Khomeini's Arm
Socialist Press1979 1979-02-21Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 1 →
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Contrary to the impression given by the capitalist press and mass media, and carefully cultivated by the now Iranian regime, the massive ' revolution that toppled the Shah is not over: rather it is entering its most critical stage of development.
At stake now is whether the masses go forward to the seizure of power and the overthrow of capitalism in Iran, or a breathing space is given to the bourgeoisie to reconstruct the capitalist state apparatus and a new form of dictatorship imposed.
Every action of the yatollan Khomeini directs * the latter course 100)
Scarcely had the smoke ceased to billow over ransacked army barracks and police headquarters in Tehran before appointed Prime Minister Bazargan was giving proof of the pro capitalist nature of the new Iranian "Islamic Republic"
His first moves were to call for an end to the armed struggle through. which the ‚Iranian masses had toppled the Shah's colossal and. seemingly invincible military machine, and for arms to be surrendered by ad-hoc milițias to Ayatollah Khomeini's headquarters.
His second move was to call for an end to the tenacious strikes by oil industry workers, government employees and in the bazaar that had formed the backbone of the mass movement against the Shah and his puppet regime under Bakhtiar.
And to make it clear what this return to work means in practice, Bazargan hastened to reassure international imperialism including Japan and the USA that he hoped oil exports "to all parts of the world" would be quickly resumed.
Bazargan went on to make a grovelling apology to the US Oil worker Iranian troops in action selves. Last week saw thousands on a demonstration held in defiance of Khomeini demanding the disbanding of the standing army and the removal of the Bazargan government.
The task must be undertaken now, when the power of the Iranian state machine is at its lowest ebb. The armed forces Bazargan speaks at mass rally army will be used to repress strikes; to end occupations of factories; to help enforce the continued oppression of women, and to uphold the private property of capitalists and wealthy merchants such as Bazargan and his appointed As workers and peasants