Shameless. Atrocious. Outrageous. Obnoxious. Such are the words used by democratic forces and human rights activists across the world to describe the hasty execution of Saddam Hussein right on the eve of the Eid celebrations. The illegally deposed president was not granted either the sovereign immunity to prosecution available to heads of state or the status of prisoner of war, which entails certain protections under international law. During the farcical ’trial’, judges were changed on American orders and defence lawyers killed. Most important, the whole thing was set up by a United States-led coalition that had itself committed the supreme war crime of unprovoked aggression against a sovereign nation. The entire process was thus null and void in international law, and the execution nothing but a political murder.
The murderers and their ideologues seek to justify their crime by insisting that Saddam was an autocrat guilty of large-scale human rights violation. It is conveniently forgotten that the president committed most of his alleged crimes with the help of those who now occupy Iraq and that Bush and his cohorts have killed in that country, in three years, more men, women and children than Saddam managed to do in nearly 40. And there is a more fundamental point. If Hussein committed crimes as president, it was for the people of that country to remove him and not for any exporter of democracy or self-appointed international police.
It is noteworthy that although during his last, most difficult days he tried to use the appeal of the Koran in the interests of the resistance, Hussein will be remembered as the builder of a modern, more or less secular country in Arab world with advanced health and education facilities. When we keep in mind the social and historical contexts of Saddam’s chequered career and take a holistic view, he stands out — in the ultimate analysis — mainly as a courageous third world leader, as one who led his nation in fighting imperialism to the very last and inspired a resistance that goes on even after he disappears from the scene.
By televising the beastly act of revenge, Bush the barbarian sought to proclaim to the world: defy the will of America and this bloody fate could be yours. But the nearly 70-year-old president mounted the gallows undaunted and proud, graceful and self composed, with anti-American slogans on his lips and became a martyr in the eyes of billions of people within and without Iraq.
His adversary in the US, an election-rigger and a proven liar, also sought to use the execution as a means to obliterate the Iraq Study Group’s judgement that the invasion and occupation of Iraq has been a disaster, as a proof of American ‘success’ in that oil-rich country. Here again, the results are going to be counter-productive. For one, the killing will definitely stoke the fires of anti-American struggle in Iraq and beyond. Also there is a strong likelihood of intensified Shia- Sunni conflict, making Iraq more unmanageable for the US and its puppet government. At the end of the day, the president of America thus stands the loser while his defenceless antagonist dies a national hero. The former will live on and have two more years to crawl on the lawns of the White House, but in death Saddam stands taller than life.
The militant but coolheaded political vision of the deposed president stands out in bold relief in his last letter too. His central slogan, of course, is to continue the battle: “Long live Jihad and the mujahedeen”. But he anticipates a major backlash following the assassination, and urges his people to show restraint: “I also call on you not to hate the people of the other countries that attacked us”. Many among them, he points out (his reference is to those like former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark who served him as a defence lawyer), actually helped him during the trial. This is a mature statesman speaking, a responsible national leader. Against the backdrop of Shia-Sunni clashes in recent years, he calls on his people to unite against imperialism: “remember that God has enabled you to become an example of love, forgiveness and brotherly coexistence.”
Saddam was known to be a reliable friend of India. But the UPA government’s reaction to the execution has been shamelessly subdued, just like the NDA government’s nearly four years ago, when Iraq was invaded. Today, before our very eyes, an Asian country is colonised, ransacked, looted, some 60,000 of its people killed and the democratically elected president, once a close US ally, hanged — could there be a clearer demonstration of the threat posed by the American empire-builders to the sovereignty of third world countries? National interest demands that we take this as a wakeup call and terminate all special relations, including the anti-nation nuclear deal, with the assassins in Washington.
CPI(ML) Condemns the Execution of Saddam Hussein, Holds Nationwide Protests
Protesters hanged the effigy of US President George Bush
Demands Immediate Withdrawal of US Occupation Forces
Press Release, New Delhi, 30 Dec. 06.
Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation condemns the execution of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Baghdad and terms it one of the ugliest examples of US imperialism and its attempts to dominate over the people of the world, particularly the third world and its resources. This act is in complete violation of all democratic and civil norms and the principles of international law.
