>Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 12:57:32 +1100 >From: John Percy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Appeal against repression of Worker Communist Party of Iraq in Iraqi Kurdistan >Dear Comrades, > >The Worker Communist Party of Iraq (WCPI) is suffering increasing >repression in Iraqi Kurdistan. The security forces of the Patriotic >Union of Kurdistan have arrested leaders and activists of the WCPI, and >closed down or harassed offices of organisations led by them. > >Attached below is an appeal from the WCPI leadership to progressive >parties and individuals, trade unions and human rights organisations >around the world to protest these repressive actions. > >We urge you to respond to this appeal and send off letters of protest to >the PUK. Also attached is an urgent action appeal by Amnesty >International, which has taken up the case, and the charges against the >WCPI drawn up by the court in Suleimaniya. > >Comradely greetings, > >John Percy, >National Secretary >Democratic Socialist Party >Australia >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >___________________ >APPEAL > >To All: Political Parties and Organisations >Trade Unions >Human Rights Organisations >Progressive and freedom loving individuals: > >Serious events are currently taking place in Iraqi Kurdistan, >specifically in the areas where the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), >lead by Jalal Talabani, is imposing its rule. A series of violations of >political freedoms and human rights are being carried out by the PUK >against communists, labour movement activists, the Arab displaced >campaigners, children rights advocates, youth and students union >activist. > >On 16-2-00, the PUK's security forces arrested three leading cadres of >the Worker Communist Party of Iraq and the Displaced Union, (Ammar >Sharif , Fahid Nasser and Yousif Mohammed) who are still in detention. > >Prior to that on 21-Jan-00, the PUK's armed men in Qala'a Deza town >arrested 11 activists of the Free Youth and Students Union, two of whom >(Hussein Alik Ahmed and Khalid Khidr Babekir) are still in detention, >the other nine only released after being forced to sign a statement of >abandoning their activities as union activists. > >On 17-2-00 another member, Jaza Mohammed Rahim was arrested while >distributing party's publications and is still being held. > >On the same day the Elderly Construction Workers Care Centre was >targeted and Mahdi Rasul, chair of the Construction Worker's Union and >the head of the Elderly Centre was arrested for several hours. The >Centre was forcibly closed down. > >The Children's Rights Protection Centre is being constantly harassed. > >On 5-3-00 an appeal was made against the WCPI by the Regional >Government's Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs to the court of >Sulaimaniya. Various allegations are raised which are all in the domain >of political activities and none of them is the substance of legal >proceedings in any country where the slightest respect and consideration >are given to the freedom of political activity. On the basis of these >charges the deputy minister asks for banning the WCPI activities and >publications and closing down its offices and its radio broadcasting >station. > >The aim of this brutal campaign by the PUK is to restrict and ban the >activities of the WCPI and the NGOs related to it in the areas of >Kurdistan where it rules. The PUK is, in fact, responding to orders from >the collapsing regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran with which it has >strong ties. At the same time, it is responding to concerns by the >Ba'ath regime of Iraq about the recent intensified anti-regime >activities of WCPI in the middle and southern part of Iraq . This >campaign escallated following the municipality election held in part of >Kurdistan during February this year, in which we, the WCPI, exposed the >massive false voting the PUK had engineered during that election. > >Why is the PUK attacking us? > >Through-out the past 7 years of its existence, the Worker Communist >Party of Iraq has been engaged in an adamant struggle for justice, >freedom, equality and welfare of the people in an area controlled by the >militia forces of the PUK and the KDP, where the terrorist forces of the >Islamic movements funded by Iran and Suadia Arabia are also operating >without any restriction. Many of our comrades have been murdered by >these militia forces. > >One of the main political features of Kurdistan since the end of the >Gulf War in 1991 is that there is no rule and law, no state, no defined >individual and civil rights, no defined structural provision of medical >care, or social services and welfare as in any normal country. This is >simply because the area has been transferred into a huge camp-like >place, without having any definite political and legal system as a >state, guarded by the militia men of PUK and KDP, each controlling part >of it . The only law and order available is the law of power of the >militia forces. > >We, the communists, led and organized the workers and popular council >movement during the uprising of March 1991 in Iraqi Kurdistan which >aimed at establishing a worker and popular power and free Kurdistan from >the hegemony of the Barzani and Talabani parties. We have always been >fighting for the workers welfare and rights, for the realization of the >absolute equality and freedom for women, for the empowerment of the >women movement by all means in an area where 4000 women were killed in >nine years. We resisted the Islamists and the nationalists attempts for >Algeriasation and Afganisation of Iraqi kurdistan through-out these >years and vigorously confronted the Islamists. We have asked for the >independence of Kurdisatn from Iraq as the only way out of the present >stalemate the society of Kurdistan is trapped in. We have saved Iraqi >Kurdistan from being