Iranian Alert -- DAY 11 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST

LIVE THREAD PING LIST | 6.20.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

We are getting so many excellent stories coming in about the protests in Iran that it is time to create a live thread.

Please post all news stories in this thread and ping your lists to this thread so we can increase the overall awareness of what exactly is going on.

BTW, if you post breaking news, please make a refernce to this Iranian Alert -- DAY 11 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST. This way we can get new readers while still keeping a single location of all important news stories on Iran.

Thanks for all the help.

[DoctorZIn]

These riots from these areas is very important.

... These are those desherited that were a day the backbone of the regime.....

This may be the start of something much bigger.

[SauronOfMordor]

Armed clashes happened as some of the masked youth opened fire on the regime forces by injuring several of them before escaping from the area.

It's started. If the regime thugs are now personally at risk, it will dampen their enthusiasm for going around trying to intimidate people

I'm surprised that we haven't seen more armed resistence by the demonstrators. Even if they haven't access to guns, the use of knives, spears (knife taped to stick), and Molotov cocktails would allow them to GET guns away from regime forces. If they force regime thugs to always have to move in armed groups of 50 or more, then there won't be enough thugs to stop demonstrations.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #20

In a previous thread, there was a new article which said that the price of basic necessities, especially foods, are rising fast in Teheran. Old women were complaining, cursing leaders of the regime. These women were attacked by the regime thugs.

If you have food shortage coupled with continuing protests, it is quite a volatile mix. Food riot has been always dangerous to the well-being of any regime.

[the Real fifi]

Maybe the regime should divert money from its unnecessary nuclear program to food, and return to college admission policies based on merit--for a start.

[arasina]

Indeed!

[DoctorZIn]

...I'm surprised that we haven't seen more armed resistance by the demonstrators. ...

Most of the leaders inside and outside of Iran are counseling the demonstrators to use non-violent forms of resistance. That does not mean the demonstrators should not protect themselves.

I believe the concern is that armed clashes concern the pro democracy movement because they can easily be out gunned and fear losing what little international support they have.

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping!

I hope you feel rested today.

[PigRigger]

Thanks for the updates; I'm following your threads closely.

If not for your reporting I would be led to believe that things are winding down in Iran. At least that's what I've been reading in the papers latley.

[DoctorZIn]

This just in….

I received this from Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi

She is asking that we email the individuals below on behalf of Nasrin Mohammadi.

Please read the following and write, call, fax, or email the leaders listed below as well as some of the media friendly pro student movement such as:

letters@nationalreview.com;
letters@nypost.com;
themail@newyorker.com;
webeditor@washingtontimes.com;
letters@washingtontimes.com;
general@washingtontimes.com;
Comments@foxnews.com;
Foxaroundtheworld@foxnews.com;
Foxreport@foxnews.com;
Colmes@foxnews.com;
Oreilly@foxnews.com;
Warstories@foxnews.com;
Cavuto@foxnews.com;

Dear Friends and Compatriots,

I am appealing to you today on behalf of my imprisoned and tortured brother Manouchehr Mohammadi, leader of the National Association of Students of Iran, who has disappeared from prison.

I urge you to spread my letter wide and far to the Leaders of the Free World and human rights organizations. I ask you to solicit their support to free my brother and thousands like him from the shackles of medieval treatment at the hands of the regime's thugs.

My brother, who suffers from kidney disease and the excruciating effects of persistent torture, was first arrested and sentenced to 13 years in prison on July 18, 1999.

Few days ago upon presenting himself to section 3 of Evin political prison in Tehran following a temporary leave he was swiftly handed over to the Agents of the Intelligence Ministry. He was then forcefully questioned and severely beaten for talking to the international media and inviting Iranians to take part in recent protests.

In particular the Agents demanded the following from Manouchehr.

1. To disband the National Association of Students of Iran.
2. To take part in a television interview and announce the dissolution of the Association and his retirement from politics.

Since he refused to accept these demands, he was taken to the Solitary Confinement in the Section 209 of the Ministry of Information. He was planning to start a hunger strike in the next few days. However since yesterday we have received no news about his whereabouts. He has simply disappeared.

My Friends and Compatriots, there are no weapons at our disposal but the power of our spirit and the strength of our determination to awaken the moral force of world public opinion. It is vital that we mobilize support to free not only Manouchehr and my younger brother Akbar, but also thousands of their fellow prisoners of conscience. I urge you to write (sample letter at the end) to the following dignitaries and authorities.

President George Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Tel: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
president@whitehouse.gov

The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
Fax: +442079250918.

