Violence is often tempting. Shirin Ebadi via roozonline.com on what the Green movement does now that the Iranian government’s repression seems to be working.
Resist reacting to tanks, bullets and shells. We must not pick up rocks. The path to justice, freedom, democracy and human rights requires flowers not blood.
“The media will tell us much about Iran’s supposed military and nuclear capabilities in the coming weeks and months, if ultimatums and deadlines continue. But for Iran and its neighbors, and the entire region, the far more momentous question is the following: can this rigid authoritarian system reform itself? For more than one country, Iran’s domestic reverberations and their endgame are far more worrying than its nuclear chess game.”
via Beirut’s The Daily Star.
in the European media.
Four thousand people chanting “death to the dictator” is not a sign of regime stability. As Iran boasts of another nuclear achievement, communal pride in the country’s scientific prowess translate into political stability.
The state controlled media presnts the parade commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution as a walk of unity with a “final” message for the opposition. But with Persian2English reporting plainclothes police targetting anti-government demonstrators with paintballs, the government’s posture is aggressive and defensive.
For the incumbent powers, the problem is where to crack down? The political fissures go right tot the top.
Meanwhile in Israel, a common view is that attacking Iran is less risky than letting it obtain nuclear weapons. From this perspective, the Iran’s democratic movement isn’t a factor. Its an IDF target too.
Its the 31st anniversary of the Revolution. In anticipation, the government installs security cameras ( thanks to Persian2English) and plays the Palestinian card.
The Iranian opposition leader spars with SPIEGEL ONLINE . To wit:
SPIEGEL: Has the protest movement distanced itself from its leaders?
Karroubi: Mousavi and I have served the people in a number of positions of responsibility. As a result we have a certain amount of influence. But Mousavi does not have an organization behind him. I have a political party, but its work is restricted. The protest is a popular movement that is comprised of people from a wide variety of social classes and which acts independently …
SPIEGEL: … and which is now calling the entire system into question.
Karroubi: The Iranian people have a well-developed political consciousness. I place my trust in reason and people’s experience.
“…the underprivileged classes of the society who care for Islamic values potentially have the same demands as the Green Movement. Those who are after a national consensus for change should become more integrated with these classes and also pursue their concerns and demands. …”
Nobel prize winner Shirin Ebadi thinks so–Foreign Policy.
Ebadi says it’s nonsense to think this was ever merely about a small group of educated elites in northern Tehran. The democracy movement in other cities is active and growing, she says. By all accounts, fissures are beginning to emerge in the ruling class. There are signs that the secular and religious opposition have begun to cooperate. If this continues, it would be a dramatic development.
Amid reports of clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators as the country celebrates the taking of the U.S. Embassy hostages 30 years ago, this video shows the faces of the country’s reform movement.
