Solidarity with IFC to Change the World / Drive Anti-war Movement into Open Future

Battle for Power among Criminals

On February 10, the final outcome of the Iraqi National Assembly elections was announced as confirmed. It was as many as 57 days after the voting day, which clearly evidences the nature of this assembly; it is nothing but a product of closed-door bargaining among elements parasitic on the occupation regime, and, as such, it is totally alienated from the will of the voters.

Difficulties in daily life are increasing more and more. While power suspension used to last for several hours each time, it now continues for several days before recovery whenever it occurs. In a country with world No. 2 volume of oil reserve, people have to stand in queues for gasoline for hours. The most serious aspect of the reality is that US sweep operations and non-discriminatory terrorist attacks by political Islam continue to claim lives of innocent civilians.

There is no likeliness at all for a government to be formed under the initiative of the allied parties of Shiites may deliver any solution to this crisis. They are in no such position because their armed militias are the very culprits of rampant human rights infringements. Those gangs incorporated into security forces under the Iraqi Interior Ministry routinely attack civilian houses at night in the name of authorized search, repeating kidnappings and killings of Sunni residents.

January international resolution delivers perspective

A democratic Iraq will never arrive without sweeping of criminal groups that are alienated from people and absorbed in battles for power. Just as much, it requires the establishment of a secular and non-ethnic government. World anti-war movements struggling for the end of occupation are faced with the following questions. Which force in Iraq should they side with? What future of Iraq should they look to? Should they tolerate persecution of women only if it is committed by anti-occupation elements? Should they even accept theocracy if it counters occupiers?

On these issues, however, debates were not deepened at World Social Forum, a great convergence of antiglobalism movements, whose sessions were held separately on each continent this year.

The Bamako forum held from January 19 to 23, the capital of Mali, Africa, sent an appeal for March 18-19 international demonstrations. While the demonstrations were defined as "movement protesting against war and military occupations, as well as solidarity with the people engaged in resistance in the hot spots," calls for solidarity with secular movements were not heard.

During the Caracas sessions from January 24 to 29 in the capital of Venezuela, the international women's tribunal was held with guests from the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq. However, the slogans for March 18 International Day of Action announced on the last day by the International Assembly of Social Movements only focused on "Against the war and occupations," "Immediate and unconditional withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq" and "End to the privatization of energy resources," failing to include calls for the establishment of a free and egalitarian Iraq.

These facts highlight the significance of the resolution adopted at the January International Conference for Solidarity with IFC (Iraq Freedom Congress) in Japan. The contents of the resolution are precisely an expression of practical embodiment of "another world" advocated by the World Social Forum, as the resolution defines it as "building a secular, free and democratic society in Iraq by establishing women's shelters, Children Protection Center, the autonomous neighborhood of Al-Tadhamun (Solidarity) which offers adequate social service for residents who live together in peace and safety by self-governance across the ethnic and religious boundaries, as well as promoting workers' rights in trade union activities."

Voice of children

At the international solidarity rally, 9-year-old Sanaria attracted attention when she said, "I like Japan better than Iraq." No need to say, she did not mean to say that Japan was right in dispatching Self-Defense Forces troops to Iraq. She said so because "there are no bombings, and it is safe and clean." In other words, her words are pointing to the nature of the occupation that has attracted countless bombing incidents and brought about a non-safe, non-sanitary and abnormal society, and the responsibility of Japan that has been joining the side of occupation forces.

Global capitalism deprives Japanese and Iraqi children of childhood. The struggle countering it in order to build a society where children can enjoy their childhood to its fullness and all people can have humanly life - that is our struggles in and for solidarity with IFC. Let us spread the international resolution to the world. Let us take action to that end. (February 13)