The cruelty and lack of human rights in Iran has brought me to the point of explosion and I know well that I am not the only one. Unfortunately none of our opposition parties seems to be able to handle explosives.
We get angry and we get upset and we just watch and wait. From time to time someone writes a blog and accuse the rest of the keyboard warriors of being inactive chelo kabab lovers who do nothing for their homeland. I don’t think that I am the only one who finds those bloggers immature and unrealistic. Nevertheless to ignore our responsibilities as more fortunate members of a society that suffers the brutalities of an inhumane regime is nothing but selfishness.
No need to say that power is in numbers and none of us can do anything of real value single handedly. This is a task for an organisation and that is in my view where we have our weakest link. We seem to lack an organisation who can tap, lead and manage all the potential energy.
In a recent exchange with Masoud Kazemzadeh I asked him if Jebhe Melli and INF-Abroad did anything more than releasing statements and was informed of a few actions in the last few years. Now I like to know if any other group or party had a practical plan to help leading Iran out of this quagmire.
At the time that we need the unity more than ever before to help pave the way for democratic changes in Iran, there are undemocratic groups such as Monarchists, MEK and Democratic Islamists (whatever it is or whatever they call themselves) who do not appreciate that appointing people to the future positions or devising exclusive policies will only help to divide and disincentivize the opposition and ultimately help the ruling Mafia. All we see from these groups are constant bickering of each other that has left us bereft of a single valuable political entity to assume the vacant post of the leader of the opposition.
In absence of a real opposition who cares for the future of Iran, we witness conferences such as the one that was recently organised in London by Alireza Nourizadeh and was supported by Saudi Arabia where disintegration of Iran was discussed under the guise of plans for a federal Iran. Where are the papers of a conference that is discussing the future of our country by self-appointed few behind closed doors?
Recently China and Russia voted against appointing a Human Rights Special Rapporteur for Iran in direct contradiction to Iranian people’s human rights. Which of the opposition political groups took or planned actions against these enemies of the Iranian people?
My plea to the Iranian opposition groups is to play their historical roles, to unite and to reach Iranian diaspora for help. Statements, silent demonstrations and videos will not do the job. That is just preaching to the converted. Enough have been said, we now need a plan of action. We must challenge the supporters of the ruling Mafia, most notably Russia and China to change their policies. We must support oppositions in China, Russia, Venezuela, Syria and any other country who is the partner in the crimes against the Iranian people. We must reach those countries who class themselves as friends of Iran such as Turkey and India to be the true friends of the Iranian people (and not just friends of its government) in this moment of need, review their policies and push for democratic reforms in Iran. This is in my view where we can most effectively help the change in Iran. This is one duty that we are better placed to fulfil than our people inside the country. That is where you can take advantage of our untapped energies. Lead the way with a clear vision and a good plan and we support you.
Now, do we today have the right organisation to lead us or do we have to create it?
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Dear Divaneh
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jul 17, 2011 03:27 PM PDTI am pretty much with you. Except I have been saying I am willing to give up oild for freedom. I rather be free without oil than enslaved without oil. They are going to steal it and have been doing so. Therefore at least for the time being I say let them take it and leave us alone. In time we will have wealth far beyond oil. None of the great Iranian periods were built on oil. We have been chasing an illusion if we think oil is going help us.
Dear VPK
by divaneh on Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:37 PM PDTI agree with Oktaby too and hope more people cross the debate stage and lend their support to some actions. Currently only a few people seem to be interested.
With respect to countries and self interest, I would like to take that further and say that everyone acts in self interest. Muggers and rapists also act in self interest but their interest is very harmful to you. You cannot negotiate with Chinese, Russians or any other country who is stealing our wealth, in the very same way that you cannot negotiate with a mugger or a rapist. They have illegitimate demands. There is only one way, and that is to stand up and fight back until they withdraw their support for dictatorship in Iran. Look here to see why China and Russia support the dictators. This is only one example.
//www.melliun.org/simayenezam/s11/07/17manabe.htm
Rea
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jul 17, 2011 05:46 AM PDTI want to know why the alliance is unholy. Both nations need each other. Armenia has been having relations with Iran for 3000+ years. It sounds pretty wholesome to me. There is nothing bad about it. In the genocide Iran saved hundreds of thousands of Armenians by letting them migrate into Iran. They are still there by 100 of thousands. Although many moved after revolution.
"Nations act in self interest"
by Rea on Sun Jul 17, 2011 05:17 AM PDTVery true, VPK.
As for Armenia, good point. Have often wondered about that unholy alliance. Yet, it's rather simple.
