Monday
Oct192009
Latest Iran Video and Full English Text: Mousavi's First Post-Election Webcast (18 October)
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 13:00
Iran Snap Analysis: Mousavi’s Webcast Takes “National Unity” Beyond Politics
The Latest from Iran (19 October): Beyond Bombings, The Pressure on the Government
The Latest from Iran (18 October): Today’s Bombings
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
UPDATE 1330 GMT: We have posted a snap analysis of the Webcast and Mousavi's political strategy.
An English-language translation, adapted from the Facebook site associated with Mir Hossein Mousavi, follows the video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miU0q1qLQVw[/youtube]
Explaining the “National Unity” plan
This phrase has been used in media in different ways and it is good to separate them from each other. In the meeting that I had with the members of the minority reformist faction of the parliament, I discussed the issue of “National Unity”. In that discussion my intention to use this phrase was in the sense of a public will that has been strengthened during the election campaign, based on our heritage, civilization, common national interests, and the message of a better future, prosperity, and progress of our country. The issue of “National Unity” was important in that regards, and we all witnessed the enthusiasm that had been created in the country regarding this issue.
I believe that even after the post-election events, this asset should be preserved and we should try to strengthen it. National Unity is extremely important to all of us and we all must focus on it. In this case the interpretation of Unity is the unity among all people of all classes and unity between intellectuals, students, different ethnic and cultural groups.
During the election campaign the human chain that connected North of Tehran to South of Tehran was one of the best aspects of National Unity among all classes of people who had participated in that event, and this has created a wave all over the country, and with this picture the idea of “Green Path of Hope” was shaped.
However, besides this case “National Unity” has been used with different meanings. After the recent events that happened in the country, which we all are very well aware, a number of individuals with different intentions and some with good intentions have been trying to find a way to lower the tension between the political figures by dialogue and discussions. There is a proposal by Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani, also Ayatollah Mahdavi-Kani has ideas about this issue, and generally different individuals have been commenting regarding this. What is important is that I have not commented on this issue yet.
However, considering the rumors that are spreading regarding the discussions in this matter, I have a memory from Imam [Khomeini]. During the McFarlane story [Iran-Contra affair of the 1980s], which caused a crisis, people did not know if [then US National Security Advisor Robert] McFarlane had come to Iran, whether he had come to Iran secretly and had returned [to the US]. This issue was first reported by a Syrian newspaper, and in the debate among the heads of the three branches of the government, it had been mentioned given the sensitivity about the issue of relations to the US and talking with the US, it would have been apparent that it could have caused a crisis in the country.
So the heads of the three branches of the government and I went to Imam [Khomeini] and asked for his advice. When the case was explained to Imam Khomeini --- with what group this person [Macfarlane] had come and left, what was the outcome of his trip, and the fact that this case had been reported by a Lebanese or Syrian newspaper and would have been known inside the country as well --- the Imam said, “Go and let the people know about this issue, people should be informed” and also discussed this issue a bit. When we were leaving, Imam Khomeini added a sentence that I have always remembered in my mind as a golden and important sentence. He said, “Never act in such a way that you won’t be able to explain it to people,” and I have always remembered this.
Therefore, if there is going to be any talk, discussion, debate, or issue, naturally as a companion of this great movement, I will share it with the people, and it won’t be such that I cannot defend it. It would be wise that regarding this matter or similar cases, given the incompetence of the domestic media and the fact that they are working against the Green Path of Hope, and that we don’t have a conventional media and all of our media have been restricted, people should be vigilant on which media is spreading these news by considering their direction and their party affiliation and their possible intensions. This can help us to move in a thoughtful atmosphere that is according to our own values.
Explaining whether you have been contacted or visited regarding this issue
No, there have been no such discussions. However, I am aware of Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanajani’s proposal that he had mentioned during the Friday Prayers as well as the suggestions that some of the members of the Expediency Council shared with him. Also through the media, I am aware of the remarks that are claimed to be made by Ayatollah Mahdavi-Kani and others. Also I sometimes have witnessed that others with good intentions have raised such issues, but there has been no direct contact with me regarding this and there has been no correspondence and no official talks. In general nothing has been done regarding this issue.
In the 13th statement you have mentioned that we must embed our socio-political achievements into our lives and into our struggle. You had a sentence: “we must live the green path of hope.” Although this is very elegant phrase, it may come across as ambiguous in some case, can you elaborate on that?
