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ILC INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER NO. 73
A dossier of weekly information published by the
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
April 6, 2004
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To contact us:
ILC International Newsletter
International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples
87, rue du Faubourg Saint Denis 75010 Paris, France
Tel: (33 1) 48 01 88 28 e-mail: eit.ilc@fr.oleane.com
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PRESENTATION
We have news that will please our readers: The first issue of the
ILC International Newsletter in Turkish has just been published. It will
now appear regularly. We thank the authors of this initiative, who
permit us to widen our network and spread the information about our
positions as well as the analyses coming from all sectors of the labor
movement that defend union rights and democracy.
The ILC International Newsletter, which is distributed each week in
French, English and Spanish, will now appear as a news bulletin in
English in an attractive hard-copy format. It is available in this form
by subscription only for use and distribution to unions and co-workers.
[For more info, contact the ILC at ilcinfo@earthlink.net.]
This week the International Campaign Against the Occupation and For
Labor Rights in Iraq develops and intensifies. Indeed the memorandum
presented March 15, 2004 at the ILO meeting in Geneva, is being endorsed
widely (see page 8). An analysis of the situation of the unions in Iraq
appears on page 2.
Union militants in Kazakhstan are calling for international support to
free two jailed militants.
The Association of Workers and Peoples of the Caribbean (ATPC) is
against the occupation of Haiti and is taking multiple initiatives,
while deputies and leaders of the Workers Party (PT) in Brazil tell
President Lula "No to sending Brazilian troops to Haiti".
To understand the situation in the Ivory Coast, a militant from the
Ivory Coast is interviewed.
We continue the publication of the report on the national conference in
defense of the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh, with the publication
herewith of the final declaration.
We give an account of candidate Louisa Hanoune's campaign for the
presidency in Algeria.
Help us to develop the campaign: "Against the occupation and for
labor rights in Iraq", to save the jailed militants in Kazakhstan,
and so that the information circulates around the world, subscribe.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
p. 1: Presentation
p. 2: Elements of the situation of the trade unions in Iraq
p. 3: ATP of the Caribbean and deputies of Brazil against the occupation
of Haiti.
p. 4: For the liberation of two militants jailed in Kazakstan.
p. 5: Louisa Hanoune's presidential campaign in Algeria.
p. 6: Interview with a union militant from the Ivory Coast.
p. 7: Final declaration of the national conference to save the port of
Chittagong, Bangladesh.
p. 8: Signatures of the memorandum adopted after the delegation to the
headquarters of the ILO, on March 15, 2004 in Geneva.
-- Subscriptions
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IRAQ
"We want to establish independent unions in Iraq!"
In preparing for the meeting with the ILO on March 15, 2004 in
Geneva, Falah Alwan, president of the Federation of Workers Trade Unions
and Councils in Iraq informed the delegates of USLAW, the International
Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC) and the International
Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU) of some of the salient
aspects of the current situation of the trade union movement in Iraq.
This is the transcription of his report:
"I will repeat some of the things I already told the
conference in Amman, Jordan, organized by the ICFTU, as well as to the
different delegations that went to Iraq in October and February.
At the start of our activity, after Saddam's fall, there wasn't an
active trade union group for the simple reason that the factories were
destroyed and nothing functioned. At the end of April 2003 most of the
factories were not operating.
In order to assess the situation in our country, one cannot separate it
from the situation that prevails in the world. Our organization started
to constitute itself at the end of May 2003. We later organized many
demonstrations, strikes, meetings. We organized forty days of
demonstrations at the offices of the occupation authorities as well as
thirteen demonstrations.
The main difficulties we are confronted with are the following:
* First: there is a weakness in the tradition of unionism in Iraq,
because historically there was a very strong tie between the unions and
the regime: They were the instruments of the Baas party.
* The second difficulty is Saddam Hussein's law forbidding the right to
strike; the occupation authorities have maintained this 1987 law.
* The third difficulty is the fact that organizations are formed from
the top down. The unions are approved and then recognized by the State.
However union organizations should not have to be authorized by the
ruling powers or by the State; rather, they must represent the workers
themselves.
* Fourth: There is a difficulty in Iraq from the point of view of
security, the confusion and the chaos. It is difficult to go to work.
* Fifth: There is a constant attempt to transform the situation into a
religious and ethnic conflict. Different religious and ethnic groups
would like to control different parts of the country. For example in the
north of the country where we had constituted a union that regrouped the
workers regardless of their origins in the oil industry, the
"Kurdish" parties endeavored to break the union to constitute
a "Kurdish union."
* Sixth: There is a difficult situation for women in Iraq. Today they
are threatened with kidnapping, violence and persecution. Yet women
represent 60% of the Iraqi population. You can therefore understand that
in fact half the community of workers is threatened with exclusion from
the workforce.
* Seventh: The Provisional Authority in Iraq recognizes certain union
groups in Iraq. The governing council is formed of different political
parties. They get along because they are present in the council on an
ethnic basis, so that each has his union and recognizes this concept of
the division of workers. Some of the groups that have been recognized
were constituted before the month of May, at the time when there was no
activity in the factories. These are not therefore leaders elected by
the workers, chosen by the workers from below, but self-designated
representatives that are connected to the Provisional Authority or
represent the structures of the old union.
In February some of these groups, including a large union federation,
were recognized officially. Today the authorities are trying knowingly
to organize the chaos on the basis of religious and ethnic differences.
It is the major obstacle to the construction of unions in Iraq.
We want to establish genuine, independent trade unions in Iraq. The
Workers' Trade Unions and Councils in Iraq is carrying out this effort
on the basis of the recognition of the right for all workers, regardless
of their ethnic, linguistic or religious origin, to join the union of
their choice. The union must not be an instrument of the occupation
authorities in Iraq.
