Iraq Freedom Congress
From Infoshop OpenWiki
While not explicitly anarchist, the Iraq Freedom Congress (or Iraqi Freedom Congress; or IFC) is a new initiative to build a democratic, secular, progressive, and libertarian alternative to both the US occupation and political Islam in Iraq. The group has received increasing attention and support from anarchists and libertarian-socialists for their refusal to enter party politics and their refusal to give special privileges to politicians.
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[edit] Goals
According to their website, the Iraq Freedom Congress believes that
"The only force capable of ending the current situation can only be an organisation that enjoys popular mass support in Iraq. The Iraq Freedom Congress intends to be such an organisation: an independent, democratic, secular, non-ethnic, and mass organisation, which is founded to guarantee the right of the people of Iraq to determine freely the future political regime in Iraq. An organisation that can unite and organise the people to take their destiny into their own hands and defend themselves, as well as mobilising and leading international support, to save the people of Iraq from the grip of both poles of global terrorism."
[edit] Aims of the Iraq Freedom Congress
- End the occupation of Iraq -- the US forces must leave Iraq immediately
- End the interference of the Islamic currents from people's lives
- Guarantee the right of the Iraqi people to make an informed and free decision on the future of the political system
- Restore civil life to Iraq
[edit] Structure
The organisational structure of IFC is based on mass, popular networks and achievement of local control in the neighbourhoods and districts. Wherever the balance of power is favourable, “People’s Houses” are formed. “People’s Houses” are grassroot local centres which unite the local neighbourhood. “People’s Houses” are where local people gather, organise, decide and exercise their sovereignty.
IFC offices are all elected except for the initial start up period or where elections cannot be held due to security considerations. In such circumstances, the upper tier offices will appoint relevant officers. Local organisations are headed by a city or district committees.
There is an annual general conference of delegates who come together to make decisions and elect members to a Central Council. Members of the Central Council serve two year terms.
[edit] Membership
Membership is open to anyone who shares the aims of IFC and pays his/her subscription may join IFC. Trade unions, councils, political parties and other organisations may join IFC provided that: their programme and policies do not contradict the aims and Manifesto of IFC; they publicly declare their adherence to the aims of IFC; they publicly encourage and invite their members to participate in “People’s Houses” and cooperate with IFC.
Additionally,political parties may, according to regulations set by IFC rules, form their own factions within IFC. Members and officials of political parties have no special privileges, and can only hold an office in the IFC through proper election procedures.
[edit] Basic Tactics
- Local Control: mobilising people and taking over the control of local area and districts; taking local control out of the realm of the Islamic, the US, and nationalist forces, and transferring power over to the people on the basis laid out in the Manifesto of IFC. “People’s Houses” will serve as the basis of organising people and means of implementing their sovereignty.
- Armed Militia: Setting up people’s armed militia to counteract aggression of forces hostile to people’s sovereignty.
- Organising people in a variety of ways, developing popular initiatives to implement people’s power and improving their quality of life.
- Finance: The finances of IFC are based on transparency and openness. All income, including membership fees and expenditures of IFC are public and accessible by all IFC members.
[edit] Interim Leadership of IFC
Leadership and appointments of national officers of IFC in the interim period – until convening of the first annual general conference – is determined as follows:
1. The Central Council is the highest organ of IFC
2. The Central Council comprises founders of IFC and individuals (approved by the Central Council, whose membership considerably strengthens IFC.
3. The first annual general conference of IFC will be held no later than nine months after the launch of the IFC.
4. The Central Council elects Executive Board members and General Secretary.
[edit] The IFC and the USA
The IFC has organized self-defense Safety Forces that patrol neighborhoods in Baghdad with a population of around 5,000. They have reduced sectarian violence there to zero.
In September 2006, US troops raided the Baghdad office of the IFC, for the crime of putting up posters and banners opposing the US occupation of Iraq. Troops confiscated most of the office's property and destroyed most of what they left behind. *[1]
On June 7, 2007, US troops again raided the headquarters of the IFC. *[2]
On July 4th, 2007, US forces abducted Abdelhussain Saddam, the head of the IFC Safety Forces, from his home, shooting his daughter in the process. His body was discovered at a morgue two days later. *[3] *[4]
The IFC has received no mass media coverage, and very little coverage in alternative media.
An American anti-war group, the National Organization for the Iraqi Freedom Struggles, supports the IFC and other freedom-oriented Iraqi groups.
[edit] Members of the Iraqi Freedom Congress
- Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq
- Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq
- Movement for Democratic Socialism (Japan)
