Wednesday 26 January 2011

Toward Socialism’s interview with Hamid Taqvaee

Leader of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran Regarding the Current Revolution in Tunisia *


Toward Socialism:

The events in Tunis started with a man burning himself to protest against his unemployment, humiliation, and his inability to make a living. How do you describe the unfolding huge demonstration that led to the escape of Ben Ali?

Hamid Taqvaee:

The man who protested by setting himself on fire was representing the majority of Tunisian people. The majority of people are facing unemployment, poverty, low wages and high prices, and the current uprising shows that people can not stand the status quo anymore. On the other hand, the people of Tunisia have been oppressed by a brutal and corrupt regime for 23 years. When a couple of weeks ago people found out about the multi billion wealth of the Ben Ali Family on WikiLeaks, it was the last straw. The majority of Tunisians like people of Iran, or any other country under a brutal dictatorship, have been hating their government and the existing regime for a long time but a revolution erupts under certain political conditions. In the case of Tunisia, unbearable poverty in contrast to the unimaginable wealth of the dictator and his gang provided those conditions. The revolution already succeeded in overthrowing Ben Ali, but it is only the beginning. The dictator has escaped but the dictatorship is still present. The revolution should, and it seems that it does, go forward to overthrow the whole regime.

Toward Socialism:

The revolution in Iran that occurred about 1.5 yeas ago and still expresses itself in different occasions has a similar nature: an eruption of a revolt of millions of people, young, women, intellectuals, workers, unemployed ... and so on, after the results of the "elections" were announced. Do you see a similarity between the events in Iran and the current one in Tunisia?

Hamid Taqvaee:

The people of Iran have been confronting a brutal dictatorship for more than three decades. In Iran like Tunisia people are facing poverty, unemployment, corruption of the government and all the authorities, lack of political freedom and civil liberties, persecution, arrest, torture and execution of opposition parties’ members, political activists, and even individuals who do not totally agree with the Supreme Leader, etc. The uprising of 2009 was a mass protest against these conditions. I think the present revolution in Tunisia as far as the immediate goals and demands of people are concerned, is very similar to the 2009 uprising in Iran. In both countries people are protesting against a corrupt and brutal regime and fighting for freedom, equality, prosperity and a decent life.

I think the present events in Tunisia will have a crucial impact on the political situation in Iran. You already can see slogans like "after Ben Ali, is Seid Ali's turn” on many Iranian internet sites and groups- referring to Seid Ali Khamenhei, the supreme leader of Islamic Republic in Iran.

Toward Socialism:

Now Ben Ali has escaped but the regime is still there. What do you say to the people of Tunisia? Is it over? If not then how they proceed?

Hamid Taqvaee:

Of course it is not over and people on the streets know that. That's the reason nobody accepted the interim government and Ghanochi, who himself is a left over of Ben Ali's gang, is facing the resignation of his ministers every other day. As I already mentioned the dictatorship, the regime, is still in place. The ruling class and reactionary forces, including Western powers and all governments in the Arab world, are trying to abort the revolution and are trying to save and keep in place as many parts of the state apparatus as they can. It is a classic case of reaction of anti revolutionary forces. The revolution can and should go on until the whole system is overthrown.

Toward Socialism:

What in your opinion are the basic demands of the people to any government that might replace the old one? Why are particular demands important for the people to defend at this juncture?

Hamid Taqvaee:

The very first and urgent goal of any revolution is to get rid of the old state and political system. All the authorities and individuals who took part in Ben Ali's dictatorship should be prosecuted and put on trial. They are criminals and have no legitimacy to be a part of a new government or take part in elections and so on. The revolution is against them and only by arresting these criminals and putting them on trial, can it go forward. Also all the reactionary laws and institutions should be abolished. All the political prisoners should be released. Other urgent demands of people are civil and political freedom, freedom of speech, press, assembly, strike and demonstration, abolition of capital punishment, abolition of discriminatory laws especially against women. As I mentioned before one of the main causes of the revolution is poverty and unemployment. So providing decent jobs and unemployment insurance for everybody who is ready to work is the immediate task of any government that wants the support of people. These are the minimum and basic demands of people and should be accepted by any government and also any political party in the opposition. These are the criteria people should use to differentiate between revolutionary and reactionary forces in today's political situation in Tunisia.

Toward Socialism:

Do you expect Islamists to come to power as an alternative? What are your ideas in this regard? What do you say to people who see the Islamists mobilizing in this vacuum and call for mass prayers in the streets of Tunisia? Is it enough to be an opposition party or oppressed party by the old regime to be elected as "democratic”? Why?