The situation is very difficult and complicated. What happens here is
not a local event. It is in relation to what is happening in the world
in that we do not want to create confrontations between the workers. We
fight against that.
For this to happen we need organization, we need newspapers. We
published 4,000 copies of a newspaper. To publish it, the workers raised
funds for it. It was the workers who wrote it, sent photos, drawings; it
was their newspaper. Now we are unable to continue publication due to
lack of funds.
To summarize our objectives:
* First, to end the occupation and compel the withdrawal of occupation
troops. Since it is also the basis upon which the terrorist groups
pursue their activities and organize the chaos in Iraq. We want a
government elected in Iraq by the Iraqi people.
* Second, we want a secular state -- with separation of church and
state.
* Third, we want to promote and secure the best workers' rights that
exist in the world. We want to organize a conference in Iraq for the
respect of labor rights, conventions and international standards.
* Fourth, we need and are hoping to obtain the support of the
international labor movement, we need solidarity among all unions.
We are preparing a new conference in our country of our national
federation. We want to make it an international gathering place. We
would like to hold this conference before May 1 if conditions permit. We
invite you to come and see what it is, and judge for yourselves the
representativity of our federation. We decided at the time of our first
conference in December to hold a conference every six months, but in
view of the acceleration of the strike movement, we are forced to
convene our conference earlier.
In fact, we can say that the labor movement, despite extreme
difficulties, is progressing. It should be noted that the demands of the
different strikes are the same, but they are not coordinated, there
isn't a trade union federation to gather and put forward in a united
manner all these demands. Only the workers' movement can avoid the
ethnic confrontation and unite the country, and avoid what happened in
Bosnia or in ex-Yugoslavia. It is necessary to avoid the division of
society according to ethnic and religious elements.
This is not just Iraq's problem. But today it is up to the workers'
movement to oppose it. Iraq is not an Islamic country, contrary to what
is said. Iraq is a model of tolerance in the Middle East, among Arab
nations.
We are trying to establish the pole of an authentic workers' movement
that will play the major role in promoting secularism, the rights of
women, workers' rights -- against all forms of discrimination and
division.
All this forms part of our perspective. In spite of everything, we are
optimistic. The government doesn't give us legislation and the
possibility of carrying out our work. Despite that, we continue with our
efforts. The demands have to do with the salary scale and
classifications. They created a situation where wages can go from
100,000 dinars to one million dollars. This creates considerable
differences and destabilizes the workers' movement. Today there are
millions of unemployed. Therefore the re-establishment of work is
important.
Lately there have been confrontations between workers and management at
many companies. Sometimes they call on the Iraqi armed forces to
disperse the workers' groups. In our union there are workers of all
origins, Muslim, Christian, Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds and Arabs -- all
working together.
One must also understand that legalization by the Occupation Authority
of one of the union federations puts into question our own legality. For
instance, at the time of our first conference in December, delegates of
the workers from Bassra came to attend our conference. They represented
real unions; truly representative workers' assemblies had chosen their
delegates to our conference.They took copies of the newspaper of our
federation and decided to distribute them. They distributed hundreds in
the factories and workplaces. There are plans for a regional conference
in the southern part of the country, around these unions, to implant a
federation.
But after the legalization of the other federation [the IFTU--translator's
note], some leaders came to see these workers in Bassra to make some
proposals with money, to offer them some posts, to demand they enter the
official federation; otherwise they would be illegal. In the same manner
in Diwane, the unions of the textile and tire industries had preparatory
committees to organize unions. There is an offensive led by religious
parties to say that the unions in our federation are atheistic and that
they will be illegal.
One must understand that the fact that a federation was recognized by
the provisional governing council carries a lot of weight. We had formed
the union of unemployed, this was the first union we formed in Baghdad
with a very precise procedure: election of leaders on a union platform.
After the official recognition of the other federation, and even though
we had been working together for eight months, the leaders of the other
federation came to see the leaders of the railworkers union in order to
integrate them, offering them privileges and positions within the union.
This is a problem, because they tell the workers that their union is
legal, while we are illegal. Therefore they tell the workers it will not
be possible to make any gains with the illegal union, and so they should
join the legal union.
In fact in Iraq there is the problem of two traditions that are
counterposed. There is the tradition of the trade union that is bound to
the state, to the ruling power in place; and there is the tradition of
the independent union. We are acting to defend the fact that all unions
must be able to exist without state intervention or prior authorization.
We went to meet some workers in Basora, and they have elected their
leaders without any outside intervention. They look for a solution.
After discussions, they decided to join the ranks of our federation.
Immediately, the official federation came to see them and tell them not
to join the so-called illegal union.
We believe that each and everyone of us has the right to organize a
union. We place the interests of workers first. We have elaborated a
union platform of demands and the draft of a future labor code. We gave
it to the person responsible for the Middle Eastern region of the
International Labor Organization in Beirut. Our discussion with them was
very positive. But we haven't had any contact with them for several
months."
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HAITI
"The defense of occupied Haiti is the defense of all the countries
of the region threatened with intervention, beginning with Venezuela and
Cuba"
Final Declaration of the Meeting of the Association of Workers and
Peoples of the Caribbean -- March 20, 2004
The Association of the Workers and Peoples of the Caribbean (APTC)
met on Saturday, March 20, 2004 in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, on the
occasion of the International Day of Action Against the War.
We reviewed the barbaric events that unfolded on March 20, 2003 against
the Iraqi people under the pretext of re-establishing democracy against
a so-called dictator, possessor of weapons of mass destruction. The real
objective was to take control of Iraqi oil and to instill terror in the
people of the region and the world.
This same barbaric force has installed itself in the heart of the
Caribbean, with the occupation of Haiti by the French, Canadian, and
U.S. governments.
