Photo - Demonstration in Basra - 4 September 2014

Photo - Mass demonstration in city of Basra

4 September 2014

In Basra .. Iraqi CP celebrates 76th anniversary

Basra celebrates the 76th anniversary
of the Iraqi Communist Party

The provincial committee of the Iraqi Communist Party in Basra organized a celebration of the 76th anniversary on 2nd April 2010. The event held in Utbah bin Ghazwan meeting hall in central Basra, which was packed with party supporters. It was attended by delegations of political groups and a representative of the Governor of Basra.

An opening speech delivered by the Secretary of the Provincial Committee, comrade Abu Mohammed, recalled the heroic struggle of the party since its foundation by Comrade Fahad on 31st March 1934, and dealt with various aspects of party policy and the current political situation.

The expatriate poet Abdul Karim Kasid was warmly received by the audience when he read out his poem “The Beautiful Horse”. He was followed by two poets, Ahmed Jassim
and Mohammed Jassim Issa. The latter had suffered a lot under the repression of the Saddam’s dictatorship. Then came the turn of Basra’s veteran popular poet, Uncle Nasser, and the poet Mohammed Mozan. Several local party organizations were then presented with awards in appreciation of their work.

The programme included a number of songs dedicated to the 67th anniversary that were presented by the Basra Group for Folk Art. Traditional music and songs were also performed with the participation of the veteran singer Tariq al-Shibli.

Iraqi CP demonstration in Basra

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

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

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

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

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

Iraqi CP leader visits Basra and participates in election campaign

Iraqi CP leader visits Basra and participates
in election campaign of "Patriotic Trend" list

The Iraqi Communist Party leader, Hamid Majeed Mousa, visited Basra city in southern Iraq on
Friday 12 December 2008, and attended a mass election rally organised by the "Patriotic Trend" coalition list (No. 428), which is contesting the forthcoming provincial elections in Basra. The main hall of the Basra Chamber of Commerce was packed with people and supporters of the list.

Mousa was warmly received by the political groups of the local coalition list that includes: the Communist Party, the National Democratic Party, the Democratic Popular Grouping and the Democratic Uprising. The list, which had launched its campaign on 6th Dec. 2008, will contest the elections on 31 January 2009 and compete with 39 other entities over 35 seats of Basra's provincial council.

The program of the electoral rally, to promote the "Patriotic Trend" list and introduce its candidates, included speeches, poetry and political songs.

The Iraqi news agency "Aswat al-Iraq" quoted the Iraqi CP leader as saying that "the party believes that the unity of patriotic forces is a source of strength to everybody and does not entail a loss for anyone. Our alliance is based on a conviction of the need for the cooperation of all forces of good will." He added that the coalition strives for a patriotic project that would enable the homeland to get out of the cycle of violence and rid itself of all the weaknesses that have afflicted various aspects of the situation in Iraq."

In reply to another question about the chances of achieving good results in the elections, especially in view of widespread popular criticism of the parties that dominated the provincial councils, he said: "We are working sincerely to express the vital interests of as many people as possible." He explained that five years on, the people have tested the credibility of various lists and their promises," stressing that "we are aiming to offer truth, fidelity and integrity."

The provincial elections on 31 January 2009 are expected to be a crucial and fierce political battle with significant impact on the Iraqi political scene. There are 408 election centres in Basra, and 20 local and international monitoring organisations have been registered.

Source: "Tareeq Al-Shaab", central organ of the Iraqi Communist Party - 14 Dec. 2008.