Mousavi’s video
This video features a speech by the candidate Mousavi in Iran.
Partial translation:
“I have come due to concerns of current political and social conditions – to defend the rights of the nation. I have come to improve Iran’s International relations. I have come to tell the world and return to Iran our pride, our dignity, our future. I have come to bring to Iran a FUTURE of FREEDOM, of HOPE. I have come to represent the poor the helpless the hungry. I have come to be ACCOUNTABLE to you my people and to this world.
“Iran must participate in FAIR elections, it is a matter of national importance. I have come to you because of the corruption in Iran. 25% inflation means IGNORANCE – THIEVING – CORRUPTION – where is the wealth of my nation? What have you done with $300 BILLION in last 4 years – where is the wealth of the nation? The next Government of Iran will be chosen by the people. Why do all our young want to leave this country?”
“I know of no creation who places HIMSELF ahead of 20 million of the nation. We are Muslims – what is happening in Iran’s Government is a sin! This Government is not what Imam Khomeini wanted for Iran – I will change all this – This is the SEA of GREEN!!”
News and Media
- Washington Post, Iran: Protests Continue, Guardian Council to Discuss Concerns
- Christian Science Monitor. Name and Shame website targeting those perpetrating violence
- Pictures (rated G) from yesterday up at Daily Kos
- There is a desperate cry for help in an Email from inside Iran, at the NPR website
- Iran clerics are scheduling a pro-Mousavi rally
- Latest detailed updates from the highly recommended NYTimes Lede Blog: Iran’s Disputed Election
- Iran NGO reports 32 dead so far
Gathered Information, 18th of June, from Tatsuma at fark.com
*Take with a grain of salt — some of this is hearsay but from reliable sources
- The protests show no signs of slowing down, and the fact that the government has been less violent so far and concentrating on discrediting the protesters instead shows that they are losing grip and painfully aware of all the attention given to what is happening right now, CNN notwithstanding. It’s also a worrying step, because the moment they start feeling they are losing grip even more is the moment where they might begin to unleash brutal waves of violence again, much worse than what we’ve seen so far.
- There is a (so far) quiet march going on, where all the protesters are dressed in black and mourning those who have died so far. The crowds are estimated to be as big as they have been for the last few days, so that puts them between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 in Tehran alone.
- The State TV has been turned into a full-blown anti-Revolution machine, constantly hammering on how evil the “thugs” who are smashing around private property are. Problem is that those thugs are in fact Basij dressed in green, but IRIB is reporting it as pro-Moussavi supporters. They have also been showing documentaries about the evils of the internet and how the US, UK and Israel are behind the protests. State Radio is not much better, with talking heads calling for the death of those evil thugs destabilizing the country at the behest of external forces. They have also issued false reports that Moussavi was “condeming the rioters”.
- The Government has closed Iran to all foreign communication and coverage, according to many reports. It would also seem that the Iranian government has opened an account in the name of Ayatollah Khameini on Twitter. There are reports that senior aides to all reformist candidates have been arrested, but it has yet to be collaborated and this is not the first time we hear such reports.
- According to Reuters, Iranian prosecutors have warned of the death penalty for the rioters who are involved in violence. Islamic cleric have warned that not going to Friday’s prayer service makes you worthy of the death penalty. It is unclear yet what isn’t worthy of death penalty at this point if you protest against the regime.
- All the violence reported over Iran is now exclusively done by the Basij, Ansar and, if the rumours are true, Hizbullah and Hams. The police have completely stopped participating in the repression of the population, and both the Army and IRG are standing still and not doing anything. This is good news, but the Basij are sadly not reducing the level of violence they are unleashing on the population, beating up everyone they can get their hands on. It continued all throughout the night and during the day, but due to the mass of people involved it seems that they are restraining themselves when it comes to the mass rallies, preferring to pick isolated targets.
- Universities have cancelled all exams all over the country, and a long list of rebel students was given to all universities and they have to report the students, who are to be arrested on sight.
- There have been a few confirmed cases of people threatened inside the United States for providing proxies for the revolution. Their details were available on the internet so they were passed around pro-Government forces. If you are helping this revolution, be careful to do so as anonymously as you can. It doesn’t mean you are risking your life, but it could potentially result in harrassment or vandalism.
- More information on the entire situation can be accessed at the Tatsuma update page
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Heresay information from inside Iran (formatted from Twitter):
- University exams were canceled because Basij raids began, and some professors and students pre-emptively cancelled knowing having the students in one place would be a death trap.
- There is a long list of rebel students (protesters) given to all universities, and security is to arrest them on sight.
- The government is now running a mass media propaganda about a US & Israel joint force working in some Internet sites against Iran. <Note from Deanne: Apparently, the random internet brigade is being called a joint US & Israel force. The claim of US or Israel gov’t involvement is baloney as far as I know…most of the pro-Iranian work being done on the Internet is 4chan, twitterers, and nethackers. Apparently there are Iranian government threats being made to non-Iranian people (outside of Iran) who are providing proxies to the protesters; caution is advised.>
- The IRG (equiv of the CIA/KGB) have been clamping down on the internet and making false Twitter accounts to spread disinformation.
- The Iranian Parliament said they openly support the “standing” government.
- Mousavi is NOT in jail, he will join the rally today with Khatami. Rafsanjani daughter also to attend.
“What I have witnessed.” A powerful note from a female medical student in Iran, translated from Farsi by a trusty reader.
Hello,
It’s painful to watch what’s happening.
I don’t want anything to do with what has been said this far, as I neither have the strength nor the resilience to face all these unfathomable events.
I only want to speak about what I have witnessed. I am a medical student. There was chaos last night at the trauma section in one of our main hospitals. Although by decree, all riot-related injuries were supposed to be sent to military hospitals, all other hospitals were filled to the rim. Last night, nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds. All hospital employees were crying till dawn. They (government) removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information. What can you even say to the people who don’t even respect the dead. No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them. This morning the faculty and the students protested by gathering at the lobby of the hospital where they were confronted by plain cloths anti-riot militia, who in turn closed off the hospital and imprisoned the staff. The extent of injuries are so grave, that despite being one of the most staffed emergency rooms, they’ve asked everyone to stay and help—I’m sure it will even be worst tonight.
What can anyone say in face of all these atrocities? What can you say to the family of the 13 year old boy who died from gunshots and whose dead body then disappeared?
This issue is not about cheating(election) anymore. This is not about stealing votes anymore. The issue is about a vast injustice inflected on the people. They’ve put a baton in the hand of every 13-14 year old to smash the faces of “the bunches who are less than dirt” (government is calling the people who are uprising dried-up torn and weeds)
This is what sickens me from dealing with these issues. And from those who shut their eyes and close their ears and claim the riots are in opposition of the government and presidency!! No! The people’s complaint is against the egregious injustices committed against the people.
Torrent videos after the jump:
There has been a list of casualties published over on iranrevolution.wordpress.com