We consider that this occupation -- which runs counter to the right of
the Haitian people to self-determination -- goes hand in hand with the
economic aggressions of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA),
which the United States wishes to impose on all the countries of the
Americas in order to install its multinationals on the cadavers of
national economies, legislations and regulations. It is also a matter of
destroying all social rights and conquests, in the name of economic
competitiveness and the reduction of the labor costs.
We thus consider that taking a stance against the war and against
"free trade" accords like the FTAA -- and in defense of the
rights of peoples to self-determination and in support of the rights and
conquests of workers constituted in national, regional and international
legislation -- are all part of the same struggle.
We consider as well that as we condemn the occupation of Haiti, we must
warn against the very real and immediate threats against other nations
in the region -- beginning with Venezuela and Cuba.
Thus, the ATPC decides:
1 - To give total solidarity to the people of Haiti to help them decide
for themselves and to choose freely the forms to re-establish democracy
that they judge most appropriate. The occupation of Haiti by foreign and
imperialist forces is contrary to the rights of people to
self-determination and the United Nations Charter.
2 - To inform the people of the Caribbean about the origin of the
current situation of chaos in Haiti. The ATPC proposes to send to the
first Black nation of the world a Commission of International Inquiry.
3 - To support the international labor delegation that will travel to
Venezuela in April to inquire about the situation in that country and to
send a signal to the U.S. Embassy that there is widespread opposition in
our Western Hemisphere to any type of imperialist intervention.
Considering, furthermore, that the current climate of military and
economic war poses supplementary threats to the security of militants
and the rights of workers, the ATPC decides:
- to support the formation of a Caribbean Human Rights Committee, as
suggested by the Conference held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on March
8-10, 2004. This Committee has as its goal to unify on a Caribbean-wide
level the defense of militants who are victims of oppression and
repression and to defend the rights of workers, in cooperation with
regional and international organizations that struggle for the same
objectives.
As of now, it decides to bring to that Committee's attention the case of
General Union of Guadeloupan Workers (UGTG) trade unionist who are the
victims of judiciary repression and are under the threat of heavy prison
sentences simply for exercising their guaranteed right to strike as
codified by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and ratified by
the French government.
- To send a delegation to the Annual International Meeting in Defense of
the Conventions of the International Labor Organization -- organized by
the International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples -- to be held
June 15, 2004, in Geneva with a specific memorandum concerning the
situation of the rights of workers in the Caribbean.
Baie-Mahault, March 20, 2004
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HAITI
Deputies and representatives of the PT in Brazil address President Lula
to tell him: "Let the people of Haiti decide their own future. No
to sending Brazilian troops to Haiti."
To His Excellency the President of the Republic,
Luis Inácio Lula da Silva:
We address you to request that you not send Brazilian troops as a
pretended "peace force" to Haiti, as has been announced.
The U.S., Canadian, French and Chilean troops that are already there are
occupation troops that have designated a puppet government, violating
the national sovereignty of Haiti. There are already Haitians who have
been killed by U.S. troops. At the same time the provisional authorities
have indicated it will be two years before elections are held.
The character of occupation the foreign troops represent is therefore
quite clear; the Haitians themselves must find a democratic solution to
the crisis. On the other hand, this intervention attacks the sovereignty
of all nations of the continent, reinforcing the intention of the Bush
government to impose an unlimited hegemony, representing an escalation
that must come to an end.
This occupation also comes up against the defense of sovereignty and
democratic resolution of internal conflicts affirmed by Brazilian
foreign policy.
We, the signatories of this text, are partisans of the right to
self-determination, defenders of the peace and the fraternity between
peoples, along with the large majority of the Brazilian people who
elected you in 2002.
We cannot accept, Mr. President, that however great the pressures of the
great powers may be, that Brazilian troops could participate in this
occupation. We have a sad antecedent in the involvement of Brazilian and
U.S. troops in the coup d'Etat against the lawfully elected president of
the Dominican Republic, Juan Bosch, followed by the installation of a
dictatorship. This was possible in 1965 when Brazil was under a military
dictatorship.
Nowadays a democratic government cannot commit the same mistake.
Let the people of Haiti decide their own future!
No to sending Brazilian troops to Haiti!
Sao Paulo, March 21, 2004
No to sending Brazilian troops to Haiti!
Emir Sader, professor; Markus Sokol, member national council of the
PT; Plínio de Arruda Sampaio, professor Luiz E. Greenhalgh, federal
deputy PT-SP Chico Alencar, federal deputy PT-RJ Ivan Valente, federal
deputy PT-SP Dr. Clair, fédérale deputy, PT-PR Iara Bernardi, federal
deputy, PT-SP Nazareno Fonteles, federal deputy, PT-PI Maninha, federal
deputy, PT-DF João Alfredo, federal deputy, PT-CE
Orlando Fantazzini, federal deputy, PT-SP Selma Schons, federal deputy,
PT-PR Paulo Rubem Santiago, federal deputy, PT-PE Randolfe Rodrigues,
state deputy, PT-AP Edmilson Rodrigues, mayor of Belém (PA), Carlos
Giannazi, municipal councilman, PT-SP Flávia Pereira, municipal
councilman PT-SP Jorge L. Martinez, member of the executive commission
CUT Gesab Corrêa, CNTE Maringoni, designer João Machado, economist José
Arbex, journalist Roberto Romano, professor Humberto F. Suini Deporte,
lawyer Francisco Foot Hardman, professor.
