Focus Visually On Iran

"sar-be-daraan" had nothing to do with Tudeh

The Union of Iranian Communists was founded in 1976 after the unification of the “Organization of Communist Revolutionaries” and “Pooya Group” (which was a remnant of “Palestine Group”). The term "Sarbedaran" was used later in 1981 after the organization armed its members in the forests near Amol in northern Iran in preparation for its armed uprising against the Islamic regime [1].

This union was a minor group and mainly operated in student movements abroad. Theoretically, due to their Maoist stance, the UIC (S) backed the People's Republic of China in the Sino-Soviet Split and opposed currents such as those held by the Tudeh Party who backed the USSR.

The UIC (S) expanded its activities inside the Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and some other groups such as “Group of struggle in the path of working class liberation” and “Red Battle” also joined.

The UIC (S) did participate in some workers struggles at this time, such as “project syndicate of Abadan” and “Union of worker councils of Gilan” and also joined the war against the Islamic Republic in Kurdistan (and formed a guerrilla organization in Kurdistan named “Tashkilate Pishmargeye Zahmatkeshane Kordestan”). UIC (S) did also participate in peasant struggles in Turkaman, Sahra and Arab protests in Khuzistan. It also formed front organization such as “Militant Women Society” and “SETAD (Revolutionary Mass Organization of university and school Students)”.

1982 was an important year in the history of the UIC (S) and the history of Maoism in Iran in general. In this year the UIC (S) mobilized forces in forests around Amol and launched an armed campaign against the Islamic Republic. It eventually organized an uprising on 25th of January, 1982. The uprising was eventually a failure and many UIC (S) and Maoist leaders were shot [2].

After the failure of the “Amol Uprising” the group went through a difficult period with most of its leadership and cadres arrested or killed. It also experienced various theoretical and political crises.

In spring, 1983 the 4th council of Union of Iranian Communists was held and the union was reorganized. But again, most of the leadership and cadres were arrested and shot.

In 1984 this union, together with Maoist organizations from all over the world, formed Revolutionary Internationalist Movement.

گور باباشون

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