Iranian Alert -- August 13, 2003 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movment in Iran from being reported.

From jamming satellite broadcasts, to prohibiting news reporters from covering any demonstrations to shutting down all cell phones and even hiring foreign security to control the population, the regime is doing everything in its power to keep the popular movement from expressing its demand for an end of the regime.

These efforts by the regime, while successful in the short term, do not resolve the fundamental reasons why this regime is crumbling from within.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary.

Please continue to join us here, post your news stories and comments to this thread.

Ottawa may take Iran human rights record to UN

News Section
Aug 13, 2003

Canada is considering introducing a UN resolution condemning Tehran's record on human rights, following the violent death of a Montreal photojournalist in Iran, according to Montreal La Presse.

"We regularly examine this question each time there is an apparent infraction or demonstration of human rights in Iran," Foreign Affairs department spokesman Reynald Doiron confirmed to La Presse.

If Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham decided to go ahead, it would mark the next stage in disintegrating relations between Ottawa and Tehran that was damaged by the violent death and quick burial of Zahra Kazemi.

Kazemi, 54, was detained by Iranian authorities on June 23 after taking photos outside a prison north of the capital. She died in custody on July 10 of a cerebral hemorrhage after being struck in the head.

If Graham decides to proceed with the UN resolution, Canada would first have to approach the United Nations Commission on Human Rights about the situation in Iran.

While the resolution would officially condemn Iran's human rights record, it's unclear if Canada would also recommend sanctions against Tehran.

Canada has already withdrawn its ambassador from Iran. It made that move after Kazemi was buried in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz against the wishes of Ottawa or her son, who lives in Montreal.

Kazemi's case has pitted unelected hardline conservatives against Iran's elected reformers, who support President Mohammad Khatami's program of democracy and social freedoms.

Hardliners have targeted pro-democracy publications and jailed dozens of writers and political activists, almost all of them without trial or in closed trials without a jury.

A judicial inquiry into Kazemi's death resulted in the detention of five Intelligence Ministry agents, two of whom are now out on bail.

The inquiry followed a presidential commission investigation that found she died of a "fractured skull, brain hemorrhage and its consequences resulting from a hard object hitting the head or the head hitting a hard object."

Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Ali Abtahi later said Kazemi had been murdered.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1730.shtml

Iran financing tied to teen suicide attacks by Fatah

Report Section
Aug 13, 2003

RAMALLAH - Iran has financed a new wave of suicide strikes by loyalists to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Israeli and Palestinian sources said Iranian-organized squads from the northern West Bank city of Nablus have been responsible for two suicide bombings against Israeli civilian targets on Tuesday. The sources said the squads were comprised of current and former PA officers as well as insurgents from the ruling Fatah movement.

Iran has recruited about 100 Palestinian insurgents in Nablus and Jenin over the last year, the sources said. They have been ordered by Iran and the Lebanese-based Hizbullah to maintain suicide strikes against Israel amid a truce declared by insurgency groups on June 29. [Hizbullah has renewed anti-aircraft strikes against northern Israeli communities. On Wednesday, Hizbullah gunners fired 357 mm shells toward Israel, but officials said none of them landed in Israeli communities.]

On Tuesday, two Israelis were killed and 11 were injured in two suicide bombings in separate Israeli communities. In one attack, a Palestinian blew himself up in a supermarket in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha'Ayin, killing one Israeli and wounding 10.

An hour later, a Palestinian detonated his explosive belt at the entrance to the Israeli city of Ariel in the West Bank. One Israeli was killed and one other was injured.

Israeli and Palestinian sources said the Ariel attack was the work of Hamas and the Rosh HaAyin strike was carried out by Hamas. Later, the sources said both attacks were carried out by Fatah. Both of the suicide bombers were teenagers.
"This was carried out by rebel factions of Fatah," Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon said.

On late Tuesday, a Palestinian insurgent opened fire on an Israeli bus near the Ramallah-area village of Silwad. Nobody was hurt. Hours later, Israeli military sources said seven Palestinians were arrested in the northern West Bank. They said at least two of them comprised a would-be suicide bomber and his handler.

