Some Sleep
Nov 4th, 2009 by pedestrian
I’m so tired. I hope I can finally get some sleep.
I think it looks clear by now however, that security forces will not allow large numbers of demonstrations to join each other (unless I wake up to something totally different!). The strategy seems to be: fill the front of the embassy (center of demonstrations) with your own supporters. Fill the rest of the streets leading to it with thousands of security forces. Then way, protesters won’t be able to meet each other and this has a number of benefits, aside from not letting the opposition meet and loudly declare themselves (and therefore, letting IRIB get lots of “safe” footage. I watched the whole 45 minutes of Hadad’s speech live. Not a whimper was heard. They had sealed off the area and sealed it off well.)
As I said earlier, these demonstrations work as “meeting grounds”. They give people new spirit. We are all filled with new promise at the end of each “meeting”. If people are not able to meet a large number of fellow protesters at these gatherings, the demonstrations will lose their spirit-boosting ability.
Another benefit of this strategy is that it will be even harder to get “numbers”. You saw the main argument Ahmadienadj’s reps in schools kept putting forth: “your side has no supporters. Look, nobody from your side comes to the protests anymore.”
At the same time, up to now, the opposition has been going by the IRI’s calendear and thus making a compromise of sorts: honoring the IRI’s days while using it to their own benefit as well.
If this is indeed what’s going to happen, it will mean they are going to have to find a new strategy
I wonder if any of this will hold true when I get up in the morning. I might wake up and find out that people have found an innovative new way to infiltrate the ranks of the guards.
Let’s see. Will things turn out violent again? It’s beginning to look that way.
One more thing: the singer of the famous revolutionary song: Amrica, Amrica had asked that his song NOT be broadcast on IRIB. Funny that that was the only song that was aired while showing live footage of the demonstrations.
i have never ever left a comment any where. but i could not stop myself from leaving one for you. first thanks for all your updates and insightful commentaries that quite often brings in a new perspective ( i post a lot your article ^_^)
about today… i do not know.. i am reading the live blogging from the event and it is ugly… it is ugly that i should not be in Iran, that boys with whom i went to school could be part of basij shooting people, that Aljavad Mosque should be used as a place to arrest people( my God i used to pass by that mosque Every Day :’
Been checking out some of the pics and vids ever since I got up. This stalemate just can’t continue forever.
yes, it was pretty bad.
Yeah . . . I can’t believe people are using mosques as prisons. I think of how it would be like to have my beloved church that I’ve been going to for years as a prison and it makes me ill.
Lola, owj, where did you hear the mosque story?
There was something on enduring america, but they never verified it.
Dear Pedestrian,
I’ve found some information – not being able to assess the trustworthiness of the source ( !!!) – on the mosque(s) used as detention/arrest facility [perhaps you might possibly be able to verify the reliability of that source - I am not, not being familiar with private, i.e. non-"western"-newspaper, Iran-blogs]:
»11:10:Few Helicopters are petroling Tehran’s skies. The shooting is still being heard.They are using Aljavad mosque to arrest and detain people.«
»12:30: In Tehran, Seven people were detained in Karim Khan Zand Street however, people keep marching fearlessly towards Haft Tir. The Regime forces are using the Javad Mosque as a temporary detention facility. The repression and beatings are being conducted more severely on the side streets«
source:
blog “Revolutionary Road” – URL: http://shooresh1917.blogspot.com
German
It was being twittered about on #iranelection. Don’t remember who first came up with that.
German, thanks for the link. I’m hearing the rumors a lot and it certainly is not far fetched. Very sad indeed.
Thanks Lola.