Siamak Hatami former memebr of MKO returned to his homeland
Mojahedin-e Khalq has been for long time promoting so-called "Third Option" in its propaganda as a strategic solution. As far as I have been able to study, after inevitably undergoing significant changes three years ago, Mojahedin-e Khalq has maintained a new solution for overthrowing Iranian regime and assuming control in Iran. In this regard, MKO rejects invasion to Iran as well as compromising with Iranian regime in return for political deals, and instead insists on lifting group’s name from terror lists in the West and rearming the NLA in Iraq; if rearmed and backed logistically, NLA in Iraq can move from Iraq toward Iran, defeat Iranian forces and take control of the country.
First, it’s crystal clear that this option addresses the West, and particularly the US. In fact, this strategy requires the US to do what MKO orders. It doesn’t say what would happen if the US rejects the group’s requests. As usual, Iranian people have been omitted from this equation. As far as I know, the strategy of an independent revolutionary group should be based on what it does, not what others can do (here, the US).
Mr. Bizhan Niabati says that "MKO’s ideal is to be recognized by Americans as a military force in the form of National Liberation Army (NLA) and as a unified political alternative under the form of NCRI". Of course, this has been considered wholly wrong since the only alternatives accepted and recognized by the US are Monarchists and Republicans; Americans will never back a violent revolution in Iran unless they can handle its military force all by their own.
Second, let’s pretend that the West and the US have accepted all MKO’s requests (in other words, MKO has been lifted from the list and their confiscated weapons given back). This situation is still similar to the golden times after Forogh operation. The organization enjoyed similar situation in Iraq for years but there was no move from NLA! How could it be helpful for the time being? MKO may be looking for greater support than that of Saddam; for instance, a joint military operation! In that case, the US is unlikely to initiate a war against Iran and support the MKO (to get to power) at the same time. The fact is that the US and the West will lift MKO’s name from terror lists only if the organization firmly renounces armed struggle, renounces its past, and dismantles the NLA. Also, the US will only support MKO’s alternative if it is a "dependent alternative". In short, the organization should completely change its strategy before being accepted by the US; in this significant change, many of MKO members will be dropped. Is the MKO, now hanging on the US, ready for such a change?
Third, the MKO always claims that group’s designation as terrorist, bombardment of its camps, and disarmament of its army were all done in response to the requests of Islamic Republic. If the US and the West do have such a good relationship with Iran (to meet its requests despite all differences), will there by any hope for sudden changes in their policies to turn their support for the MKO? Even if we accept this assumption that the West is meeting Iranian regime’s requests, there are undoubtedly advantages for it; can MKO secure West’s advantages (more than Iranian regime) when it expects them to accepts Mojahedin’s strategy?
However, what has occupied my mind is that whether this so-called solution can really be the plan and the agenda of a revolutionary, Islamic, popular, anti-colonialism, anti-exploitation organization with more than 40 years of nonstop struggle and a long line of martyrs? It seems as if experts in Pentagon have presented a solution for the US to easily get to its goals. I wonder if MKO founders could recognize their organization after a search in the Internet and different websites of Mojahedin-e khalq! Had they really joined the MKO if they could see group’s current situation 20 years ago? I recommend MKO members to look back at early books and magazines of Mojahedin, although those books and magazines are unlikely to be available now.
In fact, "Third Option" is not a strategy; it’s the same American military option in which the MKO wants a share. The US believes it has two ways to confront the Islamic Republic: one is military option (like what it did to Iraq) and the other is political solution (in other words, forcing the regime to withdraw and giving more freedom of movement to pro-US forces). There’s no place for the MKO in both solution, and that’s why the MKO tries to convince the US to overthrow the regime under the name of NLA so that the role of MKO in Iran’s future is guaranteed. This dream, which has been presented as a strategy, will never come true.
