IWW FJU Condemns Attacks on Journalists Reporting in Iraq
On the 23rd of August 2024,
a Turkish targeted drone strike hit a car carrying three journalists in
the Seyidsadiq district of Sulaymaniyah. Gulîstan Tara and Hêro
Bahadîn, were killed and Rebin Baker was injured. Tara was a reporter
and Hêro was a video editor. Both were working for CHATR, a production
company based in Kurdistan on assignment for Sterk TV, a Norwegian
outlet, at the time they were killed.
Following the attack, various media outlets alleged the reporters were members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
but provided no evidence that they were members at the time of their
killing. Meeting with sources who may not be aligned with the interests
of the states we call home is an integral part of journalism and in no
way warrants the targeting of reporters.
The targeting of women who fearlessly raised their voices to document
the truth in a region where misogyny has been widespread is also
unacceptable. Targeting journalists represents an attack on the truth,
and we join numerous other unions and media organizations in condemning
this wanton act of state violence.
This is not the first drone strike on journalists in Kurdistan by the Turkish government. Murad Mirza Ibrahim,
an employee with the Kurdish media outlet Cira TV, was also killed in a
drone strike a month ago. The Jurdiustan Autonomous Region of Iraq is
becoming an increasingly dangerous region for the press, and we stand in
solidarity with our fellow workers there demanding safer conditions and
an end to targeted strikes.
Attacks on the press are unacceptable, and the pattern of targeted
drone strikes on our fellow workers constitutes an attack on all of us
and our ability to work safely and report the truth. The IWW FJU stands
in solidarity with Hero and Tara’s families in their call for justice,
and the people of Kurdistan in their calls for peace and an end to the drone war. An injury to one is an injury to all!
Forgive the lateness but I had to gather the materials. May 1st is of course May Day, or to give it its proper name International Labour Day, around the world the day is used by many groups within or attached to the Labour Movement to celebrate victories, and regroup and continue to fight to reverse defeats. We do this because we want to build a better world for all of us.
Unsurprisingly many events held on this Day are often attacked and undermined by governments and companies. In fact in some countries like America (where it was founded) the day itself was under attack with the "official" Labor Day being moved to September in an attempt to break its links with the Haymarket meeting and its Martyrs.
Fortunately as you can see they haven't succeeded, a group assembled at the statue to the Haymarket Martyrs in Haymarket Square in Chicago on May Day.
The main group are RAD (Radicals Against Discrimination)
And elsewhere in America there were demonstrations, though mainly by the Labour Movements "Radical Reds" as the mainstream unions back the official day in September. In particular the Industrial Workers of the World
Viva Las Vegas!
In New York
Protests and demonstrations took place across the country and the world today for International Workers Day. In Bangladesh, thousands filled the streets of Dhaka to demand labor protections after last week's deadly garment factory building collapse which killed more than 400 people. Garment workers also rallied in Cambodia's Phnom Penh. Tens of thousands of workers in Jakarta, Indonesia demanded better wages and conditions, including transgender activists who held signs calling for labor and LGBT rights. In a moment, we'll go to Seattle, Washington, then hear a report from Istanbul, but first we go to New York, where activists are calling attention to rights for immigrants. We're joined by Mariano Muñoz-Elías. He's one of the organizers of the Immigrant Worker Tour and one of the founders of Occupy Wall Street's Immigrant Worker Justice Group. Earlier today, he joined us from Bryant Park where actions were getting under way.
In Seattle
Protesters in Seattle are also marking May Day today with several marches and an anti-capitalist rally this evening. One of the closely watched issues in Seattle is how authorities respond to the actions. Last year on May Day, the mayor authorized an emergency proclamation after clashes erupted during the protests. An independent review of the police response found a lack of proper training and direction and police use of plainclothes officers to infiltrate protesters. It also came to light that the FBI had tracked and tailed activists from Portland who came to Seattle for the rally, according to statements from FBI agents filed at the US District Court in Seattle. For more on today's events we're joined by reporter Mark Taylor-Canfield in Seattle.
