Wednesday
Sep302009
Iran: Mousavi Meeting with Reformists (30 September)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 21:43
UPDATED Iran: So What’s This “National Unity Plan”?
The Latest from Iran (30 September): Confusion
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We have been commenting throughout the day on Mir Hossein Mousavi's meeting with the reformist Imam Khomeini faction, including the possible connection with a "National Unity Plan" and Mousavi's abandonment of a political opposition for a "social movement" working inside the system. The Facebook page connected with Mousavi has now translated the Parleman News article on the meeting:
According to Parleman News, in a meeting with the central council members of the minority faction of the Parliament (reformist), Mir Hossein Mousavi stressed that today more than ever the need for national unity is felt by the people and the borders that had divided the people into different groups are no longer valid. He added:
Mousavi, regarding the “Green Path of Hope” organisation, said, "In my opinion in the current situation, there are many parties and organisation that their existence is important and appreciated; but forming a new party cannot add to the country's existing capacities, while strengthening the cores of the social movement will create new capacities and improve the people’s social movement.”
Pointing out that they had found this experience very successful from the very beginning of the election campaign under the slogan of “Every Iranian is a staff”; he said, “Today a cyber network has developed that, with the lack of [standard] media, is performing very effectively. The social cores that are active behind this cyber network have less vulnerability, and members of these cores have given the movement a dynamic nature which has made us more hopeful about the effectiveness of this network.”
The candidate supported by the majority of reformists in the tenth Presidential election reminded [the meeting], “For instance although there was no official announcement made for the Qods Day, we witnessed this massive presence in the Qods Day rallies, and this was despite the fact that many families were concerned and had prevented their children from taking to the streets due to the threats and the events that had happened in the past three months. So this was a result of the effectiveness of this network.”
Mousavi, emphasising the fact that people are very sensitive to the words and actions of the public officials and that no word or action will be unnoticed, addressed all who think their words and opinions are effective in society. He advised them to be cautious with their words and actions, to not fuel the violent atmosphere in the society and to be considerate to what people are sensitive. He pointed out that today people’s response to the mistakes made by these officials is very fast, while expressing his concerns over repeated mistakes made in this matter.
He said that some officials, based on their wrong analysis, are preparing conditions that could impose higher costs for the country and added, “Some events such as what happened in the Kahrizak Prison [where prisoners were tortured, raped and some even were killed] and the illegal behaviours with the detainees as well as the harsh confrontations with the students, have made the social environment very intense. It is vital for everyone to prevent more radicalism in the society by patience and especially by avoiding unwanted confrontations from security and military forces.”
The Prime Minister during Imam Khomeini’s era also said:
Mousavi adde,: “Today, those with clear indications of predisposition toward westerners and foreigners in their past actions accuse us of acting in the benefit of foreigners and try to makeup allegations in order to create an environment of pressure, but these actions will not have any benefits for them and I am hopeful that along these bad deeds and accusations some wisdom may also exists.”
He also pointed out the restricted and biased media’s environment in the country said:
Mousavi continued:
At the end Mousavi stressed that the Parliament and especially the minority fraction (reformist) has a very influential role in today’s situation of the country that can be very effective in solving country’s problems and hoped that Parliament acts appropriate to its important role in these critical conditions.
The Latest from Iran (30 September): Confusion
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
We have been commenting throughout the day on Mir Hossein Mousavi's meeting with the reformist Imam Khomeini faction, including the possible connection with a "National Unity Plan" and Mousavi's abandonment of a political opposition for a "social movement" working inside the system. The Facebook page connected with Mousavi has now translated the Parleman News article on the meeting:According to Parleman News, in a meeting with the central council members of the minority faction of the Parliament (reformist), Mir Hossein Mousavi stressed that today more than ever the need for national unity is felt by the people and the borders that had divided the people into different groups are no longer valid. He added:
The current condition of the country is an opportunity that, if understood and guided correctly, could maximise the national understanding. The Green movement that has been expanding and growing deeper since the election has created these special situations. Those who seek their survival in the people’s division had created these false borders among the people that had caused some people to turn their back to the establishment and even to the society, but today because of the changes this [Green] Movement has made, even those people are interested in the fate of their county. The fact that people are kinder and more tolerant to each other is one of the outcomes of this movement that if is taken advantage of could reduce the gaps and strengthen the national unity.
Mousavi, regarding the “Green Path of Hope” organisation, said, "In my opinion in the current situation, there are many parties and organisation that their existence is important and appreciated; but forming a new party cannot add to the country's existing capacities, while strengthening the cores of the social movement will create new capacities and improve the people’s social movement.”
Pointing out that they had found this experience very successful from the very beginning of the election campaign under the slogan of “Every Iranian is a staff”; he said, “Today a cyber network has developed that, with the lack of [standard] media, is performing very effectively. The social cores that are active behind this cyber network have less vulnerability, and members of these cores have given the movement a dynamic nature which has made us more hopeful about the effectiveness of this network.”
