SOLIDARITY AT HOME & ABROAD

AIFC* REPORT ON DEC. 28 FORUM: GROWING RESISTANCE IN PAKISTAN and a REPORT ON SOUTHERN HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE

Eleanor Ommani, December 29, 2012

Two AIFC* members attended a NYC forum entitled: Eyewitness Pakistan – International Solidarity & a report on a special meeting called the Southern Human Rights Organizing Conference (SHROC) Report on Dec. 28, 2012.  Both presentations focused on the importance of solidarity with working class movements and struggles for economic and social justice both here and abroad.  

International Struggle:

One speaker of the evening was Ms. Sara Flounders, Co-Director of the International Action Center (IAC), who was invited to Pakistan along with Ms. Cynthia McKinney, former U.S. Congresswoman, because of their organizations' on-going support and continuing efforts to pressure the U.S. government to repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan.  The invitation and incredible rallies in Pakistan, are a shining example of genuine internationalism, with these American progressives in solidarity with the Pakistani people demanding freedom for Dr. Saddiqui, kidnapped in Pakistan, tortured in Bagram Air Force base in Afghanistan, shot by F.B.I. agents and then falsely accused of being a 'terrorist' and convicted in a U.S. Court (of illegality and injustice!), and now languishing in a Texas prison with a death sentence of 86 years....

When Sara and Cynthia arrived at the Karachi Airport in Pakistan at 4:00 A.M., they were greeted by a crowd of nearly 100 people and showered with rose petals, in what proved to be only the first of many such welcoming crowds of tens of thousands of Pakistani citizens, young and old, in cities throughout the country – Islamabad, Hyderabad, Peshawar and Lahore – running along the motorcade with signs and flags with Aafia's picture and slogans such as "Free Sister Aafia" and condemning the U.S. government while thanking their American guests for their defense of Dr. Siddiqui. 

It seemed that at whatever meeting they attended, people had heard that it was SARA who stood up in the U.S. Court and shouted out, "Shame on this court! Shame on this Court!", when the verdict was read out.  Pakistani news agencies spread her words in the international media, which is a lesson we should take seriously: INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IS A NOBLE DUTY!!  The tragic story of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, this young and brilliant Ph.D. graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and mother of three, became an international issue only two weeks after Press TV reporter Yvonne Ridley publicized the testimony of witnesses who spoke of being haunted by "a woman's piercing screams coming from Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan.  IAC's work with the Pakistan USA Freedom Forum (email: pakusaff@hotmail.com ) is what brought news and information of this case to the entire New York progressive community.  For background info about Dr. Aafia: http://muslimmatters.org/2011/01/15/dr-aafia-siddiqui-the-punishment-does-not-fit-the-crime/

The unjustified 86 year prison sentence has struck a deep emotional cord of anger in the hearts of millions of Pakistani people and Dr. Aafia's freedom has become a national symbol of resistance to the U.S. acts of aggression and the drone killings of innocents!  Sara rightly noted that International Solidarity in these cases, as with the Cuban Five and others serves several important objectives:

1)   Defense of political prisoners - publically standing up to the fear and intimidation –sends a message of outrage to the system that "We will not be silent!" and our struggle will go on.  

2)   It tells the human beings incarcerated that we support them, they are not alone and gives them strength to bear the pain they go through.

3)   Links their individual struggle with the mass movement for change, strengthens the international struggle for an end to racism, inequality, and wars!

Ms. Flounders pointed out in her presentation that Dr. Aafia's case is only one of many unjustly incarcerated persons, and cases of Political Prisoners tried in these U.S. Courts of Injustice – Mumia Abu Jamal, the Peoples' Attorney Lynne Stewart, Palestinian University professor Sami Al Arian, the Holy Land Five, Native American Leornard Peltier, and more…The U.S. government hopes that these harsh prison sentences will instill fear and deter activists from challenging the economic, social and political injustices rampant in this system, and that is one good reason to support these political prisoners – we are NOT stopping our struggle!! 

