REFERENDUM BEST AND PEACEFUL WAY TO CHANGE REGIME IN IRAN: REZA PAHLAVI
PARIS 11 Oct. (IPS) Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of former Iranian Monarch
said Friday that civil disobedience and referendum were the "best way"
to fulfill Iranian people’s quest for freedom and democracy through peaceful
means.
In an interview with the Persian service of Radio France Internationale (RFI), the 44 years-old Prince called on all Iranian parties, organisations and groups inside and outside Iran opposed to the present theocratic regime to unite around the "single principle" of a national referendum aimed at allowing the people to chose their own desired regime.
"The people in Iran has reached the conclusion that radical change of the present regime is the only way to real democracy, not cosmetic reforms of the present theocratic constitution", he told RFI’s Torab Mostofi.
This was Mr. Pahlavi’s second interview in as many days with foreign-based radio stations.
He said if, regardless of their ideological and political lines, Iranian forces opposed to the Islamic Republic unite around the idea of civil disobedience and referendum, the regime would have no choice but to bow, "sooner or later".
His call for referendum and civil disobedience followed another one suggested three weeks ago by Mr. Akbar Ganji in his "Manifesto for Republicanism".
An influential dissident and outspoken voice, Mr. Ganji is serving a five years jail term. He published his outstanding pamphlet on internet during a short prison leave.
Asked how he could pretend to create an "alternative" to the present regime while most of other forces, including the leftists, the nationalists, the nationalist-religious that supported the Islamic revolution etc. refuse to work with him, Mr. Pahlavi said: "The question is not me, but freedom for Iranians".
"What I’m proposing is let’s unite around the idea of a referendum that would allow the Iranians to chose freely their own regime. If these forces are sincerely democratic, there should be no difficulty in getting together.
In an earlier interview with Mr. Homayoon Majd, the Washington correspondent of the Persian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Mr. Pahlavi said contrary to what the Iranian officials claims, Iranians would welcome the replacement of the present Iraqi regime with a democratic one.
"In a region with few democratic systems, Iranians are amongst those that suffer the most from their autocratic regime and are looking for occasion to free themselves and reach freedom", he noted, adding that Iranians had created conditions for a radical change.
"As far as Iran is concerned, there is no need for any outside interference, including a military one, for the people is already dealing with the autocratic regime. The only thing foreign powers, particularly the United States could and should in regard to Iran is just support the people", he pointed out in his interview with the Prague-based RFE/RL.
Asked to comment on the last visit of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to Tehran, Prince Pahlavi said what the Iranians are asking Europe, the United States or any other government is to press for the respect of human rights and freedom when they talk to the officials. "They must also pay attention to the interests of the Iranian people, not a regime that is moribund", he pointed out. ENDS REZA PAHLAVI INTERVIEWS 111002