« It's On Now | Main | Mousavi's Latest Statement: "I Followed Them" » 20 Jun 2009 04:52 pm Live-Blogging Day 8[Note: words in green are tweets from Iran. Words in black are mine in the US. The tweets should be taken provisionally until confirmed. - Andrew.]
(AFP/Getty.) 5.01 pm. We're done live-blogging for the day. I'd like to pay a little homage to my two under-bloggers, Chris and Patrick. I'm in awe of them. All we did, of course, was curate and aggregate and try to make sense of all the sources of information streaming into us via thousands. Tweets, emails, phone-calls, cell-phone photos, YouTubes, reports, data, opinion: our brains are fried and our souls inspired from absorbing and re-framing them all. Thanks too to ABC News Lara Setrakian, whose tweeting from Dubai we want to recognize. We gave no credit to all the tweets because their anonymity and immediacy is what makes them compelling. But Lara's were a fusion of old media reporting and new media technology. The biggest thanks, though, go to you, our readers, for your constant insight, opinion, tips, links, youtubes, and everything else. Really, my email in-tray is itself a CNN. I know you'll keep sending the emails; just know that we read and treasure and need them. This story is just starting and we will need your help to keep covering it with the diligence it deserves. One impression for today. Whatever happens, the Iranian people have already shown the world what a love of freedom means. Their spirituality, tenacity, wit, and compassion have shone through every moment. Whatever happens, they have proven a heroic nation for the 21st Century. We should honor them for this moment. And stay with them in the days ahead. Know hope. 4.22 pm. Conf'd Iran Fatemiyeh Hospital Tehran: 30-40 dead as
of 11pm; 200 injured. Police taking names of incoming injured. Call from Iran reports severe skin burns due to the unknown liquid dropped from helicopters. Bahman Ahmadi Amouee (Zhila's husband, journalist) also arrested Jila Bani Yaghoub, Femenist and Journalist arrested at
her home in Tehran a few Mins. ago. Some other Journalists arrested in Tehran. 3.42 pm. Tehran will not Sleep tonight! number of foreign embassies in tehran accepting
wounded. please contact your foreign ministries to open there embassy doors to
the wounded Zhila Baniyaghoob's (woman activist) home has been raided Haft Hooz SQ. is on fire, Protesters are so angry and
try to push back Bassij with Coctel Molotov... A Bassij Base burn by Protesters at Navab St. (South Tehran) eyewitness: young protester killed with bullet through
the head on Navab street clashes have intensified in tehran, shiraz and isfahan another person dead in Azarabayjan ST in Tehran
3.14 pm. according to same private listserv source, "People from all around Tehran are gathering to march into the city later at night." unloaded massive amounts of guns for more than 500 basijies whom had been sent there several hours earlier to confront the demonstrators. Reports from Tehran, Azadi St., Sanati Sharif University indicate that more that 10 helicopters landed inside the university,
Fatemiyeh Hospital Tehran: 30-40 dead as of 11pm; 200 injured. Police taking names of incoming injured. Reports: Security Forces attacked to Khomini Hospital to arrest Injurd protesters, It is said at least 30 injurd are there... Reports: At Least 10 Protesters Shoted By Bassij, Bassij Opend Gunfire to People at Haft Hooz SQ. 2.58 pm. good source: Hospital close to the scene in Tehran:
30-40 dead thus far as of 11pm and 200 injured. Police taking names of incoming
injured. Voice from Iran: Shame on a country in which foreign embassies are safer than hospitals :( Gunfire Is Hearing From Near Resalat SQ. (East Teharan)
