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The United States and the Islamic Republic Are Using a Weapon of Mass Destruction Against the Workers of Iran

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The United States and the Islamic Republic Are Using a Weapon of Mass Destruction Against the Workers of Iran “THE BRIDGE” welcomes contributions from talented writers, graphic designers, artists. Please contact us at: thebridgejour­ [email protected] T he Bridge Be the first to read “THE BRIDGE” . Join our mailing list to receive regular updates. Write to : [email protected] with SUBSCRIBE in the subject box. IRAN’S FIRST INDEPENDENT JOURNAL IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES Sunday, October 25, 2009 4 The United States and the Islamic Republic are using a weapon of mass destruction against the workers of Iran Lead Article: ew circumstances have arisen from the civil disturbance to­ N wards the repressive rule and inhumane policies in existence. Both national and international attention on the fundamental and class movement has increased. Perhaps the people’s war with the government on the streets is not in the manner of the films and reports we witnessed in the days immediately following the elections, but it is the ash that with the slightest breeze will be a flame lit anew. Anger poured onto our streets with the excuse of election fraud, but it’s enough to hear the talk on the street to realize that this isn’t an atom bomb that may go off at any mo­ ment, but a bomb of mass anger the explosion of which becomes more and more imminent with each day. The issue that has caused such widespread discontent and despair is above all the dismal state of the people’s of Iran’s economic situation and welfare…[Continued on pg 18] NEWS >Interview with Amin Ghazaie >Why the Islamic Republic is Not Our Afghan Children Not Slogan Registered In Schools he reopening of universi­ ome claim that the 40 million par­ Bidari Student Newslet­ ties, the current climate ticipants in the election were those ter at Shiraz University is in society and the exten­ who believe that reforming the Banned sive protests we’ve seen Islamic Republic is is possible and T were good enough reasons ... Alborz Ceramics Factory S therefore ... Workers Block Road [Continued on pg8 ] [Continued on pg 3] Jila Bani Yaghoub Wins International Press Free­ >Workers Take Stand Against Charges Brought Against Union >Shirin Ebadi and Defending the Rule of dom Award Islam Iran: Student Activist on Members Trial ehran Bus Workers’ Un­ ion has issued a state­ hirin Ebadi in a recent speech at 12 Million Smokers In the Naropa University of Colo­ Iran ment condemning the charges by which la­ rado announced that the only way Iran’s supreme leader T bourers of Haft Tappeh have been for Iran and other Islamic coun­ ‘against direct talks with S sentenced to prison... tries to be relieved of ... US’ [Continued on pg 5] Arrest of participants at [Continued on pg 2] reform group gathering >The University: Green Politics >UN inspectors arrive in Iran to visit Masoud Bastani Sen­ and Deep Politics? secret nuclear plant tenced to Six­Year Jail nited Nations inspectors vis­ Term he university has never ited Iran’s most recently re­ Bakery workers on Strike been a warm and comfy vealed nuclear plant yesterday in Sanandaj house of learning. At U in an attempt to determine if it least not in Iran. is part of a … T [Continued on pg 12] [Continued on pg 6] Pg 4 Shahin Najafi 1688: The First The Crisis FRIDA Modern Revolution of Capital­ Top 10 Books(2009) A new history of ism and the the Glorious tasks of the Revolution of Marxists – 1688 labours too Part One hard to prove that it was every bit as bloody as France in 1789 or Russia The New Hostage Crisis in 1917. Pg 14 ART MAGNET Pg 15,16 Pg 16,21,25 Pg 22,23,24 2 2 Workers Take Stand Against Charges Brought Against Union Members ehran Bus Workers’ pearances of labour activists held job. The office blames consecu­ to receive their salaries of the last Union has issued a in custody on International La­ tive long absences by Mr Nejati, two months. Furthermore their statement condemning bour Day. even though he was in the cus­ hours have been reduced, cut al­ the charges by which Members of the board of direc­ tody of the Intelligence Minis­ most, creating enormous finan­ T labourers of Haft Tappeh have tors of labour workers of Haft try. cial pressure. been sentenced to prison, and re­ Tappeh Sugarcane ‘s Union are Davoudi, who is head of the Human rights and democracy ac­ quested their immediate release. on the verge of getting fired and company’s security, has doubled tivists in Iran condemn the heavy The statement by Tehran Bus face possible incarceration. the number of security guards prison verdicts , dismissal and Workers’ Union explains that Based on recent reports on Haft from 50 too 100. These guards prevention of worker activist following the