Economic Sanctions .. A Weapon Directed Against the People

The region of the Middle East is facing a host of challenges and problems, while its peoples eagerly aspire to stability, freedom and minimum prerequisites of life. There are many hotbeds of conflict, resulting in people being killed, wounded, left with disabilities, displaced and made refugees because of wars and continuing military conflicts and deteriorating living and humanitarian conditions. This region is witnessing sectarian and chauvinist incitement and extremism, as well as the frenzied activity of terrorist groups, with uncontrolled spread of arms. Foreign interventions and efforts to impose hegemony and control over the region's capabilities cause further complications. Several parties are interfering to push the region into destructive military conflicts and encourage internal fragmentation. Meanwhile, Israel continues its aggressive practices and violating UN resolutions that uphold the right of the Palestinian people to return to their homeland and to self-determination, and their right to establish their independent national state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In this volatile climate, the US has decided to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran unilaterally and without international legal cover. This action by the United States comes after its decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, as part of the policy adopted by the administration of President Trump of escalation and tension in order to intensify pressure on the regime of the Islamic Republic. However, the experiences of imposing economic sanctions, such as those that were imposed on our country in the 1990s, which are supposedly a punishment against regimes and pressure on them to change their policies, soon become in practice a punishment against the people with grave humanitarian, social and economic consequences that aggravate their suffering, exacerbate their living difficulties and threaten the fabric of society and the pillars of the state.

As the two sides exchange threats, international and regional parties express their concern that the situation could degenerate into a devastating military conflict. This would add new burdens to the peoples of the region who are already suffering the nightmare of the war against terrorism, the senseless bloody conflict in Syria and Yemen and the instability in several of their countries.

The peoples of the region, including the Iranian people, are looking for stable conditions in which they can utilize their resources and wealth for their well-being and to build their own countries. They aspire to equal relations with other countries based on international legitimacy, laws and norms and on non-interference in the internal affairs of any country.

It is the right of these peoples to enjoy freedom, democracy and a decent life, and to choose their own political systems according to their will, without wars, economic sanctions and siege.

The Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party held its regular meeting on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th August 2018 in Baghdad.

The meeting started with a minute of silence in honour of the martyrs of the protest movement and the victims of terrorism and violence among our people, and of our comrades and friends who have passed away recently.

The meeting discussed detailed reports about the work and performance of the party's leading bodies, organisations and specialised committees. The party organisations and leadership have paid great attention during recent months to the parliamentary elections and to the political administration and mobilisation effort of the electoral campaign. They also interacted with the outbreak of the July popular uprising and the peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins, siding with the just and legitimate issues of citizens. The party called on its comrades and supporters to contribute actively to the protests, adopt their demands and defend them, stand with the demonstrators and condemn the repression that was used against them.

The party organisations have played a prominent role in strengthening the organisation of the party in Baghdad and other provinces, contributing to building broad links with the masses, and engaged in intellectual, political, social and class battles in defence of the interests of the poor, the disadvantaged and the toilers. This national effort has also been manifested in exposing the roots of terrorism, confronting it and abhorrent sectarianism, defending the issues of the homeland and its sovereignty, unifying the ranks of civil and democratic forces, and opening up to the national arena, in order to build a state based on the principle of citizenship, true democracy and social justice. Since 2003, the party has made a lot of sacrifices, including martyrs, wounded and injured, who will remain the pride of the party whose history is full of feats and glory.

In addition to these big successes and sacrifices of the party’s members, organisations, cadres and leadership, a number of organisational issues emerged that were considered by the meeting with a spirit of high responsibility and concern to consolidate what had been achieved with the will and enthusiasm of Communists. The meeting stressed the necessity for and importance of enhancing mobilisation, motivation and organisation, expanding the ranks of the party, developing the work of its organisations, strengthening their role and links with the masses and ridding them of flaws and shortcomings. The meeting adopted several resolutions and recommendations to improve the work of the party, to ensure the building of strong and cohesive organisations that are ready to defend the interests of the people and the homeland. It expressed its determination to develop internal democratic dialogue, and to strengthen the party's political and organisational unity, based on the foundations of democracy, freedom of opinions and their interaction, that is expressed in the unity of will and action.

 The financial - administrative report was then considered and a number of related decisions were taken.

