Q
9th June 2009, 10:11
I did an interview with two Iranian hungerstrikers a week ago. I just translated it in English, I'll post it below.
Interview with Iranian hunger strikers. For international solidarity!
Last week in the Netherlands two Iranian hungerstrikers protested for 12 days on the square before the parliament building. Offensief went on a visit and we asked them for their motives and goals for this strike and how we can help.
First, a personal question: how are you holding out so far?
Asghar Fathi: I'm now (on the 11th day of the strike) a bit weaker in the legs and overall in my body, but my spirit stays strong and could hold out for another month!
Abbas Fard: Iranian activists never talk about their personal problems, we're always doing fine!
Can you tell more about yourself? For example, what is your background in the labor movement in Iran?
Asghar Fathi: I am now 64 years old. I started working in my 13th and have worked in many industrial sectors, mainly in heavy industry like steelplants. The experiences I gained with this work convinced me of becoming politically active and become a communist. I was arrested at a leftwing activity and got 8 years prison. This was still in the era of the Shah. The revolution in 1979 set me free. After the revolution I started working at a copper company. But because the Iranian secret service kept a constant surveillance on me, I fled to Tehran. Eventually I was arrested and spent another 4 years in prison. My daughter was born in that prison.
Abbas Fard: I was born in a workersfamily and I got interested in politics since I was 14 years old. At 18 I was first arrested for political activities. I came in contact with the leftist movement that operated underground, but didn't feel at home, so I searched my own way. I then started my own little communist group to study and to see how we could promote the cause of revolution. The aim was to create a party in which only workers could join and could occupy leading positions, to unite the best activists. For this I was arrested in 1971 and spent two years in prison. After a brief release I was again arrested to be in jail for another four years. The revolution also liberated me.
In my productive life I was mainly active in the printing business, a traditionally intellectual sector in Iran. After the revolution the government couldn't control a thing for a period, it had to take account for the workers selfcontrol that operated the country. This was the best opportunity for us to unite all small groups of workers and socialists, to organise an underground movement for class struggle. This was called the “Red Workers of Iran”.
In 1981 the government started a huge attack on the workers movement and all opposition. We had to go underground once more. I spent 13 years in total in the underground. Nevertheless we were still hit hard by the government, many were arrested, the organization was virtually destroyed. So we were forced to lead a semi-legal life, find a job and abandon revolutionary work. Because of the continued insecure situation, we eventually had to flee the country.
You have seen and a done a lot and the Iranian revolution played a key part in those experiences. How do you look back on this; the development of workers' struggle and the outcome?
Abbas Fard: After the revolution Khomeini's regime waged a direct war against the workers movement to destroy it. So we look back on a difficult period, but now workers begin to reorganise again. Until recently there was only one state union that had at its main objective to prevent any independent workers organisation. But now more and more workers demand independent unions, this creates much more momentum for a new workers movement. Our strike is meant to support this new movement.
Asghar Fathi: We have had a revolution that toppled the Shah after 37 years of reigning. Especially the oil workers and the newspaper workers had a key part in these events. When these layers turned against the Shah, it became evident the regime had to go. After the revolution, the workers councils were established in all companies to manage and control these companies, this was a very large movement. The Khomeini regime had two options: either join the workers councils and thusly make Iran a socialist republic, or to destroy them with iron fist as to establish its own authority. The first option would mean the endstation was socialism and so option two was the only acceptable ption to the Khomeini clique. Tens of thousands were arrested and we registered 800 executions. The labour movement was destroyed.
The government quickly set up its own state union, the “labour house”, to destroy independent unions and present this as the “alternative”. This had the monopoly for 22 years as the only union in the country. Five years ago however s first independent workers movement started as a consequence of a big strike at the state bus company. From this moment on an important movement started that demands, using international regulations, to have an independent union. Another demand is to raise the wages and link this raise to the inflation (this was 24.3% in 2008).
The Iranian government defends conservative religious ideas, the only alternative is a strong labour movement. Defending democracy is equal to defending the independent labour movement. This is directly connected with the struggle in the rest of the world. You can't have dictatorial regimes in the entire Middle East and have an island of workers democracy in Iran. This is why international solidarity is so important. Without your help, without the help of progressive activists from all over the world, the danger exists that the government will strike again on the young workers movement. The biggest danger at the moment is that the political prisoners will be put under tremendous pressure to admit their “guilt” in show trials. International solidarity campaigns helps to alleviate some of this pressure from the prisoners. This way we can build a strong alternative which is not only good for Iran, but for the world aswell.
