Further to yesterday’s reports on the September 20 day of action in solidarity with the Saghez worker activists in Iran, we have received more from Mexico and Pakistan. In Mexico City there was a lively picket, but the embassy officials proved less civilised than in other parts of the world. One of them attacked a female comrade! The Iranian embassy in Islamabad, on the other hand, had the delightful experience of being visited by a group of protesting MPs!
Mexico
Having been informed about the arrest by the Iranian government of comrades Mahmood Salehi, Mohammad Abdipoor, Borhan Divangar y Jalal Hossein, falsely accused of being members of the proscribed Kurdish organisation “Komala”, we consider this attack on Iranian workers as an attack on the world working class. Therefore, the comrades of the Marxist Tendency of Militante in Mexico decided to join the international campaign in defence of Iranian workers.
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We have collected signatures, demanding the release of the comrades, from the following trade union, student and left-wing organisations and bodies:
Textile Workers’ Coalition, Puebla
Workers Committee in Defence of the Trade Unions
Editorial Board of the Workers’ Paper “Militante”
UCIVS 11 Noviembre (neighbourhood organisation)
Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)
National Union of Education Workers (SNTE), National Polytechnic branch
Students’ Struggle Committee, ESIME – National Polytechnic Institute
Polytechnic Schools Struggle Committee – Casco de Santo Tomas – National Polytechnic Institute
Students Committees in Defence of State Education (CEDEP) – National Preparatory School n 3, National Preparatory School n 5, Arts Faculty UNAM, Law Faculty UNAM, Iztapalapa Campus UAM, Arts College Azcapotzalco,
Hands Off Venezuela Campaign,
Left Wing Network of the Party of the Democratic Revolution,
Central Committee of the Students Committee in Defence of State Education (CEDEP)
On Monday, September 20, some 40 comrades gathered outside the Iranian embassy in Mexico City demanding the release without charges of the Iranian comrades. There was a very internationalist militant mood amongst the workers and students present.
Despite the peaceful character of the demonstration, an unidentified person came out of the embassy and attacked one of our female comrades while she was taking pictures of the rally. He tried to get the camera off her and tried to hit her. Several other comrades prevented him from attacking the comrade defending both the right to take pictures and protesting at the brutality of this individual, a clear example of the reactionary nature of the State when it is intent on using repressive measures against those of us who are merely defending our rights as workers.
Around 12.30, the ambassador arrived and was received by loud shouting of “Freedom for the Iranian comrades! Freedom for all political prisoners! To defend workers rights: general strike!” amongst others.
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The aggressor |
We were hoping for a reply from the embassy, but they refused to even accept the protest signatures we wanted to hand in.
Finally, we closed the rally with the singing of the Internationale in a very militant mood.
The Iranian embassy did not accept the protest signatures, but this will not stop our campaign. The refusal of the Iranian embassy is part of their same position of not recognising the basic rights of workers. This is not by chance, but it is the result of the attempts of the government to stop the growing struggle of workers in Iran, but also in Mexico and all over the world.
Freedom for Iranian political prisoners!
Long live the struggle of the Iranian workers, and of workers of the world!
Long live proletarian internationalism!
Mexico City, September 21, 2004
Pakistan
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There was a very militant rally in support of the Saghez workers in Quetta in the province of Baluchistan in Pakistan. This was a significant rally as it was the closest to Iran itself, as Baluchistan shares a border with Iran, and there are many historical links. Part of Baluchistan is inside Iran and many people share the same language. We are providing the photographs of that event.
In the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, an important delegation visited the Iranian embassy. Five MPs handed over a protest petition to the Iranian embassy. Here no one dared use any threats of physical violence! Hopefully the Iranian authorities will take note of the seriousness of the campaign and the Saghez workers will see all charges dropped.
September 21, 2004
More pictures can be found in this picture gallery.