Based on the party policy set by the 10th National Congress (1-3 December 2016), the meeting of the Central Committee examined the political developments since its previous meeting (9 March 2018). It concluded that our country is witnessing major developments that pose great challenges. The state of impasse and deep social tension, lack of trust between the state institutions and the citizens, the rampant corruption, the widening class inequality and differentiation, the stark failure to manage the affairs of the country, the widespread proliferation of arms outside the framework of the state, the growing role of the "deep state", the external interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, the political messages from the recent parliamentary elections … all these and other issues are indicative of the fact that the continuation of the status quo, or attempting to reproduce the same poor style of state administration, can only lead to continued failure and more crises in a system based on quota power-sharing that is already in deep crisis. Therefore, change and reform have become an objective necessity that cannot be evaded and must be taken into account by the ruling blocs and those that won in the elections when moving towards forming the new government. Otherwise, the doors will remain open to all possibilities, including the worst. The new government will have to adopt a reform programme with time limits for implementation, and be a government of competent people, that is free of quota power-sharing and corruption.

Regarding the demonstrations and the protest movement, the meeting stressed that it is the duty of the Government and its agencies to work seriously to interact positively with the concerns of the people. It is useless to talk about perpetrators and saboteurs and others, as this does not change anything of the fact that there is a mass uprising that reflects a state of mounting suffering. It is also necessary to deal with the real demonstrators and not with those whom the authorities wish to meet with, and to refrain from all illegal practices. The Government and the judiciary must announce dropping all the charges against the demonstrators and release those who remain in detention, drop the humiliating “pledges” extracted by threats and coercion from detainees, including a halt to such practices in state departments. A decree must be issued by the government to regard the martyrs of the popular uprising as martyrs of the people, and deal fairly with their families, and to help the wounded to recover and return to their normal life.

The Iraqi Communist Party, which is already supporting the just and legitimate demands of the masses, stands in solidarity with the July popular uprising and is participating in it. The party strongly rejects and condemns any violent practice against the protesters, and calls on civil, democratic and patriotic forces to support the aspirations of the people and respond to their wishes. It stresses at the same time the importance of preserving the peaceful character of the uprising and formulating its slogans and demands properly.

A detailed communiqué on the meeting of the Central Committee will be issued soon.

International Youth Day, on 12^th August, is a day to remember the growing role of young people, locally and globally, and the importance of involving them in peace-making, achieving progress and prosperity, and giving them the opportunity to express their great potential. This day is a universal recognition that young people create the future and that it is their own. We therefore convey warmest greetings to the world’s youth on their day.

On this occasion, we salute Iraq’s youth, valuing their great role in striving to instil the values ​​of love, peace and fraternity under difficult conditions and to confront attempts to consolidate sectarian identities and drag young people into wars and conflicts.

While young people in Iraq are suffering, no serious measures have been taken by successive governments to address their situation. Their aspirations and concerns have been totally ignored by the ruling groups whose only concern is maintaining power and influence.

However, Iraq’s youth have not hesitated to act, responding to the plight of the country and the suffering of the people. They are today out in the streets and squares, angry and resentful, protesting against poor services and deteriorating living conditions, and rejecting the spectre of unemployment which every graduate or professional person is facing. They are condemning the policies of economic dependence and subservience of the rulers to international diktat. All excuses by the latter can no longer hold after the largescale defeats inflicted on the terrorists by Iraqi youth, liberating the cities of Iraq and offering great sacrifices.

On International Youth Day, we renew our aspiration and determination to strive to enable young people to take part in decision-making and repairing the destruction wreaked by the enemies of life. We reiterate our demands to the relevant parties, in particular the Government and the Parliament, that are most responsible for tackling the crisis facing the country. The plight of young people among the war-wounded, the unemployed and the marginalised must be part of the plans by the state for human development and optimal utilisation of the energy possessed by Iraq’s youth.

On this day, we also reaffirm our common concerns as the world's youth. We therefore renew our commitment to the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) as the framework that embodies the struggle of the world youth for peace, equality, development and democracy.

It is worth noting that the Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation (IDYF) has in recent years celebrated this occasion by organising a large festival in central Baghdad. But it is taking place under different conditions this year, as a number of young Iraqis have been killed in the streets during protests as a result of the bloody repression by the authorities and security forces. These repressive measures took place despite the peaceful nature of the protests and the fact that the right to free expression and peaceful demonstration is guaranteed by the Constitution. The IDYF has therefore cancelled this year's festival in honour of the martyrs and in solidarity and support of the protesting youth. It has decided that its branches would carry out activities in support of the demands of the masses of our people who are calling for political reform, eradicating corruption and providing services to the people.

