survive to see another anniversary.
The Shah's army wasn't able to celebrate the anniversary with its usual military purades. Instead the troops in action enforcing martial law in Isfahan standing by in or around other major cities in their attempt to ensure the survival of regime they brought to power.
HOPE For the Iranian masses there Is at last hope after a quarter of a century of ruthless suppres sion and despair. For the first time they are on the offensive and the dictatorship in retreat.
The wave of protests which began towards the end of last year in the universities and spread throughout the country ME the beginning of this year nas grown at a speed which has surprised the regime.
Anti-regime demonstrations have become almost a dally event. Despile all its armoury of repression the regime is no longer capable of suppressing opposition.
Violent police and arm actions against denionstrators, anniversary of the military coup which put his dictatorship in power. It wasn't a very happy Silver Jubilee, for lurking at the back of the dictator's mind must have been the question of whether he would and thousands injured since the only led to further protests. political propaRanda campaiens have proved even less successful.
The Rastakhiz Party, crealed the in 1975 as Tran's sole legal organisation, failed to gain any popular *The Shah's promises as "liberalisation are not likely to havc much chlect einer. Thes are difficolt to believe when at the same time one or the country's laruest cities is pur under martial law and tanks arC brought onto the streets of TehranVAGUE Although the promises made so far are rather vague and do nevertheless significant that the TELE IS DENTO OTHE At a press conference in June the Shah told reporters quite firmly that the one party system was to slay.
Only two months later he has next year's elections will be :100 per cent free and that political parties other than Rastakhiz will be He has even had to say that Tudeh (Conmunist) Party but decided thal it wold be unwes because of "geopolitical" rea SUES OBSCURE In its usual way the regime has aso attemnied to hide 10c real reasons for the unrest behind obscure explanations Having gone through the full list of the usual conspirators foreign agents, disguised as religious fanatics.
that the Palestine Liberation Organisation -15 Hatred of the regube built up as the result of 25 years of ruthless oppression and deep discontent arising from enormous inequalities and growing social and economic problens are the real motivating forces The short lived blessing Iranian regime. It didn't solve any problems bur only gave rise unfulfilled The Shah promised a Great Civilisation but instead deliGreat inflation, shortages of food parliamentury communists - it has now discovered the demonstrations. other oil boom was a very ELECTIVES.
expectations. glaringly conspicious Barbarism: of shortagesel housing, shortages corruption and between rich and poor made obrious hy the luxury conswopthe rich and tbe desperate situation of the poor Civilisation' The Iran is the largest buyer of Chieftuin tanks. This one is guing into Isfahan last week to restore 'arder in the shanty towns.
Now the oil boom is over. The limited benefits which it brought are gone and ony the problems remain. The Iranian probleses can only go from had to worse.
The Shah's promised Great looks further away than ever.
Moslem clergo has played a prominent role in the recent struggles.
The regious establishment is the only large organised force has neither been able to destroy bring •ILS ASSEMBLY The mosques are the only places of assembly which the regime has not neen able close down. The pulpit is the only place where freedom of speech hasn't been completely But what is most significant clergy hasn't mobilised the masses by raising some of the important political SINCE 2 August, the Peruvian government has reaffirmed the speaking out a ainst repression and socia inequalities and by calling for democratic righes etc Despite major advances serious problems still face the mass strugele in Iran. The demonstrations have been Largely spontancous and lacked a clear diroction.
ROUGH RIDE The demonstrators know what they do not want → their most popular slogan of down with the Shah clearly expresses their rejection of the present reparc - our they are Tar ten: clear ahout which way they far the working cia a has not CHICTITE I SITUATE organised force entry would undoubtedly change the situation considerabls, Bul whatever the immediate outcome given the growing radicalisation of the Iranian masse: and the economic problems ahead, the Iraman regime faces at least a very rough ride in the coming I period.