8-10-07, 9:14 am
Tudeh Party of Iran supports the interesting initiative of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) for a worldwide day of action on August 9, 2007 to protest against the oppressive measures of Iran’s regime and for the release of detained labor activists, Mansour Ossanlou and Mahmoud Salehi. TPI calls upon all the party members and supporters to actively participate in this campaign.
With escalation of economic-political crisis of the disgraced government of Ahmadi-Nejad, the atmosphere of the country becomes more of a “security” one. The augmentation of activities of various intelligence agencies, case-building and attacking against union, student and women activists, and increase of pressures and torture in medieval prisons to take fake and worthless “confessions”, all demonstrate the desperation of a regime that despite various claims about its stability, has targeted the citizens of our nation with widespread and brutal attacks in order to preserve its unstable position.
Concerning news from prisons about renewed pressures on labor and student activists, pressure on newspapers and news websites, and continuing the arrests, all demonstrate the escalation of security policies of the regime to strike a blow against the popular movement of our nation and its social forces, i.e. labor, student and women’s movement.
In this environment, it is only with increased cooperation and solidarity of all freedom-loving and pro-democracy forces, and also the solidarity and pressure of public opinion of Iran and the world, that the despotic regime could be forced to retreat and assent to unconditional and immediate release of detained activists.
Parallel to these invasions, in the recent weeks we have witnessed interesting and promising signs of solidarity and joint struggle of popular movements, which we have to make every effort to strengthen and expand them. Along with this joint concurrence inside the country, a strong wave of international protests against the attacks of the regime, in the form of protest letters and communiqué by international student and trade union organizations have been challenging the Supreme Leader regime.
As an example, following the re-arrest of Mansour Ossanlou, the Chair of Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the voice of protests against this arrest and for solidarity with labor and trade union movement – which despite the brutal suppression in the past 3 decades courageously continues its activities– raised. At the same time, all political parties, and student groups and organizations, and various social forces collectively supported the Syndicate, and practically the whole labor movement of Iran.
As pointed out, in addition to the domestic support, in the international scene, and especially from the international trade union organizations, a considerable wave of protest formed. Initiated by “International Trade Union Confederation” and “The International Transport Workers' Federation”, August 9th 2007 was called the international action day to protest the anti-labor actions of the Iranian regime, and to demand the freedom of Iranian workers, Mansour Ossanlou and Mahmoud Salehi. This initiative is of utmost importance for the labor movement of our country and is most welcomed, because on one hand it shows the international solidarity of workers, and on the other hand is an opportunity to make known to the world public opinion the situation in Iran and the tough struggle of Iranian workers under the rule of the dictator regime. The appeal of these two organizations to all international and unions and organizations reads: “Dear Friends, we are writing to request your organization to join an International Day of Action on Thursday 9 August concerning two prominent trade union prisoners in Iran: Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi. We know that the summer period is not a very good one to launch international solidarity action, particularly in the northern hemisphere. We believe, however, that the particular circumstances in these two cases call for urgent and determined action if our two detained colleagues are to be released in the foreseeable future…We are hoping that both Osanloo and Salehi will be released before our target date and are maintaining constant pressure on Iran authorities to that effect. If, however, either one or both of them are still detained on Thursday 9 August, we are calling on all ITUC and ITF affiliates and Global Union Federations to consider our International Day of Action in solidarity with Iranian workers on that day. Thursday 9 August will mark one year exactly since Mansour Osanloo was released from prison after an earlier period of imprisonment. That release was undoubtedly the result of continuous protests and pressure from the international trade union movement… On this anniversary day, we are calling upon our affiliates to visit the Iranian diplomatic mission in your country with protest letters and/or hard copies of the petitions collected by the ITF. If there is no Iranian embassy in your country, you may consider visiting your Ministry/Office of Foreign Affairs to raise your concern; holding a press conference; organizing a workplace meeting, or taking any other action which you consider appropriate.”
Tudeh Party of Iran welcomes this proper initiative and calls upon all the members and supporters of the Party to participate in this international campaign for freedom of labor activists and also the detained youth and women activists.
All possible means and routes of struggle must be utilized to put pressure on the regime leaders. The active role of political organization and parties, and their coordinated effort to organize protest gatherings and actions could have a significant impact on the current events. The ever increasing attacks of the reaction could not be confronted by silence and inactiveness. Inactiveness will only encourage the reaction to expand its security and intelligence activities and escalate the current suppression even more. The rising movement of people is capable of confronting the reaction plots. This capability must quickly be integrate d and organized.
From 'Nameh Mardom', Central Organ of the Tudeh Party of Iran No. 770, 4th August 2007
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