DATE=7/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251612
TITLE=IRAN STUDENT UNREST (L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN IRAN, THE HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTER MOSTAFA MOIN HAS
RESIGNED OVER A POLICE CRACKDOWN ON PRO-DEMOCRACY STUDENTS UPSET
OVER THE SHUTTING-DOWN OF A REFORMIST NEWSPAPER. RICHARD ENGEL
REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT STUDENTS HAVE
BEGUN A THIRD CONSECUTIVE DAY OF PRO-DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATIONS.
TEXT: AROUND A THOUSAND STUDENTS ORGANIZED A SIT-IN AT TEHRAN
UNIVERSITY TODAY (SATURDAY). THEY ARE DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF
MORE THAN 100 FELLOW STUDENTS ARRESTED FRIDAY WHEN ISLAMIC
HARDLINERS AND IRANIAN POLICE BROKE UP A PRO-DEMOCRACY RALLY.
WITNESSES SAID DOZENS OF PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE CLASHES WITH
THE HARDLINERS, SOME OF THEM SERIOUSLY.
IRAN'S MINISTRY OF EDUCATION CONDEMNED THE POLICE FOR RAIDING THE
STUDENT HOSTEL WHERE THE DEMONSTRATIONS WERE BEING HELD, SAYING
SUCH AN ACTION PREPARES THE GROUND FOR A NATIONAL CRISIS.
DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN IN IRAN THURSDAY WHEN SOME STUDENTS AND
OTHER IRANIANS WHO WANT DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN THE ISLAMIC
REPUBLIC WERE OUTRAGED BY THE CLOSURE OF THE NATION'S MOST
POPULAR REFORMIST NEWSPAPER, CALLED SALAM.
SALAM HAD ANGERED MANY CONSERVATIVES WITH ITS CRITICAL ARTICLES
ABOUT THE NATION'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY
HARDLINERS.
THE NEWSPAPER WAS ORDERED CLOSED (WEDNESDAY) HOURS AFTER
HARDLINERS PASSED A BILL IN IRAN'S PARLIAMENT THAT COULD LIMIT
PRESS FREEDOM. THE LAW MAKES JOURNALISTS DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR
ARTICLES THEY WRITE. JOURNALISTS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROTECTED,
WITH PUBLISHERS BEARING MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
CONTENT OF A NEWSPAPER. THE IRANIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE, WHO IS A
SUPPORTER OF IRAN'S MODERATE PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI, SAID
JOURNALISTS WOULD NOW HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WRITING TRUTHFULLY
AND THE COURTS.
CLASHES BETWEEN HARDLINERS AND MODERATES, BOTH IDEOLOGICAL AND
PHYSICAL, HAVE BEEN COMMON IN IRAN SINCE PERSIDENT KHATAMI CAME
TO POWER TWO YEARS AGO IN A LANDSLIDE VICTORY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/PLM
10-Jul-99 5:27 AM EDT (0927 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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