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Statement by Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions to 2008 Chevron and
ExxonMobil Shareholder Meetings
May 30, 2008 By Iraq Labor
Source: U.S. Labor Against the War
On May 28, 2008, Chevron and ExxonMobil Cor****ations conducted their
annual shareholder meetings. Chevron convened its meeting at its world
headquarters in San Ramon, CA. ExxonMobil conducted its meeting in
Dallas, Texas. Antiwar, environmental and other social justice
organizations conducted protests at each event.
The following statement from the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq to the
shareholders of each cor****ation was presented at press conferences
conducted in conjunction with these protests. The statement was
transmitted by Hassan Juma'a Awad, President of the Iraqi Federation of
Oil Unions, to U.S. Labor Against the War for presentation at these
events.
To: The Shareholders of ExxonMobil and Chevron Cor****ations and All
Peace Loving People of the World
From: Hassan Juma'a Awad, President, Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU)
We call upon the governments, cor****ations and other institutions behind
the ongoing occupation of Iraq to respond to our demands for real
democracy, true sovereignty and self-determination, free of all foreign
interference.
Five years of invasion, war and occupation have brought nothing but
death, destruction, misery and suffering to our people. In the name of
our "liberation," more than a million of our citizens have been killed
or wounded, our nation's schools, hospitals and other infrastructure
have been destroyed, our neighbourhoods have been bombed, our homes have
been broken into, our children have been traumatized, many of our family
members and neighbours have been assaulted and arrested, our national
treasures have been looted, and nearly twenty percent of our people have
been turned into refugees.
The continued occupation fuels the violence in Iraq rather than
alleviating it. The occupation has helped to foment and then exploit
sectarian divisions and terror attacks where there had been none.
The Ba'athist legislation of 1987, which banned trade unions in the
public sector and public enterprises (80% of all workers), is still in
effect and continues to be enforced against us. Our union offices have
been raided. Union property has been seized and destroyed. Our bank
accounts have been frozen. Our leaders have been beaten, arrested,
abducted and assassinated. Our rights as workers are routinely violated.
This is an attack on our rights and the basic precepts of a democratic
society. It is a grim reminder of the shadow of dictator****p still
stalking our country.
We call upon you and all the world's peace-loving peoples to help us to
end the nightmare of occupation and restore our sovereignty and national
independence so that we can chart our own course to the future.
We demand an immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from our
country, and utterly reject the agreement being negotiated with the USA
for long-term bases and a military presence. Iraq must be returned to
full sovereignty.
We demand the passage of a labour law promised by our Constitution, that
adheres to ILO principles to protect the rights of workers to organize,
bargain and strike, independent of state control and interference and on
which Iraqi trade unionists have been fully consulted.
We demand an end to meddling in our sovereign economic affairs by the
International Monetary Fund, the USA and UK, and multinational energy
cor****ations, and recognition that no major economic decisions
concerning our services and resources can be made while foreign troops
occupy our country.
We demand that the US government, oil companies and others immediately
cease lobbying for the oil law which would fracture the country and hand
control over our oil to multinational companies like ExxonMobil and
Chevron. We demand that all oil companies be prevented from entering
into any long-term agreement concerning oil while Iraq remains occupied.
The Iraqi government must tear up the current draft of the oil law, and
begin to develop a legitimate oil policy based on full and genuine
consultation with the Iraqi people. Only after all occupation forces are
gone should a long term plan for the development of our oil resources be
adopted.
We seek your sup****t and solidarity to help us end the military and
economic occupation of our country.
We look forward to the day when we have a world based on co-operation
and solidarity. We look forward to a world free from war, sectarianism,
competition and exploitation.
May 28, 2008
Iraq Freedom Congress:
http://www.ifcongress.com/English/index.htm
--
Dan Clore
My collected fiction: _The Unspeakable and Others_
http://tinyurl.com/2gcoqt
Lord We˙rdgliffe & Necronomicon Page:
http://tinyurl.com/292yz9
News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
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Skipper: Professor, will you tell these people who is
in charge on this island?
Professor: Why, no one.
Skipper: No one?
Thurston Howell III: No one? Good heavens, this is anarchy!
-- _Gilligan's Island_, episode #6, "President Gilligan"
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