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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1982)
Page 2 Portland Observer, July 21, 1982 Council opposes Khomeini Submitted by the Moslem Student Society (Oregon Chapter! to justify Khomeini’s crimes by call ing him ’ ’ p o p u la r” ; on the other hand, the people’s front consists o f all progressive, popular and nation alist forces and individuals. women in every legal, political and social aspect (including equality in Undoubtedly, the 1979 Uprising elections); freedom fo r all groups was one o f the most m agnificent and parties, and in particular for na and important turning points in the tional and religious minorities, and history o f the Iranian people’ s upholding their rights to publicize A fte r June 20th, the need for a struggles. The social, p olitical and their ideas; and most important o f group qualified to organize and di also international situation allowed all, freedom and national indepen rect the opposition became evident. the people to end the Shah’s years o f dence. In foreign policy matters, the This alternative had to be able to brutal dictatorship in a very short C ouncil’ s program is indicative o f face and even defeat Khomeini's po period. just relations and mutual coexist litical and military system. Thus, the There were two m ajor conse ence internationally and regionally People’ s Mojahedin Organization quences o f the socio-economic re in the framework o f preservation o f o f Iran, as the most organized and strictions as well as the use o f so independence. In addition, it advo popular force in society, initiated phisticated security and police sys cates respect fo r all international the form ation o f such a front. The tems. First, the young democratic laws and diplom atic regulations as form ation o f the National Council forces who were the genuine leaders well as a policy o f non-intervention o f Resistance was enthusiastically o f the movement were either de in the internal affairs o f others and received by organizations, groups, stroyed or imprisoned. Second, the also condemnation o f all racist and individuals and guilds. Because o f people became more w illin g to ac fascist policies. the presence o f the Mojahedin as a cept any alternative to the Shah. It The Council has taken it upon it pivotal point, and the joining o f va was in these circumstances that self to establish a democratic atmo rious other forces such as the Kurd Khomeini was able to take over the sphere to stage free elections fo r a ish Democratic Party (which today leadership. Constitutional Assembly, as well as is the most popular and powerful re The people’ s experience o f years to uphold all international regula gional force, enjoying the support o f severe to rtu re , executions, and tions concerning such elections. Du o f over 80 per cent o f the Kurdish repression and their hatred for the ration o f the Provisional Govern people), as well as the presence o f Shah to a great extent turned into ment's as well as the Council’s rule is other personalities, professors, and hope and support fo r the new re specified to be no longer than six national and religious intellectuals gime. It should be noted that one of months (after the downfall o f Kho who have political, social and inter the most important factors that had meini’s regime) and all offices such national recognition, such as Dr. caused the defeat o f the previous as the Presidency or Prime Minister- Bani-Sadr, the Council became es Iranian movements was the people’s ship are thus temporary. sentially the only alternative which loss o f hope in and support for the The significance o f the Council as threatens Khomeini, both m ilitarily leadership. Unfortunately, this time the only lib e ra to r o f the Iranian and p o litic a lly . In fact, the day too, this b itte r experience was re- people becomes clear when the Kho when this dictatorial rule is replaced pearted in the case o f Khomeini. meini regime is viewed in an eco w ith a dem ocratic alternative is From the first day he took power, nomical as well as a social context. drawing near. Khomeini began to divert the course Economically, Iran is totally bank Since the formation o f the Coun o f the re vo lu tio n , which was rupt. This is illustrated by its five cil, the overthrow o f Khomeini’s re nothing but social freedoms and na m illio n unemployed people, the gime is now ensured. This can best tional sovereignty. His pursuit o f in fo u r m illio n refugees o f war, the be illustra ted by the fact that be dividual freedoms, the banning o f stagnation o f 60 per cent o f the in tween 50 and 100 resistance opera all opposition newspapers, the at dustry, millions o f dollars in dam tions are carried out every day tacks on various meetings to sup ages caused by the war, and corrup against the regime and those respon press the progressive forces, and the tion in all levels o f government. Im sible for the genocide, thus dealing destruction o f all avenues for socio ports which have risen by 85 per strategic and fatal blows to the re economic development, resulted in cent compared to last year have gime. the to ta l alienation o f his regime created a disastrous budget deficit. A t the same tim e, the Iranian fro m the people and their goals. In fact, in order to obtain enough Armed Forces are in no way suppor Gradually, signs o f a horrifying dic foreign currency, the regime has tive o f Khomeini; on the contrary, tatorship began to emerge. been forced to sell 150 tons o f its according to the regime’s own statis Eventually, the people’s least de gold and to print two billion dollars tics, over 40 per cent o f the Armed mands, such as the right to openly in paper money. A ll this has created Forces’ personnel support the M oja express their protests or to w rite an in fla tio n rate o f over 300 per hedin and the Council. The opposi the ir opposing views, were not cent. tion in the army has been clearly evi tolerated at all. By opening fire on A t the same time, the regime has dent in recent weeks. According to a the people’ s half-a-m illion-strong lost all o f its credibility internation statement by the office o f the Peo peaceful demonstration on June 20, ally, especially because o f its doc p le ’ s M ojahedin in Paris, several 1982, Khomeini broke his last ties trine o f “ exporting the revolution” m ilitary garrisons (such as Lavizan with the people. From then on, his in the region. In effect, Khomeini’s and Lahooti), have been disarmed policies were nothing but the contin regime is at the peak o f its social iso by the revolutionary personnel sup uation o f the Shah’s savage policies lation both inside Iran and interna porters o f the Mojahedin. In some o f torture and execution. Since June tio n a lly, condemned by almost all cases, the high ranking officers and 20, 1982, over 15,000 people have progressive organizations and those personnel responsible fo r many been executed. On the average, supportive o f human rights and de massacres were eliminated by revo Khomeini has executed one person tested by the m ajority o f the people lutionaries. On the other hand, con every 25 minutes during the past ten o f the w o rld . It has been only sidering the social aspects, the wide months. Am ong them have been through the most inhumane and op spread strikes in large factories children, old people, and even preg pressive measures and by using a po (such as Iran N ational, Pars Elec nant women. Despite their small lice system unprecedented in our tric, Shiraz Cement) in support o f capacity, Shah-built prisons are now history that Khomeini has been able the Council are yet another sign o f lite ra lly packed w ith over 45,000 to prolong his fast decaying rule. In the Council’ s legitimacy and popu prisoners. Such overcrowding along ternationally, he has used the war lar support. with the practice o f the most brutal w ith Iraq as the scapegoat fo r the kinds o f torture, such as burning, economic disaster and the in s titu Today, the prospectó for a demo m utilation, flogging, repeated rape tionalized repression. Yet, consider cratic Iran are evident in the Plat o f imprisoned girls and women even ing the socio-political situation in form o f the C o u n cil, which was im m ediately p rio r to their execu Iran, the people’s extreme dissatis drawn up by a collection o f the peo tio n , and other inhuman tortures factio n w ith and hatred fo r K ho ple’s trusted representatives. Today, have made the conditions at the pri meini and his crim inal regime, and contrary to the bitter experience o f sons virtually inconceivable. considering the m ilita ry , p olitical the past, an alternative has emerged A fter June 20, 1981, there are two and social base and power o f the al that has a detailed democratic and d is tin c t sides in Ira n . On the one ternative, the National Council o f progressive program. hand, there is Khomeini with all his Resistance, and the widespread in followers as well as the traitorous in This program ensures democracy ternational support it has received, dividuals and forces, such as the and freedom fo r a ll in d ivid u a ls, the fa ll o f K hom eini’ s destructive pro-Moscow Tudeh Party, who try including freedom and equality for regime is now imminent. County pushes dog licenses Portland-area residents w ill have the opportunity to buy licenses for their pets without stepping out the door in a new project in itia ted by M ultnom ah County A nim al Con trol. Starting August 1, special Animal Control vendors w ill be canvassing selected neighborhoods to sell l i censes and inform residents about the agency’ s services. The door-to- door canvassing is part o f a $43,000 pilot project designed to increase the number o f licensed dogs and to edu cate citizens about A nim al C on tro l’s adoption, spay and neuter and lost pet services. Multnomah County Animal Con tro l provides those and other ser vices for the entire County, includ ing the cities o f Portland, Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale and Maywood Park. The six-member team w ill work starting August 1 through October 31. They are expected to visit 15,000 households and are hoping to sell a m inim um o f 5,000 dog and cat l i censes. < Many persons are unaware it is an land, bounded by St. Johns Avenue, ow ner’ s re sp o n sib ility (as well as C olum bia and Lom bard. (5) East law) to license a pet, Anim al Con C ounty, bounded by NE 162nd, trol Betsy Williams said. Halsey, and 181st and Stark. “ We realize that in spite o f our Ms. W illiam s said about 40,000 continuous efforts at educating peo dog licenses are sold each year in ple about the benefits o f licensing Multnomah County, providing pets and the extent o f animal problems w ith guaranteed medical care if in our community, there are still far brought to the shelter. Also, l i too many people we haven’ t censed pets, when found, w ill be reached,” she said. “ This is proven held a minimum o f six days. by the fact that we are still forced to “ The license tag, firm ly attached euthanize anywhere from 500 to to a collar, enables us to trace the 1,000 unclaimed or unwanted pets owner through the number, often each month. We’ re hoping that this with just a phone call,” she said. educational e ffo rt w ill reduce that Dog owners who would like to number.” take advantage o f the door-to-door License vendors w ill spend ap license purchase are asked to have a proximately 2*/i weeks in each area, current rabies vaccination certificate listed below in the order visited: (1) available and p ro o f o f spay or S ellw ood/M oreland, bounded by neuter. M cloughlin Boulevard, Bybee, the Cost o f dog licenses are $5 fo r W illam ette River and the M u ltn o spayed or neutered dogs and $15 for mah C ounty Line. (2) Northeast fertile dogs. Cat licenses (optional) P ortla n d , bounded by NE 33rd are $3. Avenue, Tillamook, 50th and Burn M ore in fo rm a tio n is available side. (3) Southeast Portland, bound from the Multnom ah County A n i ed by SE 52nd Avenue, Woodstock, mal C ontrol pet licensing project, 72nd and Flavel. (4) N orth P o rt 667-4023. NOW M A N Y OF TRAILWAYS LOW FARES SLASHED 5O%! Trailways keeps lowering the cost of travel We've just slashed many of our fares up to 50% — which proves Trailways will not be undersold Guaranteed! You can ride Big Red to: SEA TTLE SA N F R A N C IS C O LO S A N G E L E S $ 8.70 $55.00 $69.00 And you can take advantage of these extraordinary savings on every seat, every bus, every day So don't be confused about what s the cheapest way to travel. If you really want the rock bottom, cheapest way to travel, the lowest fare anywhere, there's still only one way to go. Go Big Red. Go Trailways. 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