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Jebhe Melli Iran Press
Conference
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Ladies, Gentlemen, and the members of
the press:
We thank you for accepting the invitation
of Jebhe Melli Iran (Iran National Front), and welcome you to this
gathering.
Jebhe Melli Iran had originally
planned a public meeting on May 19th, for which we requested
an official permission and provision of security, in a letter to
President Khatami on June 1. During this meeting, we planned to inform
and explain to the people the critical problems the nation is facing and
the crisis situation our country is in. However, we never received an
official reply to our request. However, calling in of two members of our
leadership and executive committees by the Information Ministry for
interrogation, a warning telephone call to the head of our Central
Council and the subsequent arrest of one of our active members was
answer enough.
The
ruling elite, while repeatedly claims that democratic political
organizations have no base of support among the people, and always
orchestrates its own artificial public demonstrations using public funds
and public employees, is evidently frightened of an indigenous show of
public support for democracy and free elections.
We,
therefore, canceled our planned public meeting for fear of lack of
security, but promised that we will express our opinion during an
international press conference, which is one you are attending now.
You must realize that, while the
ruling clan in Iran uses public funds and all means at its disposal to
stage its own public gatherings, does not tolerate the slightest direct
contact by democratic organizations such as Jebhe Melli Iran, which have
no funds and no means of or access to public communication.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The
people of Iran, 27 years ago in 1979, engaged in a victorious revolution
which promised freedom from dictatorship, civil liberties and social
justice. However, unfortunately, from the very beginning, a group of
backward-thinking religious zealots monopolized the post revolution
events derailing the path to democracy and led the country to a new form
of totalitarianism and dictatorship. Twenty five years of struggle for
freedom since the overthrow of Dr. Mossadeq's fully democratic
government in the hands of CIA and the Intelligent Service in 1953, and
much blood that was shed during this time for the sake of democracy,
thus, was wasted.
As the result, after more than a quarter century
since the revolution that was to bring us freedom, justice and economic
well being, the country is in a worse shape that it ever was.
Iran
of today, as the result of theocratic rule and gross mismanagement, is
in a most critical crisis of its modern history. Economic failure
resulting in increasing poverty, unbearable inflation, unemployment of
millions of the most productive members of the society, ever-increasing
addictions specially among the young, rampant prostitution, insecurity,
brain drain, flight of capital and loss of the most educated to
migration are but some of the social ills the country has been suffering
from. Many scholars, journalists, political and student activists are in
jail for speaking out and criticizing the way the country has been
governed.
Many
golden historical opportunities have been lost to the country due to
wrong and self-serving foreign policies. Loss of important pipeline
routes from Caucasus and Central Asia through Iran, inability in
securing the pipeline to Pakistan and India, loss of historical and
economic interests in the Caspian Sea, threats to our sovereignty over
Iran's three Persian Gulf islands, threat to Iran's legal right of
access to nuclear technology, deterioration of the airline industry,
blockage of membership in the World Trade Organization, are just some
examples of what the country has been suffering from due to the distrust
of the world community with respect to the Islamic republic's behavior
and intentions. Furthermore, Islamic Republic's foreign and domestic
politics has put Iran under threats of social unrest, alienation,
foreign intervention and military aggression.
Ignoring all signs of ill and the soundless voice of people's protest
through non-participation in elections, the ruling elite are again
trying to put up an artificial show of strength by staging yet another
meaningless pre-selected election.
The
awakened people of Iran have clearly shown during the last two elections
of the city councils and the seventh parliament that they no longer can
be led on or fooled. The current elections for president again stages a
number of pre-selected in-clan candidates who are all themselves guilty
of having been participants in a quarter century of this mismanagement.
The last two presidential elections involving the then popular Mr.
Khatami proved to the people that under the current structural laws,
even a well intentioned president cannot manage the country for lack of
independence and executive power. Under the current laws, a president
cannot be but be a stooge of those who control all power and wealth in
the country and act above the law.
Jebhe Melli Iran believes that going
along with the current puppet show called "elections" would only prolong
the misery the hopelessness of the nation. As clearly stated in our
public Statement of January 1, 2005, the only way to solve this national
crisis is to affect basic structural change in the System and in
establishing of the people's right to free elections. Until the freedom
of choice, freedom of political activity and political parties and
freedom of expression is not established in the country, participating
in a staged election is nothing but insult to the intelligence of the
people.
Jebhe Melli Iran in participation with
all other democratic political parties and groups and political
activists, will soon make public a proposal made by a distinguished
member of its leadership for formation of a National Congress for
Democratic Change in Iran. The plan will intend to present a peaceful
and practical vehicle for transition from the current chaotic and
autocratic system to a fully democratic and people oriented system of
government. May the Sun shine through.
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