Domestic Struggle:

Monica Moorehead, one of the managing editors of the Workers World weekly newspaper, published by the Workers World Party, began her talk by showing a video of 200 activists picketing in front of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in support of nurses who have been illegally dismissed for filing grievances against MUSC, a private medical facility whose management has ignored the poor working conditions, low pay and racist attitudes.  South Carolina is one of the "Right to Work" [for Less] states that hinders the ability of unions to freely organize new members, to automatically deduct union dues from the wages of their members, thus incurring costs to "get permission" for the deductions, and puts the employers in a stronger bargaining position when disputes arrive and can penalize the unions with fines and possible jail terms.  Nurses in training are over-worked, not compensated adequately for the work they perform and are immediately subject to being fired when and if they protest working conditions.  The factor of racism is real and present, since nearly all of the management is white and much of the nurse trainees are people of color – Black, Latino and Native Americans Indigenous workers. 

Another very important issue brought out at the biannual conference of the SHROC, held Dec. 7-9 in S. Carolina, in addition to defending the nurse's human rights to decent working conditions was the current and on-going struggles of the East and West Coast Longshoremen's unions.  The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), which represents thousands of dock workers on the East Coast have been on the verge of strike action over the Employer's attempts to eliminate the previously negotiated "container royalty payments", a fund that pays toward the loss of work by dock workers as a result of automation.   U.S. port employers want to cut more jobs and weaken/destroy the unions, long known for their militancy in labor struggles, using the age-old "efficiency" cry.  As reported in the World News section of the Financial Times in the Dec. 29/30, 2012 issue of the paper, a federal government mediator announced that a deal reached between the union and the employers averted a strike that had the potential of stopping goods and imports shipped from around the world from being unloaded and delivered to retailers.  Please see Last-minute deal averts strike at east coast ports on Page 3 of Saturday, December 29, 2012 issue of Financial Times (USA) for the full article. 

For background information in an article entitled see: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/451d1548-f085-11e1-b7b2-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2GOtcKkTE 

Following the two speaker's presentation, there were questions, answers and comments from the audience.  Below are pictures of the REPORTER, Ms. Sara Founders, and Ms. Monica Moorehead. 

*AIFC  stands for the American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC)  www.iranaifc.com 

Big Powers Meet Iran - Why is Iran Targeted for Sanctions and War Threats?

The U.S. and Israel purport that Iran's nuclear program is a threat to other countries in the region, but is this really true? Iranian nuclear physicists have been kidnapped and assassinated, recent Wiki-leaks cables revealed that last year the U.S. agreed to "quietly transfer" bunker-busting bombs to Israel, and on December 21, the United States Congress unilaterally imposed more stringent sanctions on Iran and its representatives. Who is threatening whom?
Come hear a panel of speakers who will discuss what these events reveal about U.S. and Israeli foreign policy and present up-dates on Iran's stance in negotiations.

Friday, January 14, 2011       Time: 7 – 9 PM

Place: Grace & St. Paul’s Church
123 West 71st Street (between Amsterdam & Broadway)
New York, NY 10023 (Subway very close)

Speakers:

Brian Becker is the National Coordinator of A.N.S.W.E.R Coalition, an anti-racist, anti-war organization working to prevent intervention and war, and defend civil and human rights of working people at home and abroad. Mr. Becker is an experienced organizer in the political arena of the U.S., which has given an impetus to broadening the anti-war movement.

Ray McGovern is a former Intelligence Analyst who worked for over 27 years in seven U.S. administrations. Ray, a native NY’er, graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University. In 2003, together with other former CIA employees, McGovern founded the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity or VIPS. In January 2006, in Atlanta, McGovern publicly challenged Donald Rumsfeld in what became a mini-debate on live TV (lots of coverage on YouTube). Mr. McGovern was recently arrested along with 134 other peace advocates and U.S. Veterans calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nima Shirazi is a political commentator and writes the website WideAsleepInAmerica.com. His analysis of United States foreign policy and Middle East issues can also be found in numerous other online and print publications.

