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Iran observers say you can tell
the Islamic republic is getting ready for more street protests when the Internet
is disrupted and the text-messaging system is down. And dozens of activists and
intellectuals are being arrested preemptively.
In central Tehran, plastic garbage dumpsters are reportedly being replaced by
heavier metal ones, that protesters can't set on fire.
And that's what has been going on in Iran
recently, ahead of one of the most important dates of the Islamic republic --
the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Internet disruption is reportedly so bad that even a television moderator
complained about it
during
a live program on the state-controlled broadcaster. The moderator,
who said that since last Monday the Internet has been down in Iran, seemed to be
questioning the officially stated reason for the disruption.
 Iran's
communications minister, Reza Taghipour, has said that the reason for the
reduced Internet speed in recent days is the damaging of an undersea optic-fiber
cable across the Persian Gulf between the Iranian port of Jask and Fujairah in
the United Arab Emirates due to shipping traffic and anchoring.
But most observers and the opposition believe that the government has disrupted
the Internet in order to limit communications ahead of the February 11
anniversary of the 1979 revolution and anticipated street protests. Members of
the opposition Green movement have been using the Internet and text messaging to
organize protests and spread the news and also inform the world about the events
in Iran.
"I don't understand why our Internet cables are just lying in the Persian Gulf
and whoever is around kicks them, cuts them, and goes away," the television
moderator said, adding that "this is what we imagine from the statement by the
Telecommunications Ministry."
On Sunday, Taghipour said Internet connections will remain slow this week and
that the breakage will be repaired by next week and that Internet speed will be
back to normal.
Cleaning The Streets
Other measures also being reported that are apparently aimed at preventing
protests by the opposition include warnings to opposition members not to take to
the streets on February 11, and new trash dumpsters.
A video has been posted on
opposition websites that shows how in central Tehran plastic
dumpsters are being replaced by tougher metal ones. During the street protests
of recent months, protesters were seen setting dumpsters on fire and using them
as shields between themselves and security forces.
The replacement of the dumpsters could be an attempt to counter street protests
and prevent protesters from setting them on fire.
Another video posted on
opposition websites shows loudspeakers being installed on Vali
Street, where demonstrations are expected, apparently in order to dampen the
voices of the opposition protesters.
The government is also reportedly deploying over 10 000 security forces to
confront opposition activists.
Threats And Warnings
Since last week dozens of student activists and journalists have been arrested
in what seems to be a move to create fear among the people and prevent
antigovernment protests.
Can the security forces now see through
protesters' masks?
On February 7, the head of Tehran's Revolutionary
Guard, Hossein Hamedani,
warned that the Basij militia forces will not allow any
group "to confiscate" the February 11 state demonstration for the anniversary of
the 1979 revolution.
Last week the commander of the police forces, Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam, also
warned "lawbreakers" and said that the police will confront anyone threatening
national security, crossing red lines, and insulting that which is sacred.
Hard-line blogs have also been issuing warning to the Green opposition movement.
Here,
a revolution anniversary poster on a hard-line blog that seem to warn the
opposition that it will be crushed. "On February 11 we will be waiting for you,"
it says, adding that the "Iranian nation" will deal with "the rioters" in the
streets.
Citing "reliable sources,"
another blog reported that government programmers have
designed a new computer program that allows the identification of the faces of
people who attempt to hide them with masks, as some opposition protesters have
done during the street protests.
The blog claims that modern cameras that have entered Iran "suspiciously" and
are being distributed among the Basij forces, who plan to use them on February
11.
Meanwhile, the hard-line
Fars news agency reported today that a petition with 1
million signatures calling for the arrest and trial of the leaders of the
"sedition" was delivered to judiciary officials. The move seem to be part of
measures aimed at creating fear among Green movement supporters.
Despite all the threats, warnings, and ongoing crackdown members of the
opposition have vowed to take to the streets on February 11.
Last week, opposition leader Mir Hossein Musavi said defiantly that the 1979
revolution has failed to achieve most of its goals, including eradicating the
"roots of tyranny and dictatorship." Musavi also said that "rallies and
nonviolent demonstrations" are the people's right and that the Green movement
will not abandon its peaceful struggle.
Copyright (c) 2010 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
... Payvand News - 02/09/10 ... --
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