Home > Iraqi Communists - Speed Up Putting Power in Hands of People
Iraqi Communists - Speed Up Putting Power in Hands of People
by Open-Publishing - Sunday 3 August 2003Iraqi Communist Party Leader:
We Strive to Speed Up Putting Power
in the Hands of People
Published in ’Tareeq Al-Shaab’ - Central Organ of the
Iraqi Communist Party
Weekly edition: 27 July - 2 August 2003
No.23, Year 68
In an interview with Comrade Hamid Majeed Mousa , the
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Iraqi
Communist Party, published by the Iraqi daily ’Al-Sa’ah’
on 23 July 2003, he said that the party strives through
participating in the Governing Council to raise the
prestige of Iraqis and their role in defending their
interests, as well as utilizing the transitional period
to speed up putting political power in the hands of the
Iraqi people, in order that they start ruling and
running the affairs of their country by themselves.
Replying to a question about the invitation extended to
the party to join the Governing Council, he said that
the Communist Party is a political force with a
memorable history and an established presence, and
anyone who looks for solutions to Iraq’s problems cannot
ignore the party’s role.
Regarding the Americans’ position towards the Council,
and whether they would use a ’veto’ to annul its
decisions, Comrade Hamid Mousa explained that this a
matter of contest, and there is no one single authority
which would decide. Alongside the occupation
authority which was legitimated by UNSCR 1483, there is
now the authority of the Governing Council, which the
Council is trying to expand.
He added that this path is extremely difficult, and that
it constitutes a challenge from the practical point of
view. But the members of the Council are prepared to
take it up through continuous dialogue and serious
discussions between the two sides.
He said that the word ’veto’ does not exist at present,
in practice, but this does not mean that we can work
without taking into account the existence of another
authority along with us.
On the party position with regard to increasing the
number of Council members, comrade Hamid Mousa said that
the Iraqi Communist Party was among those who called for
enlarging the Council to include other forces. He
explained that the fact that this party or the other did
not join the Council does not in any way diminish its
significance. He expressed his hope that those who did
not join the Council will prepare to take part in the
general elections when the people will choose their true
representatives.
Replying to a question by the correspondent of ’Al-
Sa’ah’ about his opinion of those who criticize the
Governing Council, he said that he regards the views of
critics with respect, hoping that their criticisms would
be positive and without defamation.
He expressed his hope that the Iraqi press would monitor
the work of the Council, criticizing if it wants, but
not to incite against it or publish information without
checking its accuracy, as this has nothing to do with
achieving a real journalistic breakthrough.
Comrade Mousa also pointed out that the kind of rule
which the Iraqi Communist Party aspires to establish is
a democratic, pluralistic and federal republican system
of government in a unified Iraq.
Regarding federalism, he said that the party is not
opposed to administrative federalism, but the issue is
different for Iraqi Kurdistan, as the people there have
their own legitimate national rights which they ought to
enjoy, and this will not be guaranteed by mere
administrative federalism.
In response to a question by ’Al-Sa’ah’ correspondent
about the secret behind the large numbers of people
visiting the party headquarters and centres, and the
evident movement and activity there, the comrade
explained that the Iraqi Communist Party is the oldest
deeply-rooted political party in Iraq, and has a lot of
close ties with various sections and strata of the
people, interacting with the masses of citizens and
their aspirations and desires, and supporting their
legitimate demands. Added to this is the party’s long
history of struggle, full of sacrifices, against the
dictatorship.
He said that this is the reason why people come and
visit our party centres in large numbers, and even apply
to join the party. He also said that those wishing to
become party members come from various age groups,
including young people along with older members whose
relationship with the party had been severed under the
demised regime of terror, and who now want to resume
their work and continue the march ahead.
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