Iranian Alert -- DAY 30 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST [Riots erupt]

Live Thread Ping List | 7.9.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

Today is July 9th. The day Iranians have been waiting for. The next 24-72 hours may be the most important in Iran's history.

It is noon there, at the time of this post, and already we are hearing of people in the streets. The regime's security forces are out in force. This is very encouraging as most of the demonstrations thus far have been at night to take advantage of the cover of dark.

We have heard of riots in the Pars region of the city of Tehran. We have yet to hear of strikes. We are receiving phone calls from Iran but they are few. The regime is cutting off the calls to the United States as soon as they find them.

We are continuing to hear of the regime’s jamming of the broadcasts in much of Iran and Europe. But apparently the signals do get through from time to time.

The people of Iran have chosen July 4th because four years ago, the regime brutally attacked peaceful student demonstrators while in their dorms. The result was the loss of life and liberty of hundreds of students, many of which are still unaccounted for.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a country. 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 post your news stories and comments to this thread.

Thanks for all the help.

DoctorZin

[TexanToTheCore]

Which restaurant?

[nuconvert]

Thanks for the picture.

[nuconvert]

Ditto Ledeen. You've done a fantastic job. Thank you.
And your wife.

[j.havenfarm]

Iknow that there's breaking news afoot, but since you're here, please allow me to say that I follow your work closely and admire it greatly.

[William McKinley]

Sky News is calling the story about the three way street fighting "Breaking News". I just put up a thread on their (sparse) article.

[William McKinley]

More:

Disturbances are reported to be taking place in Tehran, as protesters marked the anniversary of a raid on a student dormitory.

The Iranian authorities had taken stringent measures to try to head off trouble on the anniversary following 10 days of late-night protests against the Islamic regime last month.

The raid in 1999 by police and right-wing vigilantes triggered several days of violent street riots.

As darkness fell on Wednesday, large numbers of people began congregating in streets and parks close to Tehran University in the centre of the city.

The campus itself had earlier been closed down - one of many measures taken by the authorities to try to head off possible trouble on the anniversary of the riots.

Tear gas

Hundreds of security forces and riot police also flooded the area.

There were reports that clashes later broke out, with tear gas being fired to disperse protesters.

One report said right-wing vigilantes were also present, but the official security forces clashed with them and tried to keep them away from the demonstrators.

In the disturbances last month, vigilantes attacked protesters with clubs, chains and knives, causing many injuries and provoking bitter protests from student leaders and some reformist politicians.

Neither the student organisations nor the reformist movement are supporting these street protests, which have been dismissed by regime hardliners as hooliganism and American-inspired agitation.

Many student leaders were also detained in advance of the anniversary.

Three of them were marched off with pistols to their heads by bearded gunmen after giving a news conference on Wednesday morning.

But many other people have still taken to the streets.

Some of them may be hard-core opponents of the regime, others frustrated reformists.

But on such occasions, large numbers of those who turn out are simply curious to know what is going on.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Hey, have you seen this ongoing thread... lots of updated info. It could use some pings, and some attention from the press. Care to do a mass email, for me?

If so, I'll email you my list of contacts.

Best wishes.

[McGavin999]

The mad mullahs have done their best to stop this. They've shut down the phone system, they've jammed the TV transmissions, they've ripped the dishes off the roofs of everyone, they've imprisoned the students, they've threatened the protestors, yet they are still turning up.

I hope that as the night wears on, more find the courage to join them. This is the only way they will change things.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Its around 1:20 in the Thursday morning over there, I believe. (4:50 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Per Reuters (in French) for what its worth (just cut/pasted now):

"TEHERAN (Reuters) - Des affrontements opposant des centaines de miliciens, policiers et jeunes militants démocratiques ont éclaté mercredi près de l'Université de Téhéran à l'occasion de l'anniversaire de la violente répression du mouvement étudiant de 1999. Des témoins ont rapporté que les policiers luttaient sur deux fronts, tirant des gaz lacrymogènes pour disperser des groupes d'étudiants tout en se battant avec des miliciens en civil pour empêcher qu'ils n'aillent affronter les manifestants. Des miliciens islamistes avaient procédé auparavant à l'arrestation de trois dirigeants du mouvement étudiant alors qu'ils quittaient une conférence de presse où ils avaient annoncé l'annulation de toute manifestation, selon des témoins. "Après la conférence de presse, quand certains de nos camarades ont voulu partir, des hommes en civils descendus de trois voitures ont attaqué les étudiants et ont enlevé trois membres du Bureau pour la consolidation de l'unité", a déclaré à Reuters un responsable du mouvement, Matin Mechkini.

[MLedeen]

tks. let's just win this one so I can go back to my book on Naples.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

[hoosiermama]

Bah Bah is it worth translating?

[glock rocks]

babblefish translation of french article above...

