dagblog - Comments for "Iran: Government tightens grip to prevent planned demonstration on Monday"

Most of that stuff scares the

jollyroger — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:41:38 +0000

In reply to PBS's "Frontline" has updates

Most of that stuff scares the shit out of me, and I'm ten thousand miles away from the Basiji--these are some ballsy Persians...

PBS's "Frontline" has updates

artappraiser — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:32:17 +0000

In reply to Iran: Government tightens grip to prevent planned demonstration on Monday

PBS's "Frontline" has updates @ "Tehran Bureau" by an expat in LA. It's helpful to get input from someone reading the reports in Farsi and putting it into English:

The Call to Rally / Latest Updates: Marches Planned in 35 Cities
by MUHAMMAD SAHIMI in Los Angeles
13 Feb 2011 03:4
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/wave-of-sup...

Curiously, the scholarly

jollyroger — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:18:42 +0000

In reply to a sucker for outlawryHate to

Curiously, the scholarly article to which you linked ommitted the signalling attribution of the jolly roger, which I have been given to understand was "against all flags"

Not only did my put upon mother direct me to a life of contumely by hanging the name Roger on me, she also took me at a very tender age (3) to see Howard Hughes "The Outlaw", and I was immediately impressed with the fact that the bad boy (Billy the Kid) got the cute girl (Jane Russell)

That just about did it for me....

Released Evin prisoners: 'We

artappraiser — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:14:13 +0000

In reply to Iran: Government tightens grip to prevent planned demonstration on Monday

Released Evin prisoners: 'We will also join 14 February rally'
created 02/12/2011 - 23:01

GVF — A group of prisoners recently released from Evin prison have vowed to take part in pro-opposition demonstrations on 14 February....

http://en.irangreenvoice.com/article/2011/feb/12/2754

Student activist Javid Fakhrian arrested
created 02/13/2011 - 00:52

http://en.irangreenvoice.com/article/2011/feb/13/2755

Already supposed to have

artappraiser — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:08:16 +0000

In reply to Cyberactiviists "Anonymous"

Already supposed to have happened?

Hacking group 'Anonymous' to Iranians: 'You express yourself, we're listening, we support you, expect us'
Green Voice of Freedom
created 02/12/2011 - 00:58, updated 02/12/2011 - 01:01

GVF — The hacking collective "Anonymous" has launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against the website of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The group's "Operation Iran" was set to begin at 1pm local time on Friday and is an online protest of what the group called in a press release "chains of oppression, tyranny and torture." The attacks were intended to coincide with commemorations on the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

A YouTube video created by the group shows scenes from the violent suppressions that followed the 2009 presidential election, while a digitally-modified voice details the group's mission: "To the noble people of Iran: We know how great you are. You have been killed, jailed, tortured and silenced by the illegal regime which has hijacked your country for the past 32 years, and yet you still rose up last year against a force that you knew meant ill harm. They may kill one person every eight hours but they can't kill your fighting spirit, they can't kill your freedom. Know that we support you. Know that you are not alone. We are Anonymous, we are legion. We do not forgive, we do not forget. Expect us."

Below is a press release by the hackers "For citizens of Iran":

O most respectable and honorable citizens of Iran - the cradle of civilization,

You express yourself, and we're listening.

We have not forgotten.

Protestants who were imprisoned, beaten, to bloggers who have been censored, citizens who were executed for criticizing the regime, you are truly loyal citizens of your country.

A new dawn appears to you and your country will be free from the chains of oppression, tyranny and torture. You can finally exhale and take a new breath of air that will fill you with strength, wisdom and freedom.

Anonymous supports you and accompany you on this path of liberation of body and mind of all Iranian citizens.

You, we are Anonymous, and do not fear the repressive regimes.
They know us, but we can not stop.
They fear us, and remain helpless to what will be unleashed against them.

Many of them are afraid of you, that's why for so long, they enslave you.
It is now time for you to forge your own future.

The Iranian government has deliberately confused "opposition" and "disloyalty".
Unjust repressions were perpetrated against those criticizing the actions of those in power, hoping to frighten the others. This government must be held responsible for crimes against you, its citizens.

People of Iran, you can not deny freedom of speech and the press.
Your right to freedom of assembly, demonstration and opposition.
To have access to uncensored information and unlimited access to the internet.
Your right to a life without fear or oppression.