Hamid Taqvaee:

I don't think Islamists have much chance to come to power by their own merits. Tunisia is not Lebanon or Gaza and Islamists don't have much social influence there. Tunisia is a secular and modern society and people and their revolution up to now showed no intention to move toward Islamism. I think the only way for Islamic groups to emerge as an alternative for political power in Tunisia is by getting the support of Western states and it is not very likely unless of course Western powers find no other alternative. Nevertheless, considering the general statues of Political Islam in the region and presence of a banned Islamic opposition party in Tunisia one should take the threat of Islamism very seriously.

In answer to the second part of your question I should point out that if a party is in opposition to a dictatorship that does not necessarily make it a democratic and progressive party. Khomeini in Iran was opposing the Shah's regime and was a very reactionary figure. If Iranian people found out the true nature of political Islam in a hard way, Tunisians do not have to. The experience of the Islamic Republic in Iran, Taliban in Afghanistan and Islamist groups in Iraq shows that Political Islam everywhere and in position or opposition is a reactionary force and a major barrier in front of people, especially women, to achieve freedom and equality. People of Tunisia should be aware of the danger of Islamic groups and don't accept any interference of religion and Sharia laws and code in the government, in the educational system, in the law and judiciary system.

Toward Socialism:

The Left worker-communist Party of Iraq is supporting the revolution in Tunisia. What role do you think this party can play in this revolution even though it’s thousands of miles away? How can worker-communism be active and affective?

Hamid Taqvaee:

I think your party can play a very important role. One of the benefits of dictators like Ben Ali for the ruling class is suppression of Communists and revolutionary parties and activists who can, when revolution emerges, lead people toward freedom. Therefore it is the duty of all communists and revolutionary activists all over the world to contribute in any way they can to support, show the way, formulate and articulate the goals and demands of the uprising of people against existing governments in any part of the world. And in the case of the current revolution in Tunisia especially your party can be very effective. You speak the same language, you have a rich experience confronting all kinds of reactionary forces in Iraq, and above all you are representing worker-communism, a radical and active force in Iran and Iraq and all over the world, criticizing and fighting new world order - i.e. post cold war capitalism- and political Islam at the same time. All those factors give your party a unique place in helping the people and revolutionary and radical groups and activists in Tunisia.

· Toward Socialism is the political newspaper of the Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq LWPI, published in Arabic. The interview will show in its special issue dedicated to the revolution of Tunisia and published in Baghdad.

Tuesday 25 January 2011

January 29 global day of action - 32 events & counting

In support of political prisoners and against execution in Iran

Many organizations and individuals have announced their serious concern about public executions and intensification of executions in Iran. Saturday 29th January 2011, has been declared as a day of global protest against executions and in defense of political prisoners in Iran.

Updated list of 32 events

AFGHANISTAN

Kabul, Herat, Mazarsharif & Kandahar

Date: Saturday, January 29

Details to follow

Note: In an exchange with the responsibles of the Afghan Solidarity Party, we were informed that on 29th January, in the four cities of Kabul, Herat, Mazarsharif and Kandahar, there will be protests against execution and in support of political prisoners in Iran.

AUSTRIA

Vienna

Date: Saturday January 29

Details to follow

CANADA

Toronto

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Yonge and Dundas St. In front of Eton Center.

Contact: wpicanada@yahoo.com, 416-726-9321

Vancouver

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2pm

Location: In front of Robson Art Gallery

Contact: 60-47278986

Ottawa

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 12-2pm

Location: In front of Ottawa Parliament

Contact: Davoud Aram, 6138597929

DENMARK

Copenhagen

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-3pm

Location: In front of Amnesty International - Gammeltorv - 1457 København K

Also,

4-6pm meeting in Pouyandeh library

FRANCE

Besançon

Date : saturday January 29

Time : 3pm

Location : Place du 8 septembre

Organised by : Iran Solidarité supported by CGT ADDSEA, Initiative Communiste-Ouvrière, Fédération Anarchiste, SUD Santé Social and others,

Contact: cgt.addsea@gmail.com

GERMANY

Berlin

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-5pm

Joachimstaler Platz, (U-Bhf Kurfürstendamm

Contact: 0178 2486 6317

Frankfurt

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2pm

Location: Raymondstrasse, in front of Islamic Republic Consulate

~followed by subsequent action:

Time: 4pm

Location: Frankfurt City Center, Hawptwache

Contact: 015774650186 and 015787497231

Bremen

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-5pm

Location: Marktplatz

Contact: 01724037035

Köln

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-3pm

Location: Domplatte

Hamburg

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 12noon

Location: Hauptbahnhof (Nord) – Glockengießerwall

Contact: 0176-4832 5613 , 0172-4044 323

München

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 4-6pm

Location: Opfer des Nationalsozialismus

Leipzig

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Grimmaische Straße -Zentrum

Contact: saeede999@yahoo.de , 0176 29 31 9819

IRAQ

Soleimaniya

Date: Saturday January 29

Details to follow

NETHERLANDS

Den Haag

Date: Friday January 28

Time: 3-5pm

Location: In front of the Dutch Parliament

Contact: Bahman Khani, 06-51-273261, Yalda Bayram, 06-50-994005

NORWAY

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-2pm

Location: In front of Islamic Republic Embassy

~followed by subsequent action:

