Sunday, June 21, 2009

Khatami's statement (June 21): there is still a time to get out of this mess!

(please forgive typos and grammatical errors, in RUSH before running to work, feel free to edit and cross post. Persian text below)

In the name of God, the kind and the merciful,
People's participation is one of the grand achievements of the Islamic Revolution, which must be guarded and expanded. This magnificent presence, from all sectors and all ages and all professions, has a clear message that the people are the rightful owners of the country and teh revolution. This message must be heard today; their silent protest and civil manners during these protests is an evidence of their maturity, vigilance and responsibility and it also reflects this unequivocal fact that the people are entitled to basic and specific rights that any government is obliged to respect. Provocative and insulting propaganda against a people who have always acted independently, and blaming their rightful movement to foreigners is in itself a sign of implementing wrong politics that cause further alienation of the people from the government.

In Iran, an election was held and massive crowds of honorable people who participated in epical proportions dispute these results and are protesting it. Public trust is damaged, and to close the doors of civic protest to them is to open dangerous paths, that only god knows where will lead to.

People's rights must be protected, and while provisioning measures to prevent chaos and instability (which is far from the intentions of the people), expensive and damaging tactics such as military confrontation and violence must be put aside. We all need to mobilize to repair public trust, which is the principle basis of the government and the state.

Beating and intimidation which was sadly manifested on Saturday, and the wave of arrests of men and women and political and cultural elite of the country, starting from a few hours after announcing the results of the election until now, and prevention of peaceful gatherings which testify to high culture of compatriots adds to the problems.

Opportunities are passing quickly and are turning into threats, while I believe that paths to get out of this chaos are not closed yet, and do not need turning the atmosphere into a military and security one.

To refer people's complaints to sources who are themselves under public scrutiny is not the solution. In opening this knot, why don't we look at Imam [khomeini]'s solutions in similar situations [actually Imam did exactly what these fascists are doing now!!! He just killed the young men and women in Evin Prison, in hidden from public's eye executions!!] 

Assigning a just, competent, impartial and brave delegation which is respected by the protesters, and also opening the channels of communication, which are unfortunately all closed, can soften the atmosphere.

On the other hand, we must protect people's right to civic protest and criticism. Denouncing violence and changing the atmosphere of hatred and animosity based on accusations to a new atmosphere based on truth, friendship and interaction with one another must be prioritized. It is in that case, that in spite of any cost, the regime and all its values will remain safe. People are present and are waiting, we have to respect their presence.

[some verse of koran, I think it means: do as much as you can to improve and your success is but with God.]

