Talking about a revolution

I've touched on the emergence of ample documentation Ahmadinejad has imported Arab Hezbollahi for the clamp-down on the Iranian opposition in my previous entry, touching also on some - very small - disturbing signs of possible radicalization.

Talking about a revolution

Also problematic are some direct confrontational messages from protesters - not necessarily pro-Moussavi protesters or "Sea of Green" - who actively call for or exercise violent insurrection, particularly against the Basiji.

Even early in the violent clamp-downs some Persian twitterers - not necessarily from Iran - stated that "self-defense is every man's right".

I know of at least one Iranian on Facebook who has drawn the consequence from the ferocity of the government response to protests, declaring "revolution" with all it implicates.

Perhaps the Iranian government's accusations of revolution has served to actually create one. Yesterday's demonstrations, as usual dispersed with tear gas and clubbing and motorcycle attacks, remained peaceful.

The government did not need excuses

I've heard a few calls for violence, but also many - the majority - of Iranians on Twitter calling for protests to be calm, non-violent.

In many cases Iranians are warned that people who call for violent insurrection may be agent provocateurs, pro-regime Iranians out to radicalize the movement to provide excuse for further clamp-downs.

This report, from today, is from a user who is not among the more radical voices:

I could be mistaken, but it seems the relentlessness and brutality of the government clamp-down has subtly changed attitudes to protesting. I noticed already a week ago the tendency to refer to the movement as a "resistance."

The government claims Basiji have been killed

Many YouTube videos show protesters engaged in direct confrontations with riot police. Even on early footage from Iran you see individual protesters wielding batons, in some cases what appears to be home made, in other cases obviously "professional" sticks.

It is difficult to accurately determine what weaponry belongs to who - some videos show Basij moving out with both baseball bats and batons, so it is no wonder they have beat protesters to death on occasion.

One video shows what is allegedly Basiji homes burned down in retaliation for violence against protesters, and the Iranian government claims 8 Basiji have been killed.

One early video, where Basiji shoots at protesters throwing rocks, is allegedly filmed at a Basij headquarter containing arms.

Protesters have overpowered Basiji in the past

In one video it is very obvious civilians are punishing a Basiji, who has been overpowered, but the punishment merely amounts to a slap in the face and a couple of very lacklustre kicks, more for demonstration of contempt than to actually inflict damage.

After some commotion - some civilians scatter the rest, and it is impossible to tell if they are Basiji or just non-violence enforcers from the opposotion - the Basiji is let go.

There have been rudimentary discussions of the strategy of non-violence against a regime, which has no apparent scruples with regard to beating children, killing women and torturing and raping young men for merely demonstrating peacefully.

It all usually ends quickly, simply by pointing out the overwhelmingly superior government forces in a country, where guns are extremely hard to get hold of for civilians.

Revolutionary Road reports:


And, significantly:
I remember, from the early days of protesting, as demonstrators took to building barricades to stop the brutal onslaughts by Basij, or throwing rocks at riot police, a Western supporter who said:


Others would argue that the Basij did not care if people were non-violent; they would club them and shoot them anyway. This has certainly been the case in several scenarios, particularly but not exclusively the case of Neda.

Still, all things considered, it seems that Ghandi wins.

July 10 2009