Time: 2-3:30pm

Location: In front of Foreign Ministry of Norway

Contact: Saber Rahimi 9-869-4001

SWITZERLAND

Zurich

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: vor der Kirche Stauffacherstr. 10

SWEDEN

Malmö

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-3pm

Location: Davidhallsbron

Contact: 0703 63 80 88 , 0703171102

Stockholm

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Sergels torg

Contact: 0737-801510

Gothenburg

Date: Saturday January 29

Details to follow

Contact: 0708-544 529

Borås

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Stortorget

Contact: 0737-598566

For more information re the events in Sweden contact: Afsaneh Vahdat 0702-468454

UNITED KINGDOM

London

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Trafalgar Square, North Terrace (outside the National Gallery)

London

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 11-12.30pm

Location: In front of BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, W1A 1AA

UNITED STATES

Washington DC

Date: Sunday January 30

Time: 12-3pm

Location: In front of the Islamic Republic Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Ave

Hassan Massali: 301-792-3370; hmassali@aol.com

Maria Rohaly: 240-472-9565; maria.rohaly@gmail.com

San Francisco, California

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Union Square

Irvine, CA

Date: Friday January 28

Time: 5-7pm

Location: on the corner of Jamboree & Barranca city of Irvine, CA

New York City, NY
Date: Saturday January 29
Time: 3-5pm
Location: Union Square

We call on everyone to be part of this global day of protest and support the people of Iran. Solidarity with people of Iran and international pressure is a significant factor that helps people of Iran in their struggle to liberate themselves; protest works, remember the case of Sakineh Ashtiani!

  1. Join or organize a protest in your city;
  2. Let us know time and venue of your protest and action
  3. publicize the news of the protest in your local paper, trade union and other organisations
  4. Sign the declaration of the global day of action
  5. Governments everywhere must come under pressure to break all diplomatic links with the Islamic regime of Iran

Free all political prisoners

End capital punishment

International Committee against Execution

For more information, contact: Mina Ahadi

Email: minaahadi@aol.com

Tel: 0049 (0) 1775692413

http://notonemoreexecution.org

http://stopstonningnow.com

Petition:

http://stopstonningnow.com/united/listunite600.php?nr=22774802&lang=en

Monday 24 January 2011

Hamid Taqvaee's letter to the people of Tunisia

in Arabic


رسالة حميد تقوائي ليدرالحزب الشيوعي العمالي الأيراني

الى جماهير تونس*


اقدم لكم تحياتي واحرَ التهاني!

حصل نضالكم ضد النظام الدكتاتوري على مكتسبات قيمة لحد الآن واصبح مصدرا للامل للجماهير المحرومة المعترضة ضد الأنظمة القمعية في البلدان العربية والمنطقة وفي كل العالم، وخاصة لجماهير ايران التي ناضلت في السنة الماضية على مستوى مليوني ضد الجمهورية الأسلامية ، والتي تنظر الى نضالاتكم بأشتياق وامل. ان انتصاركم هو انتصار لكل جماهير المنطقة وعلى مستوى اشمل نضال كل العالم ضد الفقر والظلم والقمع وترك تأثيراً مباشراً على النضال من اجل الحرية والمساواة. لذا فان من واجب كل القوى الثورية ان تتابع بدقة مجرى التحولات في تونس وتضع التحليلات والتقيم والتجارب والتصورات تحت تصرفكم. ان احد "الخدمات" التي تقدمها الانظمة الدكتاتورية مثل نظام بن علي للطبقة الحاكمة هو قمع قوى اليسار والثوريين وحرمان المجتمع من الأحزاب حتى لا تستطيع في اوضاع كهذا أخذ زمام قيادة الثورة. ان طرح الأفكار والتعامل الفعال للأحزاب الثورية العالمية يبقى عاملا مؤثرا في الثورات الموجودة لملئ هذا الفراغ ومساعدة تنظيم وتحزب الثورات. وفي هذا الأتجاه نرى ان من واجبنا طرح النقاط التالية بمتناولكم.

