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Analysis: Iranians Torch Gas Stations in Protest
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by ryan | June 27, 2007 at 04:17 pm
1128 views | 26 Recommendations | 6 comments
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UPDATE: Sources in Iran are reporting that the goverment has banned any negative reporting on the protests and the gas ration.
Iran's top security body has ordered local journalists not to report on problems caused by petrol rationing, a day after its surprise introduction.
The authorities switched off the mobile text messaging system in Tehran overnight to prevent motorists from organising more protests.
I received this analysis of the situation in Iran from Iranian blogger, Hamid Tehrani. He is also the Persian Editor of Global Voices.
Hamid Says:
Angry Iranian protesters torched several gas stations on Wednesday after the govern ment announced fuel rationing for private vehicles.
Despite its huge oil and gas, Iran lacks refining capacity and must import about 40 percent of its gasoline.
It is possible that the United Nations in the next round of sanctions against Iranian nuclear program will deprive Iran from gasoline imports. The Iranian government is trying to reduce vulnerability of the country before any decision about these new sanctions.
On the other side, the Iranian government has always subsidized gasoline and it is very cheap and consumption is very high. Many really depend on their cars to earn a living.
Tehran and many cities witnessed angry crowds burning gasoline stations and buses. The police arrested many people and Iranian parliament supported Mahmoud Ahmadineajd, the Iranian president. Any surprise?
Ahmadinejad two years ago promised people to bring the money of oil on their table and now he even deprives them from gasoline.
The lack of gasoline will translate into a higher price for this product and Iranian inflation will become even worse than before.
Many people who earn their daily bread by transporting passengers after their regular job, will be in a very difficult situation.
Iran will face more inflation and more poverty. This is the high price that Iranian masses are paying for a disorganized government, who a few months ago paid 250 million dollars to Ismail Hanieh, desposed prime Minister of Palestine and Hamas leader.
By imposing filtering and censroship, Iranian government tried to create a more limited world for 70 million Iranians. Now Ahmadinejad and Co tries to limit Iranians' movements and their daily life. What is the next to be limited? Bread maybe or…Let's the "creative" brain of Ahmadinejad find it. Ok,it was a joke. A bitter one!
Hamid Tehrani Persian Editor of Global Voices
www.globalvoicesonline.org
Crowd Power
ryan
Vancouver, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 16:25 on June 27th, 2007
excellent infos and images, thanks. ahmad
at 16:27 on June 27th, 2007
Ryan Nadel, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 16:32 on June 27th, 2007
Ryan, thanks for posting Hamid's story. It's clear, concise and real. Awesome. I hope he comes back and shares his accounts of Iranian life more often...
at 17:20 on June 27th, 2007
Ryan Nadel, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 04:45 on June 28th, 2007
Ryan Nadel, thanks for getting Hamid to give this excellent analysis.
at 14:31 on July 1st, 2007
Thanks, Ryan and Hamid.
I guess the Iranian government is using the censor-it-and-hope-it-goes-away tactic, which, admittedly, has enjoyed limited success in the past...