No one had imagined that the out come of the Presidential election in Iran would become such a huge national crisis. The election process itself passed off more or less peacefully with out much disturbance. About 85% were reported to have cast their votes. However, when the results came out on Saturday and the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared elected again with 62.63% of the votes all hell broke out.
(The general election in India provides a good contrast to this. Here the UPA came back to power with a better mandate to rule. The NDA admitted defeat with grace and offered to cooperate with the new government.)
The hardliner Ahmadinejad scored 62.63% of the votes pushing the reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi who could score just 33.75% only. Mousavi refused to accept defeat denouncing the election results as ‘treason’. Claiming to be the real victor, he declared “I’m warning that I won’t surrender to this manipulation”. His supporters numbering thousands gathered in Tehran shouting “Down with the dictator” and pelting stones at the police. Mousavi said that he would expose the dangerous secretive nature of the Iranian administration.
Israel also expressed serious concern about the election results. The Israeli leader Sivan Shalon said “The US and the free world must reevaluate the policy of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions”. Israel has been trying to link the Iranian nuclear issue with the West Bank issue. This crisis has given Israel a serious bargaining position. Fawzi Barhoum, the spokesman of the Hamas said that the victory of Nejad is a sign of Iran’s ability to take of its people’s interests. He urged the international community to change their attitude to Tehran. The victory of Ahmahadinejad has disappointed not only a section of Iranians but the western nations who were looking forward to working with a person who understands the concerns of the West. Barak Obama the US President, made it clear that he would not interfere in the internal affairs of Iran while expressing his “deep concerns”. He said "I have said before that I have deep concerns about the election. And I think that the world has deep concerns about the election,"
Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament said while expressing his concern, “The use of force is never a solution. The authorities' response to citizens' protests must be always measured and never disproportionate. Iranian citizens must be able to achieve their democratic aspirations through peaceful means. Freedom of expression and the freedom to demonstrate are part of the core individual rights that the European Union endorses and promotes”.
Ahmahadinejad on Saturday appeared on the state television and claimed that his victory over Mousavi was fair and true. He said “The election was completely free. And it is a great victory”. He said the election results reflected his government’s “honesty and service to the people”.
Violence spread across the country and the security personnel had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse the mobs who burned police vehicles and shouted “Down with the dictator”. Mousavi urged his supporters to remain calm.
Ayatollah Ali Khameini the person who holds the real authority in Iran has asked the Guardians Council, the office that handles election issues and the Interior Ministry to examine the allegations of rigging.
One has to wait and watch what the Ministry and the Council do to tackle the street violence and win the confidence of the people. Even if he is allowed to rule the country for the next five years it would not be easy for Ahmadinejad to carry conviction with the people if he does not address his rival’s concerns. He cannot act unilaterally, ignoring his opponents and claiming the majority support. India must tread cautiously and should react brazenly supporting any one of the contenders. However, we must see to it that democracy is not discredited or the genuine voice of the people goes unheeded.
(The general election in India provides a good contrast to this. Here the UPA came back to power with a better mandate to rule. The NDA admitted defeat with grace and offered to cooperate with the new government.)
The hardliner Ahmadinejad scored 62.63% of the votes pushing the reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi who could score just 33.75% only. Mousavi refused to accept defeat denouncing the election results as ‘treason’. Claiming to be the real victor, he declared “I’m warning that I won’t surrender to this manipulation”. His supporters numbering thousands gathered in Tehran shouting “Down with the dictator” and pelting stones at the police. Mousavi said that he would expose the dangerous secretive nature of the Iranian administration.
Israel also expressed serious concern about the election results. The Israeli leader Sivan Shalon said “The US and the free world must reevaluate the policy of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions”. Israel has been trying to link the Iranian nuclear issue with the West Bank issue. This crisis has given Israel a serious bargaining position. Fawzi Barhoum, the spokesman of the Hamas said that the victory of Nejad is a sign of Iran’s ability to take of its people’s interests. He urged the international community to change their attitude to Tehran. The victory of Ahmahadinejad has disappointed not only a section of Iranians but the western nations who were looking forward to working with a person who understands the concerns of the West. Barak Obama the US President, made it clear that he would not interfere in the internal affairs of Iran while expressing his “deep concerns”. He said "I have said before that I have deep concerns about the election. And I think that the world has deep concerns about the election,"
Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament said while expressing his concern, “The use of force is never a solution. The authorities' response to citizens' protests must be always measured and never disproportionate. Iranian citizens must be able to achieve their democratic aspirations through peaceful means. Freedom of expression and the freedom to demonstrate are part of the core individual rights that the European Union endorses and promotes”.
Ahmahadinejad on Saturday appeared on the state television and claimed that his victory over Mousavi was fair and true. He said “The election was completely free. And it is a great victory”. He said the election results reflected his government’s “honesty and service to the people”.
Violence spread across the country and the security personnel had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse the mobs who burned police vehicles and shouted “Down with the dictator”. Mousavi urged his supporters to remain calm.
Ayatollah Ali Khameini the person who holds the real authority in Iran has asked the Guardians Council, the office that handles election issues and the Interior Ministry to examine the allegations of rigging.
One has to wait and watch what the Ministry and the Council do to tackle the street violence and win the confidence of the people. Even if he is allowed to rule the country for the next five years it would not be easy for Ahmadinejad to carry conviction with the people if he does not address his rival’s concerns. He cannot act unilaterally, ignoring his opponents and claiming the majority support. India must tread cautiously and should react brazenly supporting any one of the contenders. However, we must see to it that democracy is not discredited or the genuine voice of the people goes unheeded.
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