"Neda. In her honour." New Che image by Jim Fitzpatrick

by tr Fri Dec 04, 2009 18:00

No matter the a smears cast by the Iranian Government, the people of the world stand with Nedas family in their quest for justice.

The family of a young woman shot dead at a protest following Iran's disputed presidential election has accused the security forces of killing her.It is the most strongly-worded statement the family of Neda Agha Soltan have made since her death. The family's accusation follows the spread of an Iranian government-proposed theory blaming a conspiracy of western governments for the killing.

Ms Soltan was filmed as she lay dying and the video uploaded to the internet. Her death became iconic in the protesters' struggle against what they said was the fraudulent election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"I openly declare that no one, apart from the government, killed Neda. Her killer can only be from the government," Ali Agha Soltan told the BBC's Persian service by telephone from Iran. Mr Soltan dismissed accusations by the authorities that foreign powers and the opposition were involved.

"They've been avoiding responsibility from the very beginning. They want to put the responsibility on other people... This is how the Islamic Republic behaves," he said.

He said and his wife were beaten up and detained by the security forces last month when they tried to take part in an opposition demonstration.

by iosaf mac diarmada Fri Dec 04, 2009 20:56

With respect I protest.

I was the first to report the death of Neda in Irish media on this very site as part of my coverage and translation and monitoring of those days. & I still stand by what I wrote then - I am appalled that the cynicism and manipulation I saw begin continues yet.

All through the green revolution Mousavi made reference to the first martyr of Islam. His followers chanted the name of the first martyr of Islam every night on the rooftops of Tehran. I reported that on the threads of that time. That was back before google offered farsi/persian translation services & most of the tweets and internet babble purporting to be from Iranians were in fact from US based lobbyists. Then Neda died. Within 24 hours her youtube snuff video had delighted the worst elements of western media who would still it seems wish to make some sallow point (such as above) & see in something that which was never there. Her little hijab slipped as she lay dying & those few locks of hair meant so much to the western commentator. Che never wore a hijab. Perhaps if he did in the illustration above I'd consider passing it on. But I doubt anyone needs or would appreciate another Che, it's a sad pathetic gesture in my opinion & only serves to further distort what occured or occurs in Iran.

this is how I reported he death http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92744?&condense_comment...54274 & I add in passing that even then I wondered at the meaning of her name.

Less than one month later -

Isis Obed Murillo, a 19 year old was shot in the neck & killed whilst protesting the coup d'etat in Honduras.



this is how I reported her death http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92883?search_text=hondu...55463 & I add in passing that she too had her snuff video on youtube but unlike Neda Agha Sultan who was 7 years older - she got no profile on CNN, no thoughtful reflection on the importance of her death for democratic values and the resistance of the poor to oppression.

She didn't get her Che.

& no English speaking artist has thought to utter platitudes in the Spanish language on her behalf.

¿de verdad? ¿¡venceremos!? exactly what justifies dressing up one snuff in a Che & ignoring another?????

by Feudal castrato Sat Dec 05, 2009 10:39

It's one thing if you are doing something that can be hijacked by western imperialists for their own ends. They'll happily get their well financed media machine to distort and amplify what you are doing. However if you are doing something similar but contrary to the interests of the rich and powerful friends of empire, then you can die quietly in the gutter with no iconic hero status.

I'm sure Che would is rolling in his grave.

by pat c Sat Dec 05, 2009 17:14

I doubt it very much. Those people demonstrating on the streets on Iran are doing so in opposition to a savage dictatorship. Whether it is in Iran or Honduras or Burma or China the ordinary people should be supported in their struggle for democracy.

I don't think Jim is stupid enough to let himself be used by imperialist elements. Nor are those who support the People of Iran in their struggle against the Regime but who also oppose International Imperialism. Should we stay quiet about what is going on in Iran just because imperialists may also say things? They will say them anyway. It is important that we stand with the women, workers, students and socialists in Iran. To say that No to War and No to the Theocracy.

Staying quiet about the Iranian Dictatorship is not an option.

Staying quite about Imperialism is not an option either. The Imperialist adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq have reduced those countries to rubble and only a madman, fool or imperialist would support an attack on Iran.

But Israeli/US Imperialism must also be opposed in Occupied Palestine. The crux of this problem is the Imperialist ambition to rule over the Middle East with Israel as ts local Mercenary State. But this Imperialist Bloc will not be beaten by ignoring the rights of the Iranian People. How will that defeat Imperialism?

by FC Sat Dec 05, 2009 17:41

I meant che would be pissed off at the cynical way the media gets behind only those causes it can hijack for it's own ends.
Both women are deserving of a publicity yet only one gets it. I'm not saying the iranian protesters aren't deserving or that che wouldn't approve of their fight. I'm saying che would be angry at the cynical media hijacking and distortion of a good cause, whilst an equally good one is ignored because it's against the interests of imperialists.

But Fitzie should really make the other lady a che too. All he has to do is change the colour.

by pat c Sat Dec 05, 2009 18:03

I guess i misunderstood you. I agree both should be icons of struggle.

Victor Jara is being reburied and his wake is ongoing. I'm sure he would have written songs about both of them.