Seyed Mohammad Khatami, 21 June 2009 

حضور مردم در صحنه از دست آوردهای بزرگ انقلاب اسلامی است که باید آن را پاس داشت و راههای آن را گشاده تر کرد. این حضور شکوهمند از همه بخش ها و گروههای سنی و صنفی در ایران یک پیام روشن دارد که مردم صاحب کشور و انقلاب اند. این پیام را امروز نیز باید دریافت؛ سکوت اعتراضی و رفتار مدنی مردم در راهپیماییها هم نشانه رشد و بیداری و مسؤولیت پذیری مردم است و هم حکایتگر این واقعیت انکار ناپذیر است که مردم دارای حقوق اساسی و مشخص هستند که هر نظامی موظف به رعایت آنهاست. تبلیغات تحریک کننده و اهانت آمیز نسبت به مردم که همواره مستقل عمل کرده اند و انتساب حرکت سالم آنان به بیگانگان خود جلوه ای از اعمال سیاست های نادرست است که سبب دورتر شدن مردم از حکومت می شود.
در ایران انتخاباتی برگزار شده است و انبوهی از مردمان بزرگوار که آن حماسه حضور را آفریدند نتیجه اعلام شده را باور ندارند و به آن معترض اند. اعتماد عمومی در این زمینه لطمه دیده است و بستن راه اعتراض مدنی به روی مردم به معنی گشودن راههای خطرناکی است که خدا می داند به کدام سرانجام برسد.
باید حق مردم را پاس داشت و در عین تدبیر در برابر هرگونه تشنج و تشنج آفرینی و ناامنی (که از ساحت مردم به دور است) باید از شیوه های پرهزینه و زیانبار برای نظام و مردم از جمله مقابله نظامی و خشونت فاصله گرفت و همگان در جهت ترمیم اعتماد عمومی که پشتوانه اصلی نظام و کشور است برآییم و حرکت کنیم.
ضرب و جرح و ارعاب که نمونه تأسف آور آن را در روز شنبه شاهد بودیم و موجی از دستگیری از زنان و مردان و نخبگان سیاسی و فرهنگی کشور از اولین ساعات اعلام نتایج تاکنون و ممانعت از اجتماعات آرام و باوقار مردم که از نشانه های فرهنگ بالای هموطنان است، مشکلات را افزون می کند.
فرصت ها به سرعت می گذرد و به تهدید تبدیل می شود، در حالی که بر این باورم که هنوز راه رهایی از این وضعیت آشفته بسته نیست و نیازی به امنیتی کردن و نظامی کردن فضا ندارد.
ارجاع امر به مرجع یا مراجعی که باید حافظ حقوق مردم و مجری انتخابات سالم و آزاد و ناظر بر آن باشند، ولی خود مورد انتقاد و شکایت اند راه حل مسأله نیست.
در بازگشایی این گره چرا نگاهی به روش و سیرت حضرت امام (ره) نداریم که در موارد مشابه بوده است و می تواند و باید مورد تأسی و اهتمام قرار گیرد.
تعیین هیأتی عادل، کاردان، بیطرف و شجاع که به ویژه مورد اعتماد معترضان هم باشد و پذیرش داوری منصفانه آن هیأت راهی برای عبور از این مرحله و گامی مثبت در جهت تقویت نظام و بازسازی اعتماد عمومی و نیز نشانه تصمیم گیری خطیر و گره گشا در هنگامه های حساس به نفع مردم و در جهت آرمانهای انقلاب است.
آزادی سریع دستگیر شدگان و زندانیهایی که موجب نگرانی عمیق خانواده های آنان و بسیاری از مردم شده است و نیز بازکردن راههای ارتباطی و اطلاع رسانی که متأسفانه همه را بسته اند می تواند فضای جامعه را تلطیف کند.
از سوی دیگر اعتراض و انتقاد به شیوه مدنی و به دور از هرگونه ناآرامی را که حق مسلم مردم است باید همگان پاس داریم.
نفی خشونت و تغییر فضاسازی کین توزانه و دشمن آفرین و مبتنی بر تهمت و افترا به فضای جدید مبتنی بر حقیقت، به محبت و دوستی و تعامل با یکدیگر نیز باید سرلوحه عمل قرار گیرد.
در این صورت است که هر هزینه ای که پرداخت شود نظام با همه ارزشهایش مصون و محفوظ خواهد ماند.
مردم حضور دارند و همچنان در انتظارند، این حضور را باید محترم شمرد.
ان ارید الا الاصلاح ما استطعت و ما توفیقی الا بالله * علیه توکلت و الیه انیب

سید محمد خاتمی
31 خرداد 1388 

6 comments:

David said...

Former President Khatami is trying to appeal to reason. I would expect nothing less from him. I have always had the impression that he is a reasonable man. However, there is no reason in the behavior of the dictators of the regime. They are acting out of fear and paranoia. Unfortunately, I think that reasonable appeals will only fall on deaf ears in the halls of power in Iran.

A short time ago, I saw on CNN that former President Rafsanjani's daughter has been arrested. The regime is holding his daughter hostage to blackmail him into submission. I hope his daughter will not be harmed, but I also hope that he will have the courage to do what must be done. The Council of Experts must be convinced to vote Khamenei out of his position as Supreme Leader. His actions are profoundly immoral and he must be made to answer for them.

Anonymous said...

David:

Why did you guys not remove from power Mr. Clinton who massacared 84 defenseless human beingts in Waco?

Who are you to tell us how to live and lead our lives?

Clean-up your own country.

pen Name

Don Durito said...

Comparisons between the Iranian leadership's handling of what is a popular revolt and the US Clinton regime's handling of the Branch Davidians in 1993 is like comparing apples and fruit roll-ups. The Branch Davidians were a fringe right-wing "Christian" extremist group living in an armed compound outside Waco TX, who fit the profile of other right-wing terrorist groups (the early to mid 1990s were the peak of the "militia movement" in the US). David Koresh was no reformist opposition leader, nor would he have had the backing of the US equivalent to Iran's clerics. Nor were there questions of fraud stemming the 1992 election that brought Clinton into office. It also would be a bit late to demand that Clinton step down from office, given that his last term ended in 2000. I'd love to see someone organize a march to demand Clinton's retroactive resignation though - perhaps "pen name" shall volunteer to do so.

Ali said...

Thanks for the translation, Hope for better days.

Anonymous said...

Don Durito:

Are you stating that because the Branch Davidians were a "fringe right-wing "Christian" extremist group living in an armed compound" they deserved what happened to them?

My point is clear - Ws Clinton responsible for their deaths or not? If not him, who was?

And I have not yet brought out the Abu Gharib, Hidden Prisons, Torture etc. that were approved at the highest levels of your government.

Clean up your own country before coming to us telling us how to live our lives.

pen Name

Naj said...

Don Durito: :)) Good idea!

Thanks for your visit, welcome to neo-resistance :)