declined by defending the civil society and >modernism, defending workers rights, women's rights, the aspirations and >needs of the youth, the rights of children and the elderly etc. > >What are the PUK's allegations against the WCPI ? > >The allegations that the Deputy Minister has raised against WCPI are all >political: -Printing a booklet and agitating for replacing the present >civil code with a new one which guarantees women's equality. > >-Propagating for the separation of Kurdistan from Iraq. >-Organizing demos. >-Exposing the corruption of the Regional Government of Kurdistan. >-Collecting donations for the WCPI among people. >-And finally, we are being accused of being internationalists by having >three "Iranians" from the Worker Communist Party of Iran in our >leadership. >-..etc > >In other words, the allegations are all despotic pretexts to ban >political freedom and openly contradicts the claims of the PUK to be >defending the freedom of political activities. > >What can you do? > >Write to the PUK showing your concern, distribute this information >within your organization and gather support for this issue . The aim of >writing is; > >The PUK must be stopped and pressurized to end its unjustified campaign >against the WCPI, asked to release the 3 leading cadres and the other >members of WCPI immediately and unconditionally and asked to respect the >freedom of political activities in Kurdistan. > >The PUK's contact numbers : Tel. 0044- 171 840 0640, Fax. 0044-171 840 >0630. PUK's office in the UK: 5 Glass House Walk, London SE11 5ES > >Your support will empower the labour and communist movement, women's >movement, serve political freedom, human rights in Kurdistan and will >strengthen the political and social move to save Kurdistan from being >declined into a stronghold of the Islamists and the reactionary forces. >It will also pre-empty any secret deals between the PUK and the Baath >regime to ban the freedom of political activities in Kurdistan. > >Moayad Ahmed >Politburo Member of the WCPI >12-3-00 >WCPI, POBox7926 London SE1 2ZG Tel.Fax: 0044-171 237 0605 Mob 0044-958 >955 760 > >__________________ > > >AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL >URGENT ACTION > >PUBLIC >AI Index: MDE 14/03/00 >EXTRA 20/00 > >Fear of Ill-treatment / Prisoners of Conscience / Fear of forcible return >7 March 2000 > >IRAQ/IRAQI KURDISTAN >'Ammar Sharif >Yusuf Mohammad >Fahd Nassir > >Amnesty International is concerned that the three above-named Iraqi opposition >party members arrested in Iraqi Kurdistan on 16 February 2000 are at risk of >ill-treatment in detention and of being forcibly returned to areas under the >control of the Iraqi Government where they could face arrest and serious human >rights violations. 'Ammar Sharif, Yusuf Mohammad and Fahd Nassir, all >considered by Amnesty international to be prisoners of conscience, were >arrested by the security forces of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in >Sulaimaniya and are now detained at Sulaimaniya Central Prison. > >The three, all members of the central committee of the Iraqi Workers' >Communist Party (IWCP), fled to Iraqi Kurdistan in the last few years to avoid >arrest for anti-government political activities. Since being there they have >been involved in setting up a non -governmental organization aimed at >providing help for Iraqis forced to flee areas controlled by the Iraqi >Government. They have reportedly been arrested for publicly accusing the PUK >of rigging recent local elections and criticising the security measures taken >by the PUK during the elections. > >On 22 February Amnesty International wrote to the PUK and sought clarification >of the reasons for their arrest and detention. In their replies, dated 24 >February and 2 March 2000, the PUK authorities said they had been arrested for >"creating disturbances and encouraging others to take part in disturbances, >and Illegally collecting money and forming committees and organizations to >collect money without proper procedures and permission." They also said the >men had now been released, contrary to reports received by Amnesty >International. > >BACKGROUND INFORMATION > >Since the end of the Gulf War in 1991 Iraqi Kurdistan has remained under the >control of the two main Kurdish political parties, the Kurdistan Democratic >Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). On 3 February local >elections were held in the area controlled by the PUK in which representatives >from the PUK, Islamist parties, IWCP and other parties took part. > >RECOMMENDED ACTION. > >Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters in English, Arabic >or your own language: - expressing concern for the safety of 'Ammar Sharif, >Yusuf Mohammad and Fahd Nassir who were arrested by the PUK on 16 February >2000 and who are now being held at Sulaimaniya Central Prison; >- seeking assurances that they are being treated humanely and have regular >access to lawyers of their own choosing, their families and any medical care >they may require; >- urging that they be immediately released as prisoners of conscience arrested >solely for their peaceable activities; >- seeking assurances that they will not be forcibly returned to areas under >Iraqi Government-control. > >APPEALS TO: > >Jalal Talabani >President >Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) >Sulaimaniya >Kurdistan >Iraq >Telegrams: President, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdistan, Iraq >Salutation: Dear Mr Talabani > >Jalal Talabani >c/o PUK United Kingdom >First Floor, 5 Glasshouse W5ESalk, 4 >Vauxhall >London SE11 5ES >UK >Faxes: + 44 171 8400630 >Salutation: Dear Mr Talabani > >Jalal Talabani >c/o PUK USA >444N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 837 >Washington D.C. >USA >Faxes. + 1 202 6372723 >Salutation: Dear Mr Talabani > >COPIES TO: Office of the PUK, if there is one in your country, > >PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the international Secretariat, or >your section office, if sending appeals after 4 April 2000. > >Amnesty International, International Secretariat. 