I should note that the organization, now and in the past, adopted two wholly wrong policies. In the past, it tried to achieve its goals by taking advantage of Iran-Iraq war, winning the support of Saddam Hussein, standing along the enemies and forming NLA in Iraq; currently, the MKO is seeking American support to fill the gap of Saddam Hussein. In both cases, MKO stood right against the interests of Iranian people, therefore there will be nothing for the group except defeat and failure. Mojahedin moved to Iraq and invested on the war (between Iran and Iraq) but everything reached a deadlock as Iran accepted the UN resolution (for ceasefire). Recent investment (by MKO) on the gap between Iran and the US as well as nuclear issue will bring a similar experience for the group.
Of course, I believe that even Mojahedin leaders know that they will not benefit from this strategy. Therefore, they don’t elaborate on its details. From my point of view, the story of "Third Option" is only for preserving remnants of forces and keeping them busy. I believe that as members in Iraq, Europe and the US were for years busy with the story of NLA and toppling regime from Iraq, this recent story has been written only to postpone the determined dismantling of the organization. MKO leaders, who have created this story, and their audience in the US, are well aware of this fact. The only people who count on this issue are the surrounded members inside the organization. This solution tries to open a way out for desperate members of MKO, but similar to previous strategies and solutions of the organization, it’s a window that opens to NOWHERE.
Ebrahim Khodabandeh – 2006/05/08
The Mojahedin-e Khalq’s Hambastegi Meli website reflected Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph reports quoting Mr. Alireza Jafarzadeh (a member of the Mojahedin’s international relations section) saying "Iran conducted 14 big projects and several small ones last year."
Since the MKO’s report was aimed at demonizing Iran’s nuclear programs, I thought it would be better to review and analyze the sentences one by one:
1. Imam Hussein University has a Nuclear Physics section– It should be noted that Imam Hussein University was established after the revolution without any foreign help and having a section for Nuclear Physics is not a crime at all; in fact, it should be considered a scientific and technical achievement for Iran after the revolution.
2. Fereidoon Abbasi, 48, who was present in Iraq-Iran war fronts, is the head of this section– He studied inside Iran and participating in fighting against the enemy during the war can’t embarrass him. In fact conversely, participating in the war, but on the other side of the borders and beside Saddam Hussein the aggressor, cannot bring honour for the MKO and its leaders!
3. [Abbasi] supervised the transfer of a number of nuclear experts from other institutions to Imam Hussein University– Is there any problem with this? If yes, I am really interested in knowing the reasons.
4. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, 45, nuclear expert, is one of the key elements– He also studied inside Iran and I don’t think it’s a crime to be nuclear expert.
5. Mansour Asghari, 48, is a laser specialist– He has also studied inside the country and no one can accuse him for his specialty.
6. These two teach at Imam Hussein University– I couldn’t find any problem with this! More explanation may be needed for those who couldn’t get this.
7. They are based in the Defense Ministry’s Center for Technological Preparations– First, what’s the problem? Second, if they teach at that university, how are they based at another location?
8. Where the Iranian regime has not allowed inspections of by IAEA– As news reports indicate, the IAEA has no problem with Iran’s nuclear programs and it has always announced that Iran has cooperated with the IAEA on inspections. This is of course the political request of the US, Israel and the MKO who, against the will of all Iranians, ask for the suspension of even nuclear research in Iran; they say even research at Iranian universities should be stopped.
9. Fereidoon Abbasi has recently supervised experiments on strong neutron’s radiations from a neutron generator– I couldn’t find any problem with this. It’s natural that there are a series of experiments in the nuclear physics section of a university.
10. Other works focus on Beryllium Oxide, laser enrichment, nuclear trigger, and neutron experiments on other parts of a nuclear bomb– So, this is what he wants to say: that Iran is producing a nuclear bomb. However, the MKO has not given the details, just as the details of its third option were never revealed. It appears that the MKO thinks Iranians are its own members who accept anything without details. Or, Iranians may have been omitted entirely in the MKO’s comments and the only thing important for Mojahedin is to win the attraction of the West, particularly the US.
11. Iranian regime is advancing a covert parallel nuclear military program– I don’t think there’s any other opposition group that claims Iran is advancing a covert nuclear military program! The targets of this statement are the US and Israel, the main addressee’s of the third option.
