Falah Alwan: Iraq is an international question
In the Government’s discourse, its enemies are terrorists and the remnants of Saddam’s regime when in fact each faction in the Government has its own militia. We can say that the Government depends to a large degree upon the militia controlled by Iran but even within the different factions of the militia, there are many sub-groups.
PRAVDA.Ru The British recently left Basra, claiming “The Job is done”. Comments?
Falah Alwan Ha! I’ll give you an example. When some militants established an ad hoc check point in Basra city and wanted to beat a woman for walking around without her veil, these British soldiers said they had nothing to do with it because it was a question of “local culture” and did not defend the woman. The job done in Basra? Well, I would say that this city and the region around it is now under the influence of Iran, its agents and of criminal gangs. Those who control the city are armed militia groups, which the United Kingdom did nothing to prevent from imposing their authority on the city.
PRAVDA.Ru And what is the way ahead?
Falah Alwan It is in the interests of the workers to end the occupation as soon as possible. It is interesting for many sectors. The balance of political power in Iraq has to be changed. We have to set up a secular political power and not political islamists, which is mainly the composition of the Government today. We must have a different model, one of social prgress and we have here real potential for the working classes to organise Iraqi society on a secular and progressive basis, polarising around the workers’ interests, creating a fair society which brings benefits to all.
We would like to expand this secular workers’ movement and for this we need to create international links and that is why I am here. The invasion is an international question and for this reason it is up to the international community to resolve the issue. It is time for the rest of the international community to intervene. Our question is how to create an international coordinated movement to continue to appeal for the support of organisms and institutions which are interested in protecting workers’ rights, and which have already reached their objectives in their countries. We are at the beginning and we need help.
We need support to set up a humanitarian model, an internationalist movement and a secular society which constitutes a viable alternative, first in Iraq. It is time for a New Left to intervene.
Interview by
Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Director and Chief Editor
Portuguese Version
PRAVDA.Ru
Initiative by PRAVDA.Ru collaborator in Portugal Luís de Carvalho
Our thanks to the sponsor, SPGL
Falah Alwan’s e-mail: falahalwan@yahoo.com (English or Arabic)
Sites: www.equality.org
