Posted on 06/15/2003 9:05:44 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
Iranian protesters remain resolute(Emails from Iran below)
The protests have drawn large crowds every night Crowds of students in the Iranian capital Tehran have staged a fifth night of protests to express anger about the slow pace of reform in the country. The rare show of defiance against the power of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been harshly suppressed by the Iranian authorities, who used tear gas, clubs, and iron bars to disperse the crowds.
BBC News Online has received e-mails from some of the demonstrators and others affected by the action. The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EMAILS FROM IRAN:
I had a telephone conversation with my nephew who is 22 and lives in Tehran. He told me that he had never in his life run the way he did two nights ago when he went to the demonstrations in Tehran. The vigilantes had ran after him with chains and clubs, the reason being that he saw them beating a girl to death and she was bleeding. He said four of them were at her and kicking her in the head, stomach and another one was beating her with the chain he had. So he shouted you sons of the bitches, leave her alone, you animals..... Then they ran after him and luckily he managed to escape from them. Shahrokh Biniaz, Kuwait
PRESIDENT BUSH PLEASE HELP US Ali M., Iran
I am one of the students of Tehran university. i am studying law. let me tell you that the protesters are not students. they are some workless people that all the time looking for trouble. nobody from our own faculty has been participating in this protest. Mena, Iran
The ruling party in iran must start sharing power with the pro-democracy now before is too little too late like the former ruler, the shah. mike bargani, iran
The vigilantes once beat me up because I was taking part in a protest. They didn't use weapons because I am 13. But they punched and kicked me in a violent manner. Paya, Iran
The Iranian people have shown their urgent tendency for freedom. Now the US must start to support the demonstration by warning the Iran government not to act against the people. This enforcement from the outside and people's demonstration inside, will finally down the Iran regime. We are waiting for immediate support of the US. Farshad, Iran
Despite the past, all the family members are taking part in the protests. I can see all ages among the people. The women's presence is so amazing. I can see fathers hand in hand with their wives and children in the streets. They seem both frightened and happy. I can see the traces of opposite feelings in the eyes. It is great that I can see my country fellows finding a way - a peaceful way - to show their opposition. The perfume of old days - the days of revolution - is in the atmosphere. The people are kind to each other. They give help and open the doors to shelter the young ones running away from police and plain clothes' attacks. It is beautiful, encouraging. Name withheld, Iran
I was at home when I heard the noises. Outside, people were running everywhere, and were trying to hide somewhere, I could hear the guns, and although we are living 3 streets away from the place, we could hardly open our eyes and breathe because of the tear gas. I could see about 20 motorcycles riding here and there shouting and trying to catch people in the street. Mothers were crying and trying to find their sons, cars in traffic were pushing their horns to show their partnership in the protest, but motorcyclists tried to stop them by threatening them..... Name withheld, Iran
I am a student, I was involved. I think it is my duty, but my parents are frightened because I have been arrested before on Students Day, now if they arrest me again only God can help me! But I will continue - not only me, but all of my friends in Tehran University - will continue our protest to show the whole world we want out freedom! Behnam k, Iran
The police are now arresting everyone and mistreating everybody, even those not participating in the protests.
