Iraq: Alarm at forced transfer of Basra union activists
Richard Norton-Taylor
The Guardian, Friday July 25 2008
Eight Iraqi trade union leaders have been forcibly transferred from Basra to
Baghdad, where their lives are said to be at risk for opposing a planned law
in which control over oil exploration and production would be placed in
foreign hands.
The men, members of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, IFOU, have been
moved to the capital apparently on the personal orders of Hussain al-
Shahristani, the Iraqi oil minister, under anti-union legislation left over from
Saddam Hussein's rule. Greg Muttitt, co-director of Platform, the human
rights, environment and oil industry watchdog, described the men's transfer
as "extremely disturbing". He met Shahristani a month ago to protest
against the move.
The Iraqi oil minister said the eight men were involved with the militias and
in criminal activities, such as smuggling. But Muttitt said: "There is
absolutely no substance in these extremely serious allegations and he
offered no evidence."
Even if there was such evidence, it should be a matter for the Iraqi judicial
authorities and the courts, he added.
British officials in Baghdad and Basra have investigated the affair, said Kim
Howells, the foreign minister. In a letter, he said Britain wanted to repeal
Saddam's "restrictive" union laws and said Anne Clywd, the prime minister's
special envoy on human rights, had recently "emphasised the fundamental
need for free and fair trade unions in Iraq".
However, he added: "It appears that the government of Iraq is tackling
illegal trade union activities with the South Oil Company."
John Hilary, executive director of War on Want, said: "The Iraqi Federation
of Oil Unions has been leading the opposition to the sell-off of Iraq's oil and
these members are clearly being targeted for their political actions. We
believe the British government should work for the safety of Iraqi trade
unionists, not be complicit in their persecution."
In a letter to Howells, he said: "We would also like you to state whether the
British government in any way condones the transfer of trade unionists into
dangerous areas as a method of "tackling their activities, whether legal or
illegal".
Hassan Juma'a Awad, an IFOU spokesman, claimed the transfer was
ordered by Shahristani himself. "Those activists, through their hard work,
are well known for fighting corruption and corrupt-ministry gangs in the oil
sector," he insisted, adding that the transfer amounted to a "human rights
crime".
