Iraqi
Communist Party leader: Opportunities
to build a democratic civil state will remain stalled as long as sectarian
plague remains
Comrade Hamid Majid Mousa, the Secretary of the Iraqi Communist Party,
attended the founding National Congress of the Tunisian Social
Democratic Path (Al Massar) Party, held on 21 and 22 June 2014 in the Tunisian capital. He delivered a speech
at the Congress which dealt with
the recent developments in Iraq. The following are excerpts of his speech:
“The
Iraqi people are living through very difficult days after the forces of terrorism and darkness managed to spread their control
over few of our dear cities, establishing the rule of the Middle Ages and the
concepts of backwardness and reaction
in the name of religion, killing innocent
people and wreaking destruction on the property and the cultural
heritage of our people.
“You are probably aware that what has
happened recently is not in
isolated from what Iraq lived through in recent years. There has been a deep and
total crisis caused by the legacy
of long years of tyranny and dictatorship, the consequences of the U.S. occupation and the interference of
regional powers. It has been exacerbated by the escalation of terrorist activity
and the growing manifestations of political,
administrative and financial corruption. This crisis has
been further complicated by poor
governance and the backward undemocratic
mentality which is inherent in the behavior and policy
of the political forces that are holding
the reins of power in the country.
What has happened recently cannot also be isolated from the infighting among the ruling forces over power, wealth
and influence, and the struggle over shaping
the political and economic present and future of the country.
They have employed a lot of illegitimate means and mechanisms that contravene democracy
and human rights in order to achieve their ends. As a result, the country has sunk over the past years into an abyss of chaos
and social tension, uncontrolled
violence and instability, hindered development and economic paralysis, and stagnation at all levels and in various
fields; social, cultural and psychological.
“The biggest scourge
that has laid the basis for all this
deterioration, fragmentation and strife
is sectarian bigotry, with its abhorrent manifestations evident in
the sectarian – ethnic
power-sharing system upon which the
present political process in Iraq
was built. This scourge was
produced by domestic minds and interests and was enshrined by the
U.S. occupation. The chances of
building a modern civil democratic
state, legitimate institutions and
the rule of law, respect for the
Constitution, effective combating of
corruption, and thereby the eradication of the rampant phenomenon
and practice of terrorism, will remain hampered as long as this plague
remains entrenched in Iraq and its social structures
and political system.
“The Iraqi experience provides an
example and a lesson for all activists in
the Arab countries and Islamic
countries as they face the task
of rebuilding their countries
in line with the higher radical
interests of their peoples, fighting
against poverty, ignorance and disease, for achieving economic progress and social justice, ensuring freedom, the
consolidation of democracy and respect for human rights,
and ensuring independence and national
sovereignty. It is a lesson that teaches them to be aware of and to avoid sectarian bigotry
which some of the
extremist forces of political Islam, and the forces of imperialism, seek to
justify and promote to serve their interests and
political aspirations for leadership
and hegemony. This
is the path that will only lead to strife
among the people, splitting their ranks, fragmenting the bonds of their cohesion
and sabotaging their national unity, thus perpetuating
chaos, backwardness and the
squandering of wealth through channels of corruption and
organized crime and in sectarian –
civil wars.
“The radical remedy for the problems
of the country and its intractable
crisis lies getting rid of the sectarian – ethnic power-sharing system, commitment to the values of true democracy,
with its political and social dimensions
and institutions, and building the
state in line with its principles. The means of administration and governance must ensure respect for human
rights, politically and socially, to guarantee equal citizenship, social justice, independence and national sovereignty. It is
the path for the establishment of a democratic
civil state which provides all
the necessary prerequisites for launching
the process of sustainable economic, social, political
and cultural development, utilizing
the abundant wealth of the people and
homeland for the good of its citizens
and their well-being, happiness and civilized progress, lifting the homeland to the ranks of advanced modern states.
“As we resolutely confront terrorism and terrorists, and strive to defeat them and
save the homeland from their evils with all legitimate
means available, it is of utmost
importance to strengthen the unity of the forces that support the democratic political
process. Outstanding problems between
them should be resolved through dialogue, political realism and flexibility, and by offering reciprocated concessions, to reach joint
compromise solutions, away from
intransigence and insistence on giving priority to the self-interests at the expense of the public interests.
In addition, the best prerequisites must
be provided to ensure the
stability of the country, maintain
its security, safety and free and dignified development,
without foreign interference, both international
and regional, which has only caused harm and crises and compromised
our national security interests.
“The masses of our Iraqi people
and their national and democratic forces possess a lot of potential and resources for rebound,
as well as a long experience
of struggle. If they draw the proper lessons,
have good will and faith, put ahead the
country's higher interests, and succeed in managing their affairs, rebuilding their relationships and organizing their ranks, they would be able to save
the country from its setback, ensure whatever that helps to resolve its
crisis, and secure its march toward building a civil democratic, free
and independent Iraq; the homeland of all Iraqi men and women.”
