Flowers for Bullets
Nov 26th, 2009 by pedestrian
Gol dar moghabeleh Gholooleh [Flowers for Bullets] is what student activist and Mousavi campaigner Emad Bahavar who was recently released from prison is calling it. What does he mean?
A summary from [Agh Bahman]
There’s only two weeks left to 16 Azar [7th of December] and some are expecting it to be like 13 Aban, if not like Quds Day. At the same time, after 13 Aban, some conclude that the violence of security forces is really to provoke people towards violence too. And this will pave the way for more violence on the part of security.
The harsher tone and actions of some demonstrators has worried some and certain political figures and activists have expressed their worries about the green movement becoming violent. (note I am not referring to some really funny or cool slogans, but the general demands of the movement).
I too am slightly worried about this. That is, I am worried about the movement getting more violent or its demands going beyond the “total implementation of the constitution” and the “full release of political prisoners”. I think this will reduce the universality of the movement. Not to mention that we must measure the strenght of every movement in its demands. If the green movement can reach a full implementation of the constitution, it has done more than anyone can imagine (if you have some time, go and read the constitution, and note this also that Mousavi and especially Karoubi have stressed that they want to go back to the draft of the constitution written in 79.)
I’m going to bring in some analysis and statements released in the past few days about the need to abstain from violence on 16 Azar. Note that one of these was released by Tahkim Vahdat, one of the most radical factions within Iran. Maybe they are truly worried that they are speaking out about this. You can read the full statements via the links I’ve put, here I only repost those parts which have to do with this discussion.
Political activists are going through one of the most difficult times since the revolution. They no longer have minimum freedoms to hold even a small gathering. In this atmosphere we ask citizens to participate in upcoming demonstrations in the most peaceful manner and to shout slogans which keep the green movement within the frameworks of a peaceful movement and to keep from any radicalization, because the highest aim of this movement is to save Iran from the hands of those radicals which are willing to sacrifice all for the benefit of their own faction.
The Green Movement lives on because of its emphasis on peaceful protest, abiding the law, an emphasis on the constitution, and ethical behavior. Attributes which all go against the current dominant authority which sets up a tragedy like Kahrizak and blames one doctor for all the atrocities and through doing so only brings back the horrors of the student dormitories and a stolen plastic shaver [the only person charged with the assault on the student dormitories in 1999 was convicted of stealing a plastic shaver].
Statement by the Iran Freedom Movement
The state will have to pay a heavy price for using this much violence. It will want to continue this path. Thus, it will need to justify it. The authorities want to radicalize this movement. Experience has shown us that once citizens utilize violence, this only gives the state an excuse to use more of it.
Paramilitary forces infiltrate the ranks of protesters and try to provoke them to react violently. This is while militants always have the upper hand in violent combat because of the resources they have available to them. At the same time, the radicalization of this movement will only reduce its universality, and reduce the number of people willing to stand with it. Thus, a movement which allowed for all people, whether young or old, man or woman, family or individuals to participate in its gatherings might evolve into something that few will be willing to participate in.
The Freedom Movement of Iran believes that this movement will only triumph if it abides by peaceful, paths of reform. “Non-violence” is not only a temporary tactic. But rather, from the birth of this movement, it has been the main strategy.
Unfortunately, some opposition forces outside the country which do not have realistic views of the realities inside, willingly or unwillingly are provoking students to violence for 16 Azar. They are urging students to use the militia’s tactics on 13 Aban to “get revenge” on 16 Azar.
ILNA’s interview with Ezatollah Sahabi, head of the Freedom Movement
A movement which is not hierarchical has advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that the movement can not be uprooted and can not be silenced because it has no particular leaders and is spread out strongly across society. At the same time, it can easily sway or go in different directions exactly because it has no particular leaders. But we must keep from radical, violent reactions.
