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Iran National Front
Abroad Letter to the UN ,Secretary General, Kofi Annan on the UN observation
for referendum in that the people can freely choose a legitimate political
system to establish a democratic government in
Iran. February 23, 2004 |
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(Chapters:
USA, Germany, Sweden, Holland, France and Belgium) P.O. Box 136, Audubon Station, New
York City, NY
10032
February 23, 2004 The Honorable
Kofi Annan, Your Excellency, Your statement that the United Nations offers a unique legitimacy in present-day international relations has been embraced by many who regard the UN and your office as essential in today’s world of increasing acceptance of democracy, respect for human rights, and resolution of conflict through non-violence. The UN has successfully helped establish legitimate political systems in South Africa, Namibia, and Cambodia, to name but a few spectacular achievements. Iran National Front, which is the oldest and most respected pro-democracy organization in Iran, was established in 1949 under the leadership of the late Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh with the main objective of securing free and fair elections. In the past 54 years, INF has struggled for independence, democracy, civil liberties, human rights, and the rule of law in Iran. Today, a most
serious conflagration of violence threatens to engulf Iran.
On the one hand, the fundamentalist clerical clique ruling Iran has
lost all legitimacy and rules despotically based on coercion and harsh
repression without any regard for the will of the majority of the Iranian
people. On the other hand,
the hardline faction, which has just imposed its total control, has a dark
history of violating international laws, breaching international norms of
conduct, and increasing hostilities with other nations and powers in order
to divert the attention of the public away from its domestic crisis. Iran National
Front-Abroad appeals to you to use your good offices and the powers of the
UN to help the Iranian people to freely choose a legitimate political
system in a UN supervised referendum.
We believe that the only way to resolve the serious crisis in Iran
is to hold a UN supervised referendum to replace the theocratic
dictatorship with a democratic and secular republic. “(1)
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone
has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (3) The will
of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will
shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by
universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by
equivalent free voting procedures.” Free and
democratic elections do not exist in Iran.
Only candidates who support the fundamentalist clerical rule are
allowed to run for office. In
other words, all Iranians who prefer another system of government are
excluded and harshly repressed. The
Council of Guardians screens and vets even candidates who are supporters
of the fundamentalist clerical system.
Despite the harsh tyranny, the overwhelming majority of the Iranian
people have relied upon peaceful means to resist the theocratic oligarchy. So, when one faction within the ruling cliques in 1997
promised reforms, it was welcomed by a huge majority of the population.
However, due to the failure of the reformists within the ruling
system to improve the situation, they have lost support among the
population. In the February
20, 2004 elections, the hardline-controlled Guardian Council even barred
reformist members of the clerical ruling establishment, including about 80
incumbent members of the Islamic Majles, from participating in the
elections. What is
politically significant is that under the leadership of the opposition,
the overwhelming majority of the Iranian people boycotted the elections on
February 20, 2004. In the
Islamic Republic of Iran, where the election stamp on ones identity paper
may be needed to get food coupons, government employment, and services,
not to participate in the elections is an active act of civil
disobedience. We would like
to express our gratitude to the UN for its concern over the flagrant human
rights violations in Iran over the past two decades.
If it were not for the annual reports of the UN Commission on Human
Rights, the human rights crisis would have been far more severe in Iran.
However, the recent events require more proactive attention of the
Secretary-General. The
situation in Iran is deteriorating fast, and the tensions are increasing
dramatically. The most
violent faction of the ruling clerics is in the process of even
eliminating their fellow reformists within the fundamentalist ruling
cliques. The overwhelming majority of the people, frustrated with lack
of freedom and harsh clerical rule, took huge personal risks to boycott
the elections. The IAEA has
found evidence of violations of the regime’s previous accords. The region has witnessed several major wars and much
bloodshed. Under the rule of
this repressive regime, elements for a violent eruption are present and
only a spark may trigger an explosion. The only way
out of the present crisis is a UN supervised referendum enabling a
peaceful transition to a democratic and secular republic in Iran.
We believe that the UN should reaffirm its historical role and
bring to the attention of the fundamentalist regime respect for the UDHR
and respect for the free vote of the Iranian people.
This is the only way to avoid a violent conflict in Iran.
We urge you, Mr. Secretary-General, to help prevent violence
through peaceful means to achieve the aspirations of the Iranian people to
bring about democracy and freedom to Iran. Highest
regards, http://www.jebhemelli.net
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