12. According to sources in Iran, Revolutionary Guard Corps is building underground installations to be used in the case of destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites– In this part, Mojahedin directly asks the US to attack Iranian nuclear sites and destroy them, or maybe (as far as MKO’s concerned) the license for this has been issued. MKO has even warned that destruction of Iran’s existing nuclear sites will not be the end for the US and that they should go further and attack and occupy Iran under the pretext of destroying underground installations.
13. Iran conducted 14 big projects and several small ones last year– The Iranian nation is proud of its young men and women who have achieved such success without foreign help.
14. Some of them have been considered for creating nuclear sites and others for guarding weapons dumps– There’s no doubt that no one inside the country would welcome this MKO’s war drumming and invitation for a US war on Iran. Rather, these moves increase the hatred toward the MKO and its policies, as happened when the MKO went to Iran to stand along the enemy in fighting the Iranian people.
In the end, I’d like to address Alireza [Jafarzadeh] and other former partners and advise them out of my own experiences. We are used to doing what others dictate to us. I believe there’s no problem if you try to know the positions and stances of other opposition groups (whether inside the country or abroad) and analyze them. You judge! Have you ever seen monarchist Rightists encourage Americans to take military action against Iran, destroy nuclear installations and justify such actions, as you do?
Have you ever asked yourself whose interests are being met in the international levels by your policies and functions? Are the current policies of the MKO consistent with the policies I was attracted to? How many of Iranians do you think support MKO’s policies on Iranian nuclear programs? If you know the answer and yet, you choose the current way, then I have nothing to say. But the problem is that members in the MKO don’t allow themselves to even think about question, let alone questioning about them. My only advice to my friends is "think about what you are going to say, open your eyes and see whose interests you are following". The strategy of investing in the Iran-Iraq war failed. There will be no interest in investing in the gap between Iran and the US. Isn’t it better to resort to MKO’s early trainings and rely on God and the people, not on desperate hopes and the enemies of Iran?
Ebrahim Khodabandeh – May 10, 2006
The visiting chairman of German Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee, Ruprecht Polenz met Alaeddin Broujerdi, head of Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission on Tuesday in Tehran; important regional and international issues were discussed in this meeting.
Polenz said peaceful nuclear energy was absolute right of all NPT member states, including Iran. Elsewhere in his talks, Mr. Polenz called Mojahedin-e khalq a terrorist organization and asked for Iran’s cooperation in all-out fight against international terrorism.
IRNA
According to Mehr News reporter from Mashhad, Ali Al-Abudi, editor-in-chief of Al-Vela newspaper, joined a press conference on the restoration of Shiites’ activities after the fall of Saddam. He said most of victims of Saddam’s crimes were Shiites and that mass graves in Iraq are full of Shiites. "However, the activities of Shiites have increased today. But the US and terrorist stand against Shiites and their opposition to Ibrahim Jafari is a clear example of this," he added.
Abudi, a member of Iraq’s anti-terrorist community, expressed regret for terrorists’ presence in Iraq and said: "According to Iraqi constitution, terrorist groups should leave Iraq. Mojahedin-e Khalq is also a terrorist group that Iraqis wish to be expelled from their country."
"Iraqis expect political parties to establish security and stability but the hands behind the scenes prevent any achievement in this regard."
Mehr News
A senior German official said that Iranian leaders have meanwhile voiced concern that there might be plots to attack their national football side during the World Cup in Germany.
Bavaria’s interior minister Günter Beckstein said that Germany’s Interior minister has been informed of Iranian concerns.
Mr. Beckstein who was talking to a German newspaper didn’t tell who maybe beyond attacks but reports quote him saying that Iranian opposition groups including MKO, which is on EU’s terror list, maybe plotting for terrorist attacks.
Iran’s concerns are expressed at a time when the ministers of 16 states of Germany are going to hold a meeting on coordination of security measures.
Steinbeck says the world cup matches could be target for terrorist attacks because of its popularity.
BBC – 2006/05/06
Bulgaria’s guarding unit will assume control over the Ashraf camp in Iraq on May 6, the Day of the Bulgarian Army, it appeared during a videoconference with Iraq Friday.
