Iraqi Government Orders Arrest of Union Leaders

Naftana members spoke to IFOU leader Hassan Jumaa Awad today who alerted the support group to an arrest warrant issued by Prime Minister Maliki's office. The warrant names four leaders of the Federation including Hassan Jumaa Awad and demands their arrest for 'sabotaging the Iraqi economy'. The Federation is asking for unions and organisations world wide to support them in their unfulfilled demands and to protect them from repressive measures.

Please send faxes and emails of support for the union to Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and Oil Minister Dr Hussein al Sharastani. Below is a model letter:

Model Letter:

Dear Mr Maliki
Dear Dr Hussein al Sharastani

I am writing to express support for the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions in their right to take industrial action over issues relating to their members' economic and social welfare.

I am also concerned about the decision to arrest union leaders for deciding to take strike action. I trust that the Union will not be penalised for taking action which is legal according to the Iraqi constiution and a fundamental trade union freedom recognised all over the world.

The Union has repeatedly asked for involvement in the drafting of the Hydrocarbon Law but has been ignored. Iraqi civil society should be involved in the decision making process over the future of the Iraqi economy - this includes trade unions.

I will be monitoring the forthcoming news from the union and would like assurance that union members will not be harmed or punished for their actions. Yours Sincerely,.....

For the attention of:
Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki
Minister of Oil, Dr Hussein al Sharastani

C/O Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
169 Knightsbridge London SW7 1DWPhone: (020) 7581 2264Fax: (020) 7589 3356E-mail: lonemb@iraqmofamail.net Telephone: +44 207 602 8456 Fax: +44 207 371 1652





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Naftana Press Release

6 June 2007 – 12 noon
Iraq government orders arrest of oil workers’ leaders

Iraq’s powerful oil workers’ trade union today expressed alarm as an
arrest warrant was issued for its leaders, in an attempt to clamp down on
industrial action.

Members of the union have been on strike since Monday 4th June, in protest
at the government’s failure to meet any of its promises made in a meeting
with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on 16th May. The union’s 16 demands
included improvements to wages, health and other working and living
conditions as well as consultation on the proposed oil law, which the
union opposes. The union added a 17th demand yesterday demanding the
sacking of the General Manager of the Southern Pipeline Company.

On Tuesday, al-Maliki warned that he would meet threats to oil production
“with an iron fist”.

The arrest warrant, based on a charge of “sabotaging the economy”
specifically names Hassan Juma’a Awad, the leader of the 26,000-strong
Federation of Oil Unions, and three other leaders of the Federation.

Hassan Juma’a commented, “the government is intimidating the union but we
are determined to gain our legitimate rights.” He added that the strike
would continue in accordance with the union’s plan.

The strike entered its third day today and is in its “second phase,” which
now includes the closure of the main distribution pipelines, including
supplies to Baghdad. “Phase one” closed some of the smaller distribution
pipelines. Phases one and two did not include production and exports.

The union is calling on all its supporters and unions across the world to
back the union at this critical juncture. Sami Ramadani from the union’s
UK-based support committee, Naftana said: “Issuing a warrant for the
arrest of the oil workers’ leaders is an outrageous attack on trade union
and democratic freedoms.”

For further information contact:

Sami Ramadani – 07863 138748 sami.ramadani@londonmet.ac.uk
Kamil Mahdi – k.a.mahdi@exeter.ac.uk
Sabah Jawad – 07985 336886 sabah.jawad@idao.org


Notes for editors:

Naftana is an independent UK-based committee supporting democratic trade
unionism in Iraq. It works in solidarity with the IFOU. It strives to
publicize the union’s struggle for Iraqi social and economic rights and
its stand against the privatisation of Iraqi oil demanded by the occupying
powers.
For more information see the IFOU’s website www.basraoilunion.org