5th straight night of Protests in IRAN!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2991162.stm ^ | 6/14/03 | BBC

[freedom44]

Thousands of pro-reform demonstrators have taken to the streets of the Iranian capital Tehran for the fifth successive night. But most stayed inside their cars, fearing a repeat of the attacks by right-wing vigilantes on the previous demonstrations.

Reports say there was an overwhelming police presence, resulting in muted protests which passed off largely without incident.

The protests, which are now reported to have spread to other cities, have been against the conservative clerical establishment and the reformist President, Mohamed Khatami, who is accused of betraying hopes for change.

"This is just like it was before the revolution"

Woman protester recalls unrest before the 1979 fall of the Shah

Protesters remain resolute Who are the vigilantes?

Riot police formed a ring around Tehran university to protect students from conservative vigilantes who stormed dormitories there the night before.

Police had earlier warned the vigilantes, who are loyal to the country's supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, against taking the law into their own hands.

They have also issued a warrant for the arrest of Sa'id Askari, a prominent pro-government vigilante leader who was seen at the demonstrations.

And state radio reports police have arrested scores of what it describes as "thugs and ruffians" in the previous four nights of civil unrest in Tehran.

Despite this, the latest protests saw vigilantes gather close to the university, while others patrolled traffic jams and manned roadblocks.

US condemnation

The early hours of Saturday morning saw security forces and hundreds of vigilantes used tear gas, clubs, chains and iron bars to disperse protesters.

Some students were attacked with knives

Students said dozens of armed Islamic vigilantes were involved in the attack on the university dormitory.

The US has denounced action against the student-led protests and called on the Iranian Government to protect demonstrators' rights.

A White House statement reiterated support for democratic reform in Iran, demanding that the voice of the Iranian people be heard.

The Iranian authorities have accused the US and Iranian exiles of fomenting the current unrest.

The BBC's Miranda Eeles, in Tehran, says thousands of ordinary Iranians have joined the students in demonstrations.

Despite the rough treatment of protesters, and warnings from Ayatollah Khamenei, our correspondent says the demonstrators' resolve to continue speaking out against the slow process of reform shows no sign of waning.

Student associations have said they will continue to demonstrate until 9 July, to commemorate the violent attack by hardline groups on students four years ago.

[freedom44]

on or off iran ping

[McGavin999]

Have you seen any pictures freedom? I heard the mad mullahs were jamming the satillite feed and shutting down the websites.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping!

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Mister Magoo]

The regime has a dilemma. Crack down too hard, and then the anger grows. Allow the protests to continue, and the momentum of the opposition grows. If I were the Iranian government, I would follow the lead of the Chinese government at Tianamen Square. Crush the rebellion swiftly and firmly. That's what the Shah should have done, and if he had, Iran wouldn't be in this mess today.

[freedom44]

Opposition Television reported massive crackdown on Satellite signals. cell phones were shutdown for a large period of time.

I tried to contact several members of a student organization and the lines were disconnected.

[DoughtyOne]

You know, someone needs to teach those male Iranian protesters how to flush those Ayatollats.

[DoughtyOne]

...and be sure to put the lid down!

[rontorr]

and they should have followed up at Kent State in the 60s, but what would that have really done

[nutmeg]

FYI

[Reagan is King]

Can we all rest assured that Al Jazeera is broadcasting these anti-Islamic rule protests all across the Arab countries? /sarcasm>

[freedom44]

Be sure to go all you can eat so it buries deep down in the toilet!

[templar]

If I were the Iranian government, I would follow the lead of the Chinese government at Tianamen Square. Crush the rebellion swiftly and firmly.

I would too. China did the right thing (from the point of those in power, not from my agreement with them) to avoid a political collapse of their regime. The Iranian Ayatollah had better come down hard and fast if he wants to retain power. Machiavelli spelled the process out rather well.

[Servant of the Nine]

The Iranian Ayatollah had better come down hard and fast if he wants to retain power. Machiavelli spelled the process out rather well.

I don't think they have enough reliable troops to crack down. The Chinese brought in country yokel troops who would do as they were told. It seems that the only reliable troops the Mullahs have are their Special Forces, and while that is enough to raid campus dorms, it isn't enough to quash protest in a major city.

So9

[McGavin999]

That's what I was afraid of. I hope there are some honest journalists there who will record everything.

[xrp]

That's impossible! Surely Allah does not allow jamming technology. It is from the Great Satans!

[freedom44]

Virtually all Iranians condemn violence in the name of Islam and believe Islam is not what is taught by Mullahs. The only hope Islam has is in Iran. The Islam Persians practiced was historically different than that of Arabs, but it seems so similar due to the domination of a foreign culture on Iranians. My background is Persian, although Christian i have many Iranian Muslim friends and they're *very* good people. They're so vehemently against Islamists that they good be proud members of the vast-right wing conspiracy.

[Steel Wolf]

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp, commonly known as the IRGC or Pasdaran, would be the more elite and loyal units of the country. They run the gamit from special operations forces to the Jerusalem brigades that assist Palestinians in blowing themselves up.

Interesting about the IRGC is that they have already informed the theocrats, a few years back, that they weren't going to be helping out in any crushing any more protests or popular demonstrations.

The Basij volunteers, the morality police, if you will, are the ones who are available for the job, as well as many of the foriegn vigilantees that have been lurking around. Neither are particularly well liked, or well armed, for that matter. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Dr_Politics]

I think they just want what we want... FREEDOM... and I don't blame them in the slightest bit. I hear some liberals saying they should be put down brutally for the same freedoms we have here in America. Now what is the deal with that? Here liberals want NO limits on anything including killing children in the womb, etc, etc. But are those Iranians any different of a human being than you liberals? All they want is to be doing what I am doing right now....

think about it.

[freedom44]

Iranian students i have been contact with in Iran are far more pro-American than US liberals.