US occupation forces raid Iraqi union headquarters

http://lnn.labourstart.org/more.php?id=103_0_1_0_M

US occupation forces raid Iraqi union headquarters
Statement of the Iraqi Federation of Workers’ Trade
Unions (IFTU) About the Vicious Attack By the
Occupation Forces on its Headquarters on Saturday 6th
December 2003. To send your protest click here now.

To: Workers and the Iraqi Working Class, Iraqi, Arab
and World Public Opinion, Supporters of Freedom,
Democracy and Human Rights all over the world.

The American occupation forces, using a force of about
ten armoured cars and tens of soldiers, attacked the
temporary headquarters of the IFTU (at the headquarters
of the Transport and Communication Union, in Karkh
district, Allawi Al Hilla, Baghdad) at 10.30 am on
Saturday 6/12/2003, and arrested 8 of its leaders and
cadres, who were handcuffed and taken away to an
unknown destination.

The attackers ransacked and destroyed the IFTU’s
possessions, tearing down banners and posters
condemning acts of terror, tarnishing the name of the
IFTU and that of the General Union of Transport Workers
(on the building’s main front) with black paint and
smashing windows glass, without giving any reason or
explanation.

The IFTU, as one of the most important organization of
civil society, that includes within its ranks sons of
working class, the builders of a new Iraq and the
Democratic future of Iraq, strongly condemns this
unjustified terrorizing act by the occupation forces
which targetted trade unionist cadres and leaders who
are well-known for their struggle against the hated
dictatorship.

While calling for the release of our detained
colleagues as soon as possible, and condemning any
attempt to launch a new attack on trade union centres,
or further arrests of trade union leaders, we stress
that the Iraqi working class will not forgive this
attack which constitutes a blatant violation of
democracy and human rights.

We, therefore, call upon all the forces of goodwill
towards our people, as well as arab and international
trade union organizations, to take a firm stand against
this act, and to call for the immediate release of
detainees, and compensation for the damages inflicted
upon our colleagues and IFTU headquarters as a result
of this aggression

the Executive Bureau The Iraqi Federation of Workers
Trade Unions (IFTU)

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: The 8 trade unionists of the IFTU
who were detained by US troops under the command of US
officer named Kelly (or Kealy) on Saturday 6th Dember
2003 without explanation, were released on Sunday 7th
December 2003 unharmed.

Pictures of IFTU headquarters and leading trade
unionists of IFTU available from I.S.S.

Abdullah Muhsin, London Representative of the Iraqi
Federation of Trade Unions Mob’: 00 44 (0) 79 31 41 63
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