SMS: Crisis in Iran

Fri, 06/26/2009 1:06 PM  |  Reader's Forum

The Iran protest over the election result showed that the reformist side, led by Mousavi, was not ready for a real democracy; although they stated there had been election fraud, the Guardian Council found no evidence of such. Therefore, the arrest of the protesters was done to safeguard Iranian democracy.

Bimo Bayuaji

Salatiga, Central Java

The use of live ammunition on unarmed civilians under any circumstances is indefensible. So-called foreign interests were not roaming the streets of Tehran in balaclavas and full riot kit, mercilessly bashing and murdering unarmed men, women and youths. Increasingly, it seems that the term militia is synonymous with thuggery, murder, cowardice and corruption.

To suggest that foreigners are behind the unrest and disenchantment with the regime, in a country where foreigners could be counted on the fingers of two hands, is as an absurd notion as to suggest that the desperately needed and welcomed regime change in Indonesia in 1998 was precipitated by foreigners.

To support the murder of innocent civilians in Tehran is as abhorrent as the support of the murder of Munir or the Trisakti University students.

Iain Edwards

Jakarta

The international media is certainly biased where Iran is concerned. Why were there no similar reports about Zimbabwe and Myanmar when turmoil took place there? What about North Korea? Why is there no international coverage at all?

Foreign reporters have slipped into Myanmar and have smuggled news to the outside world. Why is nobody doing it in Zimbabwe or North Korea? The same tyrants are still in power and the international world is not doing anything to alleviate the situation.

Is it because two of these countries are not oil-rich and do not have nuclear technology? Look what outside interference has done to Iraq. The country is still suffering, without any positive development or outcome, and the problems there have only escalated.

Iranians living abroad should return to their own country and help find a solution. Shouting and criticizing from the outside is doing more harm to the people who live inside the country.

The West is afraid of Iran and its nuclear power and is now using the Iran crisis as a means to use this to their advantage. Leave Iran alone and let them solve their own problems. Once again, I wish to emphasize that nuclear technology is not the monopoly of the West.

Lynna

Bogor, West Java

I would like to respond to a comment which said that the people were not mature enough to face the election result.

So tell me, what do you know about Iranian people and their maturity? What do you know about Iranian society? I'll bet you know nothing more than what the propagandists feed you.

People know who they voted for and want their votes to be counted, which is their right. They want their voice to be heard.

For your information, in article 15 of Iran's constitution people have the right to demonstrate peacefully but, yet again, this fanatical, radical Islamic regime is suppressing its people and taking away this right by banning demonstrations.

So please, before being quick to judge on something about which you have no clue, get your facts straight.

I didn't vote for Mousavi or the green movement, so I am not taking sides here. However, frankly, I support their rights and I would like to help them get their voice heard.

Fariborz Shamshiri

Tehran

You can fool some of the people all the time. But you can't fool all of the people all the time. Change happens, with or without rocks and tear gas.

Colin

Kuta, Bal

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