Statement of the Iraq Freedom Congress on Shahrastani's Statements Regarding General Union of Oil Employees (GUOE)

The Iraqi oil minister Shahrastani said in a meeting with the workers of GUOE that their union and all other trade unions are not legitimate because they carried out a series of strikes and demonstrations to prevent the government from passing the oil law.

The irony is Shahrastani himself forgot that his government is not legitimate or recognized neither among Iraqis nor on the international forums. Such government that failed to provide basic security and social services to the society since its formation, a government that more than half of its members have resigned, a government that is linked to many sectarian militias which are involved in killing and slaughtering thousands of innocent people in cold blood on the basis of identity for a handful of dollars and power, a government who issues bizarre decrees like providing ministers implicated in corruption with immunity fearing of withdrawal of their parties from the government.... such government exists only in science fiction and fairy tales, such government is too tenuous to pass resolutions.

Shahrastani also has forgotten that the workers alone can decide on their unions, form or disband them. Apparently, democracy according to Shahrastani's view is to approve the policies of the occupying forces, otherwise you are illegitimate! It is a Bush like democracy that states "You're either with us or against us in the fight against terror."

Shahrastani and his government are trying to pass an oil law, a law that has been written by US corporations who recruited Bush and his administration to serve their interests. In fact this law aims to rob Iraqi's oil and put the future of generations under the poverty line.

Iraq Freedom Congress denounces and condemns Shahrastani's statement that violates human and trade union rights enacted by all international covenants.

The struggle of GUOE, FWCUI, and the anti-oil law is an integral part of the IFC struggle to topple the draft oil and gas law, which the government and its Minister (who are loyal to the occupation) are reluctantly trying to pass and impose it on the people of Iraq.

Iraq Freedom Congress strongly supports GUOE and other labor unions in their just struggle, and calls upon all libertarian forces in the world to support the struggle of the Iraqi people against the occupation and its policies.

Lived Federation of GUOE

Long Live the Struggle of Iraqi People for Freedom

Iraq Freedom Congress

7-8-2007