attacks on have heen killed, 70imprisoned. 40 disappeared and 400 exiled Tehran military repression good old British seifcensorship combine to make it very difficult to get across the Our only chance is our own activity Support the weck of city of Qom.
day occurrence.
link Yet more oppenents of the Iranian regime have been murdered in police demonstrations. Latest reports from indicate that more than 2000 troops have taken up positions in the city centre to prevent further protests.
The latest demonstrations like previous ones this pete have been called hy religious leaders. The troubles last week started exactly 40 days after the Shah's police had shot down more than 1000 in demanstracions in the religious The end of the 40 day period is celebrated by Muslims as a of mourning. The demonstration and massacre has become a regular 40-day According to unconfirmed pread to Tehran University between left-wing and religious oppositionists to label • opponents 'IslamicINACCURATE The label is inaccurate on borb counts. Repression bas Limited the influence of the left though the first Communist Party demonstra tion since the 1952 coup was Tehran week.
Needless to say, it was broken up be the police and its leaders On the other count, although the Shi'ite leaders retain great especially impoverished countrysade, religious festivals have been the occasion rather than the cause of the protests.
Many people have attended the demonstrations for religious reasons, many more were there sumply to protest at political repression and to show their solidarity against the lack of religious freedom.
PROGRESS The 'Islamic-Marxist" Jabel is designed for Western consumption, to show the Shah as the standard bearer of progress and capitalism.
One set of Westerners who don't need convincing are thi Latchir Government. The sam: day as news began to come through of the Jarest killings, ar arins prolocal was signed by the Shah's Military Organisation and Millbank Teebnical Services, the Minisharge of arms sales to Iran. Defence agency in MIne deal IS WOTEn EDOW ET50m — on top of the E500m contract with British Acrospace last year. The contract would mean Britain playing the majo part in the military Industria plays a central role in the Shah's plans to develop the Iranian acros industry.
Iran is already Britain's main arms customer. For example bought twice as many Chieftain tanks as the British army!
Blood on the streets and political and religious repres sion do not cause the Labow leaders the slightest qualms. it will be up to us to make sure the | this contract is opposed.