Ahmadinejad: lonely at home and abroad
Joe Fleishman
June 21, 2009
What Mousavi supporters will do now? Do they back down? Well, the answer of this question is now very fuzzy. Though Mousavi supporters have plan to continue demonstration but after a clear threat posed by Iran´s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei future of Mousavi´s green movement is seems uncertain.
Foreign media is ban from Iran preventing the world to see what is going on there. But Iranians are uploading number of video footages into the internet letting the ward to see what is happening. This way is also not out of danger, Iranian government has asked to remove all the personal video that contents recent Mousavi movement. But this threat is not carrying out much result for the government.
Many have criticized Khamemei´s Friday´s speech where he clearly supported President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the election was fair and no irregularities. He was also accused west particularly U.S. and Britain for fuelling the opposition´s movement. Lastly he made it clear to avoid bloodshed Mousavi supporters must abandon any further unrest. The government threatened opposition to face harsh crackdown if opposition supporters take to the streets again to demand a new election in open defiance of the country's supreme leader.
In an immediate reaction some angry Mousavi supporters said this is like military dictatorship where government forcefully trying to stop people´s voice. Mousavi has asked his supporters to stay calm and to stay at home.
However, Mousavi´s wife Zahra Rahnavard has urged in a website Saturday to continue their rally at the afternoon directly challenging government´s call for scrap it. Tehran Police said if anyone is found creating anarchy will immediately arrested.
At Saturday afternoon Tehran´s streets where filled by demonstrators ignoring the government´s ban. Police where immediate on action. Security forces that fought with baton charges, tear gas and water cannons as the crisis over disputed elections lurched into volatile new ground.
Now the situation has taken uncertain move as Mousavi supporters managed to keep their momentum ignoring government´s warning. This must be the most violent movement against the government since their Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Western leaders are now slowly getting concern on the situation. U.S. President Barak Obama has already said "We are watching their situation", he urged Iranian authorities to halt "all violent and unjust actions against its own people." France is the first nation to refute the election result. After Ayatollah Khamenei´s Friday speech U.K. is also expressed their deep dissatisfaction on the election result.
All these however will create how much impact on the situation is unclear. But there is a probability that street protest and violence could escalate at the coming days. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could face unprecedented challenge from the opposition despite the country´s supreme leader Ayatollah Khomenei´s support. Even if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will able to crackdown the opposition protests, his "Crazy soccer fans" will always impose threat for his government. Ahmadinejad has few friends abroad and now he is about to upshot the similar fate at his home. Surely, difficult days are waiting ahead for President Ahmadinejad.
Foreign media is ban from Iran preventing the world to see what is going on there. But Iranians are uploading number of video footages into the internet letting the ward to see what is happening. This way is also not out of danger, Iranian government has asked to remove all the personal video that contents recent Mousavi movement. But this threat is not carrying out much result for the government.
Many have criticized Khamemei´s Friday´s speech where he clearly supported President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the election was fair and no irregularities. He was also accused west particularly U.S. and Britain for fuelling the opposition´s movement. Lastly he made it clear to avoid bloodshed Mousavi supporters must abandon any further unrest. The government threatened opposition to face harsh crackdown if opposition supporters take to the streets again to demand a new election in open defiance of the country's supreme leader.
In an immediate reaction some angry Mousavi supporters said this is like military dictatorship where government forcefully trying to stop people´s voice. Mousavi has asked his supporters to stay calm and to stay at home.
However, Mousavi´s wife Zahra Rahnavard has urged in a website Saturday to continue their rally at the afternoon directly challenging government´s call for scrap it. Tehran Police said if anyone is found creating anarchy will immediately arrested.
At Saturday afternoon Tehran´s streets where filled by demonstrators ignoring the government´s ban. Police where immediate on action. Security forces that fought with baton charges, tear gas and water cannons as the crisis over disputed elections lurched into volatile new ground.
Now the situation has taken uncertain move as Mousavi supporters managed to keep their momentum ignoring government´s warning. This must be the most violent movement against the government since their Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Western leaders are now slowly getting concern on the situation. U.S. President Barak Obama has already said "We are watching their situation", he urged Iranian authorities to halt "all violent and unjust actions against its own people." France is the first nation to refute the election result. After Ayatollah Khamenei´s Friday speech U.K. is also expressed their deep dissatisfaction on the election result.
All these however will create how much impact on the situation is unclear. But there is a probability that street protest and violence could escalate at the coming days. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could face unprecedented challenge from the opposition despite the country´s supreme leader Ayatollah Khomenei´s support. Even if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will able to crackdown the opposition protests, his "Crazy soccer fans" will always impose threat for his government. Ahmadinejad has few friends abroad and now he is about to upshot the similar fate at his home. Surely, difficult days are waiting ahead for President Ahmadinejad.
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