Our nation has started a massive movement and we are involved in it too. Hopefully [if God is willing] I will continue toward this very direction that people are marching on. If we look carefully, early on when these incidents happened in the country, there were discussion on how to move, and what should our response be so that we can benefit from big achievements of the elections and the Islamic Revolution and continue them. There were discussions on creation of parties or fronts or other groups, all within the frameworks of political campaigns inside the country or as they are defined internationally. We thought that none of these can fulfill our goals and purposes. We saw that none of these constructs were coherent with the experiences that we had prior to the election, and of course the [same] experiences that we had together.
In this election, we saw that families, political, religious, artistic, cultural groups, and in general anyone anywhere according to their own methodology and capability helped out and entered the movement. In fact this was a continuation of our discussions earlier that every citizen would "stand as a campaign headquarters". An action like that led to a national network. Actually, it was this very phenomenon that was the source of strength for this movement.
The movement did not get its power from a political party. This does not mean that parties were not influential, or will not have an affect. No. Parties would always maintain their own standing, and their position is of key importance and will remain a necessity. They must continue with their own activities. However, we thought to continue on this path, to achieve our goals and ideals under the banner of “advance Iran”, and to fulfill people’s demands, achieving the full realization of people’s rights, we must continue on under something much more inclusive and encompassing [from a single party], especially with the knowledge from the experiences [of unity] prior to the elections. And we did continue in such a manner and we announced it too.
In such a perspective, it is unimportant how much every person can contribute, or how they contribute. The important thing is that there will be a national will that would remain. From only one person in one family to large parties and political groups and fronts with experience, everyone would be able to send help to this massive movement in the framework of their own daily activities. I have always believed that a even a blind person, an old woman, old man, or someone who cannot possibly attend any of political activities, if from the corner of their own homes they send a prayer, we can consider it as an activity inside this network, let alone all the organized activism of large political groups.
Today we stand witness to a unique and exeptional blooming of creativity among our artistic groups. None of these belong to a movement of a party. Instead they belong to a large social network. We have numerous clips, and anthems were created, not to mention countless paintings, drawings and cartoons. The extent of the flow of this creativity is not comparable to any period of our history. These are the bulk and the essence of the movement. These are what create the content of dialogues of this huge wave and this massive movement. They guide it and push it forward. This does not happen in a framework of party or any one political front. At times, two or three artists come together, or in larger or smaller groups, on corners of our country and even outside of our country, they have come together to send their help. There are joined by religious groups, religious gatherings, charity organizations and other political groups.
In fact here, the struggle has become a way of life, a life that continues and is unstoppable. It is not the case that you can constrain it at a point. As a result this movement is a movement that cannot be harmed. In an environment of collective dialogue and discussion these movements would be ever more encouraged and push themselves forward. In this regards, the media are of key importance. The labor that people pull in our media is honorable and much appreciated. Here, I emphasize yet again that considering that we do not have any media at all, we must pay more attention to such means and tools [of communication], and benefit more from them. This is a miracle that we have seen during and after the elections, and considering our current situation we must take advantage of such tools. Naturally, we are connecting the individual and the social environments through the media and all the while we are creating a enormous movement with large span, and a long range.
The fact is that this movement does not belong to any one small group, party or political current, neither does it follow a specific detail oriented struggle nor is it a fully oppositional movement. This movement is one that is a current that is blended into dreams, ideals, and style of lives of our own people. That is why it is very sustainable.
We want to get our inspiration from readings of the Qu'ran that say: “Make your own homes a Kaaba”. [All Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are.] It must be that, in referring to this expansive social network, in their own large and small groups, each person contribute his/her own share to the movement, so that the movement can maintain shape and continue.
How can we find a solution to the crisis?
Until we accept that we have a problem and are in a crisis, until the larger group of majority of people is labeled as disturbance, until people are not counted in the equations [of power] and until the rights of people to determine their own destinies is not accepted, we can not find a universal solution to our problem.
For this reason our national unity, as I referred to it in the second meaning that I introduced earlier, contains the activities of the groups and crowds of people. Since these gatherings are with good intentions, I think it is necessary that in every movement people be respected, that the majority is not alienated. People are together, even those of them who have different views. It is we who analyze them and impose the differences, and unfortunately we separate the people from one another. The maxim here is that people should be respected. Their perspectives and ideas should be accepted. We must return to these fundamental rules. We must rely on the fundamental that we must return to the constitution and we must insist on the fundamental principle, "Governance of people over their own destinies." Only then we can easily find a solution to this problem.
The Latest from Iran (19 October): Beyond Bombings, The Pressure on the Government
The Latest from Iran (18 October): Today’s Bombings
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
UPDATE 1330 GMT: We have posted a snap analysis of the Webcast and Mousavi's political strategy.
