Right-Wing Bomb Attacks On Civilians Hurting Anti-Occupation Forces

[Itsthetruth]

Scoop Independent News
June 24, 2005

Iraq Union Leaders Speak about Labor Movement - Part II of II
By Sonia Nettnin

(Awan is president of the Federation of Workers Councils and the Union of Iraq (FWCUI) and Aljawhry is representative of the FWCUI and the Union of the Unemployed in Iraq (UUI) for North America.)


As president of FWCUI, Awan said that the principles of Iraq’s labor organizations have humanitarian goals. “We fight for participation in writing the constitution,” he said. “We fight the domination of the right-wing powers of Iraq.” He believes the millions of people around the world who marched against the war need to reorganize so they can end the occupation. Through the empowerment of the workers’ movement, Iraqis can restore pro-civil society.

When asked about the overwhelming violence in Iraq, Awan and Aljawhry, explained that people have to distinguish between the current forms of violence. With regards to gangs and thieves, they existed before and after the occupation, as they exist everywhere in the world. With support from neighboring countries, car bombings, targeted killings and assassinations from reactionary groups causes devastation and disunity. “The question is going to be the balance of power and who will take the lead after withdrawal,” Awan said. From the FWCUI’s standpoint, the solution to the problem lies within the democratic, secular society, which cannot allow the gangs into power. If the labor movement is successful, the violent groups will lose their ground.

In response, an audience member who declared he was a social progressive said he had issues with the speakers’ beliefs. He contended that resisters have a right to fight and he left his definition of resistance groups open-ended throughout his five-minute speech. The audience gasped and murmured.

Aljawhry took off his glasses, wiped his face and retorted that bombing a school bus with 25 children has nothing to do with the occupation. He mentioned a suicide bomber who entered a market and injured over 100 people. “What does that have to do with occupation?” Aljawhry asked.


http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00335.htm



Iraq Union Leaders Falah Awan (left) and Amjad Ali Aljawhry (right) pause before the question and answer session with the audience.