We are Anonymous,
We are Legion
We do not forget,
We do not forgive,
Expect us.

a sucker for outlawryHate to

artappraiser — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:52:15 +0000

In reply to (open spinetingle)We are

a sucker for outlawry

Hate to have to remind ya, but this is no surprise given your user name

(open spinetingle)We are

jollyroger — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:37:30 +0000

In reply to Iran: Government tightens grip to prevent planned demonstration on Monday

(open spinetingle)

We are Anonymous.
We are legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.
Expect us.

(closespinetingle)

I am now, and will always be, a sucker for outlawry.

Cyberactiviists "Anonymous"

artappraiser — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:22:20 +0000

In reply to Iran: Government tightens grip to prevent planned demonstration on Monday

Cyberactiviists "Anonymous" are planning something in support of the Greens in Iran tomorrow.

via Al Jazeera "Iran's opposition planning protests" by D. Parvaz, Feb. 13

(see illustration at right with "V for Vendetta mask"):

Cyberactivist Anonymous posted a Youtube video telling anti-government groups to 'expect' their support

Also the Al-Jazeera piece has links to a pro-government message online says that the Green Movement is supported by Zionist forces (an example, mho, of how much savvier the Iranian regime is than Mubarak's was.)

and from the related Facebook page, "Iran's Freedom Valentine--Don't Forget Our Date".

There is also this warning about not expecting too much:

Kelly Niknejad, founder and editor in chief of news site Tehranbureau.com, told Al Jazeera that it is hard to tell what, if anything, may unfold on Iran's streets on Monday.

"The Iranian government did a very effective job of keeping the protest down," said Niknejad, referring to the absence of protests in Iran since 2009.

"They've made it such a high-stakes game to go out and protest."

As a result, Niknejad says she is surprised that Karroubi and Mousavi have called for the protests.

"Perhaps they know Iranians in away that those of us who live on the sidelines don't ... perhaps they know something that we don't," she said.

Niknejad, who has been in touch with people in Iran, said that while some have said they will go out and protest, many are "are scared to death".

She also says there may be a case of "Arab envy" among some anti-government Iranians.

With events in Egypt and Tunisia in mind, it seems that there has been a renewed interest in the opposition movement in Iran - at least in the expatriate community - but while interest outside the country might be a reflection of the mood within Iran's borders, it will not necessarily translate to action there.

"It's easy to raise your fist from behind the veil of the laptop," said Niknejad.

Vested interests

While deposed leaders such as Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian president who fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14, have often fled abroad, Niknejad says she cannot see the same happening to Iran's leadership should any uprising be successful.

"I can't imagine Mr Khamenei (Iran's supreme leader) going to a Swiss cottage to live out the rest of his days," she said.

Niknejad said the establishment in Iran will "fight tooth and nail" to remain in power and that it seems unlikely that they would have safe havens outside the country.

The powerful Revolutionary Guard in Iran has a major financial stake in Iran, one far greater than even the Egyptian military.

It is heavily invested in Iran's economy, including petroleum development, construction, weapons manufacturing, communication system, and as a result it has been specifically targeted by international sanctions on Iran.

Niknejad also points out that compared to Iranian security forces, who "beat Iranians to a pulp" in the 2009 protests, the military in Egypt - where journalists were still able to enter and talk to people at the height of the unrest - was relatively benign.

"Egypt on a bad day is better than Iran is on a good day," she said.

I didn't mean "replay" as

moat — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:10:19 +0000

In reply to The events in Egypt must look

I didn't mean "replay" as another chance to establish a theocracy but another time when an authoritarian regime was being cut off. I appreciate your links emphasizing that many Egyptians are hoping to avoid what has waylaid others.

When you have the Muslim Brotherhood wanting to distance themselves as far as possible from the language of the mullahs, it says there is a different center of gravity to what is happening in Egypt than what happened in Iran. The Iranian government is probably undermining their own legitimacy by making such a point to control the message.

The events in Egypt must look

artappraiser — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 03:43:49 +0000

In reply to This is a very interesting

The events in Egypt must look like a replay of Iran's break from the Shah that brought Khomeini into power.

The situation is that mullahs are trying to frame it that way and the opposition disagrees. They are doubling down on the crackdown of the planners for the Green "solidarity with Egypt" event that has been requested since February 5, and pushed instead for everyone to attend the revolutionary anniversay celebrations today, to show how the majority agrees with them and not the Greens.

Iran's experience must also influence the unfolding events in Egypt

Well, one thing that already happened, more than a week ago, is that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood basically said "screw you" to Khamenei trying to get them to agree to sell the Egyptian revolution as sympatico with Iranian program for theocracy for the ummah.