Iran's Guards to 'crush' protests

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard military unit has threatened to crush further protests over the country's disputed June 12 presidential election.

A statement published on the Guard's website on Monday said the paramilitary force would not hesitate to confront "illegal" rallies organised by supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated reformist presidential candidate.

"At the current sensitive situation ... the Guards will firmly confront, in a revolutionary way, rioters and those who violate the law," the statement said.

=snip=

The Revolutionary Guard - an armed force parallel to Iran's army and designed to protect the revolution against a possible coup - also warned Western countries against supporting the "rioters".

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962211917155481.html

[tekisui]

1. I believe them, too.

Each time the theocrats escalate the rhetoric and promise a violent response, they have delivered. The next march will be bloodier than the last.

[shadowknows69]

4. Me too. If this goes to the next level the Iranian people need to be ready for guerilla war.

Or they have no chance at toppling this regime. The line has been drawn and there is no going back for either side.

[tekisui]

5. I wonder if toppling the theocracy is now the objective?

I think the people, after protesting the election results, and receiving violence, realize the elections are meaningless. The problem is at the top.

[shadowknows69]

7. Khameni made that abundantly clear by his words and actions

And I suspect it is why we've seen little of "The President" and more of The Guardian Councils' apparent infighting. The theorcracy itself may not be the prime target, most of these protesters probably are Islamic, or at least pretend to be for their health, but I think they know that some of their "spiritual" leaders are far from being true servants of Allah now.

[Gman2]

8. I am horribly afraid that the most effective response, would be to

line up protestors in lines. And walk calmly to their martyrdom. It would take far fewer souls lost that way. I wouldnt want to be in the front. But the moral outrage would mount instantly. Witness Neda. Guerilla war with unarmed populace is doom. They need to enlist the military like Tiannamen. As you walk up holding a flower, as the tank rols towards you, it sends a powerful message to the human soul. The military MUST BE STOPPED FROM SOCIOPATHY! The only way to do this is like the Christians and the lions. Like Jesus to his crucifiers. Like Ghanndi's folks walking up to recieve their beatings. I think the crowd should be instructed to go out and TALK to the military. NO VIOLENCE OR rioting. A three day period of education of the military. Flowers and nice words would be issued. Get them to see the protestors as the same as them.


Ask me how I know aboutthis. I was midnight raided by jackbooted thugs three days ago. They, like most captors, tried to view me as a hostile, a soul undeserving of compassion. I spoke to them for two hours, while they searched my humble abode. Had I tried to use ANY KIND OF FORCE, I would be dead. Instead, I educated the crooked cops in compassion for my position. I dispelled ALL their right wing notions of the undeserving poor and ill. I stood tall, and even in handcuffs, I ran them. They were under my power. Or at least under the power of me, with my god as backup. I weathered and am now in a monster position to sue their crooked asses if any other trouble should befall me.

[Turborama]

18. IRAN: STOP USING BASIJ MILITIA TO POLICE DEMONSTRATIONS

Thought you might find this interesting.

Amnesty International

22 June 2009

Following reports from Iran that members of the Basij militia have used excessive force against demonstrators - and in light of the history of abuses committed by this unaccountable branch of the security forces - Amnesty International calls on the government of Iran to stop using the militia to police demonstrations with immediate effect.

The Basij militia is a volunteer paramilitary force of men and women under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Its members are found in schools, universities, state and private institutions, factories, and even among tribes. Basij forces are widely used to help to maintain law and order and repress dissent, and have frequently been accused of using extreme brutality.

Many of those who took part in the recent demonstrations claim non - uniformed and armed personnel, whom they believed to be members of the Basij militia, used excessive force and carried out human rights violations – including beatings and use of firearms - against demonstrators on the streets. A video of a member of the Basij shooting from an building used by the Basij during the demonstrations on Monday 15 June in which at least 8 people were killed should have triggered an immediate investigation by the authorities and clear instructions should have been issued to prevent further loss of life. Another video of a young woman identified as Neda, dying apparently from a chest wound, has been widely circulated amid claims of involvement of Basij members.


The response of the Iranian authorities has not been to open a proper investigation to clarify the circumstances of any death but rather to issue further warnings that protests will be handled in a ‘revolutionary manner’ by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Basij militia and other police and security forces.

“Iranians wishing to peacefully express their opposition to recent events surrounding the election have no space to do so, as they are met with violence that has been legitimized by the highest authority in the land,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme. “It’s time for the Iranian authorities to allow peaceful protest and to remove the Basij from the streets. The policing of any demonstrations should be left to the police or other security forces which are properly trained and equipped.”

Following the speech from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Friday demanding an end to the protests, there were further demonstrations on Saturday in Tehran and other cities and towns across the country. 13 people were killed according to the authorities and many more were injured. According to the government, over 400 people were arrested. Another demonstration of about 1,000 people in Tehran on Monday has been met with tear gas and arrests.

“Recent statements from the police, who denied opening fire on protestors, and from the Tehran Prosecutor-General, who blamed the killings on ‘armed terrorists’, look like an attempt to disassociate state organs from responsibility for violence,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. “This is all the more reason to stop using the Basij as there is no way for the public to even identify them, let alone bring them to account for violations. If the Iranian authorities are not able to control such a militia, they should disband it. It is irresponsible to provide weapons and then to relinquish responsibility when abuses occur”.