Sponsored by: American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) www.iranaifc.com Endorsed by: WESPAC Mid-East Committee, David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org, PakUSA Freedom Forum, Phil Wilayto, Author, “In Defense of Iran…”, Elliot Abrams - Veterans for Peace*, The Granny Peace Brigade, NYC Coalition to Stop Islamophobia  (List in formation) Email Contact: AIFC@optonline.net or call: 914-273-8852 *For Identification Only

Letter of Support to Turkish Ambassador

 AMERICAN IRANIAN FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEE (AIFC)
http://www.iranaifc.com/ email: aifc@optonline.net     Tel: 914-273-8852 or 917-853-8020


Executive Board:
Ardeshir Ommani
Eleanor Ommani
Kazem Azin
Azita Shafazand

June 7, 2010

Namık TAN
Ambassador, Turkey
2525 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: 202-612-6744
Cc: Mehmet Samsar, Consulate General, Turkey
      Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General, United Nations

Your Excellency, Mr. Tan:


We are writing to express our condolences, salute your Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul and express our outrage at the recent events surrounding the cruel murders by Israeli commandos of nine outstanding Turkish citizens aboard the Mavi Marmara, attempting to bring aid to the impoverished residents of Gaza via the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. We regret and mourn very much the deaths of the Turkish citizens whose brave acts of defending the Palestinians and being willing to help break the siege of Gaza cost them their lives.


Sir, your compatriots who have given everything are now heroes to many, not only in the Muslim world but to Europeans and Americans who hunger for justice and peace in the Middle East. Our organization, the American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC), since its founding in 2004, has advocated dialogue, adherence to international treaties and laws and promoted multi-lateral discussion in resolving all international conflicts between nations. We have stated that the Israeli blockade against the people in Gaza is illegal, immoral and inhuman and must be ended. We honor the Turkish people and organizations who work to end the siege of Gaza, and we support Turkey’s efforts and stance at the United Nations and in international institutions calling for Israel to be held accountable to all international treaties and obligations.

On another issue, we are adamantly opposed to war, military invasion and occupation. Thus, we deeply welcomed the efforts of Turkey’s prime minister, Mr. Erdogan, and Brazil’s President Lula De Silva, in acting as a bridge between the P+5 countries and Iran on resolving the nuclear enrichment issue, and on reducing tensions in the Middle East. We applaud such diplomatic efforts as being to the benefit of the people in the Western countries and all the people of that region. We look toward a deepening of ties between the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Turkey. Our people share many cultural and historical ties.

On behalf of the Executive Committee of the AIFC, we once again express our unity and solidarity with the Turkish people and government.

Ardeshir Ommani, AIFC
Eleanor Ommani, AIFC
Kazem Azin, AIFC
Azita Shafazand, AIFC
Karla Hansen, Iowans For Diplomacy
Prof. Ismael Hossein-zadeh, Ph.D., Drake University

RESPONSE TO AIFC'S WEBSITE

In response to American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) sending out a link to our website: http://www.iranaifc.com/, and inviting comments about AIFC's news and views, we received the following honest assessment from an American friend in the U.S. peace movement: "Not being a political analyst, I don't think I have anything to say that might enlighten anyone or change their position on any point. However, on the question of "nukes" I don't understand the reasoning that some can have and others not. This doesn't make sense to me. However, as I've said before I'm opposed to nuclear power as well as nuclear weapons worldwide. We're going to leave future generations stockpiles of nuclear waste. For forty years these stockpiles continue to grow around the world, and no one has a clue what to do with them.

Furthermore, in spite of claims to the contrary, the closer one lives to a nuclear power plant, the greater their risk for cancer. Indian Point [nuclear power plant in Westchester, New York State] is polluting the land and the water, kills millions of fish every year and poses a threat to the people of our own region. Because of the nuclear waste, it will remain a danger even if we're finally able to get it closed down. So, while I think Iran has as much right to place a horrible facility in their country as anyone else, I think it's a terrible idea and don't support it for the reason mentioned above.

The war in Afghanistan is a nightmare. I doubt that it will ever come to an end unless the citizens of the U.S. come out in the millions and demand that it be stopped. As a group, our spirits are broken and minds too distracted by debt, loss of employment, homes and invested savings, for the peace movement to regain the necessary momentum. Meanwhile, our young people, our money and our reputation goes down the drain and our enemies grow along with loss of life and the national debt. I think it's an immoral war that cannot be won, and I don't need any particular website to influence that feeling.

While I certainly don't demonize Ahmadinejad, I don't applaud him either. It seems as though he makes statements that diminish his credibility and don't help dispel the falsehoods that are bandied about in the media. While I question the right of our government to arrest and incarcerate certain individuals, I also question the right of Iran to arrest and incarcerate certain individuals.