1 Easton Street. London WC1 >X 8DJ, United Kingdom >Tel; (44)(171) 413 5500 Fax: 956 1157 Telegrams: Amnesty London WC1 Telex: >28502 E-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >The Judge of the Court in Sulaymaniah >Prosecutor: the Internal Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan province via his >deputy the legal marshal Nazer Ali Akber, in addition to his job >Respondent: Worker Communist Party: > >Prosecution: the Respondent has breached Parties' Law in Iraqi Kurdistan >province No:17 -1993. Especially the article of the act No: 14. Among these >breaches is that Worker Communist Party of Iraq has committed actions and >activities which some of them are distructive and others are contrary to >public order and conduct. According to irrefutable and substantial evidence as >follows : > >1- The Party has distributed statements, aired continuous broadcasts and >written articles in its paper (Bo Peshewe). All contain defamation against the >government in Iraqi Kurdistan province. This is a breach to articles of the >act No:14 of the Parties' Law No: 17 - 1993, mentioned above. We enclose some >of these statements. >2- Publishing a booklet titled (The Law of Equality Between Men and Women) to >replace the acting Family Law in Iraq. Holding a public meeting about the >contents of the act which come in this booklet, declaring publicly in this >meeting and other occasions that they will impose this Law instead of the >acting Laws using the force if necessary, although the contents of this Law >(proposed by WCPI -- translator ) is contrary to the Iraqi Constitution which >contain an article, stating clearly that Islam is the official state religion. >This breach is enormous, its outcomes are very dangerous on the society in >Kurdistan, if the Law doesn't find a quick solution for it. Enclosed is a >copy of the booklet. >3- The Party has openly collected donations from the citizens without taking >legal permission from the authorities. Enclosed is a copy of the receipts >issued and stamped by the Party. >4- The Party has forced some citizens, especially the illiterate ones, to give >their opinion in favour of the separation (of Kurdistan -- translator) from >Iraq. These actions are very dangerous for the future of the Kurdish Movement >in Iraqi Kurdistan which it is first and foremost goal is to achieve a >federation which is backed by Iraqi opposition parties, and not the >separation. >5- Arranging transmission permit for the citizens to pass through check-points >towards Islamic Republic of Iran, towards the cities of the middle of Iraq and >city of Arbil and from there to Turkey. Such actions are in breach of the >instructions issued in this regard, so they are a danger on the internal and >external peace of the province. These breaches bring in the in the articles of >the second vol. Of the first and second edition of the Iraqi Penal Code No: >111- year 1969 and its amendments. >6- Some members of the Party instructed ( by the Party-t-) put on clothe of >Special Forces for the Internal Security to committee some of their own >objectives regarding the internal security to get a way from the Internal >Security Forces and especially the check points. >7- Contact with the foreigners and running protest without taking legal >permeations according to the Laws and instructions followed in this regard. >8- Some of the cadres of the Worker communist Party of Iraq declared publicly >that they will change the recent routine situation using the force if >necessary. Even more one of their cadre called Mahdi who is a unionist cadre >and in charge of the Construction Workers Union in Sulaymaniah declared >willingly at house of our Ministry, at the room of legal counsel in my >presence and in presence of two of his comrades and during working hours, that >they will change the system using force if necessary. He reiterate that after >we had a discussion with him. This behaviour indicate that unless a legal >measures taken against this party especially its visual, written and audible >media, the result would be dangerous on the internal peace of the province. >9- Some of the leading members of the Worker communist Party of Iraq are not >Iraqis and this is an outright breach of the Law. It is absolutely not allowed >to affiliate non Iraqis to Iraqi parties. Because it is not permitted by the >Law. It has been proved for us presence of leading persons in the ranks of >this party as follows: > >1- Muzeffer Muhamadi in charge of the military office of their party. >2- Rahman Hussainzade a leading member. >3- Assad Gulchini leading propagandist member in the party. >All the three are Iranian citizen. > >On the ground of the above mentioned and due to the danger of the activities >which are committed by the members of this party, its audible and written >means of media and the mass organisations and trade unions which belong to >them. This danger should be suspend for common interest and existence >administrative entity in the province which is the fruit of the sacrifices of >the martyrs of Kurd. > >We request your honourable court taking legal measures against this party >according to the first and second articles from the Act No: 17 from Parties >Law No: 17 -1993, to close down all its offices in province keeping with the >requirement of the internal and external peace of the region, as this party is >a destructive danger on our internal and external peace if the suitable >measures are not taken to prevent its activity in the province. >And please inform us. > > >Thanks > > >The Legal Marshal Nazer Ali Akber deputy of the Internal Minister, in addition >to its job >5/3/2000 > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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