DATE=2/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245898
TITLE=IRAN SECURITY MINISTER (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAN'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED A NEW MINISTER OF
INTELLIGENCE WHO IS PLEDGING TO REFORM THE GOVERNMENT'S SECRET
SERVICES. V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE
PREVIOUS MINISTER RESIGNED AFTER MEMBERS OF THE MINISTRY WERE
IMPLICATED IN A SERIES OF POLITICAL MURDERS.
TEXT: THE IRANIAN MAJLIS, OR CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, WEDNESDAY
OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED HOJATOLESLAM ALI YUNESI AS THE NEW
MINISTER OF INTELLIGENCE BY A VOTE OF 197 TO NINE.
MR. YUNESI TOLD THE MAJLIS HE WILL WORK TO MAKE THE INTELLIGENCE
MINISTRY STRONG, INDEPENDENT AND UNBIASED. HE LATER TOLD
REPORTERS THAT THE RULE OF LAW AND VALUES WILL BE HIS MAIN
PROGRAM AND PLEDGED THAT REFORMS WILL BE MADE.
MR. YUNESI TAKES OVER A MINISTRY WHICH HAS BEEN ROCKED BY SCANDAL
IN RECENT MONTHS. INVESTIGATORS HAVE ARRESTED A NUMBER OF
MINISTRY EMPLOYEES FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDERS LAST YEAR OF
TWO DISSIDENT POLITICIANS AND AT LEAST TWO SECULAR INTELLECTUALS.
MR. YUNESI HEADS THE COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS. HE
TOLD REPORTERS A SCORE OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED IN THE
MURDERS AND THAT 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. HE SAID THREE OF
THE LAST FOUR PEOPLE ARRESTED ARE EMPLOYEES OF HIS MINISTRY. HE
SAID NO DEPUTY MINISTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BUT THAT SOME
OFFICIALS WITH THE RANK OF DIRECTOR-GENERAL ARE IN DETENTION.
HOJATOLESLAM ALI YUNESI IS A 43-YEAR-OLD RELIGIOUS LEADER WITH
GOOD REVOLUTIONARY CREDENTIALS. HE FOUGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
OF SHAH REZA PAHLAVI AND WAS TWICE IMPRISONED FOR HIS ACTIVITIES.
AFTER THE FALL OF THE SHAH, HE SERVED ON THE REVOLUTIONARY COURTS
AND MILITARY TRIBUNALS THAT TRIED MANY SUPPORTERS OF THE DEPOSED
GOVERNMENT. IN THE 1980'S, HE HELPED ESTABLISH THE INTELLIGENCE
SERVICES OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT.
IRAN'S NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF IS VIEWED AS A POLITICAL
CONSERVATIVE, BUT HE REPORTEDLY RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM MODERATE
POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF HIS REPUTATION AS AN OFFICIAL WHO
DISTANCES HIS WORK FROM HIS POLITICAL LEANINGS.
HOWEVER, EXILED IRANIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE NOT WELCOMED
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF. THEY RECALL HIS
WORK ON THE MILITARY TRIBUNALS, WHICH DETAINED THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AND SENTENCED HUNDREDS TO DEATH. AND THEY SAY THIS
BACKGROUND IS NOT LIKELY TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION'S POOR
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
24-Feb-99 10:28 AM EST (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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