demonstration of Tappeh Sugarcane Company, the occupy the communal areas of presence in their workplace and labour workers of the Haft Tap­ threats and pressure from the in­ the company, reporting instantly call the International Labor Or­ peh Sugarcane Company, in 2007 telligence agency of Shoosh on any sightings of gatherings. Also, ganization (ILO) and Interna­ for overdue wages ­ their basic the board of directors and labour to avert potential strikes and pro­ tional Union of Workers (IUW) work rights ­ some were de­ activists of this association has tests against suppression and to support the members of the tained and after repeated interro­ increased. According to state­ breach of basic labour rights, Union workers of Haft Tappeh gation were released on bail with ments released by human right they have instated informants who are members of this organi­ the organization of an independ­ activists and democratic associa­ among the workers, creating mis­ zation. ent support group. At the first tions in Iran, four members of the trust, pessimism and an anoma­ court hearing, the court sentenced these individuals to one year of imprisonment, with a six month Mourning Mothers Continue suspended jail term. The labour Their Protest, Lighting Can­ activists had asked the court to dles in Laleh Park and Sing­ revise this decision, only to be faced with the same verdict. ing “Ey Iran…” The labour activists of Haft Tap­ peh Sugarcane Company were issued these verdicts, while their ccording to reports a wages were overdue by three large number of months, while they acquired mourning mothers minimal overtime hours and were made their weekly Aprotest on S aturday 24 October deprived of their basic job rights and benefits. against the bloody repression, During the past years, the labour continued arrest of detainees and movement of Iran has paid a the issuing heavy verdicts hefty price to improve the work­ against them, demanding the ing conditions of its members. freedom of political prisoners Many of the workers have been and prosecution of the perpetra­ unable to make their monthly Board of Directors of Haft Tap­ lous environment. Madadi, the tors of the bloody repression of rent payments and some have peh union, Fereidoun Nikou­ president of the company, is the Iranian people. lived below the poverty line, hav­ Fard, Jalil Ahmadi, Ramezan largely responsible for supervis­ The protest began at 5pm and ing to spend long periods of time Alipour and Mohammad Heidari­ ing these crackdowns on the la­ many others joined the mourning behind bars just to get their very Mehr were banned from entering bour workers. mothers, families of killed pro­ fundamental rights as a worker. the company’s building. The se­ Reports also site the rage and testers, women activists and stu­ The actions of labour activists are curity guards of Haft Tappeh frustration labour workers ex­ dents. Mourning mothers lit can­ encountered with daily threats, Sugarcane Company adminis­ pressed following the arrests and dles and moved towards the wa­ limitations, unemployment and tered by the city of Shoosh’s in­ prohibition of members of their terfront square of Laleh Park . imprisonment. However, this has telligence agency, responsible for board of directors. They have an­ They gathered around the water­ never prevented them from voic­ suppressing the workers from up­ nounced and warned future pro­ front and held a 1 minute silence ing their concern. Thus, we are rising, prohibited their entrance. tests and strikes in the event of in remembrance of those killed. sure it will not quash the labour The four have recently been sen­ refusal to release these individu­ They chanted Allah Akbar (God activists of the Haft Tappeh’s un­ tenced to six months’ imprison­ als, demanding the immediate is great) for the freedom of all ion from protesting for their ment and a six month suspende and unconditional discharge of those held in the prisons of the rights now and the Tehran Bus penalty. Mr Heidari­Mehr has all workers in custody. In addi­ dictator regime. Worker’s Union will not spare been condemned to four months’ tion, they demand the return of The group of 200 sang the an­ any endeavors to attain and as­ imprisonment and and eight Mr Nejati to his post and full them “Ey Iran” and protest song sure these labour movement rep­ month suspended penalty. back payment of his overdue sal­ “Yare Dabestani”. Security resentatives’ freedoms and Mr Ali Nejati, Head of the Board ary. They have also requested an forces on motor bikes, plain rights. of Directors of Haft Tappeh official public apology, in front clothes and uniformed police On top of condemning the court Worker’s Union, was fired from of workers, from the president of were at the scene carrying batons verdict they demand the immedi­ his job ad banned from entering the company to Mr Nejati and to intimidate the protestors.
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