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BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two of its most prominent
members were gunned down recently, but that didn't
stop the Iraq's Communist Party from holding a
campaign rally in downtown Baghdad, with supporters
waving red flags and shouting leftist slogans.
Few other parties have dared to do the same, but
then Iraq's Communists are a stubborn bunch. And
although they are not expected to win many seats in
the country's Jan. 30 elections, their insistence on
a strong voice in Iraqi politics could still pay
off.
The party's main tenet is the separation of state
and religion, which makes them unique in Iraq's
political landscape. They could play an important
role by striking a balance between the Shiite
parties expected to dominate and their Sunni rivals
in the new national assembly, which will help put
together a new constitution.
"It is hard to think that we could be a majority,"
said Shakir al-Dujaily, a senior party member. "What
we are after is being part of this interim body and
relaying our ideas that shouldn't be absent from
drafting the constitution."
In some ways, Iraq's Communists mimic the
stereotypical Soviet-style image. Campaign posters
reflect the "red" effect: the cog, the hands of the
workers and the peasants, the motto "Peace,
Democracy, National Brotherhood" - not to mention
the fluttering red flags at the December rally held
in a central Baghdad stadium.
Yet they've come up with their own brand of Marxism.
They have long cooperated with other moderate
movements, including the two main Kurdish political
parties and Islamic groups like al-Dawa and the
Iranian-backed Supreme Council for Islamic
Revolution in Iraq.
And they acknowledge that religion will inevitably
play a role. In a nation where religion is dominated
by conservatives, the party has shunned the image of
a "Godless" grouping and stressed its respect for
Iraq's Islamic and Arab heritage.
"We have worked in this society based on our
understanding of its religions, culture and
traditions," al-Dujaily said. "We will continue to
function based on that, to guarantee that the
constitution reflects such respect for everyone's
rights with no discrimination."
Baghdad-based political analyst Ibrahim al-Idrissi
said the Jan. 30 elections are the Communists'
chance to prove how "democratic" they are.
"This election is all about honoring democracy and
respect for the other - be it Islamist or
Communist," al-Idrissi said. "If the Communist Party
manages to be open-minded and shuns rigidity, they
will have a great role in the future Iraq."
There are a number of secular groups running in the
Iraqi elections, including one formed by Prime
Minister Ayad Allawi, but many of them indirectly
depend on the endorsement of clerics who have wide
influence on the majority Shiite population.
In a bid to garner the most support possible, the
Communists formed a coalition called the "People's
Union" that included Arab nationalists, Kurds,
Turkomans, Assyrians, Muslim Sunnis and Shiites and
Christians.
"We considered many things, including the religious
and political combination of Iraq and we worked on
representing different provinces and generations,
not to mention women," al-Dujaily said.
The Communist Party platform says "a democratic,
federal system is what guarantees all Iraqis their
rights and will free them of violence and
terrorism."
It is perhaps this attitude that landed the
Communists a seat on the U.S. hand-picked Governing
Council. The party has also become part of the
interim government with party member Mufeed al-Jazaeri
becoming culture minister.
The Communists are Iraq's oldest party. Established
in 1934, they were banned under the
British-installed monarchy. Later, thousands were
massacred after the Baath Party overthrew the
Communist-supported government of Gen. Abdel Karim
Qassim in a 1960s CIA-backed coup.
Historically, the Communists drew support mainly
from impoverished Shiites in the south. In the 1960s
their influence spread through rural communities
elsewhere and among middle classes in the
Sunni-dominated areas.
In the 1970s, party leaders fled to Iraqi Kurdistan,
where they formed a militia that fought Saddam
Hussein's army alongside Kurdish guerrillas.
Meanwhile, they maintained party cells in urban
centers, where they existed in deep secrecy to avoid
the omnipresent secret police.
Recently, party members were victims of attacks by
militants who've regularly targeted Iraqi
politicians in a bid to hamper the political
process. The party is counting on this long account
of resistance and its ability to regroup.
"We are optimistic that our sacrifices will pay
off," al-Dujaily said, adding that the party is
realistic about its chances.
Cairo-based political analyst Walid Kazziha,
however, questioned the chances of the Communists -
and secularists in general.
"The state is divided, there's no national state to
be loyal to. Loyalty now goes to primary (religious)
attachments ... and secularists do not have this
cushioning," he said. "They're an idealistic lot in
the midst of a sea of sectarianism."
Associated Press
© 2005
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