Amnesty International calls on the Iranian authorities to investigate fully all reports of death, including possible extrajudicial executions, and to bring anyone found responsible to justice. #

From: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/iran-stop-using-basij-militia-to-police-demonstrations-20090622

[David__77]

11. Only MEK is militarily prepared, and they are very unpopular.

There are some Maoist groups with a few guerrilla units, but waging a guerrilla war would be very difficult. An urban insurrection would be much more likely. There is a particular problem with ideological articulation of an opposition movement. Many of the opposition want to remain an Islamic Republic, some are royalists, some are varieties of secular democrats or leftists. It's a stew of disunity at heart. The secular forces won't go in for Islamic leadership as in 1979, only to be once again drowned in blood in torture cellars.

[robcon]

2. It's Tiananmen all over again, IMO

There'll be a lot more blood on the streets.

[shadowknows69]

3. If the tanks start showing up in force I pray the Iranians will be wise.

Noble as it is to die by the thousands for your integrity, if you want the cause to succeed it is time to fight back using mind as well as heart. They should disappear for a while and organize. They need to seize weapons and territory somehow and not just line up to be gunned down. I feear this is about to reach that level.

[AsahinaKimi]

6. They have just raised the ante

We could see civil war very shortly. These people are not about to back down. Freedom
comes with a heavy price, which they are committed to pay.

[ohio2007]

9. "Springtime for Tehran" ends friday. Top dog mullah going to make another announcment on Friday

Absolute power.....

[Vidar]

10. In Iran, blood & martyrdom will only feed the protesters' cause.

[JudyInTheHeartland]

12. IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD PROMISES TO CRUSH PROTESTERS

Source: AP

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Last updated: 10:18 am
June 22, 2009
Posted: 9:55 am
June 22, 2009

Iran's most powerful security force threatened Monday to crush any further opposition protests over the disputed presidential election, warning demonstrators to prepare for a "revolutionary confrontation" if they take to the streets again. It was the sternest warning yet from the elite Revolutionary Guard.

An Iranian woman who lives in Tehran said there was a heavy police and security presence in the location where an opposition march was slated to take place Monday. She asked not to be identified because she was worried about government reprisals. "There is a massive, massive, massive police presence," she told the Associated Press in Cairo by telephone. "Their presence was really intimidating."

The country's highest electoral authority, the Guardian Council, acknowledged voting irregularities in 50 electoral districts in the June 12 vote, the most serious official admission so far of problems in the election that the opposition has labeled a fraud. But the council insisted the problems do not affect the outcome of the vote. The electoral council said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won by a landslide.

The Revolutionary Guard, in a statement posted on its Web site, warned protesters to "be prepared for a resolution and revolutionary confrontation with the Guards, Basij and other security forces and disciplinary forces" if they continue their near-daily rallies.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222009/news/worldnews/irans_revolutionary_guard_promises_to_cr_175529.htm

[dipsydoodle]

13. delete

refered to Saturday.

[JudyInTheHeartland]

14. I guess you didn't read the first graf

Iran's most powerful security force threatened Monday...

[dipsydoodle]

15. No it wasn't that

I added this for you : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8112812.stm but then realised it may have related to Saturday. BBC have since changed their wording - again. The problem is that the BBC now updates the same link so it can get a bit confusing at times.

I deleted only to help avoid confusion.

[JudyInTheHeartland]

16. Oh, ok

[dipsydoodle]

17. BBC link now makes it clear again that it refers to Monday.

They changed the picture to this one - for now anyway.



I realise now that my reply post to you had become really ambiguous - made it look like I was saying you were wrong instead of me being wrong.

Sincere apologies. :hi:

[ohio2007]

19. Rev. Guard commander defies Khamenei's orders to use force on protestors ( Don't ask,don't tell ? )

dunno the reliability of the source. The link was posted on tweet

Revolutionary Guards commander defies Khamenei's orders to use force on protestors

A commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has been arrested for refusing to obey Iran's Supreme Leader, according to reports from the Balatarin website.


General Ali Fazli, who was recently appointed as a commander of the Revolutionary Guards in the province of Tehran, is reported to have been arrested after he refused to carry out orders from the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to use force on people protesting the controversial re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.


Fazli, a veteran of the devastating Iran-Iraq war is also believed to have been sacked and taken to an unknown location.

The Revolutionary Guards is a separate body to the mainstream armed forces in Iran and is seen as one of the main and most powerful bodies responsible for protecting the Islamic theocratic regime.

Earlier today the Revolutionary Guards issued a warning on its website threatening to come down hard on Iranians who continue protesting against what many in the country see as rigged elections.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20090622/revolutionary-guards-iran-iranian-protests.htm

For full coverage of the Iranian election protests click here

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/topics/iranian-elections/page1.htm

[Turborama]

20. Overview of the security forces the Iranian protesters are up against

Video: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x327984

[excess_3]

21. Hugo seems very pleased .n/t

[ohio2007]

22. opposition voices are getting crushed in all the strange places

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3934900

Why not move to OpEd instead of locking ?


just wondering, maybe this site needs a blogger OpEd forum imo

on twitter edit;

JAHANAZAD: Khamenei and Ahmadinedjad in close contact with Chavez. They might move to Venezula. We prefer to host them at #EVIN. #iranelection #cnn
less than 10 seconds ago from web

http://twitter.com/JAHANAZAD

just a Cherry picked Tweet link for the irony of it all