The candidate supported by the majority of reformists in the tenth Presidential election reminded [the meeting], “For instance although there was no official announcement made for the Qods Day, we witnessed this massive presence in the Qods Day rallies, and this was despite the fact that many families were concerned and had prevented their children from taking to the streets due to the threats and the events that had happened in the past three months. So this was a result of the effectiveness of this network.”
Mousavi, emphasising the fact that people are very sensitive to the words and actions of the public officials and that no word or action will be unnoticed, addressed all who think their words and opinions are effective in society. He advised them to be cautious with their words and actions, to not fuel the violent atmosphere in the society and to be considerate to what people are sensitive. He pointed out that today people’s response to the mistakes made by these officials is very fast, while expressing his concerns over repeated mistakes made in this matter.
He said that some officials, based on their wrong analysis, are preparing conditions that could impose higher costs for the country and added, “Some events such as what happened in the Kahrizak Prison [where prisoners were tortured, raped and some even were killed] and the illegal behaviours with the detainees as well as the harsh confrontations with the students, have made the social environment very intense. It is vital for everyone to prevent more radicalism in the society by patience and especially by avoiding unwanted confrontations from security and military forces.”
The Prime Minister during Imam Khomeini’s era also said:
The opposition movement of the people is much more devoted to the national interests than the public officials are. Foreign countries by relying on the lack of effectiveness of the officials are looking forward to getting points from our country. We should put defending the national interests at the front of our concerns. Therefore, we cannot agree to the sanction of our country and the discard of our nation’s rights by other countries and we should not let the provocative behaviours [of some officials] impose more costs on our people.
Mousavi adde,: “Today, those with clear indications of predisposition toward westerners and foreigners in their past actions accuse us of acting in the benefit of foreigners and try to makeup allegations in order to create an environment of pressure, but these actions will not have any benefits for them and I am hopeful that along these bad deeds and accusations some wisdom may also exists.”
He also pointed out the restricted and biased media’s environment in the country said:
It is possible that a portion of the public under the influence of false and massive propaganda does not have a correct and complete understanding of the goals and demands of the movement. There is also the concern that people show interest in the media outside the country in order to have access to the truth and the correct information. In such circumstance, the actions of all scholars, intellectuals and experts in educating the public and explaining the country’s situation and events are a national duty that can alleviate the wrong, biased and anti-national-interest actions of IRIB [Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting].
Mousavi continued:
Today the unified emphasis across the nation for the complete implementation of the constitution is an effective and successful solution. The constitution is the everlasting inheritance of Imam [Khomeini], the Martyrs and our national identity that holds lots of [unutilized] capacities to overcome the current crisis that we should have special emphasis on these capacities and utilizing them as the single solution to resolve the problems in the country.
At the end Mousavi stressed that the Parliament and especially the minority fraction (reformist) has a very influential role in today’s situation of the country that can be very effective in solving country’s problems and hoped that Parliament acts appropriate to its important role in these critical conditions.
Reader Comments (6)
Here is my translation of Mousavi’s statement:
"Green movement has grown even stronger after the election. Today, Green movement has ushered a new era of unity among people. Some (politicians) for their own political viability created artificial separation along political ideology (party) and benefited from disagreement among electorate. This lead to apathy among electorate and consequently created disregard toward the government. Green movement has erased that and today more than ever electorate is united and engaged."
"If we understand the core (root cause) and the nature of this movement and if we manage it properly, it would create great opportunity for stronger national unity in the country and stronger government."
In a nutshell, he declares that there is no need for a new party. There already exit one and that is the united people party otherwise known as the Green Movement and government needs to capitalize on it.
Now my comments:
I hope Mr. Mousavi truly means what he says and he himself truly understands the nature of this movement. This movement is not his movement; it is people revolt against their father’s and mother’s movement of 1979 that took them from bad to worse. They have seen it, lived with it and they are united in tossing it out. This movement as I see it and as I hear it, is not about change of guard, it is about uprooting the current system of government. I am not sure if Mr. Mousavi quite understands this. Some of his remarks tell me he is not.
@ Megan
Are you suggesting that the green movement is united in calling for revolution? I think that's tenuous.
My reading is that a large portion of the movement demands reform, especially in the area of human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and self-determination.
In any case, Mousavi certainly isn't calling for "tossing out" the "movement of 1979" (the movement he took part in and constantly refers to) but I'm sure he is aware that a portion of the green movement has this sentiment. His statements all along have been designed to calm this portion of the movement while maintaining pressure for change within the system.
On a personal note, I'd like to say I'm very proud of what our mother's and father's did in 1979 and I see it as part of a long, hundred year struggle in Iran for independence, progress, freedom and democracy. Akbar Ganji was right when he said revolution does not bring about democracy. However, the 1979 revolution did rid the Iranian people of one several thousand year old autocratic institution: the monarchy. It is my hope that the current movement will rid the Iranian people of another, younger (several hundred year old) source of regression and totalitarianism, the hard-line, political interpretation of religion, while at the same time building deep roots of democratic thought in Iranian society.
