[WSIS CS-Plenary] who is attending?: WSIS Asia Pacific meeting

[Robert Guerra]

 From those who might not be following news in Iran, i am copying  
below the latest news...


My personal view is that anyone from CS going to the  Tehran meeting  
should be careful on how the presence might be used and manipulated  
by the  regime to further it's own agenda.

In the case of Tunisia, we all know the issues - but what is  
important to remember is that civil society has mobilized and brought  
attention and spotlight to the situation there - and worked with  
groups inside the country and allowed them to have their own voice.  
We should do no less for independent civil society inside iran.

Let's consult with them and experts who know the country to make the  
decision on if we want to engage and attend . If we don't then we  
should make it clear - and indeed boycott the meeting. If CS does  
attend, then let's give it some though and see how we can use the  
meeting not just as a "prep" meeting, but one that benifits CS both  
inside Iran and those in the asia pacific region.

On a broader level - it is interesting to note that while the USA and  
Canada attended and participated in both the LAC and Asia Pacific  
regional meetings in the first phase, for the second phase they have  
not been invited (as is the case for the LAC region), or have picked  
places where Canadian and US officials can't attend. I don't think  
it's coincidence - suffice it to say that it will likely lead to a  
more heated and problematic 3rd prepcom in Sept. sigh!

regards

Robert




http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM. 
20050522.wiran05221/BNStory/Front/

Iran bars reformists from presidential election

Sunday, May 22, 2005 Updated at 1:43 PM EDT

Associated Press

Tehran — Iran's hard-line Guardian Council on Sunday rejected all  
reformists who registered to run in presidential elections, approving  
only six out of the 1,010 hopefuls, state television reported.

The final list effectively barred reformers seeking democratic  
changes within the ruling Islamic establishment from the presidential  
race. The move came as ruling clerics seek to consolidate their power  
in the June 17 vote following the departure of reformist President  
Mohammad Khatami.

Iran also is facing international pressure over its controversial  
nuclear program, trying to convince the United States and Europe that  
it is not seeking to develop weapons.

The approved candidates included powerful former President Hashemi  
Rafsanjani, who moves frequently between the hard-line and more  
moderate camps and was seen as a front-runner in the race.



The Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog that supervises the  
elections, is controlled by hard-liners loyal to Iran's Supreme  
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state  
matters. The council barred women from running for the office.

The other approved candidates were former police chief Mohammad  
Bagher Qalibaf, former radio and television chief Ali Larijani,  
Tehran Mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former parliamentary speaker  
Mahdi Karroubi, former head of the elite Revolutionary Guards Mohsen  
Rezaei.

Former Culture Minister Mostafa Moin, who was the sole candidate of  
Iran's largest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front,  
was among those disqualified.

The Guardian Council caused outrage last year when it disqualified  
more than 2,000 reformists who had registered in legislative  
elections, leading to a low turnout. Reformists denounced that vote  
as a “historical fiasco.”

The outgoing Mr. Khatami, who came to power in a landslide in 1997,  
was regularly stifled in his attempts to bring political and social  
reforms by hard-line clerics led by Khamenei. He is barred by law  
from seeking a third term.

Mr. Rezaei, Mr. Larijani, Mr. Ahmadinejad and Mr. Qalibaf are widely  
seen as Mr. Khamenei candidates because of their strong loyalty to  
him. All of them are former military commanders.

Mr. Karroubi is a hard-liner-turned-reformer who has lost his  
popularity among the youth and reformists because of his increasing  
support of Mr. Khamenei and his hard-line policies.

With the reformist movement severely weakened, Rafsanjani is seen as  
the most credible force to stop hard-line allies of Iran's supreme  
leader from seizing the post of president. But the savvy politician  
has changed his stripes frequently in the past, sometimes backing the  
hard-liner camp, sometimes taking a more moderate line and seeking to  
build ties with the West.


     * © Copyright 2005 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights  
Reserved.



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