Source: Rooz Online

Coinciding with the publication of the Mosharekat (Participation) Front's statement blasting the political remarks made by the Islamic Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) chief, the head of the minority reformist faction in the Majlis revealed that a number of IRGC personnel had resigned to protest the IRGC's interference in political affairs.

In its statement, the Mosharekat Front noted that the "public entrance" of the IRGC chief into political debates confirmed claims of military intervention in the presidential election.  This reformist organization also criticized "attempts by the coup operators to attack Khomeini's comrades, especially after the revelation of crimes such as Kahrizak, prisoner rape and hidden graves" in its statement.  The Mosharekat Front, which sees most of its prominent members behind bars, referred to the popularity of reformist leaders - whose arrests were requested by the IRGC chief - and asserted, "Whether this military commander and his friends like it or not, Khatami, Mousavi and Karoubi are extremely popular these days."

Yesterday, the leader of the minority reformist faction in the Majlis, Hashemian, blasted the IRGC chief's recent comments accusing reformist leaders of seeking to overthrow the regime, labeling them "disrespectful" and "illegal."  Noting that the IRGC chief's remarks make the military institution "notorious," he then argued that the IRGC chief's recent remarks violate Ayatollah Khomeini's explicit orders banning the military from interfering in political affairs, adding, "These remarks can be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the principles championed by the Imam.  As a military commander, he did not have the right to interfere in political affairs."

IRGC Commanders Jafari (left) and Safavi (center) with Khamenei (file photo)

Hashemian implicitly referred to cracks in the IRGC, emphasizing that based on the information he has received some IRGC personnel have resigned and plan to leave the institution.

In this connection, reports from the Saturday meting of the Majma-e Rohaniyoon Mobarez (Militant Clerics Society, the principal organization of pro-reform clerics) indicate that this political organization, whose secretary-general is Mohammad Khatami, seeks to file a complaint against the IRGC chief Mohammad Ali Jafari for libelous accusations against several of the Society prominent members.   Other counts in the complaint against the IRGC chief are propagation of lies and explicit violation of the revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini's will, who expressly banned the military from interfering in political affairs.

... Payvand News - 09/08/09 ... --