You may call me a cynic or a fool [or both], but I can't think of any current world leader that I believe to be above reproach or that I fullt trust at the present time. Worse yet, I don't think that there is any reporting which is straighforward; it all seems to be slanted one way or another. It's disheartening as well as confusing. "

Ms. C.A. in New York

Iran at a Crossroads

February 8, 2010

By Ahmad Aleagha

In the current era, the political and economic systems of all countries around the globe, maybe more so of Iran, are in the buffer zones. These transitions in and out of different political and economic systems are happening faster now than ever in human history. This is due to availability of information, and the speed of its transmission to every country in the world. Also, more importantly, there are precedents of different political and economic systems which have been experienced somewhere in the world, i.e. dictatorship or democracy, capitalism or socialism, parliamentary or kingdomship, communism or oligarchy, etc.

Similar to democracy, advancement in political and economic systems is a process within a country. Unfortunately, these advancements can be reversed, opposite to the classical education, as an example.  Russia circumvented this process, jumping up three steps, going from feudalism or tsarist autocracy to communism. Russia is now back, going through capitalism and democracy. China has mixed capitalism, democracy, and communism. The Scandinavian countries are going through this process better than most other countries (social democratic systems).

From the early 1900's, while the rest of the world was trying different systems by hitting each other on the head (World War I and World War II), and hitting the heads of their own people (revolutions), the United States progressed. The United States experienced democracy, industrialism, capitalism, and even socialism. Now, it is back to an oligarchy, way back to the Pharaoh-type oligarchy. The U.S. was the best candidate for socialism, starting in the early 1900’s, and probably would have been ready to advance to communism by now.

There are many socialistic-type programs in the United States’ social texture: social security, unemployment benefits, unionized workers, food stamps, welfare, Medicare, etc.  . These advancements were easy and fast, especially after World War II. This caused Americans not to progress politically, similar to their ancestors in Europe. These naïve, innocent people were taken for a ride by a few people for their own benefits. The oligarchs were in the Democratic party up until the Reagan era, and since then, has been taken advantage of the Republican party.

The U.S. oligarchy has been responsible for the destruction of humanity in the past 60-70 years. They have participated in over 150 wars, directly or indirectly, killing millions, according to one of my intellectual friends, Ardeshir Ommani.   

Members of the U.S. oligarchy call themselves neo-conservatives, or “neo-cons” nowadays. A “neo-con” is defined as a person who is super-rich, with an ego as big as the world, and mostly (but not all) Jewish. Zionism is one of their tools. Joe Biden, a non-Jew vice-president, said, “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist”. This oligarchy phenomenon goes back to the Pharaoh’s time. The Pharaoh’s oligarchy built those gigantic pyramids for their minute (by comparison) coffins.   Moses freed those oppressed in Pharaoh’s time, similar to Jesus freeing people from the Roman Empire.

Iran, being an ancient civilization, has seen it all.  If it was not due to the powerful British Empire and the U.S. oligarchy, Iran would have had an advanced social and democratic system. This is probably true with most countries in the world, as we see how these evil forces control the world, including the Americans themselves, for the worse. Right now, Iran is a melting pot of all the possible economic and political systems. Religion in an adhesive force to keep Iranians united against the U.S. oligarch, similar to other countries in the Middle East. Is it a coincidence that the U.S. oligarchy is misusing 80 million evangelists as a driving force?

Iranians need to stay united against the dark force, and be patient in going through the economic and political process step by step.

"I am a strong proponent of law, order and justice."

The link below was sent to me by a friend and an active member of the Green Movement. I had written:  "What attracted my attention was the threat made by Dr. Habibollah Payman, if their offer with regards to prisoners is not accepted. My point is how can any authority decide to release prisoners if they have violated the laws of the land, burning the public and private properties, and causing the deaths of other human beings? Eradatmand, Ardeshir Ommani 

The following posting by a member of the AIFC is a response to the above email and statement with regard to release of "political" prisoners in Iran, per this link:
Dr. Habibollah Payman: Iran's Political Structure

"Dear Ardeshir Ommani,         February 07, 2010

Thank you so much for your email regarding the Dr. Payman’s interview.

Per this interview, and my previous understandings, the Green Party’s main issue is free election within the Islamic Republic constitution, which, “has not been implemented”. Dr. Payman’s point in this matter refers to, not only in the last election, but in any other previous elections.