An English-language translation, adapted from the Facebook site associated with Mir Hossein Mousavi, follows the video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miU0q1qLQVw[/youtube]
Explaining the “National Unity” plan
This phrase has been used in media in different ways and it is good to separate them from each other. In the meeting that I had with the members of the minority reformist faction of the parliament, I discussed the issue of “National Unity”. In that discussion my intention to use this phrase was in the sense of a public will that has been strengthened during the election campaign, based on our heritage, civilization, common national interests, and the message of a better future, prosperity, and progress of our country. The issue of “National Unity” was important in that regards, and we all witnessed the enthusiasm that had been created in the country regarding this issue.
I believe that even after the post-election events, this asset should be preserved and we should try to strengthen it. National Unity is extremely important to all of us and we all must focus on it. In this case the interpretation of Unity is the unity among all people of all classes and unity between intellectuals, students, different ethnic and cultural groups.
During the election campaign the human chain that connected North of Tehran to South of Tehran was one of the best aspects of National Unity among all classes of people who had participated in that event, and this has created a wave all over the country, and with this picture the idea of “Green Path of Hope” was shaped.
However, besides this case “National Unity” has been used with different meanings. After the recent events that happened in the country, which we all are very well aware, a number of individuals with different intentions and some with good intentions have been trying to find a way to lower the tension between the political figures by dialogue and discussions. There is a proposal by Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani, also Ayatollah Mahdavi-Kani has ideas about this issue, and generally different individuals have been commenting regarding this. What is important is that I have not commented on this issue yet.
However, considering the rumors that are spreading regarding the discussions in this matter, I have a memory from Imam [Khomeini]. During the McFarlane story [Iran-Contra affair of the 1980s], which caused a crisis, people did not know if [then US National Security Advisor Robert] McFarlane had come to Iran, whether he had come to Iran secretly and had returned [to the US]. This issue was first reported by a Syrian newspaper, and in the debate among the heads of the three branches of the government, it had been mentioned given the sensitivity about the issue of relations to the US and talking with the US, it would have been apparent that it could have caused a crisis in the country.
So the heads of the three branches of the government and I went to Imam [Khomeini] and asked for his advice. When the case was explained to Imam Khomeini --- with what group this person [Macfarlane] had come and left, what was the outcome of his trip, and the fact that this case had been reported by a Lebanese or Syrian newspaper and would have been known inside the country as well --- the Imam said, “Go and let the people know about this issue, people should be informed” and also discussed this issue a bit. When we were leaving, Imam Khomeini added a sentence that I have always remembered in my mind as a golden and important sentence. He said, “Never act in such a way that you won’t be able to explain it to people,” and I have always remembered this.
Therefore, if there is going to be any talk, discussion, debate, or issue, naturally as a companion of this great movement, I will share it with the people, and it won’t be such that I cannot defend it. It would be wise that regarding this matter or similar cases, given the incompetence of the domestic media and the fact that they are working against the Green Path of Hope, and that we don’t have a conventional media and all of our media have been restricted, people should be vigilant on which media is spreading these news by considering their direction and their party affiliation and their possible intensions. This can help us to move in a thoughtful atmosphere that is according to our own values.
Explaining whether you have been contacted or visited regarding this issue
No, there have been no such discussions. However, I am aware of Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanajani’s proposal that he had mentioned during the Friday Prayers as well as the suggestions that some of the members of the Expediency Council shared with him. Also through the media, I am aware of the remarks that are claimed to be made by Ayatollah Mahdavi-Kani and others. Also I sometimes have witnessed that others with good intentions have raised such issues, but there has been no direct contact with me regarding this and there has been no correspondence and no official talks. In general nothing has been done regarding this issue.
In the 13th statement you have mentioned that we must embed our socio-political achievements into our lives and into our struggle. You had a sentence: “we must live the green path of hope.” Although this is very elegant phrase, it may come across as ambiguous in some case, can you elaborate on that?
Our nation has started a massive movement and we are involved in it too. Hopefully [if God is willing] I will continue toward this very direction that people are marching on. If we look carefully, early on when these incidents happened in the country, there were discussion on how to move, and what should our response be so that we can benefit from big achievements of the elections and the Islamic Revolution and continue them. There were discussions on creation of parties or fronts or other groups, all within the frameworks of political campaigns inside the country or as they are defined internationally. We thought that none of these can fulfill our goals and purposes. We saw that none of these constructs were coherent with the experiences that we had prior to the election, and of course the [same] experiences that we had together.