The head of the unit lieutenant-colonel Marin Marinov told during the videoconference that so far Bulgaria’s servicemen were assisted by the Americans but as of May 6 they will guard the camp alone.
Bulgaria’s non-combat unit, which will perform tasks in a military-humanitarian mission at Camp Ashraf in Iraq was deployed in the camp area on April 11.
The 153-strong contingent will be responsible for order and administration at the repatriation centre, for the escort of refugees in the camp, and will also guard facilities within its perimeter.
On March 29 Bulgaria sent off its first non-combat unit to guard the Iraqi refugee camp of Ashraf.
Bulgaria’s parliament approved the government decision to send up to 153 troops to guard the Iraqi camp of Ashraf, about 70 km north of Baghdad. The unit should stay in Iraq for a year.
The move came a few months after Bulgaria decided to pull out its 450-strong light infantry unit from the Arab country. During the unit’s service, the country lost 13 soldiers and six civilians.
The new non-combat mission will cost Bulgaria approximately EUR 8 M.
Sofia News Agency, May05, 2006
We would never cooperate with Mojahedin Khalq Organisation of Iran Press Briefing by Scott McClellan and Homeland Security Advisor Fran Townsend James S. Brady Briefing Room 12:35 P.M. EDT http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060503-6.html
… MR. McCLELLAN: I’ll be glad to take your question and take a look into it. Go ahead.
Q There are numerous reports about low-intensity operations ongoing in Iran from three different places — PKK going over the border into Iraq, the MEK southern border of Iraq into Iran, and also certain operations from Balochistan involving also the Pakistanis. Does the U.S. have a policy, given also reports which I know you won’t comment on, on possible special forces operations in Iran? Does U.S. policy, based on the notion that an enemy of our enemy is our friend, consider changing its policy towards the PKK or —
MR. McCLELLAN: Our policies haven’t changed on those organizations. They remain the same. And you’re bringing up organizations that we view as terrorist organizations.
Q We would never cooperate with them, in terms of —
MR. McCLELLAN: Our policy hasn’t changed.
…
May 3, 2006
She came, after years of being away from her son,
hugged him heartily.
Yes, Mrs. Marzieh Qorsi returned home and after a longtime of separation from her beloved son, saw him, embraced him warmly with tearful eyes. 
Nejat Society congratulates these mother and child on their visit after years and invites the visitors of the site to watch this graceful, impressing clip.
Honorable chairman and representatives of Belgium parliament
Dear Sirs
Since the foreign affairs committee of Belgian parliament has issued a statement to support the terrorist group MEK on April 27th, 2006, a lot of broad-minded people wonder why a free country like Belgium which supports human rights should patronize a terrorist cult.
Therefore we draw the respectable representatives’ attention to the documented report of Human Rights Watch, UN and US statements on the Cult of Rajavi. Through these reports the defectors of the group bring documented evidences of prison, torture, censure, separation of children from their parents, public divorces and many other examples of human rights violations. The terrorist cult also has assassinated civilians in Iran and Iraq. The group tortures dissatisfied members as well as threatening them.
Dear Sirs
How could it happen that no attention is paid to all existing documents on the real nature of this cult which has a dark history of human rights violations and has always eliminated the members only because they criticized their dictator leaders policies.
The honorable representatives were deceived by the false propaganda of the cult and have supported the cult without any investigation; however there are a lot of documents and evidences on the terrorist nature of MKO.
It is expected that the respected Belgian representatives who are the defendants of democracy and freedom of minds act impartially as the public thoughts demand and encounter the terrorists so firmly that they would not be questioned by the world.
We are pleased to remind you that it is below your dignity to ignore the shameful activities of a terrorist group and bring question to your claims about democracy and human rights since everything would be recorded by the history.
Dear honorable representatives
As the former members of MKO, we, who have founded a society to save our former friends in the cult and fight the cruelty of its leaders, request the Belgian parliament to consider the human rights interests and keep away from this fascist, terrorist cult immediately and band the group as what the UN did.
Sincerely yours
Nejat Society