Come and wet this truncheon

Here's some old school:
Still makes my blood boil:
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Early days back then:

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Whilst I'm on the theme, another object lesson from the time in ridiculously biased reporting:
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This one, I first saw many years ago. The footage was provided to the travellers by a Channel 4 film crew who were making a schools programme about travelling lifestyle, some 7 or 8 years after the beanfield. There's actually longer footage around than this, I used to have a tape some 40 or 50 minutes long. The reporter had to retake his to-camera piece several times, each time toning it down, until it could be sanitised enough for broadcast. I believe he left journalism after this event. Here's his original - with the comment that it's some of the most brutal police behaviour in Britain in a long time.
Unfortunately, that wasn't true. This particular brutality was the specialty of the cops back then. I don't know what they're like now, but back in the day, it was par for the course. the Beanfield, of course, remains a particularly nasty example. Because of this footage having surfaced, it's also well documented just how brutish it was.

back from the canvas

So, got a bit of a breather. Haven't had chance yet to pick up on what's been happening in Iran. It seems fronm what I've gathered so far that the power struggle amongst the ruling class is continuing unabated. I haven't yet touched base on what's actually happening on the ground. And still I have no real picture on how big a gap there is between the aspirations of the demonstrators and the intentions of the "reformers".

Meanwhile - today I've been busy finding out more about cryptography. About time, probably.

And in the Atlantic, the first named storm should be called Ana any hour now. Bill, in the background, looks nasty - possibly for Florida - in 10 days or so.
Hundreds have died in Taiwan flooding from Typhoon Morakot. Rain amounts have neared Reunion world records and there's been massive flooding.
Earthquakes shook Asia too today, promising more; and more storms killing in Japan. The planet's been quiet lately - seems that time's over. Here's more.

Coming and going

Should be away again in a few hours. We'll see what happens.

The Iranian revolution has remained in and out of the headlines - Ahmadinejad was inaugurated this week, with clashes outside. Apparently it wasn't even broadcast live on State TV - presumably for fear that it would be disrupted, or that people would wonder "Where's Khatami and Rafsanjani and Moussavi?"

Things are still happening. I'd love to get a feel for what's really happening because it seems there isn't the fear that you'd expect if the crackdown had been truly successful. There are reports of rapprochement with security forces. On the other hadn, there are also horrific reports of torture, rape and murder coming out of the prisions.
And still people are fighting. Last night, there were reports of gunshots and a Basiji base being attacked by a crowd. Here's footage from the streets:


I'm going to try and catch up on everything that's been going on for the last few weeks and post what I can. Someday I'm sure I'll actually be able to visit Iran and see the sights for myself. And at that time, this blog will give me a handy jog to my memory to remember the second revolution.

off again

will be gone for a few days again in a while. Hearing that Moussavi has turned up at the cemetery even as cops are trying to break up the crowd.
Matt Weaver on the Guardian blog makes the good point:

(It's interesting that Reuters now seems to be breaking news on Iran before the usually reliable sources on Twitter. Last month Twitter was beating the wires on news of the protests by several hours in some cases).

Saeed is still going strong though.
And hearing now that 10,000 have gathered already at the cemetery. SO seems the twitterfeeds are coming back online.

Been away

Have been away for a few weeks. Enjoyed a family holiday.
The Ashes are on - the Third Test starts today. I'm working from home today, so that's worked out well.
Had a bit of a rough night - woken around 3 by the wee one, then couldn't get back to sleep. Sounded like a heavy storm in the distance approaching, but it became a bit of a damp squib. Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, there's been no named storm yet. In fact, I haven't even seen an invest that looked worth tracking.
And Iran. Ah, a lot has been happening I think, out of the spotlights. The leadership in Iran is split. Rafsanjani finally spoke out, at a Friday prayers on Tehran University. That led to more protests which were again beaten down. Some say the RG has effectively mounted a coup with Khamanei.
And the people on the streets - it seems they've become more radicalised, which is the way of these things. When even shouting Allah Akbar becomes punishable, then the theology will be questioned along with the theocracy.
Today's the 40th day since the massacres of June 20th. Once again, tens of thousands are expected to march. They are likely walking into more guns. But the revolution is still happening.

