Two Suggestions for Musavi and the Reformists
Post-election developments, especially after the Friday prayers, have put two ways in front of the opposition... By Javad Mahzade
Post-election developments, especially after the Friday prayers, have put two ways in front of the opposition:
One: although after his candidacy, Mir Hosein Musavi enjoyed the support of several political parties and figures and turned into the favorable nominee of diverse intellectual, political and cultural groups, he has been criticized for unwillingness to gather his supporters and found a party to sustain the green movement.
The situation seems ready for establishing a powerful party with youth, women, workers, culturati, artists etc. branches. Musavi used popular symbols during electoral campaigns and now he has gone so far that his enemies call him an agent of color revolutions to distance him from the Islamic establishment.
Since the announcement of shocking results, Musavi has become more popular than before, and despite shutdown of his newspapers and websites, has maintained contact with his supporters.
His statements are circulated among his supporters who hold silent rallies in Tehran everyday and keep on waiting to see if Musavi himself attends the gatherings. However, there are noticeable defects in the mechanism of protests, statements, demonstrations and summoning which are not fixable unless through an organized modus operandi.
’Green wave’ demands are not that minor to be achieved through social gatherings and enthusiasm. Musavi can even attempt to establish his party in these turbulent days, when a large team is supporting him, and set the ground for organized political activities while asking for his election-related demands.
It is not too much of a fantasy to claim that organizing a party in these days gives Musavi a chance to prove his lead in the elections. Musavi can show the real number of votes he has gained if he asks for those who have voted for him to register in his party, something that could not be achieved by holding demonstration.
Now is the best time to reunite reformists after four years of hibernation. Musavi’s electoral headquarters in provinces, trade unions and other groups who have supported Musavi in the presidential election can now sustain the solidarity of their members and encourage them to join the party. This can reveal Musavi’s true vote.
Despite this short-term achievement, to keep hope alive among his supporters, Musavi must promptly think of an effective solution and do not content himself to the current wave of enthusiasm. After four years of lethargy and successive defeats, the reformists have found a chance to revive their strength. The tenth presidential election and protests have provided them with the best opportunity.
Recounting the votes is a faint possibility, after which may come the last breathes of republicity in Iran; probably ending in reformists’ retreat and people’s return to home. In that case, no one will know what the fate of post-election protests would be. So the immediate necessity is maintaining solidarity of the green movement in cities and provinces to not lose the string between the reform movement and people.
Missing this opportunity will bring about an irreparable damage. Regardless of the outcome of objections to election results, due attention must be paid to public demands. Their enthusiasm should not end in frustration.
Second solution:
Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech in Friday prayers last week has also put another way in front of reformists, particularly Mir Hosein Musavi and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. While we talk of molding Musavi supporters into a party, quitting political activities is another option.
The situation after election and the weak possibility of annulling the presidential poll –Musavi’s key demand- raises the chances of reformists’ withdrawal from the stage of politics along with their supporters.
No wonder that the tenth presidential election was called the most critical election of the Islamic Republic. The political alignments have transformed after the presidential poll of June 12th. Musavi, Karrubi, Khatami and Rafsanjani will have an unclear destiny in the upcoming days and months, a destiny which may be unbelievable considering the post-election developments.
During the recent days, news agencies and media close to power-holders of the Islamic Republic -exactly those media who announced the result of elections two hours after the end of voting- have initiated their smear campaign against Musavi and his team. They have created an atmosphere full of threat to oust the reformist from power.
Therefore, there exists the possibility that in order to save their political face, the reformists freeze all their political activities if they don’t achieve their goal in annulling the elections.From an optimistic point of view, this can put an end to the current atmosphere of terror and violence, increase reformists’ popularity and help them in the next election.
One of these two options should be selected by Musavi if Ministry of Interior refuses to annul the presidential polls. The first will direct people’s enthusiasm through a political channel and the second halts any political activity as a symbol of protest to the current political trend.
One: although after his candidacy, Mir Hosein Musavi enjoyed the support of several political parties and figures and turned into the favorable nominee of diverse intellectual, political and cultural groups, he has been criticized for unwillingness to gather his supporters and found a party to sustain the green movement.
The situation seems ready for establishing a powerful party with youth, women, workers, culturati, artists etc. branches. Musavi used popular symbols during electoral campaigns and now he has gone so far that his enemies call him an agent of color revolutions to distance him from the Islamic establishment.
Since the announcement of shocking results, Musavi has become more popular than before, and despite shutdown of his newspapers and websites, has maintained contact with his supporters.
His statements are circulated among his supporters who hold silent rallies in Tehran everyday and keep on waiting to see if Musavi himself attends the gatherings. However, there are noticeable defects in the mechanism of protests, statements, demonstrations and summoning which are not fixable unless through an organized modus operandi.
’Green wave’ demands are not that minor to be achieved through social gatherings and enthusiasm. Musavi can even attempt to establish his party in these turbulent days, when a large team is supporting him, and set the ground for organized political activities while asking for his election-related demands.
It is not too much of a fantasy to claim that organizing a party in these days gives Musavi a chance to prove his lead in the elections. Musavi can show the real number of votes he has gained if he asks for those who have voted for him to register in his party, something that could not be achieved by holding demonstration.
Now is the best time to reunite reformists after four years of hibernation. Musavi’s electoral headquarters in provinces, trade unions and other groups who have supported Musavi in the presidential election can now sustain the solidarity of their members and encourage them to join the party. This can reveal Musavi’s true vote.
Despite this short-term achievement, to keep hope alive among his supporters, Musavi must promptly think of an effective solution and do not content himself to the current wave of enthusiasm. After four years of lethargy and successive defeats, the reformists have found a chance to revive their strength. The tenth presidential election and protests have provided them with the best opportunity.
Recounting the votes is a faint possibility, after which may come the last breathes of republicity in Iran; probably ending in reformists’ retreat and people’s return to home. In that case, no one will know what the fate of post-election protests would be. So the immediate necessity is maintaining solidarity of the green movement in cities and provinces to not lose the string between the reform movement and people.
Missing this opportunity will bring about an irreparable damage. Regardless of the outcome of objections to election results, due attention must be paid to public demands. Their enthusiasm should not end in frustration.
Second solution:
Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech in Friday prayers last week has also put another way in front of reformists, particularly Mir Hosein Musavi and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. While we talk of molding Musavi supporters into a party, quitting political activities is another option.
The situation after election and the weak possibility of annulling the presidential poll –Musavi’s key demand- raises the chances of reformists’ withdrawal from the stage of politics along with their supporters.
No wonder that the tenth presidential election was called the most critical election of the Islamic Republic. The political alignments have transformed after the presidential poll of June 12th. Musavi, Karrubi, Khatami and Rafsanjani will have an unclear destiny in the upcoming days and months, a destiny which may be unbelievable considering the post-election developments.
During the recent days, news agencies and media close to power-holders of the Islamic Republic -exactly those media who announced the result of elections two hours after the end of voting- have initiated their smear campaign against Musavi and his team. They have created an atmosphere full of threat to oust the reformist from power.
Therefore, there exists the possibility that in order to save their political face, the reformists freeze all their political activities if they don’t achieve their goal in annulling the elections.From an optimistic point of view, this can put an end to the current atmosphere of terror and violence, increase reformists’ popularity and help them in the next election.
One of these two options should be selected by Musavi if Ministry of Interior refuses to annul the presidential polls. The first will direct people’s enthusiasm through a political channel and the second halts any political activity as a symbol of protest to the current political trend.