Tuesday 27 March 2007

Amnesty International’s appeal for saving the lives of 7 Iranian Baluch condemned to death

Amnesty International

Amnesty International’s appeal for saving the lives of 7 Iranian Baluch condemned to death,
24.3.07

PUBLIC

AI Index: MDE 13/034/2007 22 March 2007UA 76/07 Fear of imminent execution/ tortureIRAN

Sa’id Qanbar Zahi (m), aged 17 ]
Javad Naroui (m) ]
Ma’soud Nosrat Zahi (m) ]
Houshang Shahnavazi (m) ]
Yahya Sohrab Zahi (m) ] Ali Reza Brahoui (m) ]
Abdalbek Kahra Zahi (also ]known as Abdalmalek) (m)
Ali Reza Brahoui (m) ]
All members of Iran’s Baluchi minority

The seven people named above, including a boy aged 17, are at risk of imminent execution. Amnesty International fears that at least five of the group may have been tortured into "confessing" to involvement in a number of violent crimes carried out in the town of Tasuki, in Sistan-Baluchistan province, southern Iran, in March 2006.

Information provided to Amnesty International suggests that the seven may have been arrested on account of their family ties with those suspected of having been involved in blowing up a bus carrying security officials from the Revolutionary Guard on 14 February 2007, in which at least 14 people were killed.According to media reports, Ali Reza Brahoui, Yahya Sohrab Zahi, Sa’id Qanbar Zahi, Houshang Shahnavazi and Ma’soud Nosrat Zahi all made "confessions" on Iranian state television to a number of crimes which allegedly took place in Sistan-Baluchistan, including attacks and carjackings.

The televised "confessions" linked an Iranian Baluchi armed opposition group, Jondallah, also known as the Iranian Peoples’ Resistance Movement (Jonbesh-e Moqavemat-e Mardom-e Iran), to these crimes, and to the attack on the bus on 14 February. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the five who "confessed" have been tortured, including by having bones in their hands and feet broken; by being ‘branded' with a red-hot iron and by an electric drill applied to their limbs, shredding their muscles.According to a BBC report, Iranian state television said that Sa’id Qanbar Zahi was tried on 11 March 2006.

Amnesty International has no other information concerning the legal proceedings faced by the seven, but there are concerns that they may have faced summary trials, and may not have had access to defence lawyers.

Amnesty International recognizes the rights and responsibilities of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes the death penalty in all cases as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

Moreover, Iran is a state party to international treaties which prohibit the execution of those under the age of 18 at the time of their alleged offence.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONIran's Baluchi minority lives mainly in the southeast of the country, and is believed to constitute between one and three percent of the total population of around 70 million.

Mainly Sunni Muslims, they have for many years complained of discrimination by the Iranian authorities.Jondallah, or the Iranian Peoples’ Resistance Movement, has carried out a number of armed attacks on Iranian officials and has on occasion killed hostages. It reportedly seeks to defend the rights of the Baluchi people, though government officials have claimed that it is involved in drug smuggling and has ties to terrorist groups and to foreign governments. Amnesty International condemns unequivocally the killing of hostages and urges Jondallah to desist from this or similar practices immediately.

According to a BBC report on 15 March, Sistan-Baluchistan television has stated that at least two people have been hanged in connection with the attack on the bus carrying Revolutionary Guards. Five days after it took place, an Iranian Baluchi man, Nasrollah Shanbeh-Zehi, was executed in connection with the attack.

He was shown on Iranian television “confessing” to the bombing on behalf of Jondallah and was executed in public at the site of the bombing. It is thought that the other man allegedly executed in connection with the attack may have been Ahmad Sariz, allegedly a member of Jondallah, who was reportedly hanged on 14 March. Reports indicate that at least 17 other individuals have either been sentenced to death or executed in connection with an attack in Tasuki in March 2006, in which up to 22 people were reportedly killed.

In an interview with the Iranian newspaper ‘Ayyaran on 17 March, Hossein Ali Shahryari, a parliamentarian representing the city of Zahedan, stated that prisons in Sistan-Baluchistan province hold more than 700 people under sentence of death. In 2006, at least 177 people were executed in Iran, including at least four women and four people who were under 18 at the time of the alleged offence.

