The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) Boycotts
the Sham Presidential Elections in Iran and Demands Democratic Rights and
Freedom for the People!
According to the
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, president of the country is
elected by the direct popular votes and not by the parliamentary
representatives. The presidential elections in Iran will take place on June 14,
2013.
Every 4 years, the
Iranian authorities appeal to the citizens for their vote in order to
nationally and internationally legitimize their rule. During the election
campaigns, the Islamic authorities promise to improve the economic conditions
of the masses and to make the future better for the citizens, but the economic-
social- political conditions have been worsening for the working people year
after year. When the people take to the streets and protest the intolerable
living conditions, when the masses challenge the authorities, they are given
the response that the “Supreme Leader” is not bound to the votes of the people,
that the pillars of the Republic are based on Islam and not on the observance
of democratic principles, wills, or votes of the citizens.
This lack of respect
for the opinion, wills, and votes of the people has existed since the first
year of the establishment of the Islamic Republic. The repetition of the farce,
hypocritical, and deceptive shows by the Islamic regime has caused the people
to laugh at and ridicule the Islamic Republic.
The candidates for the
presidential elections have gone through filters by the “Guardian Council” and
by the “Supreme Leader”. Each candidate is worse, more corrupt, more involved
in embezzlement, more reactionary, and more criminal than the other. Furthermore,
the Iranian masses will not make a choice between bad and worse. Making a choice between bad and worse is a
vicious circle that can continue forever. As long as the Islamic Republic has
been in power, there have been factions and inter-quarrels between the factions.
All factions have full adherence to the reactionary Constitution of the Islamic
Republic and to the rule of a “Supreme Leader”. All factions and all candidates
for presidential elections supported the slaughter of the political prisoners
in 1988, supported all political executions and assassinations, participated in
the repression of the workers activists, opposed to the freedom of expression
and assembly and formation of independent labour
organizations, etc.
The strategic line of
the Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan)
is to overthrow of the criminal, corrupt, despotic, and theocratic regime of
the Islamic Republic. Removing the Islamic Republic from the power will eliminate
obstacles for the development of a democratic Iran, and will pave the way for
the participation of the working people in the political life of the country.
At the present
situation, we call on all Iranian people not to participate in the presidential
elections. Through this active and vigorous call, we fully boycott the
elections. The Party of Labour of Iran (Toufan) demands the freedom of all political parties and
organizations, equality of men and women in all spheres of life, elimination of
censorship, the freedom of expression and assembly, the freedom of all
political prisoners, the freedom of trade union and guild activities. These just
and logical demands have wide spread support in the society and will corner the
regime and the “Supreme Leader”. Theoretically, these demands could be met in
any ordinary bourgeois state. But the Islamic regime’s surrender to these
demands- a regime with a three- decade history of corruptions and embezzlement
and execution and … - is a big defeat for the “Supreme Leader”. These demands will
build a powerful movement independent from the factions of the regime that puts
an end to the hesitation of the masses in making a choice between bad and
worse.
The recognition of the
democratic rights and freedom of the masses is a pre-condition and prerequisite
to any free elections.
Boycott the
Presidential Elections in Iran!
No to the
Regime of the Islamic Republic!
No to
Imperialist Sanctions and Threats against Iran!
The Party of
Labour of Iran (Toufan)
May 2013