Mousavi: Green Movement only option for materialising goals;heavy price 'inevitable'

GVF -- During a meeting with Iran's Nationalist-Religious political alliance, Mir-Hossein Mousavi said that the only way for realising our national interests and having an ideal society was through the Green Movement which required much patience and enduring great hardships.

According to Iranian opposition website Jaras, Mousavi said, “the Green Movement pursues goals which are a reflection of the values, will and demands of the Iranian people.” “We should pursue the creation of an interlinked civil society through the use of all the available resources in the country.”

The former Iranian prime minister saw the creation of green people-based institutions in various domains as necessary for the Iranian society’s rebirth and progress.

Mousavi also recalled the massive demonstrations on 15 June following the rigged June presidential election and said, “The events that took place last year in Tehran on 15 June and the compassionate and sympathetic presence of the people along with tolerance, patience and cooperation and the protesters’ civil action set an example and standard for an ideal society.”

The 2009 Presidential candidate stressed on the importance of bringing “political ideals and goals” into daily life and added, “the task ahead is immense and the path of the Green Movement is a lengthy one with many twists and turns; even if the Movement succeeds in its goals sooner than what many people expect, we must have patience and perseverance; and to live with the Movement in order for it to persist.”

The reformist politician acknowledged the heavy price that was to be paid for materialising the goals of the Green Movement but said that this was “inevitable.”

“The difficulties, pressures, restrictions, oppressions, hardships and prisons exist, but we have no choice but to continue this path and to endure the hardships and to pay the price.”

The much admired reformist also spoke about the political parties' struggle to gain power, yet he maintained that the main goal in the Green Movement was not to gain power but to transform the society into one that was worthy of the Iranian nation. “This approach will bring us tranquillity,” he added.

During his talk, Mousavi once again stressed on the importance of raising the awareness in the country and said that “change” could be realised once an “idea” was born. “Currently, it seems that an idea has been born; the more this idea and its dimensions are made clear, the possibility for the expansion and advance of the [Green] Movement will increase.”

Referring to those Iranians who had not yet chosen to join the Green Movement but were also not in the pro-government camp, Mousavi said, “More than ever before, we need to illuminate people in the ‘gray area’ and invite and attract them towards the Green Movement.”

“More than anything, those in power are sensitive towards the issue of raising awareness among the public,” stated Mousavi while pointing out that the authorities had shown how sensitive they were to the free flow of information about post-election victims, and the true extent of the suppressions and prison abuses.

Media vital

“The question of media is vital for us and unfortunately for various reasons, we are faced with weaknesses and shortcomings,” Mousavi said. “We have not yet taken full advantage of the capacities of the internet and cyberspace.”

Mousavi said that everyone in the Green Movement must agree on a set of minimum goals so that the maximum number of people could accompany the movement and feel as they they are part of it. He said that just as the colour green symbolised the opposition of the people to the current situation, the Green Movement’s members must reach a consensus regarding its minimal goals in order to help the movement in moving forward.

“It should become apparent for everyone that we are seeking our national interests; this is not a question of selfishness. We do not want to stand beside tyranny and the tyrant. We stand by the oppressed.”

Iran’s wartime prime minister also encouraged a more open-minded interpretation of Islam which tolerated all views and beliefs. He warned about the consequences of the authorities’ actions in driving youngsters away from Islam.

Flexible form of governance

Mousavi also promoted a more “flexible” approach to governance and said that we mustn’t be so fixated on a single form of government and compared what was happening in the movement with the work of a painter who does not necessarily have a clear idea of his/her final work but gradually makes necessary changes in order to shape the final painting.

It should be noted that the leader of the Nationalist-Religious alliance Ezzatollah Sahabi and senior member Habibollah Peyman were also present during the meeting with Mousavi. During the meeting, views were exchanged regarding the Green Movement and its goals, strengths and weakness.