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
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