On holiday

...back in a few weeks

The revolution is here

Give me a minute....

Daily

Seems like vali-asr square is becoming the regular location of the daily protests. People are gathering there again now, and cops reported to be preparing to attack again.

Surprise!

So the Guardian COuncil or whatever translation you want to use has confirmed Ahmadi as President.
Well there's a fucking surprise.

Meanwhile, thousands marched again today, again at vali-asr square. They tried to form a human chain. Again attacked by riot cops and basiji. Again people fought back.
But this uprising is still not laying down. Word of people on the move from arrest, and hundreds, probably thousands arrested, but still they're out there.
Even now, I think the regime is worried about cracking down too hard. This isn't China; too much blood won't be accepted. Even the blood that has already spilled is beyond forgiveness. When the sun goes down, the sound comes from the balconies and rooftops "Death to the Dictator".
The revolution has only just begun.

update

Obviously things have been suppressed somewhat. All the same, there were reports yesterday of thousands (mainly women) gathering at the place where Neda was killed, and fighting in Enghelab square and laleh park amongst others. SO quite clearly the people in Iran have not laid down and taken it, even if that's the only story getting out to the West.
Today is another commemoration for the martyrs - and supposedly, it's actually legal! So this will be interesting to see.
In that memory, here's new video of the shootings at Azadi square on June 15th:

more video from the 24th

Despite the title, this isn't police violence at all. A large sit down demo is - at least during the film - left unmolested by the cops.

Oh and...

...fuck Michael Jackson!

Swedish embassy occupied?

Hearing that the Iranian embassy in Stockholm has been occupied. Always brings back some strange memories hearing that...

No news is bad news

Very very quiet on getting news out. Yesterday there was little on teh clashes getting out. Most news sources didn't even report them and I haven't seen any video yet. This despite what i was hearing about a considerable riot in the centre of tehran. There were also many thousands at the Behesht Zahra cemetery. Reports also of a gathering at the place where Neda was shot, but they were quickly attacked (beaten, some reports of shootings). And I've seen film of a candle lit vigil outside Tehran university.

Here's Nite Owl's report from yesterday.

Today is supposed to be releasing green balloons. Which is a huge comedown from what today was being billed as earlier in the week. I've seen one pic of a green ballon (well binliner actually) allegedly from Tehran this afternoon, but that's all and it's not verified.
Update: OK here's some:


and here (Facebook).
and fotos


No news either of Khamenei speaking at Friday prayers. Still rumours of a Rafsanjani statement, some say he's going to speak in support of Khamenei. I doubt that strongly.

So has the regime succeeded in smashing the resistance? I doubt that too. Yesterday showed that tens of thousands are still taking to the streets even after some bloody attacks. The hired Basiji thugs can only be kept in the cities for so long. the net will only be nailed down so long. The university exams have finished today.
A line in the sand has been crossed and nothing will be the same again.

Moussavi

He put out a defiant statement earlier this afternoon. Now being reported (Gooya News) that he's under house arrest. He was originally supposed to appear at the demo today, but that's unlikely to say the least!

street fighting

At the moment, there are reports that the police are not having it all their own way. There must be more than a thousand there, because one report says cops are surrounded and fighting two sides at once.
Reports of gunfire - at least one dead, helicopters dropping chemicals again, tear gas, burning buses.

more already

More than 1000 ppl chanting against Regime asking others join then near Taleghani Cr. Clashes at Enghalb Sq

Demo needs to be much bigger.

Quiet

twitter is very quiet today. Obviously something going on - even sources using other methods are quiet on Twitter.
One message through though. Riot police are already gathering for this afternoon's march.

news report

Here:

Iran: Protestors killed as security forces open fire near parliament

Hundreds of protesters gather near parliament building Wednesday afternoon, several reported killed after Revolutionary Guard forces fire tear gas, live bullets at crowd

Rest of the article at the link.

this from yesterday

When remember, according to the media this morning, the protests had all been beaten down



So here's a message from my youth. Spot the similarities. And the message: when communities are attacked, they fight back