IRAQI LABOR ACTIVIST'S ANTI-U.S. COMMENTS DRAW MEDIA

UNCLAS CHENNAI 000157 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ELAB IN IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI LABOR ACTIVIST'S ANTI-U.S. COMMENTS DRAW MEDIA ATTENTION IN KERALA ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Abdulla Muhsin, described as a labor activist from Iraq, grabbed media attention in the South India state of Kerala with sharp comments against American multinational companies "looting billions and billions of dollars worth of oil under the guise of the U.S. occupation of Iraq." Muhsin was one of the participants in an international labor conference of the Southern Initiative on Globalization and Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR) held in Kochi from April 19-23. Muhsin's comments will contribute to reinforcing leftist Kerala's widely held notion that U.S. action in Iraq is motivated by oil. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Abdulla(h) Muhsin, who described himself as the International Representative of the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (formerly known as the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions), came to Kerala to participate in the eighth international conference of the Southern Initiative on Globalization and Trade Union Rights (SIGTUR) held in Kochi from April 19-23. About two hundred delegates, half of them from 20 other countries including Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa, participated in the conference hosted by the Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU),the top trade union of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Among others, CITU President M.K. Pandhe and Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan spoke at the conference. ¶3. (SBU) Muhsin grabbed much media attention with his alleged comments against American multinational companies "looting billions and billions of dollars worth of oil under the guise of U.S. occupation of Iraq." In an interview with national daily The Hindu (April 30),he reportedly said that American multinational companies "looting billions and billions of dollars worth of oil under the guise of the U.S. occupation of Iraq." According to Muhsin, hundreds of people in the oil-rich nation are dying without proper treatment and medicines every day, in addition to the dozens killed in factional fights and U.S. firing. ¶4. (SBU) Muhsin also criticized the earlier regime of Saddam Hussein and the fundamentalist militias in Iraq, as well as the "American occupation." Muhsin alleged that it is the disastrous policies of the occupying forces that have led to the Sunni-Shia internecine fighting in Iraq. According to him, the greed and one-upmanship of the Iraqi politicians and the fundamentalist outfits add to the people's woes. He said the neighboring countries are fomenting trouble by pitting one section of the people against the other. Muhsin also alleged that nearly 250 key scientists, intellectuals and top academics were systematically finished by the "secret agents of a foreign country." In parenthesis, the news reporter mentioned that "there have been accusations that Israeli agents have been involved in this." ¶5. (SBU) The Hindu staff correspondent K.P.M. Basheer, who interviewed Muhsin told Post that Muhsin was a star at the SIGTUR Conference, where his passionate talk about Iraq and its sufferings drew loud ovations. Muhsin allegedly is based in London since he fled Iraq in 1978. According to an Internet site, Muhsin had been a student union activist in Iraq, and in exile, he was active in the Workers' Democratic Trade Union Movement (WDTUM),an underground organization that resisted the Ba'ath Party until its collapse. ¶6. (SBU) SIGTUR, which held its eighth international conference in Kerala, is a collective of leftist trade unions from Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand. Some of the major collaborators are ACTU (Australia),KCTU (South Korea),CITU (India),KMU (Philippines),COSATU (South Africa),and CUT (Brazil). Formed in 1991 (although formally named only in 1997) to fight "neo-liberal globalization which seriously undermines labor rights", SIGTUR's activities are coordinated by Rob Lambert, an Associate Professor at the University of Western Australia. The academic/activist has played a key role in founding SIGTUR and has hosted Indian communist party leaders in Australia. Note: Details of SIGTUR can be viewed at www.sigtur.com and CITU's introductory note on the SIGTUR Kochi conference can be viewed at http://www.citucentre.org/sigtur/indexMore.ph p ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Muhsin made sharp comments against Saddam Hussein's reign and the activities of fundamentalist militias as well, what grabs attention are his wild allegations of oil looting and human rights violations. Unfortunately, Muhsin's comments are likely to find resonance in Kerala where sustained propaganda against U.S. actions in Iraq is a key component to the leftist political activity. END COMMENT. HOPPER