ان تجرية الثورات ومن ضمنها الثورة الأيرانية في 1979 يبين ان القوى الرجعية والمعادية للثورة على المستوين المحلي والعالمي تسعى ان ترضى بأدنى التغيرات والحفاظ على اكثر ما ممكن من المؤسسات والقوانين وحتى الشخصيات في السلطة وارسال الجماهير الى بيوتها وسيطرتهم على الأوضاع. بدأت المحاولات نفسها في تونس. انكم باعتراضاكم القوية والواعية استطعتم هزيمة الدكتاتور واجباره على الهرب. لكن الدكتاتورية لا تزال في مكانها.ان الطبقة الحاكمة والرجعية المحلية والعالمية وبالأخص الحزب الحاكم ورموز نظام بن علي، والدول الغربية والعربية في المنطقة تحاول ابقاء النظام الدكتاتوري الموجود وبأقل التغيرات الممكنة. فليست القوانين والمؤسسات والأدارات الحكومية ثابتة في مكانها فحسب بل حتى رموز النظام وبضمنهم رئيس الوزراء ورئيس الجمهورية المؤقت وكل اعضاء الوزارة والمندوبين لحد الآن فان جميع الامور تحت تصرفهم. هذه الأوضاع يجب ان تتغير فورا. ان احد الأهداف العاجلة للثورة هو اعتقال ومحاكمة كل المسؤولين في النظام السابق وحل الحزب الحاكم ومحاكمة مسؤولي الحزب وحل كل المؤسسات البوليسية والأمنية التي قامت بالقمع والقتل لمدة اكثر من عقدين من الزمن. يجب فتح ملف السرقات والنهب التي قام بها بن علي وافرد عائلته وبقية المسؤولين الحكوميين والتحقيق في أموال الشعب المنهوبة والمسروقة وارجاعها الى المجتمع.

ان المحاكمة العلنية للمسؤولين والشخصيات الحكومية ومصادرة الأموال التي نهبوها وحل المؤسسات البوليسية والأمنية يشكل اولى شروط الأنتصار وتقدم الثورة الى الأمام. ولكنها لا تشكل الشرط الوحيد أبداً. ان جماهير تونس لن يتحرروا دون اطلاق سراح السجناء السياسيين جميعا ومنع التعذيب الجسمي والنفسي والغاء حكم الأعدام ومنع تعقب واعتقال الافراد والمنشورات والاحزاب والمنظمات لاسباب سياسية كانت او فكرية. ضمان الحريات السياسية و المدنية غير المشروطة، وحرية العقيدة والرأي والمطبوعات وحرية التحزب والتنظيم والأعتراض والأضراب، تشكل شروط تحرر المجتمع.ه ذه المطالب اساسية ولا يمكن تخفيفها ويجب اعلانها كقوانين وتطبيقها بعد سقوط النظام مباشرة.

على المستوى الأقتصادي يجب ان تنعم الجماهير بالأجور والحقوق الكافية وظروف الرفاه بما يتناسب مع معايير القرن الواحد والعشرين ومن ضمنها دفع ضمان البطالة الكافية لكل المستعدين للعمل ودفع الضمانات الأجتماعية والصحية. ان الثروات المنهوبة بالمليارات من قبل مسؤولي الحكومة والميزانية الضخمة التي تصرف على السجون والمؤسسات القمعية ضد الجماهير يجب مصادرتها لصالح تأمين رفاه المجتمع. هذه تشكل الحد الأدنى من الأهداف والمطالب للجماهير الغفيرة والتي يجب كتابتها على راية الثورة وعلى اساسها تستطيع ان تقيُم مدى قرب ودفاع القوى والأحزاب والشخصيات السياسية في المعارضة من الجماهير.

على مستوى التنظيم نؤكد على اهمية تأسيس مؤسسات السلطة الجماهيرية مثل المجالس كبدائل. هذه المؤسسات تتشكل ضمن صيرورة الثورة وفي ثورة تونس الحالية نرى التأسيس العملي لهذه المؤسسات في بعض المحلات. هذه المؤسسات يجب توسيعها حتى تشمل كل المحلات وتسيطر على المهام الأدارية. الدفاع عن هذه المؤسسات و تقويتها هي من مهام كل القوى والاحزاب الداعية للدفاع عن الجماهير وتشكل معيارا اخر لمن هم اصدقاء الشعب ومن هم اعداءه.

النقطة الأخيرة بالأخص بما يرتبط بتجربة الثورة الأيرانية يجب التأكد من فصل الدين عن الدولة والتربية و التعليم. في اوضاع تونس فان التأكيد على هذه المعايير بالاخص بما يمس قوى المعارضة، يشكل مسألة مصيرية. ان الأحزاب والقوى الأسلامية التي تشكل جزءاً من المعارضة التونسية هم بطبيعة الحال احرار مثلهم مثل بقية القوى السياسية الأخرى ولكن يجب فصل الدين عن الدولة والمؤسسات والقوانين الحكومية كليا. وفي حال عدم تعهد الأحزاب والقوى والشخصيات السياسية التي تدعي العلمانية وفصل الدين عن الدولة والقوانين والمؤسسات القضائية والتعليمية بتعلقهم بجبهة الجماهير، فانهم عمليا يأخذون موقفا في صالح الرجعية ضد النضالات التحررية للجماهير. يجب على جماهير تونس ان تتعامل بوعي كامل مع القوى ألاسلامية ولا يفسحوا المجال لاعادة تجربة الثورة الأيرانية في 1979 في تونس.

