13.12.2007

What regime, what alternative?

Overview of the discussion over the motions proposed to conference

Comrade Sheibani proposed an amendment to change references to the regime from "the theocratic regime" to "the Islamic republic regime". Comrade Sheibani said that this would give greater clarity on its capitalist nature. Mehdi Kia from the Organisation of Revolutionary Workers of Iran (Rahe Kargar) agreed with her, noting that the Iranian regime was not theocratic, but that it was a capitalist regime using theocracy. A number of comrades spoke against the amendment, stating that the word 'theocracy' made clear that we are first and foremost against the political nature of the regime - rather than the fact that it happens to claim to be islamic as opposed to claiming to be christian. The proposal was defeated.

Comrade Kia proposed an amendment which sought to change one of our campaign demands, so that it would not specifically state that Hopi "supports socialism, democracy and workers' control in Iran". He proposed that instead Hopi should "support all democratic, working class, socialist and secular movements in Iran". Comrade Kia warned that the existing text potentially narrows our appeal, as it implies "you would have to be a socialist to support Hopi". He argued that we need a broader movement to challenge imperialism.

Comrade Yassamine Mather spoke against the amendment, arguing that we should not water down our politics and that our support for socialism will make the campaign go in a specific direction. Comrade Mather urged that accepting the amendment would change the content of what the campaign is. Ben Lewis (CPGB) also spoke against the amendment, arguing that socialism is part of the basis of the campaign and it is why the campaign has the support it does. He argued that socialism is not abstract on the struggle for democracy and that the Iranian workers' and students' movements were "socialist in nature". Comrade Lewis urged conference to have faith in our politics. Conference voted for a combination of the original text and comrade Kia's amendment, which still maintains a clear "support for socialism".

The founding statement, as amended, was overwhelmingly agreed.

Motions

Conference then moved on to motions. The first was from the CPGB, moved by Nick Jones of Communist Students (CS). It repeated our opposition to the STWC's decision to deny Hopi the right to affiliate and urged members not to abandon STWC, but to fight within it against the exclusion of Hopi and against the apologist politics of the leadership. Mike Martin, technically opposing the motion, said that Hopi is something different to STWC: a campaign with a clear positive line, not a pure protest group. The motion was passed.

The second motion was also from the CPGB (moved by comrade Fischer) on the priorities for Hopi over the coming year. He said that our trade union work must be dramatically stepped up and that, with the immediate threat of war seeming to subside, we must concentrate on building stronger links. Laurie McCauley (CS) put forward an amendment that Hopi should build links with other international campaigns which are similar to Hopi. This amendment was accepted.

A second amendment came from comrade Majedi, that we should support all the people who are against the regime, not just the working class. John Bridge argued against comrade Majedi, saying that the motion was saying that we should in particular focus on the working class in Britain in our forthcoming work. Comrade Machover also opposed the amendment, saying that not every opposition to the regime in Iran is worthy of support. The second amendment was rejected and the motion, together with the first amendment, was passed.

The third motion was from CS and argued for continuing to develop solidarity with the Iranian student movement. Ben Lewis, explained that this movement was both anti-imperialist and against the regime. CS has good contacts with students in Iran, and Hopi needs to expand on campuses and begin to coordinate actions here and with the Iranian students.

Vicky Thompson from Hopi North West proposed an amendment to this motion to delete specific reference to Communist Students. The reference in the text as drafted would "elevate one section of the campaign above all others". Her amendment was readily accepted. Comrade Sheibani said that the students movement has become an important force and that, with the recent arrest of student activists, Hopi should send a message of solidarity and demand their immediate release. This was accepted by conference. The amended motion was passed.

Torab Saleth urged conference to support the Workers Fund, which was established to provide help for those in struggle in Iran. George Binette (PR) argued that we must overcome the SWP's apologist approach by using trade union resolutions and emphasising the fight in the working class movement.

Mehdi Kia put forward an amendment to specify that our "active rank and file solidarity with Iranian workers" includes "their struggle for independent workers' organisations". He argued that it was not just trade unions that are used to fighting and organising against the Iranian regime. The amendment was accepted and so was the motion as a whole.

The final motion was put moved by Comrade Sheibani. This focused on supporting women's struggles in Iran, exposing the regime's suppression of the women's movement and calling for the immediate release of women who have been arrested for dissent. As the motion was only drafted on the day, the conference remitted it to the steering committee for rewording.