2.47 pm. New footage of fighting in the streets. And another protester is shot. 2.31 pm. Canadians, call your foreign office. It's confirmed Canadian Embassy rejects injured protesters Australian Embassy reportedly accepting injured My Friend Wounded At Haft Hooz SQ, No Clinic Is Open! 2.19 pm. IT IS NOT OVER, IT IS JUST BEGUN! FB report: shouts of Allah o Akbar in holy city of Mashhad "explosive" Reports: People Pushed Back Millitas at Gisha St. 2.15 pm. 2.14 pm. :(( eye witness reporting that milita using Ambulances to lure people & then shoot at them near roodaki & azarbayjan st. 2.13 pm. it comes from every direction. now it's "ya hossein, mir hossein" 2.04 pm. Some attempt at perspective. From what I can tell, the regime has shown a disgusting display of rank violence and murder, but they have not massacred hundreds. The uprising on the streets was also less overwhelming than in previous days, but that's obviously because they knew they could be gunned down. Mousavi is standing firm in demanding a nullification of the election. If the reports of even more intense rooftop shouting are true, then the people of Iran remain determined not to let this moment of democracy be taken from them. So we have the makings of a tense stand-off. I'm taking a breather, because I need to eat. 2.03 pm. The NYT: In some places, the protesters pushed back, rushing the militia in teams of hundreds, pitching at least three basijis from their motorcycles and setting the vehicles on fire. The protesters included many women, who even berated as “cowards” men who fled the basijis. 1.57 pm. I am crying. Iran are crying.... Reports: Bassij Millita attacking People at Haft Hooz SQ, Heavy Clashes Just Strated... 1.52 pm. People Shouting on the roofs, all over the Capital: "Death to the Dictator"! 1.47 pm. A reader writes:
These are moments in history whose salience it is simply impossible to know as they happen. But today has already demonstrated both the total bankruptcy of the current Iranian regime and the immense bravery, humanity and genius of the Iranian people. 1.45 pm. Shiraz erupts. 1.44 pm. Via NIAC, translation of the chants: “I welcome death I welcome death But not subjugation But not subjugation” 1.42 pm. New footage of the murder of the woman protester. Very very disturbing: 1.36 pm. Kristol and Hayes want Obama to say what the regime now falsely accuses him of saying. No, they won't learn. Their ideology is too rigid for actual judgment and their partisanship too deep to support the president at a moment like this. 1.33 pm. Kevin Sullivan: "There is a list of embassies in Tehran floating around, as injured protesters are being encouraged to go to them instead of hospitals. The hospitals are very like stocked full of Basijis. Question: If the embassies become overwhelmed, what happens then? In 1906, over 10,000 Persian constitutionalists occupied the British embassy in protest of the Qajaris (this was pre-UK hatred, obviously. The Russians were mostly the villains at that time). UK embassy is now rumored to be accepting the injured. It always seems to come back to the British in Iran." 1.30 pm. Reports: The Girl Who Shot Dead by Bassij, killed at Salehi Cr, At Karegar St. 1.25 pm. Watching this murder of a young woman in the uprising by the Basij, I find it hard to breathe. These fascists need to be brought down: 1.20 pm. Jeff Weintraub:
The Tienanmen moment? Yes and no. Yes, it looks as though the Iranian
regime
has decided to crush the protests by force. But in 1989 the Chinese
regime seems to have wanted to have a concentrated, visible bloodbath
in Tienanmen Square itself (to send a clear message). In this
crackdown, the Iranian regime seems