Possibly as many as one-third of these were members of Iran’s Baluchi minority.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Persian or your own language:

- stating that Amnesty International recognizes the right and responsibility of governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences, but opposes the death penalty as the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment;

- calling on the Iranian authorities to commute immediately the death sentences of these seven individuals (naming them) and of anyone else facing execution in Iran;- reminding the authorities of their commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that “sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age”, and calling on the Iranian authorities to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child by immediately stopping the executions of those who were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offence;

- expressing concern at reports that they may have faced torture, in contravention of Iran’s own laws and its international obligations;- expressing concern at reports that the men have been arrested for being related to those suspected of carrying out armed attacks against government security officials;

- seeking details of the charges and any trial proceedings that the individuals named may have faced.

APPEALS TO:
Leader of the Islamic RepublicAyatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic RepublicThe Office of the Supreme Leader, Shahid Keshvar Doost Street, Tehran. Islamic Republic of IranFax: +98 251 7774 2228 (mark “For the Office of His Excellency, Ayatollah Khamenei") Email: Via website, in English: http://www.leader.ir/langs/EN/index.php?p=send letter
Salutation:
Your ExcellencyHead of the JudiciaryAyatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice Building, Panzdah-Khordad Square, Tehran, Islamic Republic of IranFax: + 98 21 3390 4986 (please keep trying; send appeals by post or email if you cannot get through)Email: info@dadgostary-tehran.ir (In the subject line write: For the attention of Ayatollah Shahroudi)

Salutation:
Your Excellency Governor of Sistan and Balochistan province Mr Dahmarde, GovernorFax: +98 541 3231990E-mail: info@sb-ostan.ir
Salutation:
Dear Sirand to diplomatic representatives of Iran accredited to your country. PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 3 May 2007.

Wednesday 14 March 2007

Correcting Michael Ladeen's article: Beyond Balochistan

Dear Mr Michael Ladeen

I am sorry that I couldn't respond to you earlier. I was away for few days. Today I read your article, Beyond Balochistan. Unfortunately, there is a big mistake in it which has already generated some serious concerns among some circles. Some people called me and said that my organization: Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI) has been involved in military operations in Baluchistan and they quoted your article. I want to say categorically that It was the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran (PRMI) that carried out military operations, not Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI). We reported the news and made an analysis.

Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI) has never been involved in any military action at any time.

I have highlighted those parts of your article that need corrections and I have made the corrections under each part. To clear the air and to present our position correctly, I wish to ask you to publish this note in your media.

The note is attached and it is printed in the email too.

Yours sincerely

Reza Hossein Borr

Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI)
Reza Hossein Borr
14.3.07

Correcting Beyond Balochistan by Michael Ledeen

It was the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran (PRMI) that carried out military operations, not Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI)

Baluchistan Peoples Front would like to express its gratitude for your very impressive article on Baluchistan in http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/03/beyond_balochistan.php, March 2, 2007.

Beyond Balochistan is a well written article that presents a realistic and objective assessment of the situation in Iran. Although there is a great misunderstanding. It was the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran (PRMI) that carried out military operations, not Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI). The credit or criticism of February military operations in Baluchistan goes only to Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran. Our organization, Baluchistan Peoples Front, is a civil organization that believes in proactive civil campaigning and promotes peaceful campaigns against the Iranian regime.

You wrote in the second paragraph,"The Balochistan People's Front of Iran, which has claimed credit for several recent attacks on the regime's security forces in the area, has issued a fascinating and potentially important assessment of these activities. It's a well written and well argued “lessons learned” from the point of view of an armed resistance group inside Iran."

To correct this paragraph, it was the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran (PRMI) that claimed credit for several recent attacks on the regime's security forces. Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran made its own assessment and analysis of these incidents. We, Baluchistan peoples Front of Iran (BPFI), publish regularly a newsletter on the situation of Baluchistan in which we reported the news and made an assessment of political and military developments. We have not been involved in any kind of military operations at any time. Our role is to report the news and give assessment of different developments.

In the fifth paragraph you wrote,"The BPFI describes its recent attacks as a realistic test of the regime's power, and the regime failed the test. These operations were carried out successfully without even one casualty in Zahedan, the center of Baluchistan, which is a militarized zone.”

To correct this paragraph again, it was People Resistance Movement of Iran that carried out these military operations in Zahedan, not the Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran.

In the sixth paragraph you wrote that, "Most analysts of contemporary Iran assume that the security forces, whether the IRGC or the fanatical Basij, have the situation well in hand, and while from time to time some demonstration or strike may take place, it will always be efficiently quashed. The Balochistan Peoples Front believes they have now shown that to be false. Indeed, they seemed surprised at the poor performance of the Iranian forces (“the Iranian soldiers are less skilled than has been claimed”).

