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.
Call Trailways for more information
228-8571
fisff
IfêinSS,
butch m ar
H a ir D e s ig n f o r M e n Si W o m e n
Haircolor Specialist
Did you know Butch Coors is the hair color expert,
w ith 10 years experience. He did the blonde on
Kathy Lee Crosby, and the red on Vicki Lawrence,
Carol Burnett s side-kick.. .so he can do your color
tool
Special Colors at
Special Prices
Tints Reg. $20.00 now $10.00 with this ad.
Cellophanes Reg 15.00 now $10.00 with this ad
and much, much, more—Let us createl
Curls Too!
Reg. 65.00 Now $25 with this ad
Hair cuts Reg. $15.00 now $10.00 with this ad.
butch cqar
H a ir D e s ig n f o r M e n & W o m e n
1405 NE Broadw ay • 284-1897