to be trying to avoid that. 1.12 pm. confirmed - Riots in Tabriz, Mashad, Isfahan, Ahwaz - Gov using violence 1.11 pm. A young woman gunned down. I am struck by the number of women in this uprising. 1.09 pm. Beijing tries hard to keep news of the uprising from their own people. 1.05 pm. Mousavi - confirmed - IF I AM ARRESTED THE NATION IS TO STRIKE INDEFINITELY 12.53 pm. The state media are putting words into Obama's mouth: This morning a friend of NIAC who gets Iranian Satellite TV here said that state-run media showed President Obama speaking about Iran this morning. However, instead of translating what he actually said, the translator reportedly quoted Obama as saying he “supports the protesters against the government and they should keep protesting." Assuming this report is correct, it shows the Iranian government is eager to portray Obama as a partisan supporting the demonstrators. So the Khamenei regime wants the same posture from the Obama as Krauthammer and Wolfowitz. They just don't know what they're talking about, do they? 12.50 pm. From this stunning footage, it appears that the riot police have met their match in one area, at least. 12.46 pm. Helicopters did not spray boiling water. It was a type of ACID, similar to what Mojahedeen used in '78-'82. 12.44 pm. New photos of Tehran aflame here. 12.41 pm. The Guardian:
"Supporters shouted "Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein," as police
helicopters whirred overhead; some in the crowd showed them the victory
sign. Some shops in the city closed or placed black cloth over their
doors as a symbol of condolence. Bazaar workers in Tehran and the city
of Tabriz were reported to be on strike in protest at the election
result." 12.40 pm. The nation has awoken TODAY - the Sea of Green is marching 12.38 pm. The photo that was here was not accurate. I've removed it. Apologies. 12.34 pm. A livestream of events can be seen here. 12.31 pm. A reader writes: Listening
to the video you posted provisionally at 12:13 PM EST - I swear the
prevailing chant of that crowd is, "Marg bar Khamenei", or "Death to
Khamenei." As an non-Iranian American, the only investment I can claim in this week's events is my support for those who seek their freedom. I've spent this entire week backing this popular uprising but fearing it would not propogate into a full revolution, then fearing that the State will manage to either crush or disillusion the people into submission. After watching this video of uncounted thousands calling for the head of their Supreme Leader, it's no longer possible to fear either. This is a Revolution.
12.27 pm. More photos here. 12.21 pm. Sodium metabisulfite Na2S2O5 mixed with water (5% solution) cures CS tear gas. Wash eyes with solution 12.17 pm. Protests seem to have become distributed across city after police did everything it could to prevent one large crowd 12.13 pm. This video shows scenes I haven't seen elsewhere and although it says June 20, I cannot confirm. What makes it seem like today are the black helicopters flying above, something not reported to my knowledge before today. If this is today, it looks as if the people are fighting back. Will try to confirm this video so please watch provisionally. If any of you have any insights into the video's dating, please let me know. 12.12 pm. 12.05 pm. Confirmed: European embassies are giving care for injured! They help care for acid burns. Hospitals are traps! 12.02 pm. Mousavi tells he's bathed [ritually] for martyrdom. 11.51 am. Reports: A Police Post is Burning in 7Tir SQ. 11.50 am. The regime's mojo is to fabricate a terror threat from outside to buttress their power-grab at home. Michael Roston: An Al Jazeera analyst suggests that a Mujahedeen-e-Khalq bomber carried out the attack. That would be convenient because MEK has been constructed as a stand-in for the Bush administration in Iran since America invaded Iraq. Instead of shipping MEK, a group that’s on the American list of foreign terrorist organizations, off to Iran for trial, the Bush administration allowed the Iranian-origin but anti-Islamic Republic group to continue to stay in Iraq, where Saddam Hussein had long ago given the group safe haven. So, If Iranian officials are suggesting that MEK was involved, it’s a useful rumor to spread because it’s their way of saying, “America and its proxies bombed Iran.” Also worth pointing out that earlier in the week, the Iranian outlet I quote above reported that Iranian authorities had foiled a bomb plot on election day. The officials claimed the the group attempting the bombing had confessed to working for Israel.