Elsewhere around the globe there were large mobilisations on May Day. In Bangladesh anger over the recent tragedy ensured a big push for workers rights, unionisation and a commitment to tougher safety regulation.
And in Jakarta in addition to usual Labour groups May Day was noted for the active participation of LGBT groups campaigning for rights and recognition.
And in Istanbul workers were not happy with the governments attempts to shut down the day and deny access to Taksim square the main site for Labour events ever since 1977 when a number of protesters were gunned down there by unknown gunmen
Istanbul
In Turkey, officials banned an annual May Day gathering in downtown Istanbul. But labor unions and workers defied the order, and were met by riot police who fired tear gas and used water cannons in an attempt to disperse thousands of demonstrators. FSRN's Jacob Resneck reports.
And due the governing AK parties Islamic Conservatism women's groups have more active resisting laws and practices that are restrictive of women's liberties. As such a number of feminist groups were in attendance on the march to Taksim square. And female activists(not necessarily part of those feminist groups) were in the thick of the fighting with the riot police.
And in neighbouring Greece there was a mass march through Athens and a 24 hour General Strike.
In Britain our official May Day is the first Monday in May which this year will be the 6th so most of the big Trade Union demonstrations will be then. Sadly in Britain the actual day is dominated by the Morris Dancers prancing around a pole in a field. We should really look into changing that.
Tis always a fine day on the 1st of May For it is and shall always be International Labour Day From mechanics to pen pushers To farmhands and court ushers We march and sing and cheer Loud and proud for our time draws near
I find this interview with the oft forgotten Iraqi Communist Party, get enlightening. Iraq has been so dominated by first Saddam and now the Sunni vs Shia Sectarian rift with Kurds popping up for an occasional skirmish that the role of non sectarian left wing groups in Iraqi politics especially in opposition a curious oversight.Arguably this blackout extends even to the only recurring coverage Communism in Iraq gets is the brief blips the Kurdish Workers Party PKK gets when it carries out attacks on the Turkish military in response to the oppression of the Kurdish minority in Turkey. And even then there usually just name checked or called Kurdish extremists/terrorists.
For anyone interested in what actual Iraqi's have to say about there nation and its future is well worth a watch, well done to the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) for arranging the interview, though I suppose I should point out that for those who don't know the CPB is the group that runs the Morning Star, thats runs not owns mind, the People's Press Society a cooperative owns it.
Well that was a hectic few days by the pyramids wasn't it. Mubarak after the daring camel charge made up of interior ministry thugs and there mates who wanted a quick pay check failed to do much other then get a snigger out of people watching the news, and kill a few people gets the hopes of his people up that he would finally leave, after all the protesters enthusiams for the army was cooling fast and the Americans his regimes and its security apparatus biggest financial backer slowly but surely inching its way to the protesters side -incidentally readers of blogs like the polemical report will no doubt recall a similar scenario occurred in Honduras) where the US government and the Emperor of change Obama did not side with the democracy advocating people- only to make a speech saying he'd stay till September when his "democratic" term is up only to have his military the last working pillar of his regime give him the boot, but given that he's amassed a fortune estimated at $70 billion -all paid for by a grateful state and populous- no doubt, in foreign banks all over the world his retirement prospects aren't as bleak as most in this tough financial times.
But does that mean this is over and we can now move onto gawking at the next teetering middle eastern regimes attempts to protect there privilege? Well no theres still much to do in Egypt. Rather then an outright Democratic transfer of power to a constituent assembly or an equivalent, Egypt is now under the control of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) a council that has only previously been formed in times of war.