Israeli officials said the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not plan to launch a major military operation in retaliation for the suicide strikes. They said Sharon has agreed to a U.S. request to maintain a truce with Palestinian insurgency groups.

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/front_1.html

Iran financing tied to teen suicide attacks by Fatah
Report Section
Aug 13, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/963108/posts?page=43#43

Washington Post: U.S. Fears Israel May Strike Iran's Nukes
August 14, 2003
Ha'aretz
Aluf Benn and Natan Guttman
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/963108/posts?page=40#40

Iran Hard-liners Again Show Their Claws
August 14, 2003
The New York Times
Nazila Fathi
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/963108/posts?page=37#37

Did Ayman Zawahiri and Hizbullah's Imad Mughniyeh Leave Iran?
August 14, 2003
Middle East Newsline
MENL
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/963108/posts?page=35#35

Rejecting Women's Convention Undermines Iran's Commitment to International Human Rights Standards
August 13, 2003
Amnesty International
amnestyusa.org
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/963108/posts?page=33#33

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail me”

"Aiman al-Zawahiri and Imad Mughniyah left Iran recently"
SITE Instutite

Today’s Asharq Al-Awsat contained a story detailing how Aiman Al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s second-in-command, and Imad Mughniyah, a top Hezballah leader, secretly left Iran only a few days ago, due to increased pressure from the Iranian government. Below is a summary of the article.

---- “Aiman al-Zawahiri and Imad Mughniyah left Iran recently. Fears that Saif al-Adel and Sa’ed Bin Laden might escape too.”

“An incident in the Maher Abad airport reveals a plan to smuggle al-Qaeda leaders with the help of elements non-submissive to the government.”

According to Asharq Al-aswat, Imad Mughniyah, a Hezballah leader and one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, left Iran two days ago, after a 14-month stay.

A reliable source in the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence revealed to Asharq Al-aswat that it is no longer safe for Mughniyah and his people to stay in the country, due to the new policy of the Ministry of Defense, to arrest and deport al-Qaeda elements.

The Ministry of Defense, headed by Ali Yunasi, is submissive to the Khatemi’s government, while the Revolutionary Guard Intelligence is believed by the Iranian government to harbor terrorist elements in their facilities.

Asharq Al-aswat learned that Saif al-Adel and Sa’ed bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s son, did not leave the country yet, although there is a possibility that they will do so with the help of non-submissive security and military elements, as happened with Aiman al-Zawahari and other al-Qaeda leaders.

The article describes a mysterious incident that had occurred two weeks ago in the Maher Abad airport. Apparently, three men, who were escorted by Revolutionary Guard Intelligence officers and declined to show any identification documents, were put on a flight to Turkey, on the V.I.P list. Although airport security attempted to thwart this move, Intelligence officers managed to put them on the plane in the last minute.

This incident reveals the Revolutionary Guard’s plan to transfer al-Qaeda leaders outside of Iran, and, according to sources close to the Revolutionary Guard, is connected to Mughniyah’s decision to leave Iran, as it has become too difficult for the Revolutionary Guard to secure his safety.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963742/posts

"Instead, he has preferred to make vague statements that have left the Arabs, Iranians and Americans in a worrying fog."

Yeah, the White House is in a "worrying fog" (pffft)

"... attacking Iran's nuclear facilities would be far more complicated than the 1982 strike outside Baghdad. First, Iran's nuclear program is dispersed at several sites, some of which are protected from conventional weapons; the distance to fly is much greater; and perhaps most importantly, the Iranians could respond in a painful manner."

I think he's got a better handle on things here.

Iran's leader admits reforms have stalled

Dan De Luce in Tehran
Wednesday August 13, 2003
The Guardian

The Iranian president, Mohammad Khatami, acknowledged yesterday that his attempts to introduce democratic reform have largely failed, but he said he would keep pushing for change.
Mr Khatami was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying: "Recently it has been difficult for me to speak because ... many of my opinions, my beliefs and my promises which I expressed truthfully and sincerely and were supported by the people, have not been fulfiled."

Addressing hundreds of young people at a conference for non-governmental organisations, Mr Khatami said he still believed in the values he had campaigned on and gave no indication he would resign.