*******************
KAZAKHSTAN
For the liberation of two Kazakhstani union activists, Saken and Rousten
Jounoussov, jailed in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan
A former republic of the USSR, this country with only 16 million
inhabitants is six times bigger than France. Its natural resources are
considerable: coal (Karaganda), chromium, zinc, silver (world's second
producer), uranium (third), copper (fourth), iron, bauxite, phosphates,
cobalt, nickel, etc., not counting the oil of the Caspian shared with
Russia by an agreement in 1998; during the soviet regime the country
underwent an important industrial development (steel, chemical,
mechanical equipmentŠ and it is in Kazakhstan that the Baikonour space
center and the Semipalatinsk nuclear test center are located.
As in the other ex-republics in central Asia, the regime is in fact a
dictatorship of the Nazarbaev clan (former secretary of the Kazakh PC,
elected president in 1990 with 98.8% of the vote and constantly
re-elected ever since). The repression is pitiless: the opposition when
they refuse to be bought, are attacked in the street by unknown
assailants, run over by cars, their homes ransacked (always by unknowns
assailants), and are the object of false criminal accusations.
An appeal against repression
The union activists have launched an appeal in defense of two of
union members, Saken Jounoussov and his son Rousten, sentenced to three
years in jail under conditions that threaten their health and even their
life. Who are Saken and Rousten Jounoussov?
Saken is a leader of the Association of Independent Unions of the region
of Karaganda.. He has taken an active part in:
- The constitution of a council of the work collectives in 15 bankrupt
factories and mines and the organization in August 2001 of a march of
unemployed workers to the capital, Astapa, that was savagely attacked
3kms before reaching the presidential palace.
- The defense of seven maintenance employees of buildings that had not
been paid in three years. The leaders who had pocketed the region's
budget should have poured one million dollars (half of the amounts of
the duesŠ.)
- The organization of a strike against illegal privatization of the
brickworks factory in Aktask.
- The organization of a committee to fight against the arbitrary
increase in charges by the foreign Karaganda powers.
The protests against these arrests would reinforce the position of
numerous militants in danger:
Guenadi Nikitine, vice-president of the Confederation of Free Unions of
Kazakhstan, director of the miner's union of Kentaou; his union has been
banned and intervened, and a penal procedure has been instituted against
him.
Ramil Mingazov, president of the Accociation of Independent Unions,
threatened with two years in prison with a respite in the same affair of
the Jounoussovs.
Oulmeken Saoudova, Goulmira Dildabaeva; directors of the women miners'
movement, mothers of numerous families. Over 2,000 women organized
themselves in Kentaou and Baidibek (in southern Kazakhstan), because
their husbands are unemployed and survive through irregular badly paid
jobs and that they didn't touch their benefits any more; their children
were literally dying of hunger. On September 17, seven of them attempted
to set themselves on fire in Astapa in front of the Parliament. They
were arrested, tortured, and subjected during several days to forced
psychiatric treatment.
They did receive payment of part of the arrears due them, but two of
them were run over by a car and others have been threatened with jail.
Oulmenken is 56 years old, has already been arrested, tortured, then
thrown into jail; released following a protest campaign, she is now
disabled and must hide, because she is still under threat of being
arrested.
Goulmira has been accused of "falsifying documents" one being
her work card of 1989! She has been arrested several times, her
apartment has been searched, and has been threatened with the removal of
her children.
Ivan Boulgakov, turner, who has spent his entire life at the Irtych
refinery, member of the union at the factory since the end of the USSR,
member of the organizing committee of the union center of Kazakstan, has
been the recognized leader of the long struggle in defense of the union
at the factory.
These militants (and many others) appeal:
- To act for the liberation of Saken and Rousten Jounoussov,
- To constitute a commission to investigate the repression,
- To establish contacts with union organizations in Kazakstan.
The death of a region
The copper refinery of Irtych in Gloubokoe (in the western region of
Kamenogorst) was a profitable enterprise: the copper deposits were on
the surface (accessible), abundant power (2hydroelectrics on the Irtych),
state of the art technology and equipment, and highly skilled labor. It
produced electrolytic quality copper that was the standard for the
London stock exchange. A supplementary activity permitted the recovery
of gold and silver. It employed 1,600 people and the town of Gloubokoe
owed it its existence.
Valued at two billion tenge, the factory was sold in 1999 for 260
million (barely the value of the copper to be found there) to Kazakmys
(a subsidiary of Samsung) with a bonus of free exploitation of five
copper deposits.
Kazakmys started by closing down (by flooding) of the poorer deposits.
The mining town of Beloosvk was also scratched off the map. The refinery
closed in six months under pretext of renovation construction works. A
certain number of Russian workers (around 600) left the town and social
tension increased. The factory opened its doors temporarily but
announced its definite closure soon.
The personnel of the factory supported by the entire town (a meeting in
January 2003 gathered 5,000 participants), defended the factory inch by
inch, day and night. Since Fall 2002 they have not been paid or received
their benefits. In July 2003 the management managed to close the factory
and transfer the facilities to the Balkash refinery. The authorities had
promised a replacement activity: hog raising (the pollution in the area
prohibits all food production), a tannery, and a paper factory.
In September 2003, the Prime Minister announced the realization of these
projects with a precise calendar: In February 2004, practically nothing
has been done. Anyhow it would only produce 247 jobs for over 900
unemployed. The town lost over 57% of its budget, drinking water and
heating have been cut throughout the district.
We propose to all signatories associated with international labor
solidarity, to constitute a commission to an independent investigation
that would go to Kazakhstan to meet the jailed militants and the
authorities.
The protests should be addressed to:
SOUD'E MALYSHKO soud 2 oulm. Eroubaeva 30 Karaganda, Republic of
Kazakstan
Tel/fax (321-2) 42 02 20 tel/fax du tribunal régional (3212) 74 27 83
of the Supreme Court of Kasakstan (3172)
32 49 59 ; of the public prosecutor's office (317 2) 32 19 04
To send a copy to the ILC
E Mail : eit.ilc@fr.oleane.com
Or mail to « Kazakstan ILC campaign"
87 rue du fg st Denis 75010 paris checks to the order of CMO
Kazakmys
The company that belongs to the Samsung group is well known in
Kazakstan for its contempt of all rules; no ecological measures, failure
to respect security regulations that have led to accidents at work,
failure to respect labor legislation, forced to work extra hours or you
are firedŠ
*******************
ALGERIA
"We have two languages and only one people.
