Iranian Alert -- February 20, 2004 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD --Americans for Regime Change in Iran

The US media almost entirely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” But most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. Starting June 10th of this year, Iranians have begun taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy. Many even want the US to over throw their government.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. 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. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

Iranians boycott massively the sham elections

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Feb 20, 2004

Reports from most Iranian cities are stating about the massive popular boycott of the Islamic regime's sham elections.

Millions of Iranians have stayed home and affar from official ballot boxes in order to show the rejection of the Islamic republic in its totality.

Reports from Shiraz, Mashad, Kerman, Malayer, Abadan, Bookan, Esfahan, Tabriz, Marivan, Amol, Sannandaj, Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) and Gonabad are all stating about dead cities in another show of massive Civil Disobeidance.

The usually crowdy streets and avenues of most areas of Tehran, the regime's Capital, are also empty contrary to any other Friday and the population is at home.

Several reports are stating about the transfer of professional "voters" from one ballot to another in order to simulate popular participation. An estimated 150,000 "voters" have been transferred, since Feb. 9th, to the capital for participating in Feb. 11th official demos and the today's sham elections.

4,000 full buses and most dorm facilities affiliated to the regime and its mosques were allocated for these 2 shows.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_4989.shtml

What about this "massive turnout" He is probably referring to the massive turnout in his office:

http://www.mehrnews.com/wfNewsDetails_en.aspx?NewsID=60491&t=Political

Elections, to End Up in a More Moderate, Calm Majlis: EC Head
TEHRAN, February 20 (Mehr News Agency) -- Expediency Council Chief Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani after casting his vote for the 7th Majlis elections said, by their massive turnout in the polls, the Iranian people would answer the spites, Mehr News Agency reported on Friday.

Rafsanjani was referring to the recent events on the threshold of the 7th parliamentary elections, saying that given the issues such as some government bills that had been very politicized and the disqualifications by the Guardian Council of some hopefuls, it was clear we would be facing a venturous election. EC head noted it would have been better to do away with unpleasant internal events, the report added.

The EC head who was speaking to domestic and foreign reporters asserted that the interference of the foreigners, particularly the U.S., aimed at disappointing the Iranian people were worse than anything else. They have done all they could to dissuade people from taking part in the elections, the former Iranian president also noted.

On his assessment of the electorates, he added that, the general atmosphere shows a satisfactory rate of public participation may be expected.

In response to a reporter inquiring whether democracy would be materialized if only a quarter of the contenders turn out to be elected, he said so far in the past parliamentary and presidential elections, both the public turnout and the votes cast for the contenders have been more favorable than similar electoral results in the rest of the world.

He explained that at worst we would have a situation similar to that of the U.S. in which its president was elected by only 25 percent of the votes. Moreover, the U.S. president was declared the winner of the votes only after the verdict of the court, however, Rafsanjani also commented.

Turning to the pre-electoral process of assessment of the contenders? qualifications, the EC head predicted the election is likely to end up in forming a more moderate and calm Majlis, the report added.

Asked whether the 7th Majlis elections would be safe, he noted, "This time more serious supervision is effected and the executive board is more alert. Besides, the public close watch is of great significance and they themselves should keep a close eye on the balloting process."

As to Iran-Egypt ties, he voiced interest in renewal of ties between the two states and said, ?I have always been eager to see the relations between the two countries become natural.?

RA/IS
END
MNA

Mullahs Are Seeking Atom Bomb

February 20, 2004
Telegraph
Anton La Guardia

United Nations nuclear inspectors have discovered components for sophisticated uranium enrichment equipment that Iran failed to declare, deepening suspicions that Teheran is seeking an atomic bomb.

The unravelling of the nuclear network operated by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's bomb, has exposed Iran to ever more damaging disclosures of its attempts to hide nuclear-related facilities.

"We have serious concerns about these reports," said the White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, yesterday. "We have long said that our belief is Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme under the cover of a peaceful effort."

A senior diplomat said recently: "If all you want to do is enrich uranium for nuclear fuel, then the G1 centrifuge is enough. The G2 could point to a military programme."

According to diplomats familiar with investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency, inspectors have found designs and parts for a G2 uranium enrichment centrifuge - a more advanced version of the G1 system previously declared by Iran.

Centrifuges are tubes that spin at high speed to separate fissile uranium 235 isotopes that can be used for nuclear fuel, or at high concentrations for nuclear bombs.

Some reports said the components were found on an Iranian air force base. If this is confirmed, it would create a possible link between Iran's nuclear programme and the military, despite claims that nuclear facilities are entirely civilian and designed to generate electricity.

The IAEA is due to report formally on its findings in the coming days. But the leaks corroborate a report by the Telegraph this month which quoted American sources as accusing Iran of trying to operate a parallel enrichment programme.

Under pressure from the IAEA, Iran has repeatedly been forced to change its story in the past year. In recent days it has admitted for the first time to carrying out "research and development" with G2 centrifuges. But it insists it disclosed the work to the IAEA.

Hamid Reza Asefi, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said: "Iran's nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and Iran has not had and nor does it have military nuclear activities."

The USA Today newspaper reported yesterday that the G2 components had been found at a military base identified as Doshan Tapeh. But Mr Asefi said: "In none of Iran's military centres is a nuclear programme being pursued and [G2] centrifuges do not exist in such centres."

