GVF — Just days before the national day for journalists, Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard met with Iranian journalists and praised the role of journalists in raising the public’s awareness in post-election Iran and described those active in the media as people whose aim was to “enlighten”.
During the meeting which came days after prisoner in solitary confinement at Evin prison went on hunger strike, Mousavi said, “our voice must reach our friends in prison who are on hunger strike in order to demand their [most]fundamental rights, and they have to know that the Green Movement, freedom-seekers and all the nation support them in their quest to achieve their goals.”
“The presence of so many journalists in prison is unfortunate and very meaningful and demonstrates that raising awareness is harmful for a special group [in power]. The number of journalists imprisoned shows the righteousness of the path chosen by the Green Movement, because a portion of the public that is aware, wise and justice-seeking is being held in prison for opposing the regeneration of tyranny.”
The former prime minister described “seeking justice, freedom and the rule of law” as the most important keywords among Iranians since the start of the constitutional reform and added that the least amount of attention had been given to actually making power conditional and constraining it. “The experiences of the past year prove that our current most important demand is to set conditions for power and if we succeed to do so, many of the country’s fundamental problems will be resolved.”
“Today, the price being paid by journalist [in prison]is due to the fact that as pillars, information and raising awareness are the most important tools for restricting power,” Mousavi said, while adding that the sensitivity towards journalism and media was because they had “targeted the country’s main concern.”
“It seems that as the Green Movement focuses more on political concerns, its emphasis is more than ever before on the issue of freedom of expression,” he said, while stating that the authorities did not accept “free elections and the full implementation of the constitution” was because of its role in limiting power and authorities. “This is why it’s not accepted [by those in power].”
Referring to Ahmadinejad’s strong willingness and enthusiasm to speak to foreign leaders, Mousavi continued, “It seems that for some of the people currently involved in decision-making, it is easier to speak to foreigners, give concessions [to them], make trivial advances and to retreat rather than realising the people’s rights, returning to the law and making way [for a resolution].”
The 2009 presidential candidate argued that only countries capable of controlling power would be able to succeed. “We have not been able to tame power,” he said. “We are constantly asked to fully obey the words of someone, despite the fact that such a thing does not exist [and is unacceptable]in Islam and the Islamic Revolution did not seek such a thing. Imam [Khomeini] himself said numerous times that there is no [such thing as]being ruled by an individual, there is no [such thing as]being ruled by jurisprudence, there is no [such thing as]being ruled by a president, there is only the rule of law. Law is defined by the ways in which it limits power and sets conditions for it.”
National unity, nation’s interest & independence
“The Green Movement must be able to live, in order to triumph,” said the Movement’s leader while warning against any action that would increase pressure on the Movement by positioning the organised military and security forces against the people. “It is harmful for the Movement and must be avoided.” Mousavi mentioned the recent crackdowns in Thailand saying that “a widespread, extensive and all-out clampdown will cause this righteous movement to suffer setback. Thus, persistence on peaceful aspects [of the struggle]has been essential and it is the best way for realising the people’s righteous demands.”
The veteran reformist added, “Our main goals are setting constraints for power, achieving justice and liberation, reviving fundamental values and moving towards a society in which force and threats cease to exist. This requires times, and a year is not a long time for obtaining these goals. Nevertheless the awareness amongst the public has become widespread in the past year. In my opinion, when a good idea is born properly, its victory is certain and I believe that the idea for change has been born in the country.”
At the same time, Mousavi maintained that the country’s concerns were not only related to the Green Movement’s success in materialising its goals. “Preserving national unity, the nation’s long-term interests and the harmony and unity of the people are among the country’s fundamental concerns which create a commitment for the Movement as well as those working in this field, to avoid taking any impulsive actions.”
“We don’t believe that the Green Movement’s victory should come at any cost and we want the country and [its]national interests to be protected. We are not under any circumstances happy or pleased about these sanctions and international pressures.”
Iran’s prime minister in the 80s also raised the issue of his resignation in 1989: “Back then, I had warned about the harm which came as a result of extremism and adventurism on the international stage and I believe that we have never suffered as a result of returning to principles and standing by fundamental values in both foreign and domestic policy. The damages [to the country]have mostly been due to ignorance and adventurism.”