Now much of the mainstream media is talking about the Turkish model of government where the military is the Supreme power but unlike in Pakistan is fine with letting the civilian politicians do the difficult task of actually running the country. It is argued that this is what has kept Turkey an over 90% Muslim nation that has on occasion elected "Islamist" parties of varying degrees to government like the current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party* from sliding into the evils of fundamentalism. Just why Islamic countries require a strong secular officer corps while predominantly Christian nations could develop secular governance without them is rarely explained by advocates of the Turkish model.What is also overlooked is the role the military plays in Turkey's aggressive attitudes to preserving the Unity of the Turkish state. Its hard to see the continued oppression of the Ethnic Armenian's and Kurds not being dictated by the Chiefs of staff.
And of course the main problem with the Turkish system other then the nagging thought that this was not what the people on the streets and in the squares wanted is that once established there is very little to keep the New Arabian Turkey from becoming the New Arabian Pakistan or Myanmar. Afterall that is how those nations became Stratocracies the military stepped in in times of crisis and then argued that they should keep power as they were the only ones strong enough to maintain stability. Who else but the Generals can effectively mediate between all those ethnic tribes spread out in Burmese valley's? who but the military can effectively maintain the order of Islamabad and expand it around the Federally Administered Tribal Areasfrom religious radicals? What is to stop SCAF from using Islamic terrorism or perhaps red revivals to justify there maintenance of there privilege? After all America and by extension the rest of the West where perfectly happy to support and fund the Security states of Ben Ali's Tunisia and Mubarak's Egypt (after his predecessor Sadat shifted Egypt to a Western alignment) why not rebuild the relationship with the Generals. Old habits do die hard remember.
And I have to say so far SCAF have not exactly embraced the Democratic spirit, they've agreed to look at reforms in the future but so far seems more preoccupied with some good old fashion strike breaking. Aside from the obvious need to protect production and profits to appease the moneyed classes both at home and abroad the moves to restrict and then no doubt crush Labour activism in Egypt represents a pretty much standard procedure for Dictatorships, but especially so in Egypt. Those who read the Morning Star will probably know this but the protests and revolts in Egypt where not simply copy and pasting from Tunisia, they had been going on for a long time, the most common of which was Strike actions. Striking under Mubarak was more then just highlighting a wage grievance it was also a declaration of discontent with the regime. Thanks to Mubarak's crony capitalism all major manufacturing and finance assets where either owned outright by the state or snapped up by key entrepreneurs who where close supporters of the NDP, a big player in this scheme was the very same military-heads who are now running the show, hence why no Labour organisations of any kind where tolerated. Most strikes that couldn't be just threatened back in line where routinely tear gassed and beaten, a practice which looks set to continue if the Military gets its way.
Fortunately though there are some encouraging signs that the people are not about to letup the pressure on there government no matter what hat it wears until this revolution is finished.
* The Justice and Development Party has recently shifted away from its religious base however due to its strong social conservatism can still be associated with the social trends in much the same way other European and American Conservatives draw their social code from their dominant variant of Christianity.
It recently been discovered that the United States has been working on a deal to supply Vietnam with access to Nuclear fuel as well as the benefit of US nuclear information and reactor parts in a bid to weaken China's political clout in the region.
Ever since Vietnam embraced "Market Socialism" in a economic restructuring similar to China's under Deng Xiaoping, it has enjoyed economic growth but had a hard time combating inequality and the new demands on its energy networks and turned to nuclear power to fill the holes. A number of companies including from Russia and China were in negotiations for the contracts at the time the US stepped in.
You might notice that this agreement makes the US protestations over the Iranian nuclear program and there "fears" over nuclear proliferation seem farcical would that that were the end of the US and the West's hypocrisy on this matter.
Below is the news story that Turkey and Brazil were able to not only get Iran to agree to a deal that was nearly word for word what the official Western policy was with the exception that Iran could seek compensation if Turkey did not deliver on its part within a certain time. Naturally this deal was seized on by a rejoicing Whitehouse right? Wrong. Obama and Cameron refused to recognise the deal and continued scare-mongering about Islamic atom bombs.
