Posted on 05/13/2005 2:19:32 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Iran Works to Get Out the Vote, but the Disillusioned Aren't Biting
Excerpt:
TEHRAN — Under a white tent in the central square of the Polytechnic University, historically the most politically active of Iran's campuses, students are lured to an evolving exhibition to read the daily news on next month's presidential election. It's a bid to entice students to vote, funded by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Fearing low turnout, the regime has begun an ambitious campaign to get citizens to the polls. Meeting with university students in the southern province of Kerman, Khamenei this week stressed a theme that has become a constant in his speeches: "Participation in the elections is not only a right, but a religious duty."
Voter turnout is a sign of legitimacy the Islamic Republic needs more than ever, as international pressure mounts over its nuclear program and strife with the United States continues.
On this campus, it could be a hard sell. Students were instrumental in helping reformist President Mohammad Khatami sweep into office eight years ago, but they have gradually become disillusioned as unelected hard-liners blocked reforms, closed dozens of newspapers and disqualified more than 2,000 reformists from running in parliamentary elections last year.
"The past eight years show us that elections don't bring us closer to our goals," said Abdollah Momeni, 28, leader of the Office to Consolidate Unity, Iran's largest pro-reform student group.
"Reforms are not possible from within the confines of the current constitution, not as long as certain appointed bodies have more power than institutions elected by the people," Momeni said, referring to organizations such as the hard-line Guardian Council that hold greater sway than the president or parliament.
On straw mats across the way from the election tent, Momeni had joined other student activists at a sit-in to protest the continued detention of political prisoners and the tight lid on political dissent. Many of the demonstrators said they had no intention of voting. "We protest the killing of freedom and justice," read a handwritten banner behind them. ...
The June 17 election presents a dilemma for Iranians who seek greater democratization. They are divided into two camps: One is disillusioned and favors an election boycott; the other argues for participation. Followers of the latter group fear that withholding votes will play into the hands of the conservatives, who have already taken over the Majlis, or parliament. ...
Candidate registration began this week. Polls indicate that the popular favorites are former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who announced his candidacy Tuesday; former Iranian Police Chief Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf; and reformist candidate Mostafa Moin, who resigned from his post as science minister in 1999 after police violently put down student protests.
Once registration is complete, the Guardian Council will qualify or disqualify the candidates within two weeks. ...
The bloggers, whose personal websites are filled with political commentary, are considered a key voice in Iran, and the mood among them is shifting as the election draws closer. Many increasingly argue that the reform process cannot be abandoned after eight years of struggle. ...
More than 20 bloggers were arrested in December on charges of disturbing the public and threatening national security. Most were held for weeks before being cleared. Ironically, some of those bloggers could help the state achieve a higher turnout by mobilizing their readers.
"They now understand that weblogs can actually play an important role in inviting people to participate in the elections," said former Vice President Mohammed Ali Abtahi, who started a blog more than a year ago, where he posts his observations on the inner workings of the government along with pictures snapped on his mobile phone.
Recent surveys indicate that turnout next month could be between 45% and 60%. "That is based on the presumption that the elections are relatively free, meaning reformist candidates are not disqualified," said Jalaipour, the sociologist. ...
- Islamic Republic News Agency reports that Hans Blix, expressed doubts if anything will be achieved by taking Iran to the UN.
- The Guardian UK reports that Iranians may have to hold their noses when they go to the polls.
- VOA News reports that White House, spokesman Scott McClellan said "The Europeans have made it clear that they support referring Iran to the Security Council if Iran breaks the agreement and starts some of those nuclear activities again. And that has been our position as well."
- Ha'aretz reports that some Israelis say there is no need for economic sanctions. Instead suggesting forbidding Iranian planes to land in the West, depriving its diplomats of visas, limiting visits by delegations.
- The Associated Press reports that more than 200 young men and women presented themselves Thursday as volunteers to carry out suicide bomb attacks against Americans.
- The Guardian UK reports that Iran may postpone resumption of uranium reprocessing.
- Agence France-Presse and Reuters reports that Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Iran would be able to produce a nuclear bomb in "six to nine months time".
- Xinhua News Agency reports that French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday urged Iran not to resume uranium. "We continue to hope that Iran will not take this step, the consequences of which it is well aware."
- And finally, the BBC News reports that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has urged Iran to "think again" about plans to resume uranium enrichment activities.
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
KINDA BUMP!
.
And now for some of the more colorful registrants................
LOL - look at the registrar's face. LOL
A candidate claiming to be the 12th Shiite Imam is told to complete his registration form for Iran's upcoming presidential elections. Eccentric Iranians were out in force as the interior ministry opened its doors for wannabe presidents.(AFP/Behrouz Mehri)
Saddam, is that you?
This guy old enough?
Ali Akbar Nassiri Khansari, wearing a sash that reads 'servant of the people of Iran', fills in the paperwork to be a candidate for President of Iran
Yup. I think Ali's my guy!
Everything is a "religious duty" with these evil rulers. If it is a religious duty (to the mad mullahs) then I would NOT vote. I can understand the frustrations of the Iranian folks though. If you don't vote, then it gets worse perhaps? Yet how can it be any worse than it already is? BUT if you do vote, since ALL candidates seem to HAVE to be "approved" by the mad mullahs, then even though that candidate may SAY he's for reform, etc, he won't be able to do anything cause the mullah's wouldn't allow anyone who could/would REALLY bring reforms, to run.
My advice to the Iranian folks: Don't put your faith and time into these fake elections. Instead work together to bring the whole governmental mess down.
Mohsen Rezaee's son sought Political asylum few years ago from the government of the United States.
ROTFLMCO, I love those pictures!
To read today’s thread click here.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.