP's newspaper at L'Humanite Festival

Video

Marquee of "Tareeq Al-Shaab" - Iraqi CP's newspaper at L'Humanite Festival

(16-18 September 2011)

Photos .. mass demonstration by democratic forces in Baghdad on 9th Sept. 2011‏

Photos of mass demonstration by democratic forces in Baghdad (Liberation Square) on Friday 9th Sept. 2011‏

Iraqi CP: Serious Shortcomings in the Draft Law on Political Parties

Candlelight Vigil in Baghdad on 3rd anniversary of assassination of Kamel Shiaa

Mass march in Baghdad on anniversary of 14th July 1958 Revolution

Iraqi CP - Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee

Communiqué of the Meeting of the Central Committee

of the Iraqi Communist Party

(20th May 2011)

English translation of full text

Missing Iraq money ( $6.6 billion) may have been stolen, auditors say

Missing Iraq money( $6.6 billion) may have been stolen, auditors say

U.S. Defense officials still cannot say what happened to $6.6 billion, sent by the planeload in cash and intended for Iraq's reconstruction after the start of the war.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills, pictured last month, has held hearings on waste and fraud in Iraq.

Interview on Palestine satellite TV with Mufid al-Jazairy

Interview tomorrow on Palestine satellite TV, with Mufid al-Jazairy, member of the Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party .. at 1.00 pm Baghdad time

Demonstrators in Tahrir Square - Baghdad: Early elections is the way out of the crisis

Demonstrators in Tahrir Square - Baghdad (10 June 2011): Early elections is the way out of the crisis .. and a popular demand

Demonstration in Kirkuk (10 June 2011) - organised by the Iraqi Communist Party and the Kudistan Communist Party

Demonstration in Kirkuk (10 June 2011) - organised by the Iraqi Communist Party and the Kudistan Communist Party .. against the sectarian-ethnic power sharing system, rampant corruption, unemployment (especially among youth and university graduates), and deteriorating services

Repressive measures against Trade Unionists in Iraq's Oil Sector"

Repressive measures against Trade Unionists in Iraq's Oil Sector" ... article published in "Tareeq Al-Shaab" (the daily newspaper of the Iraqi Communist Party) - 12 June 2011

Oil & Gas Union in North Oil Company condemns the repressive measures by Ministry of Oil

Oil & Gas Union in North Oil Company (in Kirkuk - Iraq) condemns the repressive measures by the Ministry of Oil against the trade unionist Jamal Abdul Jabbar

Picket by the Iraqi community in Stockholm in front of the Iraqi Embassy (11 June 2011)

Picket by the Iraqi community in Stockholm - Sweden in front of the Iraqi Embassy (11 June 2011) protesting against the repressive measures taken by the Iraqi government against civil rights and the right of expression, assembly and demonstration

Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation statement (in Arabic) about the Friday (10 June) demonstration

Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation statement - IDYF - (in Arabic) about the Friday demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad on Friday 10 June 2011. The statement demanded that the government stops terrorizing peaceful demonstrators and spreading fear among Iraqi citizens

Demonstration in Muthanna province, Samawah city (10 June 2011)

Demonstration in Muthanna province, Samawah city (10 June 2011), calling for jobs for the unemployed, electricity, services ... and for early elections

Demonstration in Najaf (10 June 2011)

Demonstration in Najaf (10 June 2011) calling for reform and change, for jobs and better services, combating corruption, improving services ... and early elections

Photo - Demonstration in Basra (Friday 10 June) organized by the Democratic Movement

Photo - Demonstration in Basra (Friday 10 June 2011) organized by the Democratic Movement .. against corruption and lack of basic services in Basra (Iraq's second-largest city), and calling for early elections. The banners in Arabic read, "We demand the electricity" and "fighting corruption."

Photo - Thugs attacking Friday demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad (10 June 2011)

Photo - Thugs attacking Friday demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad (10 June 2011)

Statement of the Democratic Movement in Dhi Qar (Nasiriyah) province

Statement (in Arabic) issued by the Coordinating Committee of the Democratic Movement in Dhi Qar (Nasiriyah) province

Anti-government protest blocked in Iraq

Anti-government protest blocked in Iraq

By Tim Craig, Published: June 10

Demonstrators in Najaf foil attempt by security forces to arrest a student activist

Demonstrators in Najaf (10 June 2011) foil attempt by security forces to arrest a student activist

Mass demonstration in the city of Nasiriyah, 10th June

calling for political reform and early elections, denouncing violations of democratic rights and the Constitution, and demanding better services

Four Young activists hold press conference in Baghdad (8 June) after their release

Four Young activists hold press conference in Baghdad (8 June) after their release

.. exposing "kidnap", maltreatment by security forces, and demanding official apology and compensation

Interview with Raid Fahmi, member of the Politburo of the Iraqi Communist Party

Demonstration in Basrah (10 June 2011) calls for early elections

Iraqi Four Youth activists released.. and describe maltreatment during detention

Amnesty International: four activists remain detained in Iraq

PROTESTERS DETAINED, AT RISK OF TORTURE

Urgent Call for the Release of Protesters Detained by Iraqi Security Forces

Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party Holds its Regular Meeting

Iraqis wage grassroots fight for democracy

Photos of May Day celebration and march in central Baghdad -- 1st May 2011

Photos from Baghdad demonstration in Tahreer (Liberatio) Square - on 25th February 2011

Iraqi CP - Authorities’ request to vacate CP headquarters and newspaper offices is politically motivated

Iraqi CP: Glory to the heroic people of Egypt!

Iraqi CP - In Solidarity with the Uprising of Masses of Egyptian People

Iraqi CP - Victory for the Uprising of the Tunisian People!

Iraqi CP - New Year Greetings

Iraqi CP - Contribution to the12th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties - Johannesburg – South Africa

Iraqi CP - Contribution to the International Conference Organized by AKEL

Iraqi CP - Excerpts from the Communiqué of the Central Committee

Marquee of "Tareeq Al-Shaab" - Iraqi CP's newspaper
at L'Humanite Festival

Photo - Demonstration in Basra (Friday 10 June 2011) organized by the Democratic Movement .. against corruption and lack of basic services in Basra (Iraq's second-largest city), and calling for early elections.
The banners in Arabic read, "We demand the electricity" and "fighting corruption."