Subsidy Elimination and the Structure of the Government’s Relationship with the People

Date: December 28th , 2010
Source: Roozonline

Dr. Masoud Nili

Governments are political entities that have a lot of say when it comes to distribution of resources. One can tell what sector of the socio-economic spectrum a government is trying to favour by looking at what resources it makes available to what group. More often than not, governments target a certain socio-economic group by redistributing resources towards that group and hence providing them with beneficial economic opportunities. By evaluating the channels of resource redistribution, we can easily decipher from which socio-economic sector a government is driving most of its support.

We can draw the natural conclusion that by redistributing resources, governments tend to take … Continue Reading

Mousavi: Special Groups See Their Interests are in Division

Date: Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Source: Kalemeh

In the most recent meeting of Mr. Mousavi with sons and daughters war veterans, Mr. Mousavi elaborated on the influences of the Green Movement, and emphasized on the endurance and unity as two elements that could achieve the desired changes in the country. According to Kaleme, Mousavi acknowledged the affinity and unity amongst different groups of people and said: “We are following the same principles that were applied when the [green] human chain was created from one corner of Tehran to another. All of us, from different opinions, cultures and ethnicities, would eventually come to talk easier with each other.”

What connects our institutions are: Freedom, Justice and Protection of people’s rights
The Green Movement has brought about the context for national conciliation

Political institutions that were taken apart through wrong policies are gradually getting closer and closer. They negotiate and share ideas at dinner tables. It is [demand for] freedom, justice and protection of people’s rights that is connecting them. The lines that separated us from ‘them’ are fading away and different sides are talking more to each other. … Continue Reading

Mousavi’s Speech in meeting with Iran-Iraq war Veterans

Source: Kalemeh
Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2010

According to reports by Kaleme, Mir Hossein Mousavi, president during the eight sacred years of war, met with a group of veterans of the Iran-Iraq war yesterday. In this meeting in which Zahra Rahnavard was also present, the veterans in addition to describing the difficulties and challenges they faced upon their release from Saddam Hossein’s prisons, shared their opinion on the political, economic and social challenges, particularly those that have arisen since the presidential elections last year.

 During their discussion with Mousavi the veterans pointed to the economic and social challenges and hardships they and their families had faced upon their release from prison. They stated that the recent imprisonment of veterans by the current government because of expressing their political views during the election campaign is even more regrettable than enduring years of incarceration in Saddam notorious prisons.

 After remarks by these noble veterans, Mir Hossein Mousavi while congratulating them on the anniversary of the day marking the return of the prisoners of war said: “During the eight year holy war against Iraq, our nation and government never forgot our soldiers and POWs. The news regarding the POWs was focused upon on a daily and hourly basis.”
… Continue Reading

Zahra Rahnavard’s Remarks in a meeting with Iran-Iraq war Veterans

Source: Kalemeh
Date: Monday, August 16, 2010

A group of former POWs (prisoners of war) from the eight year Iran-Iraq War met with Mir Hossein Mousavi and Zahra Rahnavard on the [20th] anniversary of their release and proud return home.

According to a report by Kaleme, the meeting began with the freed POWs expressing their viewpoints and opinions about the current issues and events of the country, particularly the events of the last year. Their comments were followed by Mousavi and Rahnavard expressing their own opinions.

Zahra Rahnavard congratulated the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and the anniversary of their release. She then pointed out that the women who were imprisoned by Saddam’s forces should also be represented among the former POWs. She then said: “Unfortunately I have to ask: during your imprisonment by Saddam, did you ever think that one day, if you are released, you will witness the imprisonment of hundreds and maybe even thousands of freedom-loving individuals in your own country?”
… Continue Reading

Mahdi Karoubi in a Meeting with Reformist Youth

Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Source: Kalemeh

In a meeting with the reformist youth, Hojatoleslam Mahdi Karoubi congratulated the coming of holy month of Ramadan and said: “Despite being very close to this holy month of compassion, unfortunately we have to bear witness to increasing pressure on the people. These authorities, as if our people did not face enough problems in their lives already, interfere even in the simplest matters like their funeral ceremonies. I have spoken to this problem on many occasions but it’s as if no one’s listening at all. Last of these interferences occurred at the funeral of Mr. Tatari who was a real and genuine Basiji who actually felt responsible for the people of nomadic tribes and helped them and in return they respected him back. But the ‘Sires’ that control everything cannot even bring themselves to respect people such as Mr. Tatari, they can’t help interfering with funerals.
… Continue Reading

Mousavi’s letter on the ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ Movement

Source: Rahesabz
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

We are in the midst of the anniversary of the Constitutional Monarchy Movement, which has emphasized the need to restrain the power of the monarchy for more than a hundred years. Aside from demands for justice, freedom and the establishment of law, the achievement of this restraint is the result of our ancestors’ struggle and self-sacrifice. The [various] institutions that appeared along with the movement were constrained by Reza Pahlavi’s so-called “modernization” campaign and were ultimately closed down despite the many lives lost [in the process]. The movement that put people first had been obstructed and the dark era of the first and second Pahlavi Dynasties came to overshadow its fundamental values. However, the values that had surfaced with great sacrifice continued to live on in the people’s constant struggle to free themselves from despotism and authoritarianism, as well as through their inclinations toward freedom, justice and the demand to control their own destiny.