As you have mentioned the Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran has shown in its analysis of these incidents, carried out by PRMI, that most analysts of contemporary Iran make wrong assessments of the power and force of the Iranian regime.

In the ninth paragraph, "The Balochi Popular Front claims that their ranks are swelling; thousands of new members are said to have arrived." To correct this paragraph, it was the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran that claimed that their ranks are swelling and not Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran.

I would like to express my thanks for raising the issue of the Baluch people and request you to publish this note to clear our position. I emphasize again that Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran is a civil organization and has never been involved in any military operations at any time. I also like to reiterate that we believe in civil campaigning.

Baluchistan Peoples Front of Iran (BPFI)
Reza Hossein Borr
14.3.07

Friday 2 March 2007

News from Balochistan, February 07

Balochistan Peoples Front, 1.3.07
Reza Hossein Borr


News from Balochistan


1. Chabahar, Balochistan, Iran, Balochistan Peoples Front, 24 Feruary 2007—Three members of Iranian security forces were killed in military operations that were carried out by the Revolutionary Guards to cleanse the city of Chabahar from Baluchistan insurgents. According to Ilna news agency, several security guards were wounded and four of them were arrested by the Baluch fighters.

No organization has yet taken the responsibility for this incident but the local sources said that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards organised a huge cleansing mission to dislocate a lot of indigenous people but they were faced by strong resistance by the people. The Baluch fighters who were in the area began helping the local people and consequently a shoot out began between the two sides.

The Iranian regime is carrying out a huge cleansing operation at the border areas of Iran and Pakistan to force the Baluch people of Iran to migrate to Pakistan. The Pishin area in which the incident happened is a beautiful and fertile land and the regime intends to remove the local people and transfer the ownership of the lands to its own Shia agents from other parts of Iran. The idea of ethnic cleansing in this part of Baluchistan began about the beginning of the revolution and has continued against the strong resistance of the Baluch people.

2. News of PRMI
The Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran (former Jundallah) was forced to engage in a series of military operations in February 2007 against security targets of the Iranian regime. These operations proved that the regime is vulnerable and can be defeated even in the major cities.

1. Zahedan, Balochistan, Iran, 3.2.07-- four top Iranian security forces have been killed in an armed clash between Baluch insurgents and the Iranian security forces in Zahedan, Baluchistan. The incident happened in the centre of the city at 8 PM.

2. Explosion kills 19 members of Iran's elite guards

February 15, 2007

Zahedan, Balochistan, Iran - A car bomb killed 19 members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday in the deadliest attack in years near the Pakistani border.

A Sunni Muslim militant group called Jundallah, or God's Brigade, which has been blamed for past attacks on Iranian troops, claimed responsibility for the bombing, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency.
3. Zahedan, Balochistan, Iran, 18.2.07--The Baluch fighters of the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran (former Jundallah) exploded a sound bomb in an empty school to attract the security forces. As soon as the security forces arrived at the scene, an armed clash began between the Baluch fighters and the security forces for about two hours. The Baluch fighters returned to their bases safely. The Iranian government did not announce the number of casualties of its forces.
4. Sarawan, Balochistan, Iran, 23.2.07-- the Baluch fighters of the Peoples Resistance Movement of Iran exchanged fire with the Iranian security forces in Sarawan. The government announced three security men have been killed in this incident.

The objectives of these military operations are defined in the next paper.

The reality of the matter is that if a small group with limited resources can carry out such successful operations inside Iran, stronger and bigger groups can inflict fatal blows on the Iranian regime. The time is right for the change of the regime in Iran as the regime will never stop its terrorist policies of supporting and financing tourism, obstructing peace, expansive influence in the Middle East and interfering in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Afghanistan.

The Iranian regime has transformed itself into a super power because of these policies.

3. Sarawan, Balochistan, Iran, Balochistan Peoples Front, 24 Feruary 2007-- Two members of security forces were killed in Hidooch, Sarawan, Baluchistan on 24. 2007, according to the local sources. Those who witnessed the battle between the Baluch fighters and the Iranian forces said that the security forces attacked a place in Hiddoch with a large number of soldiers but the local people fought back and killed two soldiers. The security forces retreated and the local armed men also left the area and returned to their safe houses in the mountains of Sarawan.

There has been several armed conflict between the fighters of Baluchistan in Sarawan and the security forces in recent weeks. Sarawan is located on the eastern part of Baluchistan and has borders with Pakistan. Nobody claimed the responsibility for this clash. Baluch political organizations sometimes refuse to take responsibility for their military operations in order to avoid further conflict with Iranian regime.