We need to remember that Dr. Payman is NOT a member of the Green Party. He is a political activist from the “Muslim Movement Activist”.  He calls for peaceful demonstrations by the Green Party during the 22nd of Bahman ceremony. I, from the AIFC, push further than what he suggests; I think there should be no demonstrations by the Green Party at all in that day. One never can anticipate what kind of mess mobs can create among the masses of people.

With regard to the political prisoners in Iran, there has to be innocent, non-rioters, and also extremists (who strongly believe in their cause, like a lot of people, especially youngsters), among those prisoners.  I am a strong proponent of law, order, and justice. I also am a believer in that saying, “It’s better to let a thousand guilty men go free than to convict one innocent person”.

There is something called justice, but also there is something called diplomacy, thoughtfulness, and /or politics, that need to be considered in this situation. With all that said, I think it is a good politics that the government of Iran politicized two or three extreme riot cases. Bring about strong evidence against them and charge them with the destruction of properties. Having political prisoners in general, especially in today’s Iranian political atmosphere, is the least desirable policy.

No opposing political party is responsible for rioters. I am sure they were delighted of the demonstrations. We need to remember that the people of Iran had been quiet for at least 8 eight years.

At the end, I think or at least I hope that almost all the eleven million voters, Green or otherwise, are not as much against Ahmadinijad, if any, as they are for more freedom in Iran. The timing of those demands is my question. On that, I trust the wisdom of those eleven million voters, like Dr. Habibollah Payman, in this matter. "

Submitted by: Ahmad Aleagha

Obama's "Dialogue/Negotiation" Iran Strategy Falters

When Obama entered the White House, many Americans who voted for him had high expectations and great hopes that he would be able to carry out significant changes in the arena of foreign policy. All eyes were on Obama to part from the aggressive, disastrous war policies of Bush and Cheney and abandon the hostile rhetoric and the belligerent mentality of “We’re the Superpower” who runs the world. American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) supported Obama in his bid for the White House because of his promise to “negotiate” and carry out “dialogue with Iran”. Up to this point, however, President Obama is failing miserably to carry out any substantial changes in the disastrous war-prone foreign policy direction, and most recently his administration has been ratcheting up the calls for sanctions and war against Iran, which once again is being cast in the American media as the country presenting a “nuclear threat” to the U.S. Why?

One of the first warning signs that the campaign rhetoric would not meet the reality was when Obama appointed many of the so-called “experienced” faces from the Father Bush era and the Clinton Administration who were well-known for their close association with the pro-Israeli Zionist lobby – AIPAC, and their ties to the U.S. military machine. While the patriotic and peace-loving Americans diligently worked during the presidential campaign to expose the danger of the war profiteers, only initially did Obama put distance between some of the most rabid neocons and anti-Iran ideologues in the U.S., whose anti-terrorist hysteria had been successfully unleashed during the previous eight years to fuel the drive for war against Iraq and Afghanistan. Using the excuse of “continuity” and “experience” his appointments of Hillary Clinton, as Secretary of State as well as Rahm Emmanual, and Pentagon Secretary Robert Gates and for a time Dennis Ross, all characters with an admittedly hostile attitude toward not only Iran, but also toward the beleaguered people of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, forewarned of a lack of genuine commitment for peace in the Middle East. Whenever he had the chance to appoint more balanced political forces, he pushed them aside in favor of the servants of the pro-Israeli state. Furthermore, Obama’s lack of willingness to confront the pro-Zionist and pro-war section of the American political elite and giving legitimacy and voice to the conservative elements that work relentlessly in Washington to feed the grotesque U.S. military budget at the expense of all other social and economic programs may be the fatal error that will engineer the weapons-laden U.S. freight train right into another collision.

Those Iranians and Americans who think that Obama has not been able to normalize relations with Iran because of Iran’s unwillingness to do so, and those who put the blame on the toughness of Ahamdinejad are completely wrong and overlooking the real economic forces at play. History shows that the U.S. does not need excuses to wage war, or militarily attack others, evidenced by the undeniable involvement in more than 200 military adventures and attacks abroad in the brief history of the United States of America.

By Eleanor Ommani, Co-founder of American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC)