Plainclothes Agents Launched Attacks

Rooz Online

As the last hours of campaigning for the next president of Iran ticked off for the June 14 voting, supporters of Hassan Rowhani who had gathered at Vanak Square and Vali Asr Intersection in the heart of Tehran and chanted compassionate slogans for the three leading reform leaders, plainclothes agents on foot and motorcycle attacked and disrupted their assembly.

The gatherings of supporters of Rowhani which right-wing news sites such as Fars and Raja News had earlier called illegal gathered on Thursday evening at Vanak circle and encouraged passers-by to vote for their candidate. They distributed leaflets and posters of Hassan Rowhani. As the sun set and it became darker, these enthusiasts began chanting slogans in support of Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, reform leaders who have been under house arrest for their roles in the 2009 demonstrations since 2011. Some people joined in and thee chants of “Death to the Dictator.” Soon, supporters of another candidate, Saeed Jalili, widely viewed as the favorite of the establishment, who had gathered at the Heydarinia stadium attacked Rowhani supporters and beat up some of them.

Clashes were reported at Vali Asr and Takhte Taoos (Motahari) intersections but apparently they were short lived.

At the same time, supporters of Jalili gathered on Vali Asr avenue with their motorbikes, and chanted slogans in support of their candidate.

The clashes between the supporters of Jalili and Rowhani took place as the supporters of another candidate, Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf gathered at Palestine circle and their march went without incident because they seemed to be under the cover of police.

In the course of these demonstrations and marches, plain-clothesmen videoed the pro-Rowhani processions. They freely roamed among the protesters and videoed them or took still photographs, which brought negative responses from the marchers.

Law enforcement officers and anti riot police on motorbikes also patrolled Tehran’s main thorough fare, Vali Asr Avenue using the dedicated bus routes.

Later in the evening traffic on these streets increased significantly and the streets leading to Vali Asr, the Parkway freeway, Jordon Avenue, and others were packed with cars carrying Rowhani or Ghalibaf supporters.

Pro Bagheri posters and banners dominated the city while other candidates such as Rowhani or Velayati did not resort to similar campaigns activities.

As reported by eye-witnesses, the volume of propaganda and campaign material for mayor Ghalibaf had brought forth protests by supporters of other candidates so much that some of the banners that were clearly in the municipality spaces were torn down.

As midnight approached, the volume of traffic increased even further and a kind of festive mood took over as cars honked their horns and played loud music. Many complained about Mousavi and Karoubi’s in-house arrests. And over intervals of time, chants of “Oh Hossein, Mir Hossein” were heard in support of the reform leader and former prime minister.

A difference in the campaigns between this year and 2009, in addition to this year’s much smaller number of street participants, was the use of cars instead of foot marches. Because of this, traffic came to a standstill on many roads and close to intersections, as the police tried to direct the traffic to break the gridlock. Another first this year was the police’s use of very loud megaphones. People protested to the loud messages by whistling, clapping and honking the horns of their cars.

The last night of campaigning demonstrated some public enthusiasm and festive mood that was in contrast to the subdued weeks prior to the voting, but still markedly low key compared to the massive crowds of 2009.

All in all, there were no serious clashes or incidents in the days leading up to Friday, election day for the next president of the Islamic republic.