The regime tested one of its long-range missiles Shahab 3 in Hidooch. The missile was fired from a point from the Western part of Iran and travelled thousands of km to land in Hidooch few years ago. The Islamic Republic of Iran made a huge propaganda about the range and the accuracy of Shahab Missiles but it did not hit the spot that was designated for and therefore, landed few km away from the target.


4. Samirom, Esfahan, Iran, Balochistan Peoples Front, 31 January 2007-- 16 people were killed in Samirom in the central part of Iran in a 24-hours armed clash between Baluch insurgents and Iranian security forces. The Baluch fighters of Foghan Group were on their way to Tehran when they were identified by the security forces. A chase and shoot out began immediately and the Baluch fighters entered the city of Samirom to refuel their vehicle but the security forces closed on them and the shootout began and several security men were killed.

To avoid the killing of the innocent citizens, the Baluch fighters left the city while the security forces were chasing them. They entered a farm outside the city and asked the farmer for fuel or a car. The farmer later revealed that the fighters were ready to buy his car for a lot of money but he refused to sell the car and therefore, the fighters left him alone without hurting him or taking his car or his property by force. The farmer was very sympathetic to the fighters. He said that they were good people and they could have taken his car away by force but they did not. It was at this stage that the security forces arrived at the farm and the shootout began again. The security forces had armed some militias and 16 members of the militia were killed in the battle.

Four members of the fighters were also killed and three of them somehow rescued themselves and returned safely to their bases in Baluchistan. Several interviews and articles were given and written by the people of Samirom in which there were a lot of support for the fighters who tried everything to avoid the killing of innocent people. The regime took the bodies of the dead fighters naked and demonstrated them as a sort of exhibition to the people Samirom who were very infuriated to see the insult on the fighters and removing of their cloths.

5. Iranshahr, Balochistan, Iran, Balochistan Peoples Front, 31 January 2007

Three Baluch fighters were killed by security forces in Iranshahr, Baluchistan. The Baluch fighters were taken by surprise in the village of Sarkahuran when a large number of security forces attacked them, according to Iranian television. The dead fighters belonged to an armed group that had a reputation for attacking the security forces for a long time. The Iranian television said that none of the security forces were killed but the witnesses observed that the shootout continued for few hours. All the roads were closed from different directions.

Eye witnesses said that they saw the security forces were carrying some injured people in uniform. According to Iranian sources there are more than
100 armed groups in Baluchistan who are fighting for their national rights and a federal system in Iran.

6. Sarawan, Balochistan, Iran, Balochistan Peoples Front, 31 January 2007-- A young Baluch was killed in Sarawan, Baluchistan by the Iranian security forces on 31st of January 2007. The Iranian official news agency (IRNA) announced that the young man was an armed fighter but the eye witnesses said that he was an ordinary person who was living in Sarawan and he had not any connections with the Baluch fighters. The eye witnesses also said that they saw the security forces arguing with him and suddenly one of them aimed at him and shot him dead. The Iranian news agency only gave his first name as Basheer. It is the official policy of the Iranian regime to conceal the full details of the people who are shot dead or hanged in public.

The family of the killed man registered a complaint against the security forces but no one was arrested. Hundreds of Baluch people have been shot in the streets of the cities in the last 28 years and not even one security men has been arrested. The Iranian government has given security forces a Free Hand to shootout anybody they like without having any documents against them.

7. Kahnouj, Balochistan,Iran, , Balochistan Peoples Front, 31 January 2007--

Two young Baluch fighters were killed and few more have been arrested by the Iranian security forces in Baluchistan. The Iranian official news agency-IRNA- reported that the two fighters belonged to an armed group that have been fighting the Iranian regime for a number of years. The agency reported that the government officials persuaded some Baluch leaders to persuade two fighters to surrender.

Kahnouj is officially part of Kerman province. About 30 percent of Baluchistan soil is part of Kerman province to dilute the population of Baluchistan. The British officers who travelled to Baluchistan 2 centuries ago estimated the area of Baluchistan as 280 thousands skm. Now the area of Baluchistan is 180 thousand skm. Other parts of Baluchistan have been annexed to Kerman, Hormozgan and Southern Khorasan provinces.

The same agency said that four Baluch have been arrested in Southern Khorasan which has borders with Baluchistan and Afghanistan.


