Naftana ('Our Oil' in Arabic) is an independent UK-based committee supporting democratic trade unionism in Iraq. It works in solidarity with the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU). It strives to publicize the union's struggle for Iraqi social and economic rights and its stand against the privatization of Iraqi oil demanded by the occupying powers. For more information see the IFOU's website.
Dollars & Sense has covered the IFOU, most recently in David Bacon's feature article, Iraqi Workers Strike to Keep their Oil.
About the current assault on Basra, David Bacon told D&S: "It is very important to let people in this country understand that under the accusations about the 'militias' is an effort by the Iraqi government and the US to consolidate control over the oil and ports, and eliminate those parts of the political opposition that have successfully opposed them."
Here is the press release Naftana distributed to the media in Britain, in full:
Basra Assault Confirms Presence of British Forces a Threat to Political and Trade Union Rights in Iraq
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Privatization is only part of the story; as David Bacon emphasizes, control over the oil industry is also a central aim of US and British interests. Greg Palast made this point in his interview with D&S back in May of last year:
Dollars & Sense
Greg PalastArmed Madhouse