On the Strategy of Flowers for Bullets, by Emad Bahavar
[recently released from prison]
The state has yet to even acknowledge the existence of the green movement. When the head of the political wing of the Islamic Coalition Part was asked “how the country should exit this current crisis/situation” he replied: “there is no situation. The fact that chaos has reached a minimum shows that we are no longer in any situation.” Their analysis is based on an old calculation: historically, 20% of Tehran has been in disagreement with them, but has been sitting silently at home and has posed no particular to the state. The events following the elections has given this minority “hope” to create chaos and change the political system. This group will eventually go home when they discover that nothing has really changed.
There is no doubt that this analysis is wrong. Do they choose to ignore this reality or simply do not see it? … We can assess that the state has entered this equation based on a wrong analysis. This movement truly exists. This movement is not only on the surface but is rooted within society. Its demands are serious and not meeting them or even minding them will create serious obstacles and crises be it in the social, political or economic realms for the system. The persistence of these demands will only slowly eat away at the legitimacy of the system itself. But even while activists, professors and intellectuals warn of this, the state pays no heed. One reason for this lack of attention will always be that the state will claim these analyses are provided by “Western Humanities” and have nothing to do with our “Eastern, Islamic” culture. They claim that the very roots of legitimacy of the state are defined differently in the Islamic context.
The system will try its best to reduce this movement to a demonstration of a few thousand students alone. If the demonstrations get violent, the state will use “its legal permission to use legitimate violence”. Not to mention that if the movement itself grows violent, fewer individuals will be willing to join its ranks. This will only reduce the movement to a violent, chaotic effort that will soon be killed off completely by security forces. Some opposition forces outside the country, willingly or unwillingly are trying to make this happen. It is obvious that anti-establishment opposition forces outside the country did not start this movement, but they can certainly try to see it end.
On the part of the state, it has thus been decided that violence is preferred to any sort of negotiation or compromise. They are determined to shut down any “chaos” using force and security measures. To do this more broadly, they need a radicalized, violent demonstration. They are thus counting on a mass violent reaction for 13 Aban. 16 Azar is the best opportunity to use the anger of the students. The authorities will at the same time force the leaders of the movement to loudly break ranks with those who are willing to go too far and thus create one of the greatest cracks in the movement so far.
……. [read the rest if you are able. It is worth the read.]
“On the part of the state, it has thus been decided that violence is preferred to any sort of negotiation or compromise.”
That is the definition of Fascism.
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by seaofliberty: Pedestrian: “Flowers for Bullets” – http://www.sidewalklyrics.com/?p=2537 – #iranelection #iran…
Ped, unrelated Q: what do you know about Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh; do you know which Iranian university he has taught in?
By this person’s logic, people should just stay home. It’s not “radical” slogans that prompt the bloody nexus between truncheons and skulls – it’s people’s presence, no matter how peaceful, that “provokes” the suppressive forces.
Hello Pedestrian,
I always read you blog, this post seemed interesting to me.I have a question in regards to the current aims and objectives of the movement, seeing as you are there and all.
The objectives of the movement seem very vague. For the most part it seems as though the people want regime/system change. However, after reading your article (unless I misunderstood), it doesn’t seem like the Greens want any type of regime change, but simply reforms, and a change in leadership. From what you gather what do you think the real aims and objectives of this movement are?
Hi Ped!
I just wanted to tell you that I am still around and love your writings. I always wonder where you learned your English since you write better than ANY Iranian I have read.
Thank you for all your work.
Jaleh
ps. the editorial of the NY Times in about Iran.
corresponds to my [biographical, personal and restricted] experience;
long-term success seems possibly or somehow more granted to methods which basically abstain from armed struggle and which focus on non-violent civic disobedience (e.g. independence struggle of India, of South Africa; liberation from fascist/authoritarian/one-governing-party -regimes and democratization of Portugal, Spain, Chile, Argentine, Mexico, Eastern bloc states like Poland etc.) having taken place in the last 35 years);
where liberation from colonial or dictatorial regimes was achieved via violence, this armed struggle achieved its short-term aim, but often a path was then walked and a course was then followed into new systems of authoritarian rule or even downright oppression (revolution in Mexico, revolution in Cuba, armed liberation struggle in Algeria, armed liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, violent change in communist Romania)
[Of course these assumptions are probably/possibly only valid, if a people has a chance to stay non-violent and is not forced by unfavourable circumstances to follow the road of violence.]
