Unrest continues in Oil rich Khoozestan province
SMCCDI (Information Service)
April 18, 2005
Unrest is continuing in cities of the oil rich Khoozestan
province as sporadic clashes and acts of sabotage are
taking place despite the official claims of having pacified
the region.
Violence continued, today, by spreading to cities, such as,
Abadan and Khoramshahr where groups of demonstrators
shouted slogans against the Islamic regime and its
leadership.
Militiamen and regular security forces intervened in order
to smash the demonstrations.
Sporadic shootings were heard during day and night times in
both cities.
The City of Mahshar was also scene of violent clashes,
yesterday, resulting in at least 2 deaths and several
wounded among the demonstrators.
Several public buildings were also damaged in this city.
Acts of sabotage are taking place and a cargo train was
derailed, today, in the Ahwaz-Khoramshahr railroad.
The Oil facilities and pipelines have been placed under
heavy surveillance. Most accesses to Abadan's refinery are
controlled and an increase number of helico flights are
taking place.
Different reports are stating about 17 to 30 deaths and
dozens of injured in this regional unrest which has started
since end of last week in Ahwaz.
Hundreds of Ahwazi residents clashed, on Friday and
Saturday, with Islamic regime forces who used rubber
bullets, tear gas and clubs in order to avoid the spread of
riots generated in several areas of the city, such as,
Kian, Koot-Abdollah, Hamidieh and Khashayar districts.
Several banks and public buildings, such as, Law
Enforcement stations were heavily damaged by incendiary
devices.
The riots started following the rumor that the Islamic
regime is intending to diminish the social impact of
residents of Arab origin who are living in the area.
Sources are confirming that the rumor was spread by the
Islamic regime's intelligence in order to fuel racism and
to create a general situation making fear to Iranians on
possibility of a split of the country in case of the
overthrown of the Islamic State. The regime's leadership is
hoping to create a situation rallying Iranians behind the
candidacy of Hashemi Rafsanjani in the upcoming
Presidential elections.
Few separatists have tried to transform the rallies in
their favor but their calls were ignored by residents as
most Iranian Arabs believe strongly in the territorial
integrity of Iran.
Most of them fought Saddam forces and their local
mercenaries during the Iraqi invasion of 1980-82. They do
remember the separatists' dark and blooded records and the
so-called "Al-Ahwaz" group's activities during the
occupation of Khoozestan. Rapes and murders of hundreds of
young Iranian Arab females and the looting of the cities
were made by members of this group who helped Saddam's
forces.
----------------------------------
This report is for SMCCDI's mailing list members only; As
the http://www.daneshjoo.org website has been shut down
since last Friday due to Movement's desperate need of
financial help.
The SMCCDI's web site gets 45,000 to 65,000 visits each day
with picks of 183,000 hits on key dates such as July 9th
(anniversary of Students' Uprising of 1999). It's a main
tool helping to keep the world informed on the plight of
Iranian Nation.
An Urgent Call for Help has been issued requesting for
donations of any amount that can be made online via
http://www.paypal.com
Paypal is a certified online banking 1/3 party, that keeps
your Credit Card or any of your banking references hidden
from us and is just forwarding your gracious help minus a
reasonable transaction fee deducted from your donation.
For those interested to help:
1- Please to go to the secure Paypal website and open a
free account that can be also useful for many
other purposes of your daily life.
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?c ... ration-run
2- You cab send the amount of your donation by charging
your Credit Card via Paypal for our e-mail
address: SMCCDI@DANESHJOO.ORG
Make the difference!
Help us to help Iranians voicing up!!!
----------------------------------