Posted on 06/22/2005 10:39:18 AM PDT by F14 Pilot
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's reformist government alleged that "certain organs" were buying votes in poorer aread of the Islamic republic ahead of this week's presidential run-off election.
The government spokesman also said outgoing reformist President Mohammad Khatami was "very worried" ahead of Friday's high-stakes clash between between hardliner Mahmood Ahmadinejad and moderate conservative Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
"The government has receieved reports on the distribution of funds by certain organs in the poorer areas of certain provinces with a specific aim in mind," Abdollah Ramazanzadeh said Wednesday.
"Khatami is worried about the future of the country and believes that we need to continue the reform process we have embarked upon with the people," he was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.
"It is normal that the president expects that the reins of the country are put into the hands of someone who is capable and can represent the Iranian people on the international stage."
Rafsanjani, defeated reformist candidate Mostafa Moin and moderate cleric Mehdi Karoubi have all made unprecedented public allegations of dirty tricks ahead of last week's first round, ranging from smear campaigns to vote-buying on a massive scale.
These, they claim, were orchestrated by the powerful Revolutionary Guards, the Basij militia and the Guardians Council -- which acts as a veto-wielding electoral watchdog and dismissed the complaints after an extremely limited partial recount.
Khatami had already given his implicit personal backing to Rafsanjani by urging a vote for "moderation".
There is no difference between the reform and conservative camp in Iran any more.
PING!
You know what I'm gonna say don't you?........Oh Hillary
No Kidding! Rafsanjani was handing out money like candy to any young people who'd hand out flyers and display his posters.
No big secret!
They got paid for working. ;-)
Yeah. Apparently $20/hr is the going rate for handing out flyers in Iran. Who knew??
There is nothing new or unique in vote buying. It still goes on any every democratic country, although it's become a little more sophisticated.
What remains is that amid these allegations, the mullahs keep the argument of the voter turn out with the seed of doubt they created in this manor. When everyone rushes not to elect Moin, the perception is left that they are voting for Rafsenjani. Democrats should take notes. Hate is a pretty big word but appropriate here but also I gotta respect what keeps these guys ahead of the rest of us and still empowered. I’d like a boycott, a real one. Therefore Moin becomes president and ultimately, pressure on people will increase to do the revolution with venges. I’d like us to play into their hand because that’s a contingency that the mullahs haven’t considered as deep as the other. This could undo them. IMHO.
200 bucks for 15 mins drive through the city with Rafsanjani stickers on your car... Deal?
;-)
It's too late for Moin. And the regime would never have let him win, anyway.
You meant AhmadiNejad?
Absolutes offer no alternatives. Aren’t we in dreamland? The boycott that won’t happen, the popularity perception that will, and the people kept busy playing the mullahs winning formula. Reality sucks. What sucks more is as you said, we know what’s coming.
Yes, thank you
I hope the people are smart enough to figure this one out.
Freedom NOW ~ Bump!
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