"I am hopeful ... I believe that there is no other way than to continue the path that we have started," he said.

Since he was elected on a wave of optimism six years ago, Mr Khatami and the reformist majority in parliament have tried to initiate political and social reform of the country's rigid theocracy. But they have been blocked repeatedly by conservative bodies with sweeping powers of veto and by hardline clergy in the judiciary.

Mr Khatami's popularity has started to fade. Protesters chanted for his resignation in street demonstrations earlier this summer.

"I remain committed to the promise I made to the nation, although doubts may have surfaced, because of the existing problems, that their servant (Khatami) has broken his promise," the president said.

The speech seemed to be aimed at restoring faith among Iranians that he would keep fighting for democratic change. But with no sign that his conservative opponents are ready to compromise, Mr Khatami's words will provide little comfort to many young people who no longer believe their vote has any value.

Mr Khatami has proposed curbs on clerical authority through two bills, but they have been vetoed by the Guardian Council, which vets all legislation adopted by parliament.

In yesterday's speech, the president warned that neglecting the country's youth and abusing religion for expedient ends would produce grave problems.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1017312,00.html

Official: Dlrs 14.5bn needed to be invested in Iran annually

Tabriz, East Azarbaijan prov, Aug 13, IRNA -- Dlrs 14.5 billion is needed to be invested in Iran annually in line with global standards, said Director General of the Economic Affairs Department at Ministry of Economy and Finance Mohammad Taheri said here on Wednesday.

Taheri told the International Seminar of Foreign Investment
Opportunities that Iran has not yet been able to achieve its targets in terms of investment due to lack of comprehensive laws.

He hoped that ratification of the Law on Attraction of Foreign Investment would help promote national economy and attain economic objectives.

He put the amount of assets held by expatriate Iranians at dlrs 600 billion and said attraction of the sum would help upgrade Iranian economy.

The International Seminar of Foreign Investment is underway in this northwestern provincial city for two days.

Some 270 projects, worth dlrs 2.2 billion, are to be offered for foreign investment at the seminar.

The meeting aims to make the participants acquainted with each other.
Some 200 foreign and 500 Iranian investors are taking part in the
seminar.
216/AH/210
End
http://www.irna.ir/en/tnews/030814191039.etn06.shtml

Iranians authorized to work with US companies in Iraq

TEHRAN, (AFP) - Iranians are authorized to work with US and British contractors in Iraq's reconstruction, said the head of Iran's chamber of commerce, industries and mines Ali-Naghi Kamoushi.
"The Supreme Council for National Security has authorized Iranians to do business with Iraq at all levels and tradesmen can even negotiate with American and British contractors in Iraq," he said in a statement received Wednesday.

"To enter the Iraqi market, we can count on Iraqis of Iranian origin who live in Iraq," he said in a meeting with Iranian traders living there.
Kamoushi said Iran had to catch up with fellow neighbours of Iraq in the post-war reconstruction.
Iranians had so far had "little success in Iraq taking part in rebuilding this country, whereas other countries like Jordan, Syria, Turkey and even China are present on the Iraqi market right now", he said.
Kamoushi announced the creation of a joint Iranian-Iraqi chamber of commerce to support Iranian businessmen and contractors.

Over the last four months, we exported 160 million dollars worth of products to Iraq, which represents a very good beginning," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said Monday.
"Trade and economic cooperation between Iran and Iraq causes stability and benefit for both countries" he added.

According to the newspaper Yas-E-No, trade has been thriving all along the 1,600-kilometre (1,000-mile) border between the two countries since the fall of Saddam Hussein in April.
The newspaper said the border market of Manzarieh, where exports before the fall of Saddam's regime were limited to 300 dollars per day, today moves between 10,000 and 20,000 dollars worth of goods daily.

The United States, Iran's arch-foe, has warned Tehran against meddling in Iraqi affairs or trying to destabilize the population, which is mainly Shiite, the dominant branch of Islam in Iran.
Tehran fought a 1980-1988 war against Saddam's Iraq.

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/breakingnews/view.asp?msgID=2397

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