Wednesday
May 24, 2000
Year of destiny
I have just returned from my second journey to Iran in three years.
The latest amusing yet ominous saying amongst the Tehranis is 'For every
akhoond there is a tree '.
With unemployment realistically over 35% and the poverty rate similar
to that of the obscure third world African countries, the Iranian people
have finally realized that they are indeed in a depression.
The consensus amongst the people is that the sixth parliament will directly
move to reverse many of the laws passed by the fifth parliament and further
move towards eliminating the present unelected institutions and judiciary
system within the government, thus forcing the ruling akhoonds to shut
down the new parliament, leaving no choice for the people but to secure
their rights through another major upheaval.
Clearly this year shall be a year of destiny for Iran as was 1357. However
the Iranian people will not make the same mistake of giving the ruling
power to one man. Indeed the next Iranian government will strive to be
a truly democratic one with the elected president and parliament working
in harmony to serve the will of the people.
What shall remain of the bazaaris, will learn the hard way that they
must cease their influence over the office of the president. For it is
the bazaaris that are accumulating massive wealth through their strangle
hold on Iran's economy, while dictating their economic agenda to the president.
One can almost feel sorry for the present rulers of Iran. When the time
comes they will have to deal with fifty million plus angry and disillusioned
men and women who are fantasising about hanging them from the trees. Those
who will be able to get away can only hope to find refuge in countries
like Tunisia or Somalia. Remember Carlos?
Kambiz Ameli
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