Our strike is therefore intended to support democracy in Iran, but also elsewhere in the world, as we're all connected to one another. I am a socialist, I believe in a socialist worldrevolution, but we have to start somewhere. We are grateful for your attention to this issue. It is not only defending democracy in Iran, but for the rest of the world!
You were also active in the Communist Party and several other political groups before. Are the still any political parties or organisations that defend working class interests?
Asghar Fathi: To summarise, the socialist movement was destroyed by the Khomeini regime and many organisations are banned. So, there is unfortunately no noticable leftist movement. Most socialists were either executed or have fled out of the country. The Iranian leftist movement is therefore mostly active abroad. There is a new movement developing in the country however. This is based on the student moment. Before the revolution students were well known for their left ideas and organisations. After the revolution the universities were closed for three years. After that only pro-regime students were allowed on the universities. After 8 years, however, an independent movement developed anyhow and this is now moving towards socialist ideas.
Almost 100 000 opposition members were execution after the revolution, which is also an important factor in understanding the absence of a strong leftist movement today in the country.
So the leftist movement is actually re-invented in Iran?
Yes exactly.
There are several developments underway. Not only the workers and students are regrouping themself, but also women and teachers for example, organize themselves more and are the most militant layers in the movement.
You're now striking since May 22 to protest against mass arrests on May Day and we now sit before parliament with a big banner; what exactly are trying to achieve with this action?
(when this question was asked a phone rang)
We were just called by the third hunger striker who lives in the province of Zeeland and couldn't be here. So there are actually three strikers. But we started with four, but he had to quit his attempt on the fourth day and had to be hospitalised due to heart problems. This is not without risk!
Abbas Fard: Our overall objective is to attract attention of all progressive groups throughout the world, we want to draw attention to the authoritarian regime.
Do you currently communicate with what is happening in Iran with regard to arrests, how they are responding to this action and are there also other international solidarity actions?
Of course we have contacts. They support our action, but they are worried about our health. We are not leaders of the movement by the way, they do their thing, we do ours. In the rest of Europe there are also solidarity actions, be it in different forms. Some organize informative meetings, others demonstrations, depending on what the possibilities are. We have chosen this kind of activity.
What are the reactions so far on this action? Are you often approached by bypassers?
The responses differ. Some said that we had to immediately get away. Others were more positive, for example, we were asked by some bypassers if we were socialists after they read our banner. They supported us directly with a signature on our petition. Also, one day a school class came along, the children were very interested and nice and liked to hear our story.
Also a few MP's visited us. The SP asked questions to the cabinet because of our action. The Parliament officially accepted our call for justice. We also got support from DIDF (Turkish workers federation in the Netherlands) and from a Turkish student organisation.
You have sent your call for justice to a lot of organisations - the International Labour Organization (ILO), Amnesty International, Dutch Parliament, the Socialist Party, the Labour Party (PvdA), the European parliament; have you had any responses to this?
Of the political parties only the SP responded. We should focus more on personal contacts in the future to advance our message.
So the SP asked questions in parliament. Did the party offer any other kind of support?
They will publish about this action on their website and will write a letter of support. But outside parlianent we got more support. Slowly but surely our cause gets a lot of attention.
How much longer will this strike last and what are your plans afterwards? Can we still support you? Is there a website where we can read updates? Will there be meetings?
We're planning to stop tomorrow (on the 12th day of the hungerstrike). We don't want to permanently injure our bodies. We have important responsibilities: fighting against the Islamist regime and of course to provide for our families.
I thank you for this interview. Do you want to make a call to all readers?
On the 12th of June, there are Iranian elections. Then we want to demonstrate at the Iranian embassy, we call on everyone to participate. There will follow more information on this. Also you can write a letter of protest to the embassy in support of this action.
Picture 1 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/GEDC0005.JPG)
Picture 2 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/GEDC0009.JPG)
Picture 3 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/GEDC0010.JPG)
Picture 4 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850032.jpg)
Picture 5 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850033.jpg)
Picture 6 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850034.jpg)
Picture 7 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850035.jpg)
Picture 8 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850036.jpg)
Interview with Iranian hunger strikers. For international solidarity!
Last week in the Netherlands two Iranian hungerstrikers protested for 12 days on the square before the parliament building. Offensief went on a visit and we asked them for their motives and goals for this strike and how we can help.
First, a personal question: how are you holding out so far?
Asghar Fathi: I'm now (on the 11th day of the strike) a bit weaker in the legs and overall in my body, but my spirit stays strong and could hold out for another month!
Abbas Fard: Iranian activists never talk about their personal problems, we're always doing fine!
Can you tell more about yourself? For example, what is your background in the labor movement in Iran?
Asghar Fathi: I am now 64 years old. I started working in my 13th and have worked in many industrial sectors, mainly in heavy industry like steelplants. The experiences I gained with this work convinced me of becoming politically active and become a communist. I was arrested at a leftwing activity and got 8 years prison. This was still in the era of the Shah. The revolution in 1979 set me free. After the revolution I started working at a copper company. But because the Iranian secret service kept a constant surveillance on me, I fled to Tehran. Eventually I was arrested and spent another 4 years in prison. My daughter was born in that prison.
Abbas Fard: I was born in a workersfamily and I got interested in politics since I was 14 years old. At 18 I was first arrested for political activities. I came in contact with the leftist movement that operated underground, but didn't feel at home, so I searched my own way. I then started my own little communist group to study and to see how we could promote the cause of revolution. The aim was to create a party in which only workers could join and could occupy leading positions, to unite the best activists. For this I was arrested in 1971 and spent two years in prison. After a brief release I was again arrested to be in jail for another four years. The revolution also liberated me.
In my productive life I was mainly active in the printing business, a traditionally intellectual sector in Iran. After the revolution the government couldn't control a thing for a period, it had to take account for the workers selfcontrol that operated the country. This was the best opportunity for us to unite all small groups of workers and socialists, to organise an underground movement for class struggle. This was called the “Red Workers of Iran”.
In 1981 the government started a huge attack on the workers movement and all opposition. We had to go underground once more. I spent 13 years in total in the underground. Nevertheless we were still hit hard by the government, many were arrested, the organization was virtually destroyed. So we were forced to lead a semi-legal life, find a job and abandon revolutionary work. Because of the continued insecure situation, we eventually had to flee the country.
You have seen and a done a lot and the Iranian revolution played a key part in those experiences. How do you look back on this; the development of workers' struggle and the outcome?
Abbas Fard: After the revolution Khomeini's regime waged a direct war against the workers movement to destroy it. So we look back on a difficult period, but now workers begin to reorganise again. Until recently there was only one state union that had at its main objective to prevent any independent workers organisation. But now more and more workers demand independent unions, this creates much more momentum for a new workers movement. Our strike is meant to support this new movement.
Asghar Fathi: We have had a revolution that toppled the Shah after 37 years of reigning. Especially the oil workers and the newspaper workers had a key part in these events. When these layers turned against the Shah, it became evident the regime had to go. After the revolution, the workers councils were established in all companies to manage and control these companies, this was a very large movement. The Khomeini regime had two options: either join the workers councils and thusly make Iran a socialist republic, or to destroy them with iron fist as to establish its own authority. The first option would mean the endstation was socialism and so option two was the only acceptable ption to the Khomeini clique. Tens of thousands were arrested and we registered 800 executions. The labour movement was destroyed.
The government quickly set up its own state union, the “labour house”, to destroy independent unions and present this as the “alternative”. This had the monopoly for 22 years as the only union in the country. Five years ago however s first independent workers movement started as a consequence of a big strike at the state bus company. From this moment on an important movement started that demands, using international regulations, to have an independent union. Another demand is to raise the wages and link this raise to the inflation (this was 24.3% in 2008).
The Iranian government defends conservative religious ideas, the only alternative is a strong labour movement. Defending democracy is equal to defending the independent labour movement. This is directly connected with the struggle in the rest of the world. You can't have dictatorial regimes in the entire Middle East and have an island of workers democracy in Iran. This is why international solidarity is so important. Without your help, without the help of progressive activists from all over the world, the danger exists that the government will strike again on the young workers movement. The biggest danger at the moment is that the political prisoners will be put under tremendous pressure to admit their “guilt” in show trials. International solidarity campaigns helps to alleviate some of this pressure from the prisoners. This way we can build a strong alternative which is not only good for Iran, but for the world aswell.
Our strike is therefore intended to support democracy in Iran, but also elsewhere in the world, as we're all connected to one another. I am a socialist, I believe in a socialist worldrevolution, but we have to start somewhere. We are grateful for your attention to this issue. It is not only defending democracy in Iran, but for the rest of the world!
You were also active in the Communist Party and several other political groups before. Are the still any political parties or organisations that defend working class interests?
Asghar Fathi: To summarise, the socialist movement was destroyed by the Khomeini regime and many organisations are banned. So, there is unfortunately no noticable leftist movement. Most socialists were either executed or have fled out of the country. The Iranian leftist movement is therefore mostly active abroad. There is a new movement developing in the country however. This is based on the student moment. Before the revolution students were well known for their left ideas and organisations. After the revolution the universities were closed for three years. After that only pro-regime students were allowed on the universities. After 8 years, however, an independent movement developed anyhow and this is now moving towards socialist ideas.
Almost 100 000 opposition members were execution after the revolution, which is also an important factor in understanding the absence of a strong leftist movement today in the country.
So the leftist movement is actually re-invented in Iran?
Yes exactly.
There are several developments underway. Not only the workers and students are regrouping themself, but also women and teachers for example, organize themselves more and are the most militant layers in the movement.
You're now striking since May 22 to protest against mass arrests on May Day and we now sit before parliament with a big banner; what exactly are trying to achieve with this action?
(when this question was asked a phone rang)
We were just called by the third hunger striker who lives in the province of Zeeland and couldn't be here. So there are actually three strikers. But we started with four, but he had to quit his attempt on the fourth day and had to be hospitalised due to heart problems. This is not without risk!
Abbas Fard: Our overall objective is to attract attention of all progressive groups throughout the world, we want to draw attention to the authoritarian regime.
Do you currently communicate with what is happening in Iran with regard to arrests, how they are responding to this action and are there also other international solidarity actions?
Of course we have contacts. They support our action, but they are worried about our health. We are not leaders of the movement by the way, they do their thing, we do ours. In the rest of Europe there are also solidarity actions, be it in different forms. Some organize informative meetings, others demonstrations, depending on what the possibilities are. We have chosen this kind of activity.
What are the reactions so far on this action? Are you often approached by bypassers?
The responses differ. Some said that we had to immediately get away. Others were more positive, for example, we were asked by some bypassers if we were socialists after they read our banner. They supported us directly with a signature on our petition. Also, one day a school class came along, the children were very interested and nice and liked to hear our story.
Also a few MP's visited us. The SP asked questions to the cabinet because of our action. The Parliament officially accepted our call for justice. We also got support from DIDF (Turkish workers federation in the Netherlands) and from a Turkish student organisation.
You have sent your call for justice to a lot of organisations - the International Labour Organization (ILO), Amnesty International, Dutch Parliament, the Socialist Party, the Labour Party (PvdA), the European parliament; have you had any responses to this?
Of the political parties only the SP responded. We should focus more on personal contacts in the future to advance our message.
So the SP asked questions in parliament. Did the party offer any other kind of support?
They will publish about this action on their website and will write a letter of support. But outside parlianent we got more support. Slowly but surely our cause gets a lot of attention.
How much longer will this strike last and what are your plans afterwards? Can we still support you? Is there a website where we can read updates? Will there be meetings?
We're planning to stop tomorrow (on the 12th day of the hungerstrike). We don't want to permanently injure our bodies. We have important responsibilities: fighting against the Islamist regime and of course to provide for our families.
I thank you for this interview. Do you want to make a call to all readers?
On the 12th of June, there are Iranian elections. Then we want to demonstrate at the Iranian embassy, we call on everyone to participate. There will follow more information on this. Also you can write a letter of protest to the embassy in support of this action.
Picture 1 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/GEDC0005.JPG)
Picture 2 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/GEDC0009.JPG)
Picture 3 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/GEDC0010.JPG)
Picture 4 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850032.jpg)
Picture 5 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850033.jpg)
Picture 6 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850034.jpg)
Picture 7 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850035.jpg)
Picture 8 (http://offensief.socialisten.net/plaatjes/interview-1-6-2009/sn850036.jpg)