A Kuwaiti plane was Hijacked
“A day after Saddam’s [chemical]assault on Halabja, we went there and saw those horrific scenes from close-up. After inviting journalists and publishing films and images [of the massacre], global atmosphere changed slightly in our favour in public opinion. At exactly the same time—and I am not saying who did it or how—a plane was hijacked and [the hijackers]wanted to land at [Tehran’s] Mehrabad airport. We told our friends to close off the airspace and this plane went to Mashhad. This position was indefensible for us and inflicted damages against us.”
He continued: “But in my opinion, raising these issues in detail is only needed when it is in the interest of the Green Movement. We must attract forces and bring together all those who care about the [Islamic] Revolution regardless of their style and views. For us it is important to have reasonable principlists in favour of pushing the country in the right direction at our side and to tell them that we [all]have a common goal and word and that is to make reforms.”
Mousavi explained that the wave of attacks against the performance of his administration in the 80s was organised and part of a broader “project” and said that they were aimed at “distorting history”. “I’ve even heard someone saying that if the government had provided us with its resources, we would have been able to conquer Baghdad in the fifth year [of the eight-year war]which is in no way true. I have hinted that [spreading lies about]such issues must be contained, otherwise, if they continue, we have a lot of untold stories from that time.”
While discussing the events of the Islamic Revolution’s first decade of existence, Mousavi said, “I have said many times that that era was not with its faults and shortcomings. But with the environment they [the authorities]have created, all of the revolution’s thirty-year achievements are disregarded and this is very dangerous.”
“One can discuss all the ambiguities, even the vettings in the beginning of the revolution. I witnessed how the government of Mr Bazargan [head of Iran’s interim government]excluded itself from the country’s [top]management with its own hands. I closely witnessed the events in the Council of Revolution. I was friends with him and members of the Freedom Movement. Many of the people who were considered by the interim government to be its enemies were [actually]trying to prevent its breakup.”
Mousavi continued, “After Mr Bazargan’s resignation, Mr Beheshti [slain head of judiciary]announced that ‘the names of the new Revolution Council members were to be announced and I intend to strongly insist to Imam [Khomeini] that his [Bazargan’s] name remains in the list.’ This was at a time when newspapers affiliated with him [Bazargan] were saying that Beheshti was destined for hell and I still remember those [newspaper]titles. He [Beheshti] was the person who went to Imam [Khomeini] and insisted that he appoint Bazargan [as a member of the Council].”
He also urged all sides not to see and analyse the events of that era through a single lens and to examine each development for itself. Mousavi recalled the difficult environment with which the revolution had to cope with in its early days in areas such as Iran’s Kurdistan, Khuzestan and the ports of Torkaman and Langeh. “One must see and understand these environments [in their context]. In general, I defend the overall principles and values brought about at the beginning of the revolution and the people’s movement.”
During the meeting, the war-time prime minister was also asked numerous questions about the 1988 mass executions of prisoners with alleged ties to leftist groups and supporters of the terrorist group the People’s Mujahedin of Iran.
“The issue of [the executions of]1988 must be considered in its historical context and then we must ask if the government did indeed have any information in this regard? Did it have a role to play? Was it even capable of intervening? Is there any name of the government in any of the rulings and documents? The government hasn’t had a role in this issue. Many others were also unaware of this. But I also have my constraints for discussing the issue with its details.”
Mousavi also called for frank approach towards reality when recalling past events. “The strength of the Green Movement is in its creativity; it is in calling white, what is white and to call black, what is black. We do not accept what is bad, but if someone decides to keep silent, this does not mean that they agree with it and we must respect the people’s right [to remain silent].”
“In the days when I offered my resignation, the text [of the resignation]was published, but the general public showed no reaction towards the hijacking. Perhaps this is due to the fact that at the time, it was socially desirable. This means that we must pay more attention to the history of our own Islamic Revolution.”
In the end, the much admired politician stressed that the issue of the parliament’s independence and free elections were “key demands” and called for perseverance in making clear demands in order to help resolve the problems faced by the country.