11.48 am. 11.47 am. A reader infers the chemical weapon: Probably CS tear gas crystals mixed in water which is why washing it off only makes it worse. Mixing it in water like the reports would be the most efficient usage of the CS agent 11.41 am. NOW / mousavi among people: I am ready for death Mousavi is giving a speech in jeyhoon street. "This is street fighting like the first 2 nights. They are chanting death to the dictator now, no slogans about votes anymore" from a source: A reporter just told me that the riot police officers are more than the demonstrators in a number of streets. the most intense clash is reported to be happening in AmirAbad street. 11.40 am. Mousavi: I Am Ready For Death. 11.38 am. Via Nico, from VOA: - "Mahsa from Tehran:I was in the rally today and police forces in
Azadi square cruelly killed people and all my body is wounded" 11.37 am. From Mackie:
11.33 am. Mousavi is speaking. 11.32 am. In response to the violence of the security forces, people are now beginning to shout “Death to Khamenei” 11.28 am. Some reports of Mousavi on the streets. 11.27 am. Shiraz erupting? REPORT FROM SHIRAZ: Intense conflict in Alam Square. Report from source: Mohammad Ghouchani, the editor-in-chief of National Trust newspaper, has been arrested. 5:30 In Khosh Street police is attacking people with batons and pepper spray trying to disperse ppl, shots heard 5:20 A lot of conflict happenning at Kosh St. now 5:26 shooting in Azadi ave. near Gharib! 11.24 am. Chemical warfare? It is not boiling water but something else: Helicopters spraying water with agent in it onto crowds. Skin irritant, will make it feel as though water is scalding. 11.17 am. I have to say I found the boiling water from helicopters hard to believe. And yet more tweets repeat it: Two reports coming from Tehran about helicopters pouring boiling water on protesters. reports of some Iranians protesting with Qurans in their hand. even at metro station at azadi ppl r beaten up!!! I should reiterate that all tweets need to be taken provisionally. They are raw, unconfirmed mini-telegrams from the streets of Iran and elsewhere. But the use of the Koran in resisting oppression of this kind, now ocnfirmed all over the place, strikes me as a vital gesture. It puts the lie to the idea that Islam is not, at its core, a religion of peace, however hijacked by the fundamentalists and fascists. It is of a part with the color green and the cries into the night of Allah O Akbar. In this pitched battle, there is also a struggle for the soul of Islam. It is so so heartening to see decent people fighting back to reclaim their faith. Without these Muslims, the world will know no peace.
11.13 am. ppl r not allowed to look out the window if they do their windows r broken 11.11 am From Robert Mackie:
11.08 am. Got A Call: Many People Injured By Police and Milittia Near Tohid SQ. Eye Witness: At Least 20 injured Protesters transfred to Loghman Hospital in last 30 mins. Press TV reports the number of casualties of the explosion at Khomeini's shrine to be 8. 11.02 am. The Guardian:
11.01 am.
10.59 am. From Enghelab Square up to Azadi Square tow helicopters are pouring down boiling water over poeples head 10.57 am. Was the bombing at the Khomeini Mausoleum designed to prevent Mousavi from taking refuge there? 10.53 am. Al Giordano:
10.50 am. things are horrible, please pray for us 10.47 am. Reuters: Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi on Saturday set on fire a building in southern Tehran used by backers of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a witness said. The witness also said police shot into the air to disperse rival supporters in Tehran's south Karegar street. 10.45 am. Most of the people in the streets are carrying Qurans The protests have turned very violent in the streets from Enghelab to Azadi, and has been extended to Setar Khan area. 10.44 am. People gathering at Vanak Sq. North of Tehran 10.43 am. More reports of growing resistance to the riot police. 10.42 am. Reports: 1 young man shoot dead near Vali Asar Cr. 10.40 am. “I, in the name of a reporter am saying that the bomb at Imam Khomeini shrine was not the work of a terrorist but the work of the regime itself.” “This type of activity [regime bombing shrines] has a long precedent. A while back, a bomb exploded at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad and some people were killed. They caught someone and made him confess on television. But later it became clear that the bombing had been the work of the Intelligence Ministry. And now they’re doing the same thing in order to give an excuse to crush the people.” “People are throwing stones at the anti-riot police and plain clothes militia” “Because of the harsh treatment by the plain clothes militia and security forces, protesters are shouting harsher slogans” 10.37 am. Beating back the riot police - fresh footage from Tehran although timing cannot be verified. 10.33 am. Juan Cole on the bombing: Aljazeera is reporting that a suicide bomber blew