Under a deal brokered by European countries last October, Iran admitted to violations over 18 years. In return, it was spared a referral to the UN Security Council. Iran admitted it had made small "laboratory scale" quantities of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium - offering two possible routes to a bomb.

Teheran also promised to "suspend" the operation of its large enrichment facilities in Natanz based on the G1 design using aluminium tubes. G2 centrifuges are made of a high-strength, lightweight alloy that can spin much faster.

Both versions are based on designs stolen by Khan from Holland in the 1970s and used to make fissile material for Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

Libya admitted buying the G1 and G2 versions from Khan's network, as well as a design for a nuclear warhead provided by China to Pakistan.

Diplomats suspect that Iran failed to make a full declaration. One said: "Libya bought three items on sale - the G1, the G2 and a weapon design. The Iranians admitted to the G1, and now to research with the G2. The question is whether they also have a weapon design."

America will seize on the IAEA's findings to demand that Iran be referred to the Security Council for possible sanctions when the IAEA board meets next month.

But the European countries negotiating with Iran to come clean - Britain, France and Germany - fear that this would be an empty gesture unless Russia and China agreed to take tough action.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/02/20/wiran20.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/02/20/ixportaltop.html

DoctorZin Note: Only the NYTimes can come up such a headline.

Low Turnout in Iran May Aid the Hard-Liners

February 20, 2004
The New York Times
Nazila Fathi

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldier fills out a voting ballot at a virtually deserted polling station at the airport in Mashhad, Iran, Friday, Feb. 20, 2004. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

TEHRAN -- The most important question to be decided in Iran's parliamentary elections on Friday may be just who, or how many people, actually show up to vote.

Voters hoping for change have lost most of their enthusiasm after more than 2,000 liberal candidates were disqualified last month by the clerics who control most of the political power.

Since then, the reformers have been divided between calls to boycott the vote or to heed appeals by the reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, to cast ballots for substitute candidates and prevent the hard-liners from reclaiming the Parliament.

An additional 1,179 candidates dropped out in protest after the disqualifications. Many of the candidates who have stepped in to run are unfamiliar to wary voters, who appear inclined to stay away.

"How can I vote when I do not feel I can elect somebody freely?" asked Mohammad Hassan Shateri, 55, the owner of a bookstore in Tehran. "They want to impose a situation on us, and I see no reason to take part in helping them create it."

Many city walls that were plastered with election posters in previous elections are almost bare this time.

Text messages circulated anonymously on mobile phones are urging people to shun the vote. "The ballot boxes are coffins for freedom," said one message. "Let's not participate in the funeral of freedom on Friday."

Opponents of President Khatami are hoping that conservatives will predominate among those who are motivated to turn out, and are confident that the lack of enthusiasm among in the reform camp will secure their victory.

One such man is Hussein Fadaee, a veteran of the war with Iraq in the 1980's, who is supported by the major pro-clerical group, the Developers of Islamic Iran. The group has promised economic development and more jobs for youths.

"We cannot describe in detail what policies we will pursue," Mr. Fadaee said in an interview, "but we will follow the same model that the city council did."

Supporters of clerical rule won control of the city council in the municipal election last year after a turnout of just 12 percent of Tehran's eligible voters. The new members abruptly suspended programs they considered un-Islamic.

The new mayor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, turned several art galleries into prayer centers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and canceled events in cultural centers.

"We believe that freedom should be defined," he responded when asked how his group would react to the overwhelming demand for more social freedoms by the country's youth. "We have to come up with a solution if that freedom is not in accordance with our beliefs and culture."

On Wednesday, the hard-line judiciary, which is controlled by opponents of President Khatami, shut down two leading newspapers in an effort to silence reformers before Friday's elections. The two dailies, Shargh and Yass-e-No, this week published an open letter from reformist members of Parliament criticizing Iran's supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for his election policies.

The election headquarters of the reformist Islamic Participation Front, led by the president's brother, Mohammad Reza Khatami, was also shut down on Thursday. The party has called for an election boycott.

Many of the candidates who have stepped in to run in place of the banned reformers have not gone out of their way to earn the support of voters. A banner on Enghelab Street pointed to a campaign headquarters for some of them, but neighbors said the office appeared to be a front.

Another such candidate, Mohsen Razian, is refusing to speak to journalists or meet with people. His campaign pamphlet indicated only his name and degree, a Ph.D. in management. Shopkeepers downstairs from his headquarters said they would not vote for him, because he had made no effort to meet them.

Still, not all supporters of change have been forced to give up.

Belgheis Khaloogh is one of the many disabled people the Guardian Council is allowing to run. Unlike most of them, she was not wounded in the war with Iraq.

Sitting in a wheelchair in downtown Tehran, Ms. Khaloogh, 32, who has a Ph.D. in history, has been campaigning on a platform to improve conditions for the more than five million disabled people in Iran.

"Life is like a prison for the handicapped in Iran," she said, as two other women in wheelchairs nodded enthusiastically.

Yet even her campaign has been far from easy. Her request to campaign at high schools was turned down by the Education Ministry, even though other candidates were allowed to do so.

Vigilantes shoved her wheelchair and forcibly prevented more than a dozen other candidates from distributing campaign pamphlets outside Tehran University last week. The candidates were told that they were not allowed to campaign in the area.

"We all know what the result of the election will be," Ms. Khaloogh said. "I am using this opportunity to tell people about our problems and tell them we exist in this society too."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/20/international/middleeast/20TEHR.html

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