Algeria is in your hands"
Louisa Hanoune leads the country to a presidential election in the
name of the Workers' Party.
On April 8 the presidential election will take place in Algeria. Whereas
we are in the last days of the election campaign, Louisa Hanoune will
have held rallies in 38 wilayas of the country.
This week she held rallies in the wilayas of Kabylie. We publish
excerpts from different Algerian dailies on the campaign:
* "In Tizi-Ouzou (by Mourad Hachid):
To a roomful at the House of Culture in Mouloud-Mammeri, Lousa Hanoune
was a big hit in Tizi-Ouzou. She spent time on what happened in that
region and the crisis that has lasted three years, considering that it
is not enough for the State to recognize its responsibility. On several
occasions she drew attention to the dangers of division that threaten
the country to become another Iraq.
For her the official language should be tamazight without a referendum.
Those that want to territorialize tamazight only want to ghetto-it,
enclose it. We say no. Tamazight must be obligatory in all wilayas, in
the image of the Arab language.
To the assistants, she will not to let this project pass (that of
regionalization), as it would mean "the end of our country."
* "In Béjaia (by Kamel Amghar):
The regional theater of Bejaia proved too tiny to hold the human tide
that came last Thursday to attend the electoral rally of the candidate
of the Workers' Party to the highest position, the first woman to apply
for the Presidency of the Republic in the history of the nation.
The workers and unionists who recognize themselves as the socialist
foundation of the PT, entire families, youths, youngsters and the
elderly.
To end the national crisis which has persisted over a decade reducing
the regional plan, the speaker called on all the country's strengths to
a "national Algerian convention and the election of a constituent
assembly to save the country from progressive but certain
disintegration."
Regarding the situation in Kabylie, Louisa Hanoune reiterated her
position relative to the officilialization of the amazighe language
through parliament, while underlining the legitimacy of all social
demands raised, "which one must widen to the rest of the country
because pauperization is a national reality," she said, before
energetically opposing the "revocation of the 'locally elected
regional representatives." This requirement that would be supported
by outside pressures, is judged "scandalous and
inconceivable."
On the other hand she said the favored the dissolution of all assemblies
elected to "reestablish their popular legitimacy in a calm and
democratic climate."
She will plead for zero privatization esteeming quite on the contrary
the possibility of re-opening closed units, without omittingŠ.. to
assimilate the partnership as an instrument of the multinationals to
pillage the resources of our country.
The revision of the statutes of public functions, the law on the free
zones and adherence to the WTO have also been denounced along with many
initiatives offered to the Algerian economy, still very fragile, on a
silver platter to the "voracious appetites of international
liberalism."
Subsidies for the agricultural sector must serve authentic farmers,
"instead ofŠpeople of that sort" said Hanoune while
categorically opposing the transfer of arable lands."
* "In Jijel (by Hourriya Abba):
"After the Bejaia stage, her native city, Louisa Hanoune posed the
following question: "The question of the disappeared and the
violation of human rights." "A return to peace and the silence
of arms is necessary, because it is impossible to build while counting
deaths daily."
She noted forcefully the "danger of free zones, zones of
over-exploitation, where labor laws are not applied and where women and
children will not be respected.
She denounced the management of the crisis in Kabylie, following the
murder of Massinissa Guermah. Returning to the question of tamazight,
she said: "We have two languages and a single people." And
"we must defend and officilize our ancestral language to all so
that it will take its place next to the Arabian language introduced in
Algeria with Islam."
We must resolve our own affairs. Those who attacked Iraq have nothing to
do here."
Louisa Hanoune exhorted her listeners to be combative and vigilant:
"Algeria is in your hands, this sacred deposit, with its resources,
its enterprises, its youth, its intelligentsia, its workers, everything
we have built since independence. Defend your country! Without divisions
without provocations, watch your expressions and the memory of martyrs,
defend your country!" Those were her last words under a storm of
ovations and shouts."
*******************
IVORY COAST
"The multinationals are behind these tragic events."
To understand what is happening in Ivory Coast: a meeting with a
unionist of the Ivory Coast:
The crisis of the Ivory Coast was just revived last Thursday. What is
really happening?
Kokora Yoman: On Thursday, March 25, several parties decided to leave
the government. They called for a demonstration. The demonstration was
forbidden, but they went ahead. There were violent confrontations.
Officially there were 37 deaths and independent sources put the figure
at 350 to 500 deaths.
How did they arrive at that?
KY: Although we do not have all the facts relevant to this event, one
must report a number of known facts. The management of the customs,
taxes, treasury and ports are four key positions that bring fresh money
into the Ivory Coast.. For some time, disagreements have emerged between
the government's different components on responsibilities of these
positions. You will understand that it is the handling of billions that
is at stake in this game, as well as the appetites of the
multinationals.
Can you specify?
K.Y.: You know the port is in the hands of a French multinational called
Bolloré and it is this group that directs it. They had a 15-year
contract that has just expired. And the power to award public contracts
for the concession of the port and search for other buyers. It seems
that Bolloré is currently better placed for the awarding of the port,
and certainly this has not pleased everyone.
On the awarding of other projects there were differences within the
government. Besides the port what other sectors are concerned?
