Democratic Palestine : 14 (ص 18)
غرض
- عنوان
- Democratic Palestine : 14 (ص 18)
- المحتوى
-
participating delegations were indignant at this objection,
whereas our proposal to make such an addition was greeted
with applause. We were disappointed with Isam's position
because she has a long history of struggle. She justified her
position by saying that the Amman accord is an internal Pales-
tinian affair. However, we feel that it is as dangerous as Camp
David. It is our national duty to take a position side by side with
the progressive forces of the world, and to project the correct
political line. Among the 11 resolutions issued in Prague, there
was a special one about the Middle East, where we were able
to add denouncement of the Amman accord.
Current situation in the GUPW
Despite the problems that | mentioned earlier, the GUPW,
until 1983, was the most democratic of all the Palestinian
unions. It included all political views while at the same time
maintaining a patriotic line supportive of the progressive line in
the Palestinian revolution. The second and third congresses
issued progressive political statements, although the Palesti-
nian arena was experiencing a crisis. The second congress
occurred at the time that the line of political settlement was
being propounded, but the GUPW statement rejected the polit-
ical settlement. Progressive Fatah women participated
enthusiastically with other progressive organizations, espe-
cially the PFLP, to have this statement adopted, rejecting any-
thing that would harm the Palestinian National Charter and
cause.
After 1982, all Palestinian institutions were affected. The
exodus to Syria and other Arab countries dispersed things.
The GUPW general secretariat decided to place its headquar-
ters in Damascus. In the beginning of 1983, things were run-
ning smoothly. Then, towards the end of 1983, differences
began to emerge once more in the Palestinian arena, affecting
all Palestinian institutions. Arafat's visit to Cairo and his sub-
sequent capitulationist policy brought division to the GUPW.
Eight members of the GUPW secretariat were in Damascus,
five in other Arab countries. There were conflicting decisions
because those outside Syria were with Arafat's trend. Those in
Damascus were against his policy and with the progressive lib-
eration cause of the Palestinian revolution.
We never wished or called for a split in the GUPW, but
tried always to overcome its crisis. However, Arafat's followers
were adamant. They made the organizational mistake of trying
to collect signatures for holding a meeting of the administrative
council, to expel those present in Damascus. They did not suc-
ceed, and the PFLP played a prominent role in foiling this
attempt. Palestinian women and our cause generally will be
the only losers from a split in the GUPW. We would lose inter-
national credibility, because the international unions and the
socialist countries would find it awkward to deal with two sepa-
rate unions. The more we preserve the cohesiveness of the
GUPW, the better will be our image in world public opinion,
especially in terms of our membership in the WIDF.
The Aden-Algiers agreement, signed in the summer of
1984, between the Democratic Alliance and Fatah's Central
Committee, eased the differences in the GUPW. An adminis-
trative council meeting was held in Algiers. We played an
important role in rallying the participation of all forces in this
meeting. A good political communique was issued. However,
the Palestinian right began taking more steps. They held the
Amman PNC which affected not only the situation for women's
work, but the whole Palestinian situation. The members of the
secretariat outside Damascus convened a meeting and cros-
sed out the names of nine GUPW members of the PNC. They
18
substituted other names to fill the quorum for the PNC, disre-
garding all political and organizational rules.
After the PNC, we still participated in the general sec-
retariat where we expressed our opinion against the suspen-
sion of the nine. We told the other members of the secretariat
that they themselves were free to attend the PNC, but they had
no right to suspend the membership of others, based on their
political opinions. Still we as the PFLP tried to act as mediators
between the two sides (women affiliated to Fatah’s Central
Comittee and those affiliated to the National Alliance). We did
so due to the importance of all forces participating in the union.
However, the rightists were adamant and wanted the women
of the PFLP and the DFLP to serve as a cover for their divisive
policy in the GUPW. Our main purpose was not to lose the
progressives in the union, for example, the general secretary
and the responsible for foreign relations who had been sus-
pended, and women from Popular Struggle Front and General
Command, etc. PFLP members were accepted, but this is not
the point. The point is the presence of all. Now, left organiza-
tions (DFLP and Palestinian Communist Party) are rep-
resented in the general secretariat, but they will not be able to
take positive decisions when the majority (two-thirds) are with
the right-wing policy. In this case, the participation of left
organizations in the leadership of the union will only provide a
progressive image for the right wing’s policies.
We have first-hand experience with the right wing. When
we were six organizations, it was only with extreme difficulty
that reasonable decisions could be made. When such deci-
sions were made, they were most often countered by the right-
ists. So how will it be now when the general secretariat is dis-
persed among several countries? There is one meeting a
month, and then all of a sudden we find that those affiliated to
the right wing in Tunis have made and implemented their deci-
sions. Of course, we have a flexible policy for working in
unions, and we are ready to participate even when the union is
not led by the progressives. However, the political line is the
primary consideration. We have to look at what political line is
Palestinian mother commemorates Sabra-Shatila martyrs.
‘Woman in tr - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 14
- تاريخ
- مارس ١٩٨٦
- المنشئ
- الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين
Contribute
Not viewed