"TEHERAN (Reuters) - confrontations opposing of the hundreds of militiamans, police officers and militant young people democratic burst Wednesday close of the University of Teheran at the time of the birthday of the violent repression of the studied movement of 1999. Witnesses reported that the police officers fought on two faces, tie of teargases to disperse groups of students all while fighting with militiamans into civil to prevent whom they will not face the demonstrators. Militiamans islamists had carried out before the arrest of three leaders of the movement studied whereas they left a press conference where they had announced the cancellation of any demonstration, according to witnesses'. "After the press conference, when some of our comrades wanted to leave, of the men into civil descended from three cars attacked the students and removed three members of the Office for the consolidation of the unit", declared in Reuters a person in charge for the movement, Matin Mechkini.

[DoctorZIn]

Thanks for the translation....

[DoctorZIn]

Widespread Clashes in Iran

July 09, 2003
Iran va Jahan
Iran va Jahan Network

Clashes are spreading in several parts of Tehran and different cities in Iran.

- Clashes reported in Tehran Pars. (Eyewitness)

- Bank Keshavarz has been set ablaze in 30 Tir Avenue. (daneshjoo.org)

- Basij headquarters in Nazi-Abad has been attacked. Shots have been fired. ( Nowzaii)

- Foreign reporters have beed banned from entering hot points in Tehran. (Nowzaii)

- Clashes reported in University of Ahwaz. (Radio Sedaye Iran)

- Demonstrations are reported in Mahabad, Kurdistan. (Eyewitness)

- Demonstrations are reported in Khoramabad. (Eyewitness)

- Serious clashes were reported in the following locations in Tehran: Tehran Pars, Laleh Park, Karegar Shomalli Avenue, Horr square, Enghelab square, Baharestan square and Valli Asr square. "Death to Khamenei" and "Death to Mollahs" was slogans of choice. (Iran va Jahan)

- Hundreds of Iranian hardline Islamic vigilantes, police and pro-democracy youths fought three-sided running street battles near Tehran University on Wednesday on the anniversary of 1999 student unrest.(Reuters)

- A witness said police had fired tear gas at groups of youths near the campus and also fought fist fights with plainclothes Islamic militiamen to prevent them from engaging in further running battles with youths. (Reuters)

http://iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news_en.pl?l=en&y=2003&m=07&d=09&a=11

[DoctorZIn]

'Renewed Trouble Hits Iran Capital'

July 09, 2003
BBC News
Jim Muir

Disturbances are reported to be taking place in Tehran, as protesters marked the anniversary of a raid on a student dormitory.

The Iranian authorities had taken stringent measures to try to head off trouble on the anniversary following 10 days of late-night protests against the Islamic regime last month.

The raid in 1999 by police and right-wing vigilantes triggered several days of violent street riots.

As darkness fell on Wednesday, large numbers of people began congregating in streets and parks close to Tehran University in the centre of the city.

The campus itself had earlier been closed down - one of many measures taken by the authorities to try to head off possible trouble on the anniversary of the riots.

Tear gas

Hundreds of security forces and riot police also flooded the area.

There were reports that clashes later broke out, with tear gas being fired to disperse protesters.

One report said right-wing vigilantes were also present, but the official security forces clashed with them and tried to keep them away from the demonstrators.

In the disturbances last month, vigilantes attacked protesters with clubs, chains and knives, causing many injuries and provoking bitter protests from student leaders and some reformist politicians.

Neither the student organisations nor the reformist movement are supporting these street protests, which have been dismissed by regime hardliners as hooliganism and American-inspired agitation.

Many student leaders were also detained in advance of the anniversary.

Three of them were marched off with pistols to their heads by bearded gunmen after giving a news conference on Wednesday morning.

But many other people have still taken to the streets.

Some of them may be hard-core opponents of the regime, others frustrated reformists.

But on such occasions, large numbers of those who turn out are simply curious to know what is going on.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3054355.stm

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Can you explain to me what the militia men are? Are they those who are uprising against the mullahs, a separate group from the student protestors? My understanding was that the general public was joining the students. Am I mistaken?

[Bahbah]

I found the babblefish translation a bit difficult. Try this "The opposing confrontations between the hundreds of police, militias and young democratic militants clashed Wednesday near the University of Tehran on the anniversary of the violent repression of the 1999 student movement. It was reported that the police struck on 2 fronts , firing teargas to disperse the student groups while fighting with the civil militia to prevent them from confronting the protesters. The islamist militia had proceeded ... to the arrest of 3 leaders of the student movement after leaving a press conference where they announced the cancellation of any demonstrations. “After the press conference, when some of our comrades wanted to leave, men in civilian clothes (guessing here) came out of 3 cars and attacked the students and took 3 members of the Bureau (no clue) to consolidate unity” someone responsible from the movement told Reuters. "

[hoosiermama]

Thanks Bah Bah!