K.Y. There is for example the business of the bridge of Abidjan that
should have been built by Bouygues. When General Guei came to power,
some years ago, he suspended all the works, since the price of these
projects was too high according to him. Then, when the present president
came to power, he wanted to press forward onŠ.He asked other countries,
other specialists to bid. That is how the Chinese sent their expert
reports and saw their bids were lower than those of Bouygues. But after
President Gbagbo went to France the Bouygues were back in favor. Behind
the present crisis there are the interests of the multinationals that
seem to be confronted by the interposition of Ivory coast natives.
K.-Y. Yes, it's obvious. When one goes back to the origins of the crisis
after 1990, where Alassane Dramane Ouattara (former director general of
the IMF - NDLR) was named Prime Minister, all the important public
companies of the Ivory Coast were sold off to France in a privatization
move that no one has since questioned.
Currently all these companies are at the end of their contracts. And the
powers that reign have decreed that henceforth, all companies that are
deemed extremely sensitive for the sovereignty of the Ivory Coast and
the most profitable should be awarded by public contracts.
The multinationals have been brought through representative policies to
fight over the juiciest markets and natural resources of the Ivory
Coast. They are behind the tragic events that are developing at present.
That is to say are they the ones that arm the different camps, the
difference factions?
K.Y.-: We don't have palpable proof. However when one looks at what is
happening, one can see they are in back of this.
What is the position of Americans in the Ivory Coast and how are they in
reference to French positions?
K.Y.: Recently important discoveries have been made, according to which
the Ivory Coast is very rich in oil.
The Americans as is their habit, are very interested. So they have their
hands on a number of things. When one takes the coastal zone of Abidjan
up to San Pedro, it has been declared a strategic zone by the United
States. It is for this reason that the "rebels" couldn't take
San Pedro, because that is the entire area where the oil deposits are
located. An American unit would be based in the ocean, close to this
zone, and would supervise the whole port of San Pedro. This means the
United States on the one hand and France on the other are fighting to
defend their positions.
Meanwhile the Americans intervene through an Indian group named Cargill,
for merchandising cocoa, and they even work in collaboration with Bolloré.The
American are also resent at the airport. They wanted to create a
transportation company but discussions have not yet been finalized.
What are the consequences of this situation for the workers and the
people?
K.Y.: The consequences are dramatic. Since the beginning of the crisis,
in September 19, 2002, many companies closed. In the formerly occupied
zone after Yamoussoukro and Bouaké in the North, many companies have
closed and workers left to go south to live with their parents. This
provokes congestion for the inhabitants of the region who can't manage
to support themselves any more with their meager salaries. The situation
is very hard on them.
What is the situation for the families?
K.Y.: Take my case for example. We were five: my wife, my children and a
younger brother who lived with us, who had odd jobs and managed for
himself. After the crisis, we were twelve, that is to say seven more we
manage by sharing the lounge and bedrooms.
All those who came were unemployed, and are the responsibility of the
only member of the family who works, and who is obliged to find more
money for food, electricity, water, whose costs have increased three
times, four times. It is really difficult. The crisis of the Ivory Coast
has rebounded on Mali, and the Burkina Faso. It's the same situation
everywhere.
********************
BANGLADESH
NATIONAL CONVENTION IN BANGLADESH:
"SAVE CHITTAGONG, SAVE THE COUNTRY"
LIST OF SPEAKERS AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION HELD IN CHITTAGONG
18TH MARCH 2004
1st Session:
Chairperson: Prof. Mr. Siddiqul Islam, President, Transport Workers
Union.
Keynote Presentation: Shariat Ullah, General Secretary, Bandar Sramik
Union (Port Workers Union)
Speakers:
1. Ahsan Ullah Choudhury, Veteran port workers leader. He was jailed
several times due to his trade union activities.
2. Engr. Sk. Mohammad Shadullah, Convener, "Save Oil, Gas and
Natural Resources" Committee
3. Al-hajj. A.B.M. Mahiuddin Choudhury, Honorable Mayor of Chittagong.
4. Mr. Sunil Aice, Joint Secretary Port Workers Union and one of the
plaintiffs in the case against SSA
5. Majibur Rahaman. President, Dinajpur Textile Workers Union, and
secretary, Ganatantric Majdoor party north Bengal branch.
6. Mrs. Abida Sultana, President, Chittagong Women Association
7. Ranesh Barua, President C& F. Workers Union
8. Mostaque Ahmed, President, Chittagong Union of journalists
2nd Session:
Chairperson: Rafiquzzaman, President, Ganatantric Majdoor Party,
Chittagong Region
9. Khaliquzzaman, Convener, Bangladesh Socialist Party
10. Dr. Mahfuzur Rahaman, BSD Leader
11. Al-Hajj. Bazlus Sattar, (age 90) veteran Communist leader.
12. Prof. Jamal Nazrul Islam, Chittagong University.
13. Mahfuzur Rahaman, President, Jatiyo Sramik League, Chittagong
14. Azizul Haque, Office Secretary Railway Sramik League
15. Abu Taher, Asst. Secretary. Railway Karigor Parishad, Central
Committee.
16. Sk. Abdur Rashid, President Mohsin Jute Workers Union Khulna
17. Tafazzul Hussain, President, Ganatantric Majdoor Party. (The
Chittagong
Declaration and resolutions were presented by him.)
Foreign Guest Speakers:
1. Clarence Thomas, Executive Board Member, ILWU local 10.
2. Gulzar Ahmed Choudhury, General Secretary, All Pakistan Trade Union
Federation (APTUF), Pakistan
3. Chandan Kumar Sanyal. Secretary NFSRU, India
3. François Forgue, ILC, France
Ahmed Kabir , Secretary Ganatantric Majdoor Party, Chittagong managed
the total convention
Cultural part, song & dramas were conducted by various
organizations.
Food, Security and volunteers were managed by c. Badruddoza, Convener,
Revolutionary Youth organization.