-Somebody
Thank you Megan for your useful comment on Mousavi's speech. To put it more explicitly, a kind of bargaining with the ruling faction has begun behind the scenes, just as Rafsanjani is trying to do. But obviously all factions have lost their credibility, and the Green Movement will not accept such hollow compromises any more. The people are fed up with false promises.
@ Somebody: Your assessment of the revolution is largely outdated. Iranians only exchanged one totalitarian system for an other. Many Iranian youngsters blame their parents for foolishly following Khomeini, and a kind of children's rule (farzand-salari) has been established during the past years.
On the other hand Iranians made valuable experiences in the 20th century. Both monarchy and mullahcraty have failed, leaving only two possible solutions: paramilitary religious dictatorship or democracy. When you look at these young men, dancing in the subway to Karaj (western suburb of Tehran), you get an idea which kind of system they prefer: http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=7274
Why do Iranians trust Mousavi? He may be Khamenei's puppet. I wish this weren't true, but his background suggest this is the case.
From my blog a - http://thespiritoftruth.blogspot.com/2009/06/unrest-in-iran.html
What may be telling is who Mousavi was Prime Minister for from 1981 to 1988, when he was last politically active: then president of Iran, Ali Khamenei....now Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic (Japan Times). Notably, Mousavi was born in Khameneh, in northwestern Iran — the hometown of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and, according to a relative, he is the grandson of Khamenei's paternal aunt (Time).
The profound truth is that, according to sources inside Iran, "Khamenei had encouraged Mousavi to run". (PajamasMedia)
As the contest for the presidency became more heated and threatening to the clerical regime's hold on power, it is clear that:
....Khamenei could have put a stop to it at the very outset of the campaign, but did not. Why? Does he secretly support a serious challenge to the Islamic Republic? (PajamasMedia)
That the political unrest in Iran has been instigated by the ruling regime seems further buttressed by warnings from the Iranian Revolutianary Guard days BEFORE the election that Mir-Hossein Mousavi and his supporters were planning a "velvet revolution", thereby foreshadowing the unrest. Yet the Guard failed to take basic preventative measures to obstruct mass protests and rallies upon announcement of Ahmadinejad's 'reelection' when the social consequences were anticipated.
Is Iranian 'opposition' candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi acting at the behest of his blood relative and long-time political partner, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei?
Is the unrest in Iran being instigated on behalf of the ruling mullahs?
If so, why?
@ J Adam
For one to completely understand the government of Iran from 1981 to 1988 (war cabinet of Mousavi) one needs to have lived under it and known it first hand. No article, or innuendo or half evidence of blood ties changes one glaring fact. Mousavi was the prime minister and ran the country for 8 years. During this time the war ravaged on and he reported to only one man. Supreme leader Khomeini, which called Mousavi the light of his eyes and supported him unconditionally with all his moves and counter moves. Mousavi was extremely disliked and almost at times at war with Khamanei. Most importantly on every occasion where there was issues that got escalated, Khomeini sided with Mousavi. Examples were his introduction of rations, nationalization of certain industries, multiple currency regime, Foreign relations, and a host of other government policies, Khomeini almost always supported Mousavi over the head of Khamanei which was all but a symbolic figure. Khamanei repeatedly complained, however was always overlooked. The animosity between the two, is well recorded. Especially during this war period and the economical plans implemented by Mousavi. Mousavi was labeled even as a socialist with unsound economical plans in 1989 prior to his retirement for 20 years. Never did Khamanei want to see Mousavi do anything but to act as a punch bag. As for his heritage, he is of Azari background and his family relationship goes no where. Two examples: Khatami and Khamanei grew up in the same household. Their parents were neighbors and the fathers directly worked together. They are tied by marriage, yet there is no love lost between them. Khamanei and his brother are at war with one another. Family ties in clerical politics gets you, but not always all the way. Don't read too much into it.
@ J Adam,
Nothing to add on the Khamenei vs Mousavi story as it was coverd in a detaild, factual way by "whereismyvote" perfectly.
The only thing I like to add is a remark to your last sentence;
"Is the unrest in Iran being instigated on behalf of the ruling mullahs?"
Yes, Partly but ruling Mullahs excluding the S.L (they represent the old establishment who are being ousted by the Guards backed up by the S.L), together with the reformists, Hashemi and other opposition from the old establishment they have made an allience against the Guards, the S.L has a choice, either go down with the Guards or get onboard shut up and do as your told. All this to save their own interests as well as saving the IRI. Many realise that it is either reforms or end of the republic. Still the cynic in me tells me it is mostly to protect their own business interests from the guards taking over.