Oktaby is right
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jul 17, 2011 02:50 AM PDTI agree and will donate to his plan. To me any group may be worked with except MKO. In fact even MKO former members as individuals may be of help. AIPAC is neither an ally nor an enemy. They just want what is good for them. We need to deal with them from a position of strength. Iranian political muscle must be developed. So far the only "muscle" is MKO and NIAC. We need another one which represents most of us.
Responses
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Sun Jul 17, 2011 02:15 AM PDTI have a few points to make:
The Oil sucking dragon
by vildemose on Sun Jul 10, 2011 09:16 AM PDTThe Oil sucking dragon sounds fantastic... We need to make a big one...We need artists and graphic designers to help us come up with images that will convery our message to the Chinese authroities..
Very good idea Vildemose
by divaneh on Sun Jul 10, 2011 09:09 AM PDTPerhaps we should also bring in some big dragons (some of those that Chinese use in their celebrations) and show everyone that it is a blood sucking, oil plundering dragon.
We can also set up a site and publish all Chinese crimes against humanity and call it ChinaCrimes.com or ChinaKills.com (both available) or anything else. We can then advertise the site wherever people want to learn about China, such as tourists who search information.
We must also have a demand. We must ask China for a statement on human rights in Iran and what weight has been given to such rights in its business dealings with Iran.
Divaneh: How about
by vildemose on Sun Jul 10, 2011 07:35 AM PDTDivaneh: How about protesting in front of the Chinese embassy in our respective countries???
Dear Rea
by divaneh on Sun Jul 10, 2011 06:07 AM PDTI could not attend the conference as it was behind the closed doors and by invitations only.
They can reach a wider audience because Nourizadeh has been there for a long time, appears in the VOA every week and is a regular guest in Al Arabiya. Some of those who were invited to build credibility for the conference saw the hidden hand of the House of Saud, made excuses and did not attend.
Helping the change in Iran
by divaneh on Sun Jul 10, 2011 05:57 AM PDTI agree that talk may make us feel good or may let us release some steam but creates no results whatsoever. I salute those who are already doing something and I think more of us have to get involved and help complementing each other.
I also agree that it takes time and effort and that the aim has to be justice and democracy for Iran under any type of government that people choose.
I am glad that through our discussions we have proved that the financial support, commitment and energy exists in Iranians abroad and opposition groups just have to ask for support with a good plan.
I have been thinking further about this and I think whilst we are trying to build support and numbers, we can also be creative and propose some actions that may resonate with different groups. For example as China provides a life line for the ruling Mafia and is ignorant of human rights in Iran, we can design a creative activity to embarrass Chinese, or to woe their support for the cause of human rights and Justice in Iran without embarrassing them. We can then reach to different opposition groups and ask them to support the action. That would hopefully generate some publicity and get us more support from like minded people. I hope people can propose other actions with general support. Any small manageable task that can add 1 horse power to the momentum of change in Iran is welcome.
Thx, divaneh
by Rea on Sun Jul 10, 2011 03:32 AM PDTUsing Google translator I got a gist of it. Otherwise, tried myself to find some info, hélas, nothing has been reported on that conference in the languages I speak.
As for Nourizadeh, he seems to get some publicity as Director of the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies. Their site is down but his is not :
wn.com/Alireza_Nourizadeh
Now, the question is how do they manage to get these people and/or organisations at conferences they organize ? How do they manage to get their opinions heard by a wider audience, and not just virtually ?
Is it really just a question of funding ?
PS. from what I get you live in the UK, right? You could've gone to that conference, confront them n ask some embarassing questions. Firstly, we would've known what had been said there. And secondly, you would've been listed as Iranian of the Day. ;o)
We are on the same page Oktaby
by Faramarz on Sat Jul 09, 2011 06:50 PM PDTThanks.
Faramarz
by oktaby on Sat Jul 09, 2011 06:40 PM PDTI have posted many of these videos (and not just IC) and revealed in early days what was going on. See my posts from July 2009. I have also blogged about what it takes and the confused Gandhi style blind pacifism. Guns will be (not may be) part of putting the last nail in the coffin of these bastards. But that is not the conversation here. Most comments are not addressing the question but grand standing and editorializing.
I also did not suggest you asked for cavalry or question your motives and angle. I questioned your overall analysis.
Oktaby
More brutality by the IRI in the aftermath of fradulent election
by vildemose on Sat Jul 09, 2011 06:22 PM PDT//www.youtube.com/watch?v=F52wtg1BROk&feature=player_embedded
Oktaby
by Faramarz on Sat Jul 09, 2011 06:17 PM PDTI am not asking for the cavalry to come in and save the day. But the Iranians should expect the international community to help them so that they could be able to fight a “fair fight”.
This video was shot right after the June 2009 protests. It shows how Basij and police went to a building and floor by floor destroyed it. At 6:00-7:00, a guy on the roof is showing all the damages and then says, “We need to be armed to defend ourselves”.
You and I would have probably said the same thing if our homes and loved ones were attacked like this.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEKR-NdVTMs&playnex...
Focus
by oktaby on Sat Jul 09, 2011 05:36 PM PDTis often harder than it seems.
As mentioned about your question to MK, talk and slogans are currency of the day.
UAE and China cannot on their best day replace Iran's oil. IRI is not going anywhere despite infighting and a foreign intervention by definition will take us a step backward. Sanctions are having an effect but leaky for past 32 years and no reason to assume different now. U.S. and allies want islamist light not getting rid of IRI. China won't give up lucrative trade along with rest of its foothold in West/Central Asia and very clear about that in various formal statements. HR orgs have managed a few victories but nothing that changes anything. Situation in Iran is isdesperate; recently studend leaders commented they have halted protests because people do not seem to rise with them. In short rosy color is only that. Strong oil is giving more breathing room to the rapist regime that as it executes more and tightens the screws and segregates universities, has started a new game with Khatami et al....
So projecting victory coming with cavalry at the ready, as Faramarz does, with all due respect, is wishful thinking not a reflection of reality on the ground. Certainly 'shining a light on demands of Iranian people' sounds good but by what means and effect seems to be left unanswered, what steps "we" take to effect and support also seems left open, so we end up with: nothing.
Now to your question. Specifically, such org will work on changing attitudes and mindsets per earlier comments. One that motivates and educates people to take ownership and takes specific actions. To materially support aspirations most of us share: free elections and rights resulting in whatever form government that upholds those rights allowing Iranians to taste normalcy again.
It cannot, no org can, change things overnight. It will take time, money, blood and sweat which had we spared in past 32, we would not be having this conversation now. Putting the effort is an individual choice and does not guarantee success but certainly is much more respectable and credible than talking. I reiterate 80/20. divaneh, let's see if we can find the proverbial horses, then we can work on the rest; otherwise this is like ----. Talking heads are dime a dozen.
Oktaby
"keep shining the light on the situation in Iran"
by Shazde Asdola Mirza on Sat Jul 09, 2011 08:17 PM PDTWell said Faramarz, dear.
As for the rest of it ... good luck, especially with "stay united".
Kidding aside, I believe that we should only support what the Iranian people decide to do on their own free will ... be it Green, Red, Yellow or Black. It is their freedom of choice that is important - not what they choose with open eyes and ears, free from pressure and fascist tactics.
In terms of opposition, we should support the rights of all opposition groups to freedom of speech and freedom from persecution ... as long as they avoid any action against basic Human Rights and International Law.
This is 2 for 2, for the cool cat's Toe in the Water. Can't wait for more of that Consultant Wisdom flowing this way!
Faramarz
by Anahid Hojjati on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:36 PM PDTThanks Faramarz for your comment. They are indeed boxed in.
Dear Faramarz
by divaneh on Sat Jul 09, 2011 02:05 PM PDTThanks for lighting up my day. I needed someone to remind me of these positive recent developments. I still however think that the Iranian opposition abroad could do more, especially when it comes to foreign forces such as China and Russia.
The regime will not for sure leave without a fight but I hope we don't see the Libyan situation in Iran. We do not have the tribal structure of Libya and my hope is that in such situations where people are in street facing the tanks, the armed forces would join the nation. I don't think any third country would go through the cost of waging a war without some long term plans. This is a difficult thing to say, but losing a 1000 more in an internal struggle like Syria is far better than losing hundreds of thousands in a war like Iraq. No army can kill its own people with the same brutality of foreign forces.
The Future is Here
by Faramarz on Sat Jul 09, 2011 01:17 PM PDTDivaneh Aziz,
The state of the opposition to the Regime is actually very hopeful. But I agree that we need to do more.
The sanctions are working. India can no longer buy Iranian oil and pay for it through its banks. The Regime’s ships cannot enter most harbors in the world. The Regime’s heads are all barred from entering most places in the world. Iran Air cannot fly to many places. The Regime is totally boxed-in and like a caged animal is roaring by threatening the Region with its missiles.
The opposition is alive and well on the streets and in Evin prison. And unlike Iraq, we don’t need to rely on the likes of Chalabi, Alavi or Halabi! The human rights institutions and democratic organizations and press are there and in hiding.