In this election, we saw that families, political, religious, artistic, cultural groups, and in general anyone anywhere according to their own methodology and capability helped out and entered the movement. In fact this was a continuation of our discussions earlier that every citizen would "stand as a campaign headquarters". An action like that led to a national network. Actually, it was this very phenomenon that was the source of strength for this movement.
The movement did not get its power from a political party. This does not mean that parties were not influential, or will not have an affect. No. Parties would always maintain their own standing, and their position is of key importance and will remain a necessity. They must continue with their own activities. However, we thought to continue on this path, to achieve our goals and ideals under the banner of “advance Iran”, and to fulfill people’s demands, achieving the full realization of people’s rights, we must continue on under something much more inclusive and encompassing [from a single party], especially with the knowledge from the experiences [of unity] prior to the elections. And we did continue in such a manner and we announced it too.
In such a perspective, it is unimportant how much every person can contribute, or how they contribute. The important thing is that there will be a national will that would remain. From only one person in one family to large parties and political groups and fronts with experience, everyone would be able to send help to this massive movement in the framework of their own daily activities. I have always believed that a even a blind person, an old woman, old man, or someone who cannot possibly attend any of political activities, if from the corner of their own homes they send a prayer, we can consider it as an activity inside this network, let alone all the organized activism of large political groups.
Today we stand witness to a unique and exeptional blooming of creativity among our artistic groups. None of these belong to a movement of a party. Instead they belong to a large social network. We have numerous clips, and anthems were created, not to mention countless paintings, drawings and cartoons. The extent of the flow of this creativity is not comparable to any period of our history. These are the bulk and the essence of the movement. These are what create the content of dialogues of this huge wave and this massive movement. They guide it and push it forward. This does not happen in a framework of party or any one political front. At times, two or three artists come together, or in larger or smaller groups, on corners of our country and even outside of our country, they have come together to send their help. There are joined by religious groups, religious gatherings, charity organizations and other political groups.
In fact here, the struggle has become a way of life, a life that continues and is unstoppable. It is not the case that you can constrain it at a point. As a result this movement is a movement that cannot be harmed. In an environment of collective dialogue and discussion these movements would be ever more encouraged and push themselves forward. In this regards, the media are of key importance. The labor that people pull in our media is honorable and much appreciated. Here, I emphasize yet again that considering that we do not have any media at all, we must pay more attention to such means and tools [of communication], and benefit more from them. This is a miracle that we have seen during and after the elections, and considering our current situation we must take advantage of such tools. Naturally, we are connecting the individual and the social environments through the media and all the while we are creating a enormous movement with large span, and a long range.
The fact is that this movement does not belong to any one small group, party or political current, neither does it follow a specific detail oriented struggle nor is it a fully oppositional movement. This movement is one that is a current that is blended into dreams, ideals, and style of lives of our own people. That is why it is very sustainable.
We want to get our inspiration from readings of the Qu'ran that say: “Make your own homes a Kaaba”. [All Muslims around the world face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are.] It must be that, in referring to this expansive social network, in their own large and small groups, each person contribute his/her own share to the movement, so that the movement can maintain shape and continue.
How can we find a solution to the crisis?
Until we accept that we have a problem and are in a crisis, until the larger group of majority of people is labeled as disturbance, until people are not counted in the equations [of power] and until the rights of people to determine their own destinies is not accepted, we can not find a universal solution to our problem.
For this reason our national unity, as I referred to it in the second meaning that I introduced earlier, contains the activities of the groups and crowds of people. Since these gatherings are with good intentions, I think it is necessary that in every movement people be respected, that the majority is not alienated. People are together, even those of them who have different views. It is we who analyze them and impose the differences, and unfortunately we separate the people from one another. The maxim here is that people should be respected. Their perspectives and ideas should be accepted. We must return to these fundamental rules. We must rely on the fundamental that we must return to the constitution and we must insist on the fundamental principle, "Governance of people over their own destinies." Only then we can easily find a solution to this problem.
According to Habibollah Asgharowladi, the head of "traditional" right-wingers inside the Iranian Parliament, the National Unity Plan, "devised by some members of the Expediency Council", 
2000 GMT: The official death toll from today's bombing 
Little did we know, when we titled yesterday's updates "Back to Semi-Normal", how appropriate the label would turn out.
1855 GMT: We're taking a Saturday night off to recharge mental batteries. The discussion board should be buzzing all night, however --- take a look at the sharp-eyed comments