----------
"SAVE CHITTAGONG, SAVE COUNTRY" NATIONAL CONVENTION
FINAL CHITTAGONG DECLARATION.
On 18th March 2004, we met in a national convention held in Chittagong,
Bangladesh. One thousand of us came from the various parts of the
country. We came from Khulna, Mongla, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Dhaka
-- and we came from all parts and trades of Chittagong. Among us there
were trade union leaders, workers, peasants, youth, students,
professional educators and intellectuals.
Throughout the whole day we heard presentations from speakers, prominent
among whom were:
* Mr. Sk Shahidullah, Convener, "Save Oil, Gas, Port, Power
National Committee";
* Clarence Thomas, Executive board member, ILWU Local 10 (United
States);
* Tafazzul Hussain, President, Democratic Workers Party of Bangladesh;
* Alhaj A.B.M. Mahiudding Chowdhury, Mayor of Chittagong;
* Ahsan ullah Choudhury, Veteran port worker leader;
* Mostaque Ahmed, President, Chittagong Journalists Union;
* Jamal Nazrul, Professor of Islam, Chittagong university;
* Dr. Mahfuzur Rahaman , Freedom fighter & BSD leader;
* Abu Taher and Azizul Hague, Rail workers' leaders;
* Sunil Aice, Port worker leader;
* Ranesh Barua, C&F leader;
* Majibor Rahaman, National Workers Federation leader from Dinajpur;
* Mrs. Abida Sultana, President, Chittagong Women's Association;
* C. Khaliquzzaman, Convener BSD;
* C. Bazlus Sattar. Comrade Gulzar Ahmed Choudhury, General Secretary,
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (Pakistan);
* C. Chandan Sanyal, General Secretary, National Federation of Sales
Representatives (India);
A message from the ILC was delivered by C. François Forgue. In
addition, 21 messages of international solidarity were read in the
convention.
The main presentation to the convention was delivered by comrade Shariat
Ullah, General Secretary of the Chittagong Port Workers Union. It
explained in detail the disastrous scenario resulting from the
privatization and conspiracy to hand over our land to the U.S.
corporation SSA.
Our poor but resourceful country is passing a dreadful juncture of
history. All our industries, agriculture, health services, transport,
railway, education and even daily life are being destroyed by the
onslaught of the imperialist capital. Under these circumstances, the
holding of this convention was necessary -- not only because our
establishments and wealth are at a stake, but because our independence
and sovereignty are under serious jeopardy by this onslaught.
This convention was of utmost necessity because we believe that the
struggle against privatization and imperialist plunder has to be given
an international dimension. This is because these international
plunderers are not only attacking our wealth, they are playing havoc
everywhere in the world. As such, to fight back these international
looters, there is no alternative but to globalize our resistance. The
facts given by the speakers provide ample proof of how important it is
to hold a national convention to save the country.
It was planned to sell the land to SSA to build a private port in 1997.
An agreement was signed with SSA in 1998. As per this agreement, SSA
will build a $500-million port facility. But the workers of the
Chittagong port staged a vehement opposition to this plan of
privatization. In this resistance, the heroic people of Chittagong
joined the workers. The resistance movement got momentum in 2001. The
fierce movement, the long march and the human chain gave impetus to the
anti-privatization movement.
At the same time, the High Court & Supreme Court declared some of
the clauses of the agreement as unlawful. As a result, the construction
of this private port is halted for the time being. But the conspiracy
has not stopped. Previous U.S. Ambassadors to Bangladesh -- Mr. Holzman,
Mary Ann Peters and present Ambassador H. K. Thomas -- have continued
their shameless advocacy in favor of SSA. The corrupt bureaucrats,
collaborators and politicians have joined them in their misdeeds. This
convention declares strong opposition to their heinous activities.
Clarence Thomas informed us all about SSA. It is the fourth largest
stevedoring company in the world and operates in 14 countries. It has
been given the control of the port of Umm Qassr in Iraq by the
occupation authorities. In the United States, SSA has a long record of
attempting to destroy the trade union movement. If SSA reaches its goal,
the workers of Chittagong harbor will be deprived of their jobs, their
benefits and their rights.
We must save Bangladesh and for that we issue this clarion call to
support our cause to all the organization, trade unions and individuals
-- to all those who are committed to uphold democracy, human and
workers' rights. In spite of our political differences and diversified
views, we are sure to build a joint resistance against the aggressor to
save every inch of our motherland.
Bangladesh will survive, if we are able to halt the present form of
plundering by the imperialist capital. For this we must build a united
resistance whatever legitimate political differences may exist among us.
We have to fight all attempts to forge enmity between ethnic groups and
communities. We have to refuse to be divided by religious and sectarian
differences.
Privatization is our common enemy; privatization is of the root of our
destruction. Privatization means plunder of our wealth and economy.
Today this evil power of imperialist capital is exploiting the whole
world in the same pace. By instigating conflict between ethnic and
religious groups and among various sects, they bring war and destruction
to facilitate looting and plunder. As such to save our port, oil, gas,
railway from privatization means saving the very existence of
Bangladesh. Our fight will be the fight of the whole subcontinent,
because we are fighting against the same enemy. We have to fight jointly
as we fought against the British colonial power.. We have to denounce
imperialist globalization in a body. Imperialists instigate war among us
for their own benefit and to fish in the troubled water. That is why the
contribution alongside trade unionists of Bangladesh of trade unionists
from Pakistan and India is so important as a beacon of peace and
solidarity between the people of our subcontinent.
We call for peace in the entire world. All people have the right to
decide their own fate. We call for the end of the occupation of Iraq and
the immediate withdrawal of all the foreign military forces under
American command. This convention gives its full support to all those in
Bangladesh and worldwide will demonstrate for those aims on March the
20th.