Reza Hossein Borr is a leadership consultant and the creator of 150 CDs.
He is also the author of Manual Success, Manual of Coaching and Mentoring, Motivational Stories that Can Change Your Life, and a New Vision for the Islamic World. He is also the creator of 15 Models for Change. He leads Balochistan Peoples Front. He can be contacted by email: balochfront@aol.com
www.coachingandmentoringonline.com

©Copyright, Reza Hossein Borr, 2007, London, UK

Objectives of Jondollah operations in February 2007

Balochistan Peoples Front
Reza Hossein Borr

Objectives of Jondollah operations in February 2007

The Iranian regime can collapse easily

The Islamic Republic of Iran has portrayed an invincible image of itself, exaggerating about its military power, people power, strategy power, proxy power and religious power. To have an objective, realistic and concrete assessment of the government's claims about its invincibility, The People's Resistance Movement of Iran (Former Jondollah) organised and carried out a series of military operations against the military and security targets of the regime. These operations were carried out successfully without even one casualty in Zahedan, the centre of Baluchistan which is a militarised zone.

The success of these military operations proved:

Army power

1. The Iranian regime is more vulnerable than has been portrayed in international media.

2. The Iranian soldiers are less skilled than has been claimed.

3. The regime has less control on Iranian population than has been advertised.

4. The security forces and army are not dedicated to the Iranian regime as it has been claimed.

5. Military operations can be carried out almost everywhere in the country with full success.

6. The Iranian regime has more propaganda power than substance.

7. A small group of skilled fighters can generate a great impact on international and internal public opinion.

8. The Baluch fighters are using their own limited resources and if they have substantial support from a reliable source they can form a very strong force that can carry out huge operations, uprisings, civil campaigns, marches, protests and strikes in different parts of the country.


People's power

1. The people of Iran support a popular uprising if they are sure that the leaders of uprising are resolute in their decision and committed to success.

2. The people of Iran are prepared to join resistance movements as thousands of people have applied for membership of People's Resistance Movement of Iran.

3. The Iranian regime will collapse easily when the people realise that there is a reliable strong opposition group that can take the regime head on.

4. In spite of the government's claims the absolute majority people of Iran do not support this regime.

5. The regime has lost popularity.

6. The people have lost faith in the regime.

7. The people have realised that Islam has been used as a tool for seizing power and sustaining it.

Strategy power

1. The Iranian regime is not very competent in drawing and formulating effective strategies.

2. All the strategies that have been designed to trigger popularity among the masses have failed.

Proxy power

1. The Iranian regime has formed, trained, financed and equipped different militia to work in different provinces of Iran as well as in different countries.

2. These proxy groups in Baluchistan, Khuzistan, Kurdistan and other provinces have failed to live up to the expectations. These groups are not prepared to kill and get killed for the sake of the Iranian regime.

3. There are a lot of proxy groups in Baluchistan and regime expected them to work on their behalf for collecting information, participating in military operations and joining the army and security forces in their different operations. In practice, they have failed in the 90 percent of their objectives.

4. It seems that these groups are prepared to receive financial help to finance their families but they are not prepared to sacrifice their own selves or their families for the sake of regime they do not believe in anymore.


Religious power

1. The Iranian clerics have lost their religious influence on people.

2. The clerics have become so visibly corrupt that everybody can see their illegitimate activities.

3. Islam as a religion is losing its credibility among the Shia Muslim of Iran.

4. The clerics as a source of inspiration and guidance have lost their credibility and therefore they have become a source of discrimination and injustice.

5. Iranian people are not willing anymore to sacrifice their interests, beliefs, aspirations and objectives for the sake of the present regime.

Propaganda power

1. The Iranian regime is very strong in propaganda outside Iran.

2. Most of the success of the Iranian regime has been achieved through propaganda.

3. The Iranian regime has been successful in convincing its foreign enemies that it is too strong for them to take on.

4. The Iranian regime has been successful in convincing foreign countries that they have less power than Iran.

5. The Iranian regime has been successful in dividing international community through propaganda.

6. The Iranian regime is counting on the division among international community more than on its on power.

7. The Iranian regime has succeeded in convincing other countries that it can inflict heavy blows on them if they interfere in its affairs or its allies. But in practice it cannot do that.

If a small group can carry out huge military operations so successfully, a strong and big force can do more.

Reza Hossein Borr is a leadership consultant and the creator of 150 CDs.
He is also the author of Manual Success, Manual of Coaching and Mentoring, Motivational Stories that Can Change Your Life, and a New Vision for the Islamic World. He is also the creator of 15 Models for Change. He leads Balochistan Peoples Front. He can be contacted by email: balochfront@aol.com
www.coachingandmentoringonline.com

©Copyright, Reza Hossein Borr, 2007, London, UK