himself up near the shrine of Imam Khomeini. Hard to interpret, since I
don't take the reformist camp for seedy terrorist types. My guess, if
its true, is Mojahedin-e Khalq or MEK or something very like it (which,
if true, would be bad publicity for the reformers, since MEK is
universally hated in Iran.) 10.32 am. City is closed down with anti-riot forces and police. The people are being beaten with knives, batons. Things are going downhill. 10.29 am Reader translation of video at 9.58 am below:
10.28 am. Mirriaam forces dont let ppl use cell phones. they beat anyone with a cell phone in hand :(( 10.25 am. No sign of Mousavi. My fear is that without massive crowds convening at once, the regime has the upper hand. 10.24 am. Tehran protesters coming in waves, will go on till dark and beyond. This no longer rally but street fighting. 10.20 am. The state TV is already blaming Mousavi for a suicide terrorist blast at the Khomeini Shrine. So far, we have seen nothing but murderous crassness from the regime. The huge vote-rigging; the extreme sermon; the thousands of police and Basijis on the streets; the deployment of terrorism as a pretext for more government brutality. These people are theo-fascists, and this is now the front line against theo-fascism. 10.16 am. Amirabad was closed of my plain clothes basij, tear gas was used 50-60 basij bikers were present . the amount of people were 2000 in that area due to blockages of roads HUNDREDS OF IRANIAN SECURITY FORCES INJURED IN RECENT CLASHES 10.10 am. letter from mousavi possibly in an hour, according to one fb entry 10.06 am. Appears plain clothes police in Vanak Square are mostly 15-16 year olds. 10.02 am. Shooting directly to the people in Azadi ST 10.01 am. The streets: 9.58 am. Raw fresh footage from BBC in Farsi here. Translations requested. 9.55 am. About 3000 or 4000 people are in Enqelab square now. Police is there. No Khatami, no Karroubi, no Mousavi 9.53 am. gunshots have started, being fired into the air. 9.52 am. Ann Curry makes shrewd point that only the state media is reporting the blast. 9.50 am. The bomb is a classic Iranian trick. Excuse to crack down. 9.47 am. Blast is Gov Plot. Tomorrow's' Gov Talking Points = "We are fighting terrorist, like you". 9.45 am. A reader writes: "I'm keeping in touch with my relatives in Tehran. They have heard about the bomb blast at the Khomeini mausoleum. People say that this is most likely the government. The mullahs did something similar in August 1978 in Iran - They set a cinema in Abadan ablaze and blamed the Shah. That was the turning point of that revolution as the people began to see the Shah as ruthless." 9.37 am. Of course my first thoughts about the reports from the Khomeini shrine is that this is a classic fascist move. It's their burning of the Reichstag - a cover for the coming purge. Again: the Big Lie is the one they could be choosing. Who would believe that the Supreme Leader would bomb Khomeini's shrine? And it's timed to disorient the protesters. Of course, this is pure speculation on my part, and there could be any number of explanations. But it would fit the fascist nature of this coup perfectly. 9.35 am. If there was an explosion, it was done by Gov. Part of effort to construe protests as violent. 9.34 am. People chant: "Seyed Ali Pinoshe, Iran won't be Chili", "Death to this decieving gvnmt". "I will kill who killed my brother" 9.30 am. Reports of some kind of bomb blast at the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum. Is the regime itself now bombing shrines to blame on the uprising? Or is this something else entirely? 9.29 am. If you stop schedule protest, you will get unscheduled fighting.9.26 am. Live-blogging from Shoreesh: 5:20 9.18 am. CNN: Thousands of people attempting to enter Tehran protest site have been blocked by heavily armed police, eyewitness says. 9.16 am.. Reuters: Protesters have been dispersed with teargas ... smoke was rising over Enghelab (Revolution) Square, a witness said. 9.14 am AP: Witnesses: police using tear gas, water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters in Tehran. 9.12 am via Nico. -- "HARD conflict between the people and the Special Guard. people: down with khamenee" -- "Heavy clashes on azadi street, chants of death to khameni! The street is full of rocks and fire." -- "Voice of shooting in Azadi street in Tehran" 9.08 am. Confirmed: People are walking from Keshavarz and Fatemi toward Enghelab Sq. 8.51 am. This photo is making the rounds. Reports are coming in of the first clashes as riot police try to prevent access to all the main squares.
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