Four copper workers shot dead in Iran!

[Scottish_Militant]

Following a protest by laid off contract workers at the Khatoonabad copper smelting plant four workers were shot dead by riot police. It is feared that in addition to this official figure many more workers may also have been killed. The number of injured are said to be around 300, including many seriously injured people.

The workers, who were demanding permanent jobs, began their protest on 5 January. Then following promises made by the plant's management, which did not come to anything, the workers protested again on 17 January. The protesters were also joined by their families and in total 200-500 people gathered outside the plant in Khatoonabad village, near the town of Babak, in Kerman province (in south east Iran).

Today the response of the Iranian government has been to use riot police, special police units and helicopters to kill and maim workers and their families to break up the protest. Death and serious injury is what awaits working class families for simply demanding their basic rights.

We call on all trade unionists, labour activists and progressive groups and individuals to condemn this barbaric act and to help us in organising solidarity action in support of the Khatoonabad copper workers.

Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
25 January 2004

BM IWSN, London WC1N 3XX, England.
[email protected] - http://iwsn.topcities.com/

[18tir]

I've heard that 100,000 workers haven't been paid in over 3 months. Wages have declines significantly. Strikes and unions are banned in Iran. Workers who do go on strike are beaten and killed. The lives of the workers in Iran will never improve while the mullahs are in power. The workers must unite and overthrow the Islamic Republic.

My solidarity is with the Iranian workers.

[Kez]

what can we do to help?

financial help goes so far, but what else can we do?
i urge everyone to get a job, so they can pay these organisations, if 100 people payed £10 a month, then this £1000 would be a significant help for groups to print leaflets and print books.

Would there be support if i launched a money raising campaign? This would be completely non-partisan, and i wouldnt even mention the groups im involved in. What is needed is a united fund. I seriously think we can do a lot here. What do you say? Im open to others organising it, i think Malte has authority as a trust worthy character for everyone to trust, but if no-one is bothered i will do the work.

Is there anyway for the accounts to be viewable to everyone so everyone can see where money is going?

yours all fraternally.

Its time to put aside differences, lives are at stake here, and we can pump oil into the revolutionary machine.

what you say comrades?

[Reuben]

i would contribute.

[Commie Girl]

I would contribute what I can :)

[Ortega]

I don't usually have a whole lot, but I could find some money.