But why you might ask? its simple the US won't accept the deal because it was not present at the talks and neither were any other Western nation safely tucked away in its sphere to look like America's interests were being served. To give there blessing to a deal not brokered by the West or a big power like the old USSR, new Russia or the PRC sets a dangerous precedent for are world hegemony, it will say that the world can run itself without guidance or support thereby weakening US influence globally as nations no longer have to choose a "us or them" style in international relations.
It may be al ittle late to be posting a follow up to this, but despite the usual breakneck speed of international politics it is still in most cases better to let the dust settle a bit before comment after all the dust might not settle for a long time especially in the middle east.
Anyway despite being the biggest Publicity fuck up by an Apartheid regime since South Africas humiliating military defeat in the town Cuito Cuanavale in Angola in 87/88 by filthy inferior black skinned Angolans, and there filthy degenerate commie allies the Cubans.
Despite this there were still many in the media both here in the UK and more importantly in the US.
Some frankly baffling attempts to justify the raid.
This one is a classic example of why I really hate about American politicians,the whole "democracy is good, but woe betide thee who votes against are interests", thing is probably the root of the problem of why the US has such a terrible reputation around the world it makes them seem highly hypocritical and overtly self serving.
Anyway what of the responses by Turkey and Israel? well according to the Morning Star Israels Netanyahu despite his strong militarist rhetoric has been forced into a bit of a climbdown and has allowed some humanitarian aid mostly food including crisps and get this confectionery "Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh, who co-ordinates the flow of goods into Gaza with Israel, said that fizzy drinks, juice, jam, spices, shaving cream, crisps, biscuits and confectionery were now permitted". So they can't rebuild there shattered homes and treat there wounded but they can eat cake? this is the definition of bad comedy.
Thankfully Turkey unlike the impotent governments of the US and UK hasn't let its economic and military links with Israel get in the way of defending its citzens and has continued pressuring Israel and the world community "Head of the foreign relations committee in the Turkish parliament Murat Mercan said that Israel's gesture was insufficient...."To live like humans, these people need food, medicine, construction material. The children need pens and notebooks."Even if they lift the blockade on all food items, it would still not be satisfactory in any way," he said.
The Turkish PM also gave out his opinion for fun compare this statement to any western pm or president or rather don't in case of the onset of depression.""Are we going to remain silent over the murder of nine people? We can't turn a blind eye to this banditry in international waters," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told delegates.
Still as tragic as those nine deaths and dozens of injuries were it has at least shown the lie of the Zionist lobby in the west and maybe just maybe will have brought this destructive blockade and the abominable treatment of the Palestinians a little closer to its end.
I'm sure you've probably heard of this appalling criminal action undertaken by Israel's security forces against Turkish solidarity activists as they were delivering aid to the blockaded territory of Gaza. Madam Miaow has a much more in depth anylisis of the events here complete video footage of the boarding. And Alex Snowdon as chair of the Tyneside Palestine Solidarity campaign has been organising protests for tomorrow here and you can see contact information for are new foreign secretary here.
As appalling as this attack is I honestly can't say I was surprised as taking a look back at the mounting pressure Israel was placing on previous aid convoys including the last one organised by George Galloway and Viva Palestina which culminated in Egyptian riot police impounding and assaulting activists . It was clear that the aid convoys are a continued humiliation to Tel-Aviv which has been trying to starve the Palestinians into admission in Gaza since 2006, by not only delivering vital supplies that ensure that the Palestinians can go on surviving a little longer, and by showing up the IDF the main pillar Israel and sacred cow of Zionism as impotent.
This looks set to continue as Turkey has stated that all other convoys to Gaza will enjoy the protection of the Turkish Navy no doubt further humiliating the Hawks of Tel-Aviv.
Edit: sorry about the lateness of this, but the death toll was 9, when I started writing this the details were quite sketchy and "around 20" kept coming up. However the cases of series injury by the commandos are at the 30 mark.
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