NOTES ON THE UNITED FRONTS OF 1954 AND 1956

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-00915R000900170004-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 11, 1998
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: NOTES

Approved For Relea a 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-009148000900170004-0
APPENDIX III - NOTES ON THE UNITED FRONTS OF 1954 AND 1956
With the return of overt political activity in 1953, the Left
again became more active. The National Democratic Party (NDP), when
it reappeared, was apparently more infiltrated by Communists and began
to give open support to such front organizations as the Peace Partisans
and the Democratic Youth Union. Earlier that year a group led by Jamal
Haydari, calling itself the Banner of Toilers (Riyat al Shaghila)
disassociated itself from the major group of Iraqi Communists and
advocated closer relationship with nationalist groups. In 1954,
Communists (which groups, is not stated) gave their blessing and
support to the NDP-Istiglal United National Front (UNF)
and are reported'to have even`aparticipated unofficially in the UNF's
Executive Committee.* Again, however, the dissolution of Parliament and
the banning of the National Democratic Party blocked the unity drive.
To a great extent as a result of the efforts of Aziz Sharif,
the Iraqi Communists achieved a degree of unity in June 1956--
apparently more so than at any time since 1947 (see above). Sharifts
Communist Unity Party (al-Hagi, al Nidhal) group joined the al
f1V,hi. group and the main-stream al-Qaidah faction in a rejuvenated
*Alleged Communists and Peace Partisans Kulayban Salih el-Ubli and
Khaluq Amin Zaki served as labor and student representatives, respectively,
on the Committee.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000900170004-0
 Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-0091'4R000900170004-0
Iraqi Communist Party (ICP). Later, the Istiglal and NDP merged
to form a National Congress Group (NCG). The B 'thh (Resurrection)
Party, now a potent power in Iraq 7thereupon joined the NCG and the
ICP in a new illegal National front. The Bath apparently was urging
the Front's High National Committee to adopt an activist policy,
calling for demonstrations, and open agitation. Even when the decision
was made to boycott the May 1958 elections, the Ba'th urged
demonstrations in connection with the campaign. The CPI, NDP, and
Istiqlal elements as of early June 1958 objected to the Ba'thi action
campaign.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-00915R000900170004-0