بينت الثورة التونسية في اولى خطواتها بانها ثورة تحررية، متمدنة، علمانية، انسانية ومساواتية. هذا الميل والأتجاه العام يجب طرحه بشكل بلاتفورم وبيان مشخص وسياسي يعلن عن نفسه بصوت عالي ومنظم. ان اعلان مطاليبها واهدافها الفورية الذي ذكرناها من قبل يشكل الخطوة الأولى في هذا الأتجاه.

مرة اخرى اقدم لكم تحياتي واتمنى لكم الأنتصار،

حميد تقوائي

سكرتير اللجنة المركزية للحزب الشيوعي العمالي الأيراني

20 كانون الثاني 2011

-------

* ترجمة سمير نوري من اللغة الفارسية

Tel: +44 (0) 7719166731

wpibriefing@gmail.com

http://worker-communistpartyofiran.blogspot.com/

www.wpiran.org

www.newchannel.tv

Sunday 23 January 2011

January 29 global day of action

In support of political prisoners and against execution in Iran

Many organizations and individuals have announced their serious concern about public executions and intensification of executions in Iran. Saturday 29th January 2011, has been declared as a day of global protest against executions and in defense of political prisoners in Iran.

Updated list of 22 events

AFGHANISTAN

Kabul, Herat, Mazarsharif & Kandahar

Date: Saturday, January 29

Details to follow

Note: In an exchange with the responsibles of the Afghan Solidarity Party, we were informed that on 29th January, in the four cities of Kabul, Herat, Mazarsharif and Kandahar, there will be protests against execution and in support of political prisoners in Iran.

CANADA

Toronto

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Yonge and Dundas Crossing, in front of main entrance of Ayton Center (check sp)

Contact: wpicanada@yahoo.com, 416-726-9321

Vancouver

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2pm

Location: In front of Robson Art Gallery

Contact: 60-47278986

Ottawa

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 12-2pm

Location: In front of Ottawa Parliament

Contact: Davoud Aram, 6138597929

GERMANY

Berlin

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-5pm

Joachimstaler Platz, (U-Bhf Kurfürstendamm

Contact: 0178 2486 6317

Frankfurt

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2pm

Location: Raymondstrasse, in front of Islamic Republic Consulate

~followed by subsequent action:

Time: 4pm

Location: Frankfurt City Center, Hawitware

Contact: 015774650186 and 015787497231

Bremen

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-5pm

Location: Marktplatz

Contact: 01724037035

Köln

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-3pm

Location: Domplatte

Hamburg

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 12noon

Location: Uptbahnhof (Nord) – Glockengießerwall

Contact: 0176-4832 5613 , 0172-4044 323

Hamburg

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-3.30pm

Location: Binnenalster / Jungfernstieg

IRAQ

Soleimaniya

Date: Saturday January 29

Details to follow

NETHERLANDS

Den Haag

Date: Friday January 28

Time: 3-5pm

Location: In front of the Dutch Parliament

Contact: Bahman Khani, 06-51-273261, Yalda Bayram, 06-50-994005

NORWAY

Oslo

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-2pm

Location: In front of Islamic Republic Embassy

~followed by subsequent action:

Time: 2-3:30pm

Location: In front of Foreign Ministry of Norway

Contact: Saber Rahimi 9-869-4001

SWEDEN

Malmö

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 1-3pm

Location: Davidhallsbron

Contact: 0708-544 529

Stockholm

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Sergeltorget

Contact: 0737-801510

Gothenburg

Date: Saturday January 29

Details to follow

Contact: 0703-171102, 0703-638088

Borås

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Stortorget

Contact: 0737-598566

For more information re the events in Sweden contact: Afsaneh Vahdat 0702-468454

UNITED KINGDOM

London

Date: Saturday January 29

Time: 2-4pm

Location: Trafalgar Square, North Terrace (outside the National Gallery)

UNITED STATES

Washington DC

Date: Sunday January 30

Time: 12-3pm

Location: In front of the Islamic Republic Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Ave

We call on everyone to be part of this global day of protest and support the people of Iran. Solidarity with people of Iran and international pressure is a significant factor that helps people of Iran in their struggle to liberate themselves; protest works, remember the case of Sakineh Ashtiani!

