Iranian Alert: Protests start for 6th night in Tehran... Huge Turnout Expected

Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran (SMCCDI) ^ | 6.15.2003 | Press Release

[DoctorZIn]

Protest actions and slogans against the regime have started for the 6th consecutive night "inside" main Iranian universities and especially in the Capital despite the encerclment of these facilities by the special forces.

Hundreds of students are shouting slogans against the regime and singing the banned Iranian National Anthem.

Students are requesting the immediate release of their arested and kidnapped colleagues, the resignation of the Universities managements, the expell of Intelligence members acting as students, the public trial of those involved in the last days of repression and a Free Election on the choice of the future Iranian regime.

The students are awaiting the residents to join them later this evening and many Iranians are getting ready to come back into streets from 22:00 (local time) despite knowing all dangers and risks.

Earlier today, sporadic clashes happened when groups of plainclothes men attacked forming gathering of young Iranians. These attacked took place in the Nazi-Abad, Vali-Asr and Dolat areas simulataneously which let believe of a new startegy of the regime to spread fear before the start of what can be named as a 6th consecutive night of unrest in preparation.

Brutal militiamen and members of Intelligence used of knives, clubs and chaines but young freedom fighters have retaliated.

Several have been injured but the plainclothes men have left the scenes after their commando style attacks.

Source: SMCCDI

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Current time Sunday, June 15, 2003, at 11:01:20 PM in Tehran!

Just posted this:

Bush Praises Iranian Pro-Democracy Protestors

[FairOpinion]

"It promises to be a turning point one way or another. "

Let's hope for the better. I think Bush coming out in support of the protesters was also a strong warning to the Mullahs. I wouldn't be surprised if we had our troops in Iraq ready to move in to Iran, if the Mullah's are trying to start a bloodbath, and I think they know it.

Also, it's just about 11 pm in Tehran now, when you said more people are expected to join the demonstrations, I hope they will.

Keep us informed.

[DoctorZIn]

Another great post...

Bush Praises Iranian Pro-Democracy Protestors
Reuters News Wire ^ | Sun June 15, 2003 02:01 PM ET | Patricia Wilson


Posted on 06/15/2003 11:26 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach


KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (Reuters) - President Bush on Sunday praised pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran, calling their protests a positive step toward freedom.

"This is the beginning of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran which I think is positive," Bush said.

Thousands of Iranians in Tehran protested against their conservative Islamic rulers for a fifth night on Saturday and smaller protests were reported in two other cities in the biggest anti-establishment demonstrations for months.

"I think that freedom is a powerful incentive," Bush told reporters after he attended church services during a weekend visit to Kennebunkport. "I believe that some day freedom will prevail everywhere because freedom is a powerful drive."

Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the United States of "flagrant interference in Iran's internal affairs" and said the significance of the protests was being deliberately overstated by U.S. officials.

The United States has had poor relations with Tehran since cutting diplomatic ties after radical students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed shah.

A White House statement on Saturday denounced Islamic hard-liners who attacked pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran and called on the government to release those jailed.

CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT URGED

Bush included Iran in an "axis of evil" last year, along with Iraq and North Korea, accusing the countries of pursuing weapons of mass destruction and supporting what the U.S. calls international terrorism.

Washington also says Iran harbors members of the al Qaeda network blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

U.S. officials say they would welcome a change of government in Tehran. Although they stop short of embracing a policy of "regime change," their statements have prompted some alarm in the region after the U.S.-led invasion successfully ousted President Saddam Hussein in neighboring Iraq.

The Bush administration's major justification for attacking Iraq was that Baghdad possessed weapons of mass destruction which posed an imminent danger to the United States. But no illegal arms have been found in the weeks since major combat operations ended.

The United Nation's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, discusses a report on Iran this week which calls for further inspections of its nuclear program. The IAEA says Tehran has failed to provide information as required under a safeguards agreement.

Iran says its nuclear program is for electricity generation but the United States says it is developing nuclear weapons.

A leading U.S. senator said he would "not necessarily" like to see the Iranian government toppled by outside forces.

"Well, a regime change that comes through the democratic processes of Iran, through the students and the young people taking charge -- now, how all that comes about, I don't know," Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday."

"But I think it has to be an Iranian process, which we can assist," the Indiana Republican added.

Lugar said the Bush administration's policy on Iran had not yet been fully formulated, but he expected the U.S. Congress to support Iran's pro-democracy forces financially.

[DoctorZIn]

Another great post...

Bush Praises Iranian Pro-Democracy Protestors
Reuters News Wire ^ | Sun June 15, 2003 02:01 PM ET | Patricia Wilson


Posted on 06/15/2003 11:26 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach


KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (Reuters) - President Bush on Sunday praised pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran, calling their protests a positive step toward freedom.

"This is the beginning of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran which I think is positive," Bush said.

Thousands of Iranians in Tehran protested against their conservative Islamic rulers for a fifth night on Saturday and smaller protests were reported in two other cities in the biggest anti-establishment demonstrations for months.

"I think that freedom is a powerful incentive," Bush told reporters after he attended church services during a weekend visit to Kennebunkport. "I believe that some day freedom will prevail everywhere because freedom is a powerful drive."

Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the United States of "flagrant interference in Iran's internal affairs" and said the significance of the protests was being deliberately overstated by U.S. officials.

