Gathering the news about Iran's 2009 National election in one place.

Basij

Iran Revolutionary Guards Amass Power While Backing Ahmadinejad

Posted Mon, 2009-06-29 11:00 by IRelec09

Iran Revolutionary Guards Amass Power While Backing Ahmadinejad: Via Bloomberg.com .

(Bloomberg) -- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, whose forces helped President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suppress street protests over his disputed re-election, may be among the biggest winners as he moves to consolidate power.

A guards-controlled paramilitary force called the Basij, as well as police, violently quelled protests by supporters of presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who said Ahmadinejad’s re-election was rigged. Seventeen demonstrators and eight Basij died in the protests, according to state-run media.

Guards officials, having backed Ahmadinejad, may now cement their economic power, said Alireza Nader, an analyst at the Rand Corp. in Arlington, Virginia. They already control more than 100 companies in the construction, real estate and energy industries, he said.

“They are the praetorian guards created to protect the revolution,” said Nader, who helped write a study of the guards for the U.S. defense secretary’s office that was published in January. “Now they want to protect their own economic interest.”
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Shirin Ebadi: Iranian Authorities Must Void Elections to Restore Peace on Streets

Posted Thu, 2009-06-18 17:34 by IRelec09

Shirin Ebadi: Iranian Authorities Must Void Elections to Restore Peace on Streets: by Shirin Ebad (Iranian human rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner) Via HuffingtonPost.com.

On Monday, June 15, more than 1 million people marched in the streets of Tehran to support Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi -- two defeated presidential candidates -- and to object to the results of last week's election. Their destination was Azadi Square (Freedom Square) which, at the time of the Islamic Revolution 30 years ago, had been the gathering spot for revolutionaries. Mir Hossein Moussavi climbed on top of a minibus and spoke to the people through a loudspeaker. He told them to continue their objections but refrain from aggressive behavior, in order not to give security forces an excuse to resort to violence.

Peaceful demonstrations ended, and while people were slowly dispersing to go home, suddenly, from the rooftop of a building belonging to Basij (the volunteer people's militia), shots were fired on the people. Another group started firing from another direction. Based on reports, there are seven killed and around 30 wounded and hospitalized thus far.

Basij operates under the guidance and supervision of the Revolutionary Guards of the Islamic Republic. It was created after the revolution, and its sole duty is to maintain and safeguard the government. Although volunteers, Basij members enjoy many privileges. They do not wear military uniforms but have the right to carry weapons and police communication equipment.
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