Mukiibi, Iran
I have been demonstrating from Tuesday. We talk about this at university. I am very tired with this government and we want freedom like the world in the 21st century. Everybody knows that this government is all liars, and it is just about power and control of wealth. We are cut off from rest of the world, I will not have a job after university. I am a woman and I hate this society, it is abuse of authority. It is very dangerous on the streets, and we are all doing this at risk. When the police, military and Basij open fire, they never care and if you go to prison, you don't know how far they can go. But we have to do this, and so many more people now than ever. It is time for change now. Nastaran W Iran
I was not among the protesters but was just walking towards the university campus where a crowd of protesters had gathered, when I heard a shot on my left hand side and found myself in a pool of blood. I was rescued by a group of campus students who rushed me to hospital with a broken arm. The police are now arresting everyone and mistreating everybody, even those not participating in the protests. Mukiibi, Iran
I am very happy but I am afraid to join the protest. I am hopeful that this regime will change within two years and we will get rid of this nonsense regime
Parviz, Iran
Protesters were shouting slogans but if we compare quantity and number of protesters with other demonstrations they do not have enough power to do something . I think elections in Iran are the first and last method to change things. Mary, Iran
I am very happy but I am afraid to join the protest. I am hopeful that this regime will change within two years and we will get rid of this nonsense regime. Parviz, Iran
I was there tonight along with more than 20,000 people, counting those in cars who had come there for the students. People of all types - those with chador, from downtown, people with expensive cars, young and old. It was very nice. I hope the demonstrations get organised, and don't get to aggressive - we lose when it gets to aggressive, but we will win if this goes on at the current level for a few weeks. I hope the US attacks with cruise missiles some Sepah/Intelligence ministry buildings! And I hope at least some of MPs who have signed the letter against Khamenei, stand up strongly for people. Hadi, Iran
Many of the city's residents have joined the students to voice their support
I absolutely reject the concept of "democracy" and "freedom" as nakedly false phantoms of the west. Who would ever want to be "free" when they could instead live in the glorious order and sanctified grace of Sharia? Why does anyone need to have an opinion for himself? Shahin Shahida, Iran
The Basij militiamen are like wild animals. They beat women and children. The special police forces are even worse. I saw a young man being hit by them while keeping on shouting "Down with Khamenei!" He didn't stop until he was arrested. Some might say this is the same as what happened in 1999, but this time is not going to be the same for Iranians. Nothing will stop us but a referendum for a regime change. We are tired of Mullahs. A new mullah like Khatami will never ever be able to kid us again. We seek freedom and we will gain it. Farshad, Iran
I was in Tehran in 1999 and involved in the student protests. My experience is that the police do not protect the students. They would stand by and watched as militia men would come and beat the students. Some of them even threw students out of the dormitory windows to their deaths and police just watched and did not arrest them. Students blocked the streets and filtered traffic. The people around and inside the area were very supportive and helped feed and heal the students for those few days. Nima S Panahi, USA
Twenty-five years ago when I was in my 20s , we protested against the Shah and brought in these maniacs (religious leaders). Now the students are finishing the job and hopefully will finally bring democracy into our country. Please remember this struggle started in 1915 so we are very patient nation. Alex Far, Australia
The police have surrounded the university in an attempt to thwart the demonstrations
When I was 10 years old, the revolution was imposing itself upon the repressed Iranian society ...Like many Iranians at that time, I have experienced that the truth can be manipulated in the name of freedom. I lost dear relatives, friends and part of my life due to the manipulation of revolution and have lived in horror of anarchy, disorder and chaos when the change was taking place in my country. And I also have lived under the cruel ruling of the present regime of Iran. My experiences are not that pleasant, but I have learnt to live with them and keep my hope for freedom, because Iran is my home and my identity, and being an Iranian in exile makes me to be proud of all my experiences. Kathy, Canada
One can only imagine what they will say when the oppressive regime is removed.
I don't think we are prepared to do that!
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Now here is someone that likes the Mullahs!
The whole ball of wax could start crumbling down if Iran falls.
I'm afraid you are right. Jimmy Carter's muddle-headed policies led to some of the mess in the Middle East.
( We won't even mention southern Africa, but the chaos burgeoning there also sprang from his Administration... )
This is exactly what Mark Steyn predicted long before the liberation of Iraq.
Is the CIA so hamstrung that it can't organize some creative operation to get them into Iran, in the hands of the freedom seekers?
A few dozen Dragonovs would be fantastic. Totally deniable, of course.
Including that old useful standby, the RPG. I could be wrong, but my suspicion is that Rummy and the boys are doing a little exporting as we speak.
I read a while back that some of the old (efficient) CIA field hands are back in the fold, if not in the field, at least as consultants. Those gents know what it takes to get the dominoes falling.
So much for that garbage dizinformatsia article from the other day.
And attach the survivors to trees.
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