KitNotes

Despite the whiter than white image of democracy, peace, and freedom that the Kurdistan Regional Government likes to portray of Iraqi Kurdistan - even going as far as calling itself The Other Iraq and using images of innocent schoolgirls playing happily in the streets (no, really), a quick scan of the left wing blogs, speficially David Broder’s blog, brings me to this;

On July 27th, the police and security forces of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan opened fire on 700 workers of the Tasloja Cement Factory near the city of Suleiumanyia in Iraqi Kurdistan. Three workers were killed and sixteen more were injured in this cruel attack. The workers came under attack because they launched a strike asking for a wage rise and that 300 workers previous fired by the administration be reinstated in their jobs.

The Iraqi labour movement is under real pressure from state terror and the terror of reactionary militias - the solidarity of trade unionists in the West is vital.

Please come and support the protest in front of the PUK’s London office on Tuesday 1st August - from 12:00 to 14:00
At 5 Glass House Walk
London SE5

Nearest tube station: Vauxhall (Victoria line)

Or, write a letter of condemnation:

We the undersigned call on Trade Union Branches and human rights organisations to send messages to Jala Talabani who was selected as president of Iraq in April. condemning this action.

Appeals to:
Mr. Jalal Talabani
President
Republic of Iraq
Convention Centre (Qasr al-Ma’aridh)
Baghdad, Iraq

If you have a fax, please send appeals via the PUK offices abroad and ask them to be forwarded to President Talabani:

- PUK office in United Kingdom: fax: +44 20 7 840 0630
- PUK office in United States: fax:+1 202 637 2723
- PUK office in Germany: fax: +49 30 863 987 94
- PUK office in France: fax:+33 1 409 00282
- PUK office in Italy: fax:+39 06 50 37120 (if someone answers ask for the fax line)
- PUK office in the EU: fax:+31 703 895832 (if someone answers ask for the fax line)
- PUK office in Sweden: fax: +46 8 917693 (if someone answers ask for the fax line)

COPIES TO: International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-d.jamal@ntlworld.com, TEL: 07856 032991

Dashty Jamal, International Federation of Iraqi Refugees
David Broder, Convenor of Iraq Union Solidarity
Karen Johnson, No Sweat

It’s a shame it’s being organised during the day, because it means it will be a bit of a crap protest. Because ordinary people will be at work, or school, natch. So, if you can (and, let’s face it, if you’re sat there rivited by this blog, you CAN), you should send an email to the above email addresses.

Indeed, you might also want to send an email to the Kurdistan Regional Government and give them a right earful about this too. They, thankfully, make this rather easy to do.

They have a web form here - make sure you set it to “Administration” and that you don’t give the poor sod who just runs the website an earful.

The KRG also have a London office. Here are the details:

KRG Representation in the United Kingdom
Winchester House, 8th Floor
259-269 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5RA
Phone: +44 (0)20 7170 4300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7170 4301
Email: uk(at)krg.org

Hopefully, they might be able to put some pressure on the PUK to leave workers and their organisations alone. The bastards.

EDIT: Isn’t technology wonderful? I’ve just rememberd this, if it’s of any help: if you have an email account, you should be able to fax the PUK office in London rather easily, without the need for a fax machine, for free.

Click on this email link:

remote-printer.London_Office/Patriotic_Union_of_Kurdistan@442078400630.iddd.tpc.int

… and send it like an email. Thanks to the folks at tpc.int, and their UK partner Demon, it should be sent straight away. Easy.

Don’t forget to CC it to d.jamal@ntlworld.com!