"Save Chittagong, Save the country!" Chittagong is not for
sale, the country is not for sale. If our movement starting from this
convention is successful, we will be able to save our natural resources,
our industry and our agriculture.
The port of Chittagong is the lifeline of the country. This is the only
active seaport, as the Mongla port is almost abandoned through
conspiracy. If the Chittagong port is taken over by the foreign
ownership, the whole country as its hinterland will go under the foreign
rule. Chittagong is the center of all economic activities of the
country; if it goes at the foreign hand, the whole country will be
subjugated.
We will definitely be successful in this movement from Chittagong
because Chittagong has a heroic history. The anti-British movement
started from this Chittagong. 1971 liberation war was started from this
Chittagong. During the liberation war, the American 7th fleet could not
anchor in Chittagong due to the heroic resistance from the people here.
Today, jointly we declare that we will form a follow-up action committee
to continue and keep up the movement. With the mandate of 1000 persons
present here today, we declare that we will make today's theme of
"Save Chittagong, Save the Country" as the main call of this
year's "May Day" rally. We call upon all organizations that
claim to defend workers' right and the sovereignty of our country to
unite around this call. In each town, village, plants, university let us
form united action committee under the banner of "The country is
not for sale, Chittagong is not for sale." -- "Save Chittagong,
Save the Country!" Together, united, let us prepare the 1st of May.
On that day we will renew our pledge to save the country from the
clutches of this privatization process. We will save our port, save our
land, save our industries, save our agriculture and save our natural
resources.
Today we take oath that we will continue our fight. The working class
organization of the whole world will be in the forefront of this
movement. We call upon all international trade union federations to
support the movement of the Bangladeshi working class. We propose that
the trade union federations of Bangladesh address in common a letter to
ILO informing it of the threats against the workers' rights spelled out
by the ILO conventions and norms which would become effective if
Chittagong is sold out.
We believe that the appeal of this declaration will unite all the
exploited people of the world. Movement & sacrifice of 1st May was
started from America and the American working class. Today, also we
recognize and value the contribution of the American port workers'
representative from ILWU local 10. By joining the movement to oppose the
destruction of Chittagong they really prove that "An Injury to One
Is An Injury to All."
CHITTAGONG THE 18TH March 20, 2004
******************
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE OCCUPATION AND FOR LABOR RIGHTS IN
IRAQ
March 15, 2004
A delegation of the "International campaign against occupation and
for the labor rights in Iraq" submitted a memorandum with five
precise questions on the violations of the ILO conventions dedicated to
the respect of labor rights and the right to association.
This memorandum was submitted for signing by the world's labor movement.
The following are the first signatures received by the organizers of the
campaign.
Hong-Kong : Hong-Kong Christian Industrial Committee (HKCIC)
Philippines : Philippines Railway Worker Union
France :
The following unions: :
FERC SUP. CGT union of the university of Bordeaux 2 ; CGT union
of the Paris Museum ; FO union of the personnel and public assistance of
Paris hospitals ; FO union local section FO COM DISF of Gradignan ;
section FO d'Esso REP group ExxonMobil ; CGT CHS union of Jura ; union
syndicale départementale CGT of health and social action of Jura ; CGT
union of the personnel of the management of information systems and
computer sciences of Issy-les-Moulineaux ; FO union of lyceums and
colleges, department of the Rhône, at Lyon ; CGT union of the ACOSS of
Paris ; SNTRS CGT ESPCI ; local union CGT of Langres 52 ; FO CHU CHS
Lyon union ; FO social security union 31.
And these union members: :
Daniel Courrège (teacher), Alain Aucouturier (teacher), Yannick Sibelin
(health), Karim Lakjaa (51), Jean-Marie Tribout, Jacky Rouvière
(unemployed13), François Le Pivert (teacher 22), José Nicol (PTT 28),
Suno Navarro (EDF 31), Pierre Gueguen (Social security 31), Sylvestre
Chevalier (higher education 33), Pierre Priet (construction 35), Serge
Grandvaux (teacher 39), Denis Geoffroy (51), Patrick Fusy (teacher 57),
Pierre-André Corizzi (unemployed 57), Christiane B_uf (63), Michel B_uf
(63), Philippe Navarro (hospital worker 69), Alain Davanture
(construction71), Emmanuel Chalard (mining and energy 75), Marie
Stagliano (teacher 75), Jean-Simon Bitter (insurance 75), Jacques
Borenstejn (teacher 75), Clarisse Delalondre (EDF 75), Roger Rejchman
(chemistry 75), Denis Lévy (75), Patrice Métreau (La Poste 75), Claude
Charmont (teacher 77), Patrick Champion (EDF 77), Adrian Lévy (78),
Jenny Lévy (78), Anne-Marie Ray-Cadeot (teacher 78), Christophe Massé
(PTT 86), Dominique Leroy (86), Myriam Hamdaoui (86), Béatrice Sylvain
(89), Jean-Paul Courtial (teacher 89), Jean-Claude Loew (chemistry 91),
Dominique Laplanche (RATP 91), Colette Laplanche (social action 91), Véronique
Peppers (chemistry 91), Sylvie Kondylis (91), François Risacher (91),
Georges Bachellerie (chemistry 91), Bronislaw Slupek (EDF 92), Michel
Landron (teacher 93), Michel Lefebvre (teacher 93), Alain Poupard (PTT
75), Jean Claude Aymé (social security 95), Jean-Louis Bagnault (PTT
95), Jean-Michel Braud (taxes 95), François Lefebvre (teacher 95).
Circulate this memorandum throughout your unions, throughout your
organizations
Organize the campaign for the respect of ILO conventions 87 and 98
To obtain a copy of the appeal write to the:
International Liaison Committee for the workers and peoples
87 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis, 75010, Paris
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