  1. Join or organize a protest in your city;
  2. Let us know time and venue of your protest and action
  3. publicize the news of the protest in your local paper, trade union and other organisations
  4. Sign the declaration of the global day of action
  5. Governments everywhere must come under pressure to break all diplomatic links with the Islamic regime of Iran

Free all political prisoners

End capital punishment

International Committee against Execution

For more information, contact: Mina Ahadi

Email: minaahadi@aol.com

Tel: 0049 (0) 1775692413

http://notonemoreexecution.org

http://stopstonningnow.com

Petition:

http://stopstonningnow.com/united/listunite600.php?nr=22774802&lang=en

About the allegations of free elections

People of Tunisia Beware! They want to push you Back Home!

The formation of the transitional government and talking about free elections is coming from the mouths of the same criminals who have spilled the blood of the people of Tunisia for the last 23 years. The masses are still in turmoil and the launch of revolutionary rhetoric about elections, the formation of the interim government, the parliament, and to portray as if everything has returned to normalcy aim in fact to one goal: the return of the rebellious and protesting masses to their homes.

The elections, the release of political prisoners, and open the way for free political activities without any restriction or conditions is part of the goals and demands of the masses and not a favor from the government, which contains reactionary, some of whom are even involved in the killing of people. While calling for the elections, the conditions for achieving free elections are absent. The first of those conditions is to hand in all the murderers and criminals and members of the ruling party, led by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and all his ministers and army and police commanders who have committed crimes against the people of Tunisia to a public trial. This is the first condition for elections. The absence of this standard means very clearly that nothing has changed and what changed is just the faces. Changing Faces is a tactic well known and used by the bourgeois in order to absorb the resentment against the symbol of the former regime and bring faces of the same system, but less vocal and important. They are the same forces that want to remain in power and re-produce the same tragedy to the masses of Tunisia; the same hunger and oppression, same discrimination and lack of rights, and same mass unemployment.

Do not accept and be deceived by the sweet talk about what you have struggled and sacrificed for. They did not change events on the ground. You did. Your revolution is worthy of pushing forward until it fully achieves its objectives.

Victory of the Revolution of the masses of Tunisia!

Forward to achieve the revolution’s goals of freedom, equality and prosperity!

The Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq – LWPI

21-1-2011

The Goals of the Revolution of the People of Tunisia!

The people of Tunisia have risen against poverty, unemployment, and the dictatorship and to achieve the following immediate goals. These goals are standards to test any future government to act upon and represent the minimum demands of the people. They also represent standards for all political parties to undertake and commit by.

The immediate goals are:

1. Release of all political prisoners and the abolition of all court or police orders against all political activists

2. End of martial law and clear the streets of any military forces or appearances aimed at preventing and depriving the people of their rights to assemble, demonstrate, and protest

3. Arrest and prosecute the head of the former regime Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and all the pillars of his government who are proved to be involved in criminal acts against the masses of Tunisia for the past period as well as military and police commanders and all those who have the peoples blood on his hands who opened fire in the current events and bring them to a public trial

4. Launch the broadest forms of political freedoms with no restrictions or conditions

5. Launch all individual and civil liberties such as freedom of strike, assembly, demonstration, belief, expression, press, partisanship and others

6. Secure and ensure good standard of living and dignity for all citizens based on the highest international standards and guarantees to pay, by the state, unemployment benefit which guarantees decent life for all unemployed, and increase the minimum wage for all workers to ensure decent and prosperous life

7. Prohibition of all laws that discriminate against, or reinforce the inferiority of women

8. Strict abolition of death penalty in Tunisia

These goals are the minimum laid upon the shoulders of the liberation and revolutionary movement in Tunisia, which took to the streets and were able to topple the dictatorship of the ruling class in a few days time, moreover, shook the thrones of dictatorial nationalist and Islamic governments throughout the region, while raised hopes of the masses with such slogans as Yes to Bread and Freedom and No to Ben Ali and No to Dictatorship and no to the laws based on religion and discrimination. They are the goals of each person who believes in freedom, equality and freedom for the masses of Tunisia in their brave uprising.

The Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq - LWPI

19 January, 2011

Thursday 20 January 2011

About the Revolutionary Developments in Tunisia!

a communique from the Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq

After the evolvement of struggles of the unemployed, working class, and all oppressed in Tunisia, into mass protests and rallies attended by teachers, lawyers, and youth, and after the expansion of demonstrations to nearby cities and townships especially the capital Tunis, and the joining of trade unions, the government, represented by its oppressive forces, began to shoot live bullets at the demonstrators. It was announced that the death toll reached 60 and many were killed in prisons as well. The mass demonstrations and confrontations had lead to the escape of the dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was replaced by Mohamed Ghannouchi as president and the imposition of martial law. The army is now protecting the airport and major centers of government, but the streets are still filled with people who are still unconvinced of what is happening and who have formed several councils to manage the situation and protect public property from looting and vandalism of the gangs and looters who took advantage of the current situation.

