Toma Tomas

Toma Tomas (1924-1996) also known by his nom de guerre Abu Joseph, was an chaldean politician and the leader of al-Ansar, a communist, Marxist–Leninist militia in Iraq during the 1960s and 1970s which fought on behalf of the Iraqi Communist Party against the Iraqi government.

Early life
Toma Tomas was an ethnic chaldean born in Alqosh, in 1924, he was an adherent to the Chaldean Catholic Church. He witnessed the Simele massacre first-hand when Assyrians escaped the massacres to Alqosh. This event was crucial in shaping his political ideas in the future.

After finished elementary school in Alqosh, he moved to Mosul where he finished high school and joined the Iraq Levies. He later found his way to Kirkuk to work at an oil company. There he learned about communism and joined the Iraqi Communist Party in the early 1950s.

Struggle against the central government
He moved to his home town after the 14 July Revolution, which brought the Qasimists (who were allied with the Iraqi Communist Party) to power. The situation didn't last long however, the Arab nationalists revolted and the prime minister Abd al-Karim Qasim was executed. The communists where summarily executed and some led by Toma Tomas fled to the mountains of northern Iraq where they formed armed communist guerilla’s known as the Ansar and fought alongside the Kurds and Iraqi dissidents in their struggle against the central government.

For almost 30 years Toma Tomas led the Ansar in many battles against the Iraqi army in the region stretching from the Turkish borders to Telkepe to the south.

Death
He died in Syria on 15 October 1996 and was buried at the Chaldean cemetery in Nohadra. His remains were reburied in his home town Alqosh in 2010.