From Green To Crimson

So far, in the wake of the scandal that was the Iranian presidential election, the protests have been very large, ongoing, and largely nonviolent. To an almost unbelievable extent – to me at least – the supporters of Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh have held themselves in check and maintain a stance of non-violence, despite being attacked, beaten, arrested, and killed by paramilitary forces loyal to Ahmedinajab.

Sadly, as of today, June 19, 2009, that is most likely going to either change or the protesters will have to slink home in utter defeat.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, Enemy of Mankind
Ayatollah Khamenei demands Green Revolution to end — or else!

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first public appearance since the debacle of the elections and the beginnings of the protests inaptly called Green Revolution by Western media sources, threatened the protesters with reprisals and violence if they did not cease their efforts and be silent.

From The Nation (Abu Dhabi):

TEHRAN // Iran’s Supreme Leader has sternly warned protesters of an assault if they continue massive demonstrations demanding a new election. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sided with the hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and offered no concessions to the opposition. He effectively closed any chance for a new vote by calling the June 12 election an “absolute victory”.

The speech created a stark choice for candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and his supporters: drop their demands for a new vote or take to the streets again in blatant defiance of the man endowed with virtually limitless powers under Iran’s constitution.

Mr Mousavi and his supporters have staged massive street rallies in recent days that have posed the greatest challenge to the Iran’s Islamic ruling system since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought it to power. So far, the government has not stopped the protests with force despite an official ban on them. But Mr Khamenei opened the door for harsher measures.

“It must be determined at the ballot box what the people want and what they don’t want, not in the streets,” he said. “I call on all to put an end to this method. … If they don’t, they will be held responsible for the chaos and the consequences.”

Mr Khamenei accused foreign media and western countries of trying to create a political rift and stir up chaos in Iran.

“Some of our enemies in different parts of the world intended to depict this absolute victory, this definitive victory, as a doubtful victory,” he said. “It is your victory. They cannot manipulate it.”

Mr Khamenei blamed the US, Britain and what he called Iran’s other enemies for fomenting unrest. He said Iran would not see a second revolution like those that transformed the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Mr Khamenei said the street protests would not have any impact. “Some may imagine that street action will create political leverage against the system and force the authorities to give in to threats. No, this is wrong,” he said.

Sadly for those in Iran who are protesting the “irregularities” of Ahmedinajab’s supposed reelection the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei probably isn’t bluffing or making overmuch of his threat against them. He, his pet dog, Ahmedinajab, the Iranian Republican Guard, and the paramilitary enforcers known in Iran as the Basij are most likely quite willing to use extreme and widespread violence to quell the Green Revolution.

So this so-called Green Revolution that has Ayatollah Ali Khamenei so scared and outraged is likely left with two equally unpalatable choices: end it, go home and accept the chains placed upon them by Khamenei and Ahmedinajab, or have the Green Revolution turn to crimson – the sticky, cloying crimson of blood in streets.

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4 Responses to “From Green To Crimson”

  1. Kay Says:

    *shakes head* so sad, I believe the protestors are going to have to be willing to mix blood with blood because a dictatorship knows nothing else.

  2. jonolan Says:

    If they want to change things, or even just redress this one issue, you’re right; they’ll have to be willing shed blood – their own and their opposition’s.

    I doubt that it’ll happen though. One, the people protesting are the educated professionals and the merchants. These groups have a lot to loose so it’s hard for them to commit to revolution. Two, many of these people remember the nightmare that followed in the wake of the last revolution in Iran. They’d likely choose oppression over protracted deadly chaos.

  3. Taracarolyna Says:

    Those who want freedom, must understand that freedom is not free. There are some governments that peaceful public disobedience will work on, unfortunately I do not feel this is one of them. I think there best course of action would be to remain peaceful for as long as possible, hopefully long enough to force the making of a martyr. During that time they should secure arms and ammunition, because they are going to need it.

  4. jonolan Says:

    I agree with you, Taracarolyna, but I don’t hold out much hope for the reasons I stated above in my reply to Kay’s comment.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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