The current protest in Tunisia is a mass revolution sparked by a toiler who burned himself in a show of protest against the police assault on his means of livelihood. This incident had escalated into flames of protests of thousands of unemployed workers in all of Tunisia and evolved into a demand to topple the regime, release of political prisoners, and wider political freedoms. The masses rose up courageously and led an uprising to topple the despotic tyrant who had fled in panic. But the current ruling regime, which claims to save the country, is but an extension of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. It is incapable of serving the interests and objectives of the egalitarian revolution of the Tunisian masses. The people did not rise up to form a national-unity nor a constitution based government, or to get some sedative solutions by which the ruling class aim to defuse the revolution and bring Islamists and nationalist reactionaries to power. The Islamic and nationalist forces which, along with the global propaganda media, promote a so-called national-unity rule and consolidation of democracy, want, in fact, to abort the uprising, and to domesticate it into another velvet democratic revolution (jasmine revolution!) and allude the masses into believing that the present government is capable of solving their troubles and problems, especially deprivation, unemployment, discrimination, oppression, inequality, and lack of rights and freedoms.

Our Party asserts that the bourgeois class, which came out after the defection of Ben Ali, will try to make promises to end the situation to peoples favor, but in fact, they aim to kill the revolution and distract the masses with trivial reforms in order to perpetuate their rule. Our Party asserts that the current reactionary Arab nationalists and Islamists, guards of the regime, and army officers, are all incapable to represent the revolution or to lead it towards its goals, and that the solution lies in the hands of the Tunisian working class and millions of toilers and their socialist, leftist, and secularist forces. Our party, while seeing in this revolution a new era of liberty and emancipation to the people in the Arab region, points out that the ultimate emancipation of the masses off their deprivation, abuse, poverty, lack of political freedoms and equality to women, will only be recognized through the victory of socialism. This requires sustaining the struggles to accomplish it by the working class of Tunisia itself.

There lie difficult tasks in front of the revolution, but the most important task at the moment is to block the way on the Tunisian bourgeoisie to deceive the masses by talking about democracy, human rights, coalition governments, and so on, so it could catch its breath and regain its grip with new faces. We emphasize the need to develop means of class struggle for the workers of Tunisia, and to escalate the struggle and reach the level of determining working class political alternatives towards socialism. The formation of councils in some cities and turning them into nuclei for people's councils, is a first step to take control of the situation, but leading the revolution requires a worker-communist party competent of leading the revolution to the victory of the Socialist Republic, is the only alternative for the direct and wide intervention of people and to restore their robbed humanity.

Victory of the Revolution of the masses of Tunisia!
Long live freedom and equality!
Long live the Socialist Republic!

The Left Worker-communist Party of Iraq - LWPI
17 January, 2011

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Revolution in Tunisia: Forward and Onward!

English/Français

On Friday 14th January, a month-old mass protest and struggle of the working class and people of Tunisia against unemployment and destitution and the corrupt police state resulted in the hasty flight of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, the President of Tunisia. This was the first achievement of the people of Tunisia in their fight for freedom and equality.

This is the beginning of a revolution whose victory cannot be anything short of the establishment of direct rule of citizens based on direct popular participation in administration of the state, complete overthrow of the current government, and the destruction of the oppressive machinery of the state which has been used against the people of Tunisia for more than half a century.

The swift victory of the people Tunisia in forcing Ben Ali, who has been at the helm of a fearsome machinery of terror, to flee, gave rise to optimism and was welcomed by the people of the world, particularly in Arab countries. In some countries, people demonstrated in support of the people of Tunisia, while a shadow of fear fell on the face of the dictators. In Iran the people eagerly watched the scenes similar to their own struggle against the Islamic regime in the 2009 revolution, and sent messages of support and congratulations following the flight of the Tunisian dictator; they felt stronger in their fight against the Islamic regime of Iran.

The start of the Tunisian revolution is an important development with a momentous impact on the region and in particular on the countries of the so-called ‘Arab World’. This revolution must move forward vigorously and achieve its victory. The ruling elite of Tunisia, in co-ordination with Western powers, particularly France and the United States, is trying to ‘put out of sight’ some of the hated figures of the Tunisian state and save the oppressive state machinery, such as the army and other oppressive organs; by inviting some nationalist, Islamist and reactionary elements of the opposition to form a government of ‘national unity’, they are trying to maintain and justify the current system of oppression and exploitation. The code name for this operation is the ‘Jasmine Revolution’, which is supposedly based on the model of the Velvet Revolution. By passing the power between different groups of the ruling class, the ruling elite aims to defeat the people’s revolution in Tunisia.