The United States has had poor relations with Tehran since cutting diplomatic ties after radical students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979 following the Islamic revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed shah.

A White House statement on Saturday denounced Islamic hard-liners who attacked pro-democracy demonstrators in Iran and called on the government to release those jailed.

CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT URGED

Bush included Iran in an "axis of evil" last year, along with Iraq and North Korea, accusing the countries of pursuing weapons of mass destruction and supporting what the U.S. calls international terrorism.

Washington also says Iran harbors members of the al Qaeda network blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

U.S. officials say they would welcome a change of government in Tehran. Although they stop short of embracing a policy of "regime change," their statements have prompted some alarm in the region after the U.S.-led invasion successfully ousted President Saddam Hussein in neighboring Iraq.

The Bush administration's major justification for attacking Iraq was that Baghdad possessed weapons of mass destruction which posed an imminent danger to the United States. But no illegal arms have been found in the weeks since major combat operations ended.

The United Nation's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, discusses a report on Iran this week which calls for further inspections of its nuclear program. The IAEA says Tehran has failed to provide information as required under a safeguards agreement.

Iran says its nuclear program is for electricity generation but the United States says it is developing nuclear weapons.

A leading U.S. senator said he would "not necessarily" like to see the Iranian government toppled by outside forces.

"Well, a regime change that comes through the democratic processes of Iran, through the students and the young people taking charge -- now, how all that comes about, I don't know," Sen. Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday."

"But I think it has to be an Iranian process, which we can assist," the Indiana Republican added.

Lugar said the Bush administration's policy on Iran had not yet been fully formulated, but he expected the U.S. Congress to support Iran's pro-democracy forces financially.

[Maigret]

Thanks so much for the updates, may God have mercy on them.

[FairOpinion]

Here are some pictures, I think these are from the Saturday night protests:

http://www.payvand.com/news/03/jun/1082.html Sporadic riots in Iranian cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan

[mware]

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men.

It is the music of a people who will not be slave again.

[grapeape]

We didn't need to do anything to help the Mullas which is what we have done. You will also notice that these students will now think that America will do something to help. Why I have no idea but there have been many student movements for freedom where they felt that America would step in and wave a magic wand to solve the problem. it doesn't work that way. If you people have any pull at all in those movements then you need to tell those people that the US is not going to do anything at all to help them! There will be nothing coming to them from us. At no time should they even talk about the US doing anything for them because we will only make things worse. If they start shooting they need to be able to carry the revolution out to the VERY END by themselves. Then America might be of some help.

[SauronOfMordor]

Follow the group of thugs, and pick off "tail end charlie".

Another good tactic is the "running ambush": Have a small group do a protest and wait for thugs. When thugs appear, run into nearby alley and have thugs chase you. Thugs soon discover they have just run into an ambush as the rest of your group either surround them, or toss Molotov cocktails at them from windows and rooftops

[omega4412]

We should all email President Bush urging support for the Iranian students. Let him know we are behind him and behind the Iranian dissidents. Regime change in Iran is essential, and if the Iranians do it themselves, all the better.

President@Whitehouse.GOV

[BOBTHENAILER]

Here's to all of the mullahs being "attached to trees" and soon!

The first day of Christmas an Iranian gave to me,

A Mullah attached to an ol' oak tree!!!!

One the second day of Christmas a Persian gave to me,

Two Hezbollah, attached by the neck to the Mullah on the tree

On the third day of Christmas a student gave to me,

Three French men, two Hezbollah and a mullah a rotting on an ol' oak tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas a Persian gave to me,

four gutted Arabs, three French men, two Hezbollah and all of them stinking by the mullah on the tree!

I could go on but I have to start the smoker for today's ribs and chicken

[appalachian_dweller]

Prayers out to the protesters for protection.

[BOBTHENAILER]

We are hearing that once the people heard President Bush supported their efforts everyone was encouraged and it has helped people to decide to join the protests.

Thanks a million for your input of this earth shattering turn of events. Keep me on your list.

[FairOpinion]

"If you people have any pull at all in those movements then you need to tell those people that the US is not going to do anything at all to help them! "
---

And just exactly what makes you think that.

I think it's just the opposite. I think the US is committed to helping them and they will if the Iranian people need it. After all we have troops right next door in Iraq ready to go, most likely.

Why do you think President Bush came out in support of the protesters? That was a signal to the protesters and the Mullah's.

[mware]

Drudge has his radio show this evening, 9:30-12PM EST. Give him a call if you can. You are really up on what is going on.

The number is 1-800-848-WABC

[FairOpinion]

Apparetnly the protests are being taken seriously.

Someone just posted a brief news item, that Iranian TV said that Saudi Arabia is offering sanctuary to Iranian clerics, if the demonstrations turn into mass revolts.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/929516/posts

[mylife]

Sunday evening in Iran, June 13, 2003???

[PianoMan]

Thanks for keeping us posted on this stuff here Dr. Zin... you've just about made this site worth my monthly fee by yourself.

[DoctorZIn]

BTW, I need help.

I could use the help of old time Freepers who have infor on your to maximize the use of the FreeRepublic ie ping lists, bumps, even html (although I know some of this already). I am a professional in information technology so I don't need the basics. I need info that is unique to the FreeRepublic system...

Any FAQs or documents would be appreciated.

Email it to me privately, please.

Thanks in advance

[aculeus]

Bump for a free Iran!