DATE=7/15/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-251822 TITLE=IRAN/STUDENT DEMOS (L) BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE HUMAN-RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS IT HAS EVIDENCE THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN IRAN DURING THE PAST WEEK, FOLLOWING SOMETIMES-VIOLENT PROTESTS LED BY STUDENTS WHO OPPOSE THE CONSERVATIVE POLICIES OF IRAN'S ISLAMIC LEADERS. THE CAPITAL, TEHRAN, WAS QUIET THURSDAY, BUT CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS STUDENTS ARE THREATENING MORE PROTESTS IF THEIR DEMANDS FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS ARE NOT MET. TEXT: THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO BATTLED POLICE AND PRO-GOVERNMENT VIGILANTES JUST DAYS AGO ARE OFF THE STREETS -- WEDNESDAY'S PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY SAW TO THAT -- AND CAMPUSES ARE QUIET. BUT THEIR DEMANDS THAT PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE POLICIES OF AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI AND PRESS FORWARD WITH MORE MODERATE REFORMS HAVE SO FAR NOT BEEN MET. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING EVENTS, INCLUDING SHIRZAD BOZORGMEHR, THE DEPUTY EDITOR OF TEHRAN'S PRO-REFORMIST "IRAN NEWS," SAY THE SITUATION IS STILL VERY CONFUSED. /// BOZORGMEHR ACT /// THE STUDENTS HAVE ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE -- I THINK YESTERDAY, THEY DID -- ON WEDNESDAY, AND THEY SAID THEY SET A DEADLINE UNTIL SATURDAY THAT UNLESS THEIR DEMANDS ARE MET BY SATURDAY, THEY WILL STAGE ANOTHER SIT-IN ON CAMPUS. THEIR DEMANDS INCLUDE THE RESIGNATION OR FIRING OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WHO MAY BE NOT PERSONALLY [RESPONSIBLE], BUT UNDER HIS WATCH HIS TROOPS ATTACKED THE DORMITORIES AND BEAT UP AND ARRESTED STUDENTS. THEY ALSO WANT A POPULAR NEWSPAPER WHICH IS A SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT KHATAMI'S REFORMS THAT WAS CLOSED DOWN LAST WEDNESDAY, THEY WANT THE NEWSPAPER TO START PUBLISHING AGAIN. THEY ALSO GENERALLY WANT SOMEONE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO THEM AND LISTEN TO THEIR OTHER GRIEVANCES WHICH THEY HAVE NOT ENUMERATED IN DETAIL. /// END ACT /// THE GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS THAT WHAT WERE LEGITIMATE PROTESTS BY STUDENTS FOR CHANGE WERE INFILTRATED BY OTHERS AND STIRRED UP BY WHAT TEHRAN CALLS FOREIGN OR SEDITIOUS ELEMENTS. // SECOND BOZORGMEHR ACT // THERE IS A SPLIT IN THE STUDENT MOVEMENT AS WELL. THERE IS A LARGER AND BETTER ORGANIZED GROUP THAT SEEMS TO BE IN CHARGE NOW. THAT GROUP IS THE ONE THAT IS ADVOCATING SIT INS AND NON-VIOLENT PROTEST. THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP, A SMALLER ONE, THAT HAS SPLIT FROM THAT AND SAY[S] THAT THEY DON'T GO ALONG WITH THAT. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT DID ACTUALLY GO OUT AND PROTEST AND CREATE THE SITUATION ON TUESDAY. /// END ACT /// IT WAS THAT TYPE OF LAWLESSNESS, WHICH SAW THE BURNING OF SHOPS AND VEHICLES, THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS VOWING NOT TO LET HAPPEN AGAIN. UNCLEAR IS HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. KAMAL SAMARI OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS THE FIGURE IS IN THE HIGH HUNDREDS. /// SAMARI ACT /// [THE EVIDENCE FOR THIS IS] THE WAY THE CAMPUSES WERE STORMED, BECAUSE OF THE WAY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, BECAUSE OF THE WAY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN JUST ABDUCTED FROM THE CAMPUS AND WE HAVE EYEWITNESSES THAT THE MILITIA WERE BEATING THEM UP AND ARRESTING THEM. ... WE HOPE THAT THE STATEMENT [IS TRUE] MADE BY PRESIDENT KHATAMI THAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE NOT GOING TO REACT TO VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE, BUT WILL GUARANTEE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF WHOEVER IS ARRESTED AND PROVED BEFORE A COURT TO BE INVOLVED IN VIOLENCE. /// END ACT /// MANY OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SIX DAYS OF PROTESTS ARE BELIEVED TO BE IN HIDING, AND AUTHORITIES ARE NOW CALLING ON THE PUBLIC TO HELP FIND THEM. (SIGNED) NEB/NJS/WTW 15-Jul-99 4:25 PM EDT (2025 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