All that needs to take place at this point is for those of us in the West to keep shining the light on the situation in Iran and stay united and respond to the calls of assistance from inside Iran.
The first thing that needs to happen is for China to move away from its business dealings, especially oil and gas from the Regime. Saudi Arabia and UAE are already ready to step in and fill the gap. The NATO’s involvement in Libya and the covert assistance by the West in Syria are both indicators that the West is ready to step in if any of these Regimes is going to massacre its population by using military force. At some point, when Iranian people are on the streets and are faced with tanks and helicopters, and ask for help to make their confrontation with the Regime a “fair fight”. We should be ready to step in and help. This regime is not reformable and will not leave quietly like Ben-Ali or Mubarak.
Dear Vildemose
by divaneh on Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:24 PM PDTThe conference calls were suggested by Oktaby and as you said will be set up when they are needed. I don't think writing the mission statement would be the job of one person. I suggested that we need to research (unless we have the knowledge already) and find out what divide the opposition and what can hold them together. To me it looks like a marketing project to define the characteristics of the product. I am like you, at the present everything is hazy and difficult to see where to start, but am sure where there is a will there is a way. Oktaby seems to have a better grasp as he already has defined the timelines and may have the initial plans in his mind. I think at this stage perhaps we need to gather more support.
Divaneh jan: Could you write
by vildemose on Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:25 AM PDTDivaneh jan: Could you write your mission statement and goals of this group. I'm still very much confused. What are we to accomplish by setting up these conference calls and what issues should be discussed in the conference calls? Thanks.
Dear Oktaby and Vildemose
by divaneh on Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:20 AM PDTThe good news is that some of us want to move from words to action and this is the first testbed to see how much support there is for such actions.
I am quite happy with conference calls and any other method of communication that you guys see as appropriate. As I have already stated, I don't know how we go about setting up a foundation. Perhaps we need to do some research on what keeping the opposition divided and use that for setting up a foundation that overcome those hurdles. Like Oktaby I am not interested in putting time and effort into re-inventing the wheel. It needs to fill a gap and help bringing everyone together without having any exaggerated claim. I feel it needs to be more of an enabler and a go-between. Thanks to the history of Iranians struggle for democracy there are established parties and organisations that can take this struggle forward. We just need as grass root to help creating the linkage between them. I think there are organisations like JM or people like RP to whom we can write and seek advice.
Divaneh jan: I wait for
by vildemose on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:47 AM PDTDivaneh jan: I wait for your response since this is your blog.
vildemose
by oktaby on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:30 AM PDTI am not forming any organization. Did not initiate it. Nor am sure it will take off just yet. I simply responded with an idea to divaneh's heart felt plea. I suggest you read my comments a bit more deliberately before asking knee jerk and cliche questions which are putting the cart before the horse.
Oktaby
Oktaby: As I said before,
by vildemose on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:22 AM PDTOktaby: As I said before, What is your intention of organizing this group of horses who can run??
divaneh
by oktaby on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:18 AM PDTso far we have 3 members and $2000+. Not bad at all. Let's see how many contributors we get. Then we get off IC and start talking like real people. On conference calls with voice, personality and intelligence. We can discuss your questions.
It is about individuals at this point and organization they form not the connections. As for connecting with other groups, at this point in time I see little value in that. They are mostly dogmatic, self centered and detached from the youth in Iran whose main goals are not ideological but sociopolitical and post- group politics. Most do not wield much power or influence to begin with. When they do, it is not necessarily with the right crowds (age or 'cleanliness'). We deal with them just like we might with others in the future. From a position of strength. Then they'll flock; They always do.
vildemose jaan, you are running. The questions you are asking and groups you are volunteering have little to do with this conversation. At least with what I'm saying and certainly at this stage. Lets not rush. This is a not a problem to be solved overnight. I personally have no interest or time to form another group to do another 'me too' project. Lets see if we can line up some horses who are capable of running a mile and quarter first.At this stage we need those who can put their blood and sweat where their mouths are. Then when they speak, we know it is not just hot air, that has an abundance of supply and material.
Oktaby
Right on Oktaby....
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:07 AM PDTI liked your response very much. As I said I like your ideas.
Now time for me to get out and get some exercise done. It is absolutely gorgeous out there today. A nice weekend to all of you friends here
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
Groups we need to
by vildemose on Sat Jul 09, 2011 09:55 AM PDTGroups we need to contact:
AIPAC
NIAC
MKO
Saltant talaban
CASMII
Jebeh Melli
Islamist democrats (reformers who are outside of Iran)
US Congress
ETC.