Drewery Dyke
Amnesty International
1 Easton Street
London
WC1X 0DW, UK
Tel: +44-20-74135500
Fax: +44-20-79561 157

Hanny Megally, Executive Director and Elahé Sharifpour-Hicks, Researcher

2nd Floor, 2-12 Pentonville Road
London N1 9HF, UK
Tel: 44 20 7713 1995, Fax: 44 20 7713 1800
hrwuk@hrw.org

350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700, Fax: 1-(212) 736-1300
hrwnyc@hrw.org



Yours respectfully,

Nasrin Mohammadi

---

Dear ……………………………

I am appealing to you today on behalf of Manouchehr Mohammadi, leader of the National Association of Students of Iran, who has disappeared from prison.

Mohammadi, who suffers from kidney disease and the excruciating effects of persistent torture, was first arrested and sentenced to 13 years in prison on July 18, 1999.

Few days ago upon presenting himself to section 3 of Evin political prison in Tehran following a temporary leave he was swiftly handed over to the Agents of the Intelligence Ministry. He was then forcefully questioned and severely beaten for talking to the international media and inviting Iranians to take part in recent protests.

In particular the Agents demanded the following from him.

3. To disband the National Association of Students of Iran.
4. To take part in a television interview and announce the dissolution of the Association and his retirement from politics.

Since he refused to accept these demands, he was taken to the Solitary Confinement in the Section 209 of the Ministry of Information. He was planning to start a hunger strike in the next few days. However since yesterday we have received no news about his whereabouts. He has simply disappeared.

I urge you to use your good offices to establish Mohammadi's whereabouts and demand his immediate release along with all the Iranian political prisoners.


Yours sincerely,

Name:

Nationality:

Country of Residence:

E-mail:

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

[DoctorZIn]

...I hope you feel rested today...

I got a few hours last night so I feel better.
Hopefully my posts reflect it.

[ApesForEvolution]

"Iran's latest rejection of a request from the U.N. nuclear watchdog has raised diplomats' suspicions -- maybe Washington is right that Tehran is trying to acquire the capacity to make atomic bombs as soon as possible."

DUH!

[the Real fifi]

The Heat is on---Dr. Z-
Posted: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 20:50 AEST

Military action against Iran an option: US official
The United States reserves the right to take military action against Iran over its nuclear program, a senior member of the US administration said, but added that any such move was "far from our minds" at present.

John Bolton, Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, told BBC radio that military action was a last resort but insisted that Iran could not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapons capability.

Interviewed on the BBC's Today program, Mr Bolton said that US President George W Bush "has repeatedly said that all options are on the table. But that (military action) is not only not our preference, it is far far from our minds."

Pressed on whether military action remained a possibility, Mr Bolton said: "It has to be an option."

"Nuclear weapons are incredibly dangerous and when you couple the Iranian nuclear program with their aggressive efforts to expand the range of their ballistic missiles, they are bringing more and more of our friends and allies within range," he said.

Mr Bolton added: "What our objective is now is to stop the Iranian nuclear weapons programme before they achieve a weapons capability.

"They are pursing multiple routes to nuclear weapons and we need to get that stopped."

Iran says it is seeking nuclear power for civilian uses, a position Washington has overtly rejected.http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-20jun2003-65.htm

[Smile-n-Win]

Most of the leaders inside and outside of Iran are counseling the demonstrators to use non-violent forms of resistance.

You can't fight a revolution without fighting a revolution. The Iranian people should mercilessly attack their oppressors. They shouldn't leave any thug unharmed when they can hurt him, and they shouldn't leave any thug alive when they can kill him. The harder you fight, the sooner you'll win, and the less blood will be shed.

fear losing what little international support they have.

The US will always support them, no matter what. They should know that.

And that's all the support they'll ever need; they shouldn't pass up any opportunity to hurt the thugs for some worthless support from some cowardly banana republic that objects to fighting a revolution "violently."

[dixiechick2000]

"Hopefully my posts reflect it."

Your posts are always sharp! ;o)

Seriously, I leave this window open all day just to make it easier to catch your updates. No words can express my appreciation for this thread and your participation.

I'm glad you got some rest. Pace yourself...the big event is still over two weeks away...

[ApesForEvolution]

I boldy predict (ha ha) that within 6 months, the Iranian nuclear program will be decapitated...

[ApesForEvolution]

I copy that.

[Smile-n-Win]

The United States reserves the right to take military action against Iran

So will the frogs and liberals condemn the "rush to war" and "unilateral action" and "invasion of a sovereign nation" ? Will they dare to oppose liberating Iran while a revolution is ongoing and the cruelty of the regime is evident?

One would think they wouldn't, but who knows...Their stupidity is boundless.

[the Real fifi]

The interesting thing--from other reports--is that they are working with us on this. I think it's because we have some credibility, don't you?

[JulieRNR21]

I have sent Nasrin's appeal everywhere I could!

We must get the word out on what is happening to those trying to bring democracy to Iran!

[Smile-n-Win]

they are working with us on this

You mean the frogs? (I haven't read those reports.)