The so called tribunal that gave the execution order of Saddam Hussein was set up under the aegis of the US occupation forces which are illegally occupying Iraq. The execution of Saddam Hussein through the judgement of such a tribunal therefore is highly condemnable and also construes an attack on the freedom-loving and justice-seeking people of the world. This execution will have serious implications for the third world. The US-led forces must first quit Iraq and hand over Iraq to her sovereign people who alone have the rights to decide on the future of their country.
The CPI(ML) calls upon the Government of India to convey India’s strong condemnation and demand immediate withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq.
Protests
Delhi- The Party organised protests all over the country on December 30. The protesters in New Delhi demonstrated from Jantar Mantar to American centre and ‘hanged’ the effigy of US President George Bush before its burning. Similar protests were held in all the state capitals and important centres where party activists strongly condemned US-led imperialism and demanded from the government of India to strongly condemn this incident, to shun the policy of surrender before the US and to demand immediate withdrawal of US-led occupation forces from Iraq.
UP- CPI(ML) activists burnt the effigy of George Bush in front of UP Vidhan Sabha amidst shouting of slogans ’Down with imperialism - Down with George Bush’. Leaders of AIPWA, Tehriq-e-Niswan, Bazm-e-Khawateen, and AICCTU were also present in the protest. Speakers on the occasion said that the haste with which this execution was carried out only shows the fearfulness and cowardice character of US imperialists in front of the world opinion. Protests were also held at other district headquarters including Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Moradabad, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Gazipur, Ballia, Unnao, Gonda, Pilibhit, Faizabad, and Ambedkarnagar.
Tamilnadu- The protest demonstration was held in Chennai by the Party and at Virudhachalam activists burnt the Bush effigy though police tried to prevent the effigy burning. Nearly 20 protesters were later arrested and a case was framed against them. Protests were also held in other parts of Tamil Nadu. In Tirunelvelli and Krishnagiri demonstration was organised on Dec. 31, while in Erode and Karur the Bush effigies were burnt on Jan. 1. Protests were held at Sengunram, Tambaram, Kumbakinam, Pudukottai, Devakottai, Nellai, Madurai and Salem.
Andhra Pradesh - RYA held out a demonstration at Vidyanagar, while agrarian workers led by CPI(ML) took out a march and effigy burning in Kakinada. People condemned the execution of Saddam Hussein in Visampeta, Yellashwaram and many other places. A joint protest rally was organised in Hyderabad by nine left parties. Comrade B Subhash represented CPI(ML) in this protest.
Madhya Pradesh - Nearly a hundred people led by CP(ML) gathered at Abarpura in Gwalior, on the day of the execution of Saddam Hussein and burnt the effigy of Bush.
Uttarakhand - In Chamoli district, CPI(ML) held a march jointly with CPI
Rajasthan- CPI(M) and carried out the effigy burning., a strong protest demonstration was organised in Jaipur which was participated mainly by unorganised sector workers. While in Jhunjhunu hundreds of people marched in the town and burnt the effigy in front of the collectorate.
Punjab - Protests were also held in Punjab. Hundreds of people marched in Bhikhi town, burnt the Bush effigy, condemned the government of India’s soft stand in this regard and demanded to break all deals with the US which are harming the interests of the people of the country, including the nuclear deal. A protest meeting and burning of effigy was organised in Bhilai on Dec. 30 by CPI(ML) and Inquilabi Muslim Forum jointly.
Bihar - People took out protest marches, demonstrations, and burnt Bush effigy in almost all districts of Bihar. A protest march was held in Patna. Other towns also witnessed militant protests. At some places activists came out in streets after hearing the news of Saddam’s hanging spontaneously and the protests started immediately since morning.
Jarkhand - Cities in Jharkhand also witnessed militant protests on this day. Various programmes were organised in all the corners of the states including Ranchi, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Palamu, Deoghar, etc. The effigy burning was held in Chakradharpur on Jan. 2.
Karnataka- protests were also organised in HP Halli and Gangavati .