In relevance to your righteously “sine qua non” post , you may find this article interesting ( if you have not read it already) . http://bit.ly/5S9ya2
Thanks.
Don Cox, I’m sure you heard what they did to Shirin Ebadi today. No one is claiming otherwise.
Pensive Persian, they are promoting peaceful demonstrations – I think that’s a tiny bit different than telling people to stay home. And I’d like to remind you that many of these folks are actually the ones who never stay home and end up in prison. During the early days of the revolution, one of the slogans was “the shah must be executed” – warning everyone not to even go there is a pragmatic approach in my opinion.
Hello Hameed and welcome!
I am not currently there! But I don’t think I am in a position to outline current aims and objectives for the movement irrespective of where I am. It seems very vague because it is. I am in close contact with dozens of students, and I think this vagueness is also seen among their ranks too. What makes this movement both dangerous and powerful is the numerous voices it has been able to encompass. From those totally against the system to those who wish to see it reform. Personally, at the moment, I don’t think sudden regime change is possible or even desirable and I think that’s where the parties/factions I quote above who certainly do not define the entire movement but do compose a vital part, are coming from as well.
Salaam Jaleh,
Thank you. I’m glad all the typos and errors on here don’t annoy you that much b/c I never have time to read over anything! I will check it out!
German, there is no predicting this will lead, but as you say: “if a people has a chance to stay non-violent and is not forced by unfavourable circumstances to follow the road of violence” …
Peacemaker, thanks for sending the link. Muhammad Sahimi is great!
My point is that the protests become violent because of the suppressive forces, not because of the chants.
I don’t think they overlook that. That’s the first thing they mention. The question is: militant violence is a given, … so now what do we do? A violent response will be an excuse for even more of it, not even considering the fact that non-violence in their opinion should be a defining strategy for the movement.
Solution: numbers. The risk of violence is inversely proportional to the number of people on the streets. But mobilization, alas, is the problem.
I agree. But I spoke to so many people who were there on 13 Aban Pensive. The # of security forces was beyond anything they’d EVER seen. I think 16 Azar will give us a good approximation of whether this is going to be the case every single time. Can they mobilize this many for every demonstration? I fear the answer is ‘yes’. Considering the fact that 16 Azar/13 Aban were always student events, getting huge numbers of people out is much harder.
What are the goals of these protests? I find myself constantly returning to this basic question.
Just keep fighting, Iranians, one day at a time, celebrating each step forward, and Victory will be here before you know it! You’ll know it’s victory when people can gather and dance in the street, then go home and blog about it, without any arrests or violence.
If massive demonstrations aren’t possible anymore, try something else. Stop the traffic, disobey regulations, show up where not wanted, don’t show up when wanted, generally be disorderly. You’ll figure it out, you always have before. Trust yourselves, Iranians! You CAN do this!
Pensive Persian, I’m certainly no authority on protests but to me they are really big socials more than anything. There are various groups: women’s rights groups, student groups, etc, etc doing work here and there, but there’s no way to CONNECT them, there’s no way not to feel isolated, unless you see others like you out on the streets once in a while.
Hello Rev Magdalen,
We’ve gone home in triumph many times before …. maybe we are psychologically/historically/spiritually in need of chaos! But as you mentioned, we’ve figured it out before … we’ll have to see what new ways we’ll be able to come up with this time!
dear Peace Maker,
Thank you for Mr.Sahimi’s link @Anti-war.com, but if you feel even a hint of war hysteria after visiting Anti-war, please visit ,say, the Longwarjournal, and you’ll be able to calm yourself.
There has NEVER been a credible case for a US war with, or direct attacks on, Iran, AND there’s not one on the horizon.
All the antagonists feed off each others threats, but none want to pull the trigger,
[...] statement from the Iranian Freedom Movement, in a summary of a Persian post by the Iranian blogger, Agh Bahman on Pedestrian: [...]