The people of Tunisia must advance their revolution; they must put forward such demands as the unconditional release of political prisoners, public trial of Ben Ali and all those responsible for the recent killings, an end to Marshal Law, abolition of all the oppressive organs of the state, publication of the all the documents of the theft and embezzlement by top government officials, direct and popular participation in all decision- making in industries, government organisations, universities and neighbourhoods, unconditional freedom of expression, strike, organisation and political activities, immediate rise in pay levels, etc. No government - ‘national unity’ or otherwise - has any legitimacy unless it recognises the above demands. Any government that fails to recognise these demands would be deemed as the continuation of the old dictatorship and consequently must stand aside.

Moving forward and achieving these demands is only possible by the mass organisation of the working class and people of Tunisia.

We are for the advance and comprehensive victory of the people of Tunisia; their victory will be a victory for the people of world, including the people Iran.

Worker-communist Party of Iran
16 January 2011

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Français

Révolution en Tunisie : En avant ! En avant !

Le vendredi 14 janvier, un mois de protestations et de luttes de la classe ouvrière et du peuple de Tunisie contre le chômage, la misère et l'Etat policier corrompu a conduit à la fuite précipitée de Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, le président de Tunisie. Ce fut la première réalisation du peuple de Tunisie dans sa lutte pour la liberté et l'égalité.

C'est le début d'une révolution dont la victoire ne peut être que l'établissement du pouvoir direct des citoyens basé sur la participation populaire dans l'administration de l'Etat, le renversement complet de l'actuel gouvernement et la destruction de la machine répressive d'Etat utilisée contre le peuple de Tunisie depuis plus d'un demi-siècle.

La rapide victoire des gens de Tunisie pour forcer Ben Ali, qui était à la tête d'une redoutable machine de terreur, à fuir, pousse à l'optimisme et a été saluée par les peuples du monde en particulier dans les pays arabes. Dans plusieurs pays, les gens ont manifesté pour soutenir le peuple de Tunisie, alors que l'ombre de la peur plane sur la tête des dictateurs. En Iran, les gens se précipitaient pour regarder ces scènes similaires à celles de leur propre lutte contre le régime islamique lors de la révolution de 2009, et envoyaient des messages de soutien et de salutations après la fuite du dictateur tunisien ; ils se sentent plus forts pour leur lutte contre le régime islamique d'Iran.

Le début de la révolution tunisienne est événement important avec un impact considérable dans la région et en particulier dans les pays de ce qui est appelé le “monde arabe”. Cette révolution doit vigoureusement aller de l'avant et réaliser sa victoire. L'élite dirigeante de Tunisie, en coordination avec les puissances occidentales, en particulier la France et les Etats-Unis, tente de mettre “hors de la vue” quelques uns des visages les plus haïs de l'Etat tunisien et de sauver la machine répressive d'Etat, comme l'armée et autres organes de répression, en invitant quelques nationalistes, islamistes et éléments réactionnaires de l'opposition pour former un gouvernement “d'unité nationale”, ils tentent de maintenir et de justifier l'actuel système d'oppression et d'exploitation. Le nom de code de cette opération est celui de “révolution du jasmin”, supposée être basée sur le modèle de la révolution de velours. En transférant le pouvoir entre différents groupes de la classe dirigeante, le but de l'élite au pouvoir est de provoquer la défaite de la révolution du peuple en Tunisie.

La population de Tunisie doit faire avancer sa révolution ; en mettant en avant des revendications comme la libération inconditionnelle des prisonniers politiques, le jugement public de Ben Ali et de tous ceux qui sont responsables des récents assassinats, la fin de la loi martiale, l'abolition des organes répressifs de l'Etat, la publication de tous les documents concernant le pillage et les détournements de fond par les hauts fonctionnaires du gouvernement, la participation directe et populaire dans toutes les prises de décision dans les industries, les organisations gouvernementales, les universités et les quartiers, la liberté inconditionnelle d'expression, de grève, d'organisation et d'activités politiques, la hausse immédiate des salaires, etc. Aucun gouvernement, qu'il se nomme “d'unité nationale” ou autrement, n'aura aucune légitimité pour diriger tant qu'il ne reconnaîtra pas ces revendications. Tout gouvernement qui refusera d'accepter ces revendications sera considéré comme la continuité de l'ancienne dictature et par conséquent ne pourra être reconnu.

Aller de l'avant et obtenir ces revendications ne sera possible que par l'organisation de masse de la classe ouvrière et de la population de Tunisie.

Nous sommes pour l'avancée et la victoire complète de la population de Tunisie ; sa victoire sera une victoire pour les peuples du monde, dont le peuple d'Iran.


Parti Communiste-Ouvrier d'Iran
16 Janvier 2011