Peace, security and prosperity for the youth of Iraq and the world

Glory to the martyrs of Iraq

Speedy recovery for the injured protesters

Glory to our homeland and victory for our people

 Iraqi Democratic Youth Federation (IDYF)

Baghdad, 12 August 2018

 We Support the Just and Legitimate Demands of the Demonstrators

We have repeatedly stressed that the situation in the country does not please anyone, and that there is a great deal of accumulated problems and difficulties that are awaiting solutions that have not been found for 15 years. Some aspects are actually getting worse, especially in public services, the provision of electricity and water, deterioration in the health, education and transport sectors, as well as the increasing rise in poverty and unemployment rates and the lack of employment opportunities in the public and private sectors. Among those seeking jobs without success are qualified people and university graduates in various disciplines.

In the face of this calamitous and tragic situation, social tension is rising and the level of discontent and resentment is growing. The mistrust between citizens, on the one hand, and the ruling groups, decision-makers and those who control the affairs of the country have been deepening since the change in April 2003 to the present day.

The people have suffered enormously, made huge sacrifices and dealt patiently with countless mistakes and practices which they endured every day and felt their terrible consequences, especially during the periods of confronting terrorist Daesh. But the rulers have persisted with their polices, plundering public money, reneging on their lavish promises and deepening the gap between the poor and the rich. They insist on pursuing the same failed policies, holding on to the sectarian-ethnic quota power-sharing system, to perpetuate their hegemony, domination, influence and wealth. All this and other factors have raised the level of popular anger and resentment.

In the face of these dire conditions, citizens from different sectors and strata have been forced to take to the streets demanding their rights that some of which have already relinquished by the state. They have demanded the provision of services, combating corruption and offering job opportunities. The masses resorted to demonstrations and holding rallies, and seeking through various legal and peaceful forms to publicize their demands. But their demands were ignored, and some hoped that they would be forgotten with the passage of time, while popular anger is gradually turning into a volcano of discontent and resentment.

The demonstrations and protests that we are witnessing today are an inevitable outcome of the country's comprehensive crisis and its root cause; the sectarian-ethnic quota power-sharing system, and the state of impasse which the country is facing in various aspects. The wave of demonstrations, in their new version, characterized by the broad participation and involvement of large sectors, have sent a strong message rejecting the failed policies and warning that insisting on them only means repeated failure.

These demonstrations are in line with the spirit of the Constitution and the citizen's right to express his opinion and demands, which must be cherished by the state, federal government and local governments, safeguarding the lives of the demonstrators and ensuring their safety. It is, therefore, totally unacceptable to resort to firing live ammunition and excessive use of force, compiling detention lists that include well-known civil activists, and other methods that are unacceptable in a constitutional country that wants to consolidate democratic life.

Of course, in large demonstrations and protests of the kind we are witnessing today, we can find those who seek to influence their course in a certain direction. But this does not in any way affect their general character and their demands which are supported by an overwhelming majority of our people, especially the deprived and the toilers.

While rejecting and condemning the use of violence against the protesting citizens, condemning any attack on public and private institutions, the headquarters of parties and houses of residence, emphasizing respect for the members of the armed forces, and stressing that the strength of the demonstrations lies in their peacefulness and just demands, we reiterate that these demands, both immediate and long-term, cannot be met on the basis of de facto logic and the use of security means and in an excessive manner. We are sure that this will exacerbate the problem and make it more intractable, and will open the door to those who harbour ill intentions towards our country and try to interfere in what is going on, both internally and externally.

Our experience confirms once again the need to establish a government of competent people, untainted by sectarian-ethnic power-sharing and corruption. Such a government must be committed to a reform program, timelines for implementation and putting the right person in the right place, so as to give clear and concrete signals to the existence of a true will to pursue the path of change and real reform, combat corruption firmly, meet the immediate needs of people, address the accumulated problems and unresolved issues, and secure a free, dignified and safe life for the people.

The conditions of the country cannot be tackled by piecemeal measures and giving hollow promises. What is happening today can happen again if its objective causes continue, and the root cause of this is the suffering of the people which is worsening day by day and requires urgent concrete solutions.

The Central Committee

Iraqi Communist Party

16 July 2018