Hundreds of Unemployed People Marched the Streets to Denounce the Local Authorities' Inhuman Campaign

More than 700 unemployed people in Nasirya led by Union of Unemployed in Iraq (UUI) have organized a demonstration against the cruel campaign launched by the local authorities to move the sidewalk vendors from their workplaces to an unwanted remote place where there are no customers. The demo lasted for 4 hours and many media officials were notified however no one of them showed up.

A delegation of 5 members was formed chaired by the UUI Secretary in Nasirya (Ahmed Salim) to meet with the Mayor and discuss this issue.

The police tried to end that demo at any cost but the demonstrators refused to move and waited to see the end of the meeting, the police however reacted viciously and fired at the sky in an attempt to scare the demonstrators but they insisted of staying till the end.

Finally the meeting came to end by the agreement of both sides upon:

1. Registering all the protestors for any future job opportunity in the ministries of:

a. Defense

b. Interior

c. Labor and social services

2. The Mayor promised to find and discuss an appropriate alternative area for being a shopping place

3. Authorized to members of the delegation including the Secretary of UUI to speak on behalf of the unemployed people.

Ahmed Salim

Secretary of the Union of Unemployed in Iraq (UUI)

Nasirya Branch

7.4.2005