ckaihatsu
13th June 2008, 06:15
[From www.iwsn.org The story below reflects what happened last
weekend, June 7-8. The Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network has
composed a model letter to protest the Iranian government's action
at http://iwsn.org/students/tarbiyate-moalem-model-letter-jun08.htm ]
The protest of the students of the Tarbiyat-e Moalem [teacher
training] University in Pardis Karaj, about 20km west of Tehran, has
not only continued but grown in strength and resolve.
Saturday 7 June:
Almost 5000 female and male students gathered together at the campus
and held an 'open tribune' - a platform where they held an open
debate about their struggle and how to develop it, their demands and
so on.
The number of students on hunger strike has reached 126 and yet the
authorities are still ignoring this dispute and refusing to discuss
the students' demands. The situation of the hunger strikers is
deteriorating rapidly but they are determined to continue their
protest. For example, a female student who has had bleeding in her
stomach is still continuing with her hunger strike.
Last night a female student had a fit in her dormitory. When the
university's security guards prevented her transfer to the
university's infirmary the students broke the dormitory window to
take her there. The forces of Ensar-e Hezbollah had also been
preparing to attack the protesting students but their plan was
thwarted.
Today, Sunday 8 June:
This morning the students prevented Education Ministry personnel
from entering the campus and strike-breaking students from attending
classes. Another group of students prevented lecturers from coming
in. The students formed a cordon and prevented the end of term exams
from taking place. Another 'open tribune' took place today with 3000
students present. They re-iterated their demands and said that they
will not stop until their demands have been met.
The slogans of the students included: "Guns, tanks, security guards
are useless now!", "We will die, we will stay, and as long as we're
alive, we will stay!", and in an echo of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane
workers, "Students are prepared to die but won't accept hardship!"
The general situation:
There are a large number of riot police and security forces amassed
near the campus. They are making suspicious manoeuvres and the
students have noticed a number of them trying to pass themselves off
as the personnel of the Education Struggle organisation (which has a
building inside the campus). Many students are afraid that the
authorities are preparing an onslaught like the one in July 1999 at
Tehran University, where many students died.
Mabshari, a mollah who works for the university, has issued
a 'jihad' order. The university's security guards have been
contacting the families of students, talking to them in an offensive
and threatening way. As a result of this type of intimidation, the
grandmother of one of the protesting students had a heart attack and
died today!
The struggle and solidarity:
This struggle began on the night of Thursday 29 May over basic
demands. The students are protesting against the sub-standard self-
service canteen, the cramped dormitories, continuous harassment by
the authorities, and other issues relating to their economic
situation.
The representatives of students from 40 universities throughout Iran
have supported the just struggle of the Tarbiyat-e Moalem students.
They have condemned the attitude and behaviour of the authorities
and have warned that they will take action if the demands of the
Tarbiyat-e Moalem students are not met.
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network condemns the way that the
Iranian government and the university authorities have treated the
students. Help us to keep up the pressure on the university
authorities and the government so that they accept all the students'
demands.
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
8 June 2008
weekend, June 7-8. The Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network has
composed a model letter to protest the Iranian government's action
at http://iwsn.org/students/tarbiyate-moalem-model-letter-jun08.htm ]
The protest of the students of the Tarbiyat-e Moalem [teacher
training] University in Pardis Karaj, about 20km west of Tehran, has
not only continued but grown in strength and resolve.
Saturday 7 June:
Almost 5000 female and male students gathered together at the campus
and held an 'open tribune' - a platform where they held an open
debate about their struggle and how to develop it, their demands and
so on.
The number of students on hunger strike has reached 126 and yet the
authorities are still ignoring this dispute and refusing to discuss
the students' demands. The situation of the hunger strikers is
deteriorating rapidly but they are determined to continue their
protest. For example, a female student who has had bleeding in her
stomach is still continuing with her hunger strike.
Last night a female student had a fit in her dormitory. When the
university's security guards prevented her transfer to the
university's infirmary the students broke the dormitory window to
take her there. The forces of Ensar-e Hezbollah had also been
preparing to attack the protesting students but their plan was
thwarted.
Today, Sunday 8 June:
This morning the students prevented Education Ministry personnel
from entering the campus and strike-breaking students from attending
classes. Another group of students prevented lecturers from coming
in. The students formed a cordon and prevented the end of term exams
from taking place. Another 'open tribune' took place today with 3000
students present. They re-iterated their demands and said that they
will not stop until their demands have been met.
The slogans of the students included: "Guns, tanks, security guards
are useless now!", "We will die, we will stay, and as long as we're
alive, we will stay!", and in an echo of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane
workers, "Students are prepared to die but won't accept hardship!"
The general situation:
There are a large number of riot police and security forces amassed
near the campus. They are making suspicious manoeuvres and the
students have noticed a number of them trying to pass themselves off
as the personnel of the Education Struggle organisation (which has a
building inside the campus). Many students are afraid that the
authorities are preparing an onslaught like the one in July 1999 at
Tehran University, where many students died.
Mabshari, a mollah who works for the university, has issued
a 'jihad' order. The university's security guards have been
contacting the families of students, talking to them in an offensive
and threatening way. As a result of this type of intimidation, the
grandmother of one of the protesting students had a heart attack and
died today!
The struggle and solidarity:
This struggle began on the night of Thursday 29 May over basic
demands. The students are protesting against the sub-standard self-
service canteen, the cramped dormitories, continuous harassment by
the authorities, and other issues relating to their economic
situation.
The representatives of students from 40 universities throughout Iran
have supported the just struggle of the Tarbiyat-e Moalem students.
They have condemned the attitude and behaviour of the authorities
and have warned that they will take action if the demands of the
Tarbiyat-e Moalem students are not met.
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network condemns the way that the
Iranian government and the university authorities have treated the
students. Help us to keep up the pressure on the university
authorities and the government so that they accept all the students'
demands.
Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network
8 June 2008