Jan 09, 2019

Ahwaz: International Workers League from Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile Support Ahwazi Workers


In light of the Ahwazi steelworkers who are arrested by the Iranian security authorities and subsequently imprisoned, the worker’s unions from several Latin American countries, including Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil have expressed their solidarity with the injustice faced by their Ahwazi counterparts. The support from Latin America is organised around the effort of The Union of Steelworkers at Arcelor Mittal (La Gota). UNPO urges the international community to address the injustice to which the Ahwazi workers are subjected and urges all to universally condemn any political violence directed at the Ahwazi.

This press release was published by the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation:

The Union of steelworkers at Arcelor Mittal (La Gota) of Villa Constitution Argentina expanded their international call for support of Ahwaz steel and Haft-tappeh sugar workers.

La Gota contacted various workers' organizations and non-governmental organisation in the south America countries including Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil.

Between December 2018 and January 2019, the following organisations and unions from Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina supported the international call for the release of Ahwaz steelworkers:

From Argentina:
-Solidarity letter from the Comisión de Trabajadores Condenados ( Commission of detained workers)
For the detained oil workers of Las Heras in Argentina.
Hugo González and José Rosales who are sentenced to life in prison,
Rubén Bach and Omar Mansilla each sentenced to 5 years in prison. In addition, their spouses Raquel Valencia, Claudia Bazán, Claudia Pafundi.

In their letter they jounce their voice to the voice of working class in Iran and ended their letter with the following quotes “To trespass one of us, is to trespass all of us” and “The rebellion of the slaves is not a crime, but justice”

-Mapuche community in Argentina, (Pu lof en Resistencia Cushman, Comunidad del pueblo originario Mapuche del PuelMapu-Tierra del Este)
-Isabel Huala, mother of Facundo Jones Huala, a Mapuche political prisoner who was sentenced to 9 years in prison adds her voice of solidarity with the Iranian political prisoners and their mothers.
-Shipyard workers of Rio Santiago, Avanzada Obrera Lista Negra

From Chile:
-Confederación Democrática Profesionales Universitarios de la Salud 
-Pamela Valenzuela – MSPT (Movimiento Salud Para Todos)
-Maribel Gonzales – Colectivo Solidaridad (collective solidarity)
-Eduardo Muñoz – Sindicato Hospital del Profesor -Constanza Cifuentes (Syndicate of Professor Constanza Cifuentes hospital )
-Coordinadora Feminista 8 de marzo (Feminist Coordination of March 8th)

From Bolivia:
Mine workers in Huanuni.

We thank all the workers, unions and individuals from Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile for their solidarity and support of the working class in Iran and especially Ahwaz, the beating heart of social right and worker’s movements. 
Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation (AHRO)
9th Jan 2019

Photo courtesy of Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation