Iran Moves to Thwart Protests Ahead of Election Anniversary
New York Times / Nazila Fathi
01-Jun-2010 (7 comments)

The two principal opposition leaders, Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who have defied numerous government warnings, urged followers on Monday to march on June 12 and have sought a permit for a demonstration, according to a Web site linked to Mr. Moussavi, www.kaleme.com. It is considered highly unlikely the request will be granted.

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Bavafa

MM: I couldn't agree more

by Bavafa on Tue Jun 01, 2010 02:35 PM PDT

It is a non-violent movement that could bring the IRI wheels to a halt. It is a movement within so IRI could hardly use the tactic of the "foreign elements involved in this" BS.

Surely many will suffer but it is not as if they are not already. Plus there are many ways to help out for those of us that are not in Iran.

But it needs unity and it needs steadfastness.

Mehrdad


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MM

general strike(s) need to start somewhere/sometime

by MM on Tue Jun 01, 2010 02:27 PM PDT

otherwise, as long as IRI has the Basiji/Sepaahi thugs, there will be casualties by this ruthless force.  Furthermore, as long as IRI has oil money to pay these thugs, there will be a force to mute the Iranian freedom-seekers, while we sit here and say "lengesh kon".

Start of a general strike will be the start of the demise of IRI, as we saw in 1979 with the fall of MRP.

 


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fooladi

Precisely, well organised

by fooladi on Tue Jun 01, 2010 02:05 PM PDT

Precisely, well organised and led general strikes coupled with mass demosntrations will cripple the regime. The final, lethal blow will be a well planned and directed armed uprising. This will incur casualties on both side, as the regime is well entrenched with their back against the wall. 

Q: Who will be the footsoldiers of this armed uprising?  A: The workers, the peasents, the dispossesed, the unemployed, "jonoob shahris".......

The green movement needs to adopt the wishes of the working class as it's key demands in order to attract this key ingredient of a successful revolutionary movement to it's rank and file. But if they do that, they could look dangerously like a communist movement, this'd be unacceptable to 99% of the Green movement leadership who are basically a weird amalgamation of islamist, nationalists and even monarchists...

 


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hamsade ghadimi

mm

by hamsade ghadimi on Tue Jun 01, 2010 01:47 PM PDT

i do agree that general strike was effective during the 1979 revolution. that strike was well-funded by the mosques and bazaaris in form of direct payment to oil workers so that they would not show up for work.  and the kurds did make a strong statement through the strike they held after the execution of their kurdish compatriots.  i believe that iri is keenly aware of the effects of general strike in their lifeline, namely the oil industry, and has contingency plans (sticks and carrots) to ensure there are no disruption in their revenue stream.  needless to say, there's no grass root organization in iran with available monies such as the 1979 mosques to produce a massive general strike. 

however, i do hope that the working class match the sacrifice that the protesters have shown, and for the sake of compassion for their countrymen, hold a sustained strike.


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MM

I second the call for a June 12th general strike.

by MM on Tue Jun 01, 2010 01:11 PM PDT

It worked better than expected, without casualties in the Kurdish strike.


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yolanda

....

by yolanda on Tue Jun 01, 2010 12:23 PM PDT

It sounds scary to call up "2 million" Basijis to prevent the protests from happening!

Thank you for posting Iran-related news article! 


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Bavafa

I will not hold my breath for Moussavi or Kahrrobi

by Bavafa on Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:55 AM PDT

As the great English saying goes

"If people lead, then leaders will follow"

12th of June would be a great day to commence the general strike in Iran, Tehran and all other cities.  Lets hope the thugs in Iran would beat up people to go to work, although I wouldn't be surprised if they do.

Mehrdad


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