The martyrdom of those like Sattar Khan, the General of the People, and the brave member of Parliament, Moddaress, as well as the murder and imprisonment of many other freedom-seeking activists are historical facts that are evidence of the difficulty of this path. The movements that later nationalized the Oil and organized the People’s Rising on June 5 and, later, the harsh struggles of the following two decades, all show that what was achieved in terms of restraining power not only failed to fade away but also remained as a constant model for people to look up to in future struggles.
… Continue Reading

Mousavi’s Meeting with Students from Teacher’s College

In a meeting with a group of professors from the Teacher’s College, Mir Hossein Mousavi made the following statement:

“We believe that lies, oppression, and fighting the authority of the law destroy the legitimacy of the establishment. The Qur’an, our Prophet, and the exalted events of Ashura demonstrate that oppression cannot remain. I believe that, God willing, the Green Movement will soon see victory because it is seeking to revive the rights of the people; because it is an advocate of human freedoms as well as rationality and reason. The Green Movement will be victorious because it stands against force, lies and oppression. … Continue Reading

Complete Text of Mousavi and Karroubi’s Press Conference

Source:  Kalemeh
Date: June 8, 2010

Moderator: We are approaching June 12th [22nd of Khordaad] and for the first time, we have the opportunity to hold a joint press conference with you two esteemed gentlemen.

Reporters from various ‘Green’ websites are present in this session to ask you their questions, and you will obviously reply with answers you deem suitable. But first, what would you like to say as introduction?
Mr. Mousavi: In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

I am honored to be accompanied by someone who has a long and persistent history of resistance for the Islamic Republic and am thus very glad to sit beside Mr. Karroubi, and also to be speaking with the Green websites and virtual media.

Mr. Karroubi: In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. … Continue Reading

Mahdi Karoubi: Complete Statement for the Anniversary of the Birth of the Green Movement

Source: SahamNews.org
Date: Sunday, June 20, 2010

To the great and honorable nation of Iran,

A year has passed since your spectacular presence during the 10th presidential elections.  Your enthusiastic participation was a sign of your desire to exercise your right to self-determination in the affairs of your country. However, based on a theory that considers people to be [mere] supporters of the government and the Velayat-e Faqih rather than its appointees – some have put forth their decisions and their votes as though they were yours.
… Continue Reading

Mir Hossein Mousavi’s 18th Statement

Source: Kaleme
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010

In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful,

We are still standing tall and proud on the first anniversary of the tenth presidential elections despite our whipped body, which endures bruises and imprisonments. Our demands are the same: freedom, social justice and the formation of [legitimate] national governance. We are confident of victory, hoping for the will and support of God, because we have not demanded anything other than the restoration of our national rights. … Continue Reading

Mousavi Condemns Attack in Qom

Source: Kaleme
Date: Monday, June 15, 2010

In the Name of the Almighty,

The fact that the authorities have declined to issue a permit [allowing us] to march on June 12 shows, more than ever, that they are afraid of the recurrence of last year’s magnificent rallies. This shows that despite tight security, year-long clampdowns, imprisonments, one-sided use of state TV and [other] government-funded media (not to mention the millions of dollars spent on broadcasting), the totalitarians have not been able to convince people of their honesty and good-will. If they had, what need would there have been for all this expense, military force, and dishonesty? … Continue Reading

Nourizad’s Letter to Imam Khomeini’s Grandchild

For our Dear Seyyed Hassan Khomeini:

Dear Seyyed,

The way in which you were treated during the ceremonies commemorating Imam Khomeini’s death is a clear reflection of the way in which we have treated our own people. We promised our people, who were fed up with tyranny, corruption, discrimination and oppression, that if they were to say ‘yes’ to our Islamic system, bright horizons of freedom, justice, faith and integrity would open up before them, and that the defects they had suffered from historically would be rectified. We promised them that if they were to vote ‘yes’ to our proposed system, we would take the idea of justice (a justice like that of Imam Ali’s government (peace be upon him)) and make it a reality. … Continue Reading

Complete text of Mehdi Karoubi’s interview with Roozonline

Source: Roozonline
Date: June 9, 2010

Mehdi Karoubi, who was a candidate for the ninth presidential elections, describes going to sleep for a few hours and waking up to find Ahmadinejad’s name having miraculously emerged from the ballot boxes. As a result, Karoubi opted to stay awake during the tenth presidential elections, but the results were the same nonetheless. During the previous elections [9^th presidential election] he resorted to protesting and writing letters, but this time around he is standing with a nation that still asks “where is my vote?” so that he may also reclaim his vote. In his view, the individuals  who currently rule Iran act in an arbitrary and despotic manner. … Continue Reading

Complete text of Karoubi’s important remarks on commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini

Source: Saham News – Official National Trust Party News Website
Date: June 4, 2010

We approaching the anniversary of Imam [Khomeini.] As usual we wanted to hold speeches, organize rallies and travel to the provinces. Unfortunately, last year’s election and the unseen cases fraud had series of unfortunate incidents for our country. I believe, like many others, that the mood that those events had set are going to continue and disrupt the usual ceremonies for the anniversary of departure of Imam. Of course, presence of people on that magnificent day is great and very important, but events that followed after the election has definitely left their stain on these ceremonies. For example, there were three nights of programs every year. This year, there’s only one day limited to a Friday prayer. We see that the rest of the programs are organized by … Continue Reading

Karoubi Condemns Israel attacks on Gaza Flotilla

Source: Saham News – Official National Trust Party News Website
Date: May 31, 2010

In the name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate

Zionist regime’s inhuman act of attacking the humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza caused great sorrow around the world. This behavior is caused by the Zionist regime’s inhuman and unjust nature. This regime has become so weak that it fears the smallest humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. This act will further weaken the regime and make it despisable in the international community.

I hereby condemn this action and ask the international community, human right organizations, and the security council to take a clear stance against this inhuman regime and make practical decisions in condemning and punishing it for these actions.
… Continue Reading