return to work.
government.
A. HAMZEH reports.
Despite these threats and last minute attempts by the iranian authorities to confuse workers by announcing that the strike had been called off, all but a handful of workers stayed out on strike.
On Sunday, instead returning to work, many them went out onto the streets demonstrate Shah and the generals.
HOW petrodollars stopped by the workers, much of the rest of the Iranian stones paralysed er other strikes explosion of street demonstrations imminent, the Shah's position looks more precarious than ever before.
that his imperialist backers are beginning to accept that his days are numbered and are seriously Bookine tor alleranves waler could salvage their interests.
COLLAPSE After only two months in office the Shah's government *national reconciliation' collapsed on 6 November under ine impact widespread strikes and a massive upsurge or steer cemonstratons.
It had failed to reconcile IRANIAN oil workers have again defied orders to Last week they were given an ultimatum by the generals who now run the Shah's They were told that if they did not return to work by Sunday they would lose their jobs and homes.
anyone, even at gunpoint.
The generals' rise to power did not represent a victory for reaction but desperation.
When the Shah announced of Line oil the tormation of a military government on radio it was difficult to believe that it was the same Kings. sounded more like desperate and demoralised man begging and grovelling to save his peacock throne.
The man who once used to DOSSE about Shah by the Soviet and Chinese BureauCRee as done siderable damage to the left.
Moslem draws its support from a wide urban poor to very bazaar merchants. What holds them together is their common adherence to Shia Islam and chambers was now repenung mis sins or repression, cruci and corruption.
The man who not so long agc had said that workers who did not work would be picked up by the tail like rats and thrown out, and used to order his men to shoot down strikers even expressed support for the strikes!
act of But the masses had no time for the Shah's sob stories his confessions of guilt. They ALL TANKED UP: the Shah's forces in action. Exclusive photograph just received from Tehran.
had already found him guilty. before try had heard a all As for his King of acceptable to them was his overthrow.
Their reaction to the military government was to come out onto the streets and demonstrate once more despite the menacing presence of large conmovement wealthy between demonstrators down.
now The crackdown and to carry out reforms.
was extended, workers only change ultimatum.
Strict numbers of troops and tanks.
For a whole day there were battles on the streets of Tehran demonstrators and troops and once more many were gunned being illegal.
military government's tactic was to attempt to restore order by a combination of a the regime and measures aimed at showing that it means Among Tanks and more troops were servants:
minister Shah's SAVAK The royal already their wealth.
moved into the cities, curfew and striking WCTO censorship was imposed on the media, and the newspapers, which had enjoyed much greater freedom since the Lakt success of the recent strike, seriously. were closed down and many of Now two of the leaders of the joke also been arrested because of a press statement it wiew tney referred to the monarchy as At the same time the military authorities have begun arresting important former figures of on charges of corruption and abuse of power those arrested are big two of the Shah's most faithful Amir-Abbass minister for nearly 13 years, prime General Ne'matollah Nassiri, the man who was most responsible for building up the CHOE machine, Shah has now even enquiry to investigate the wealth family including the Pahlavi Foundation, his own enormous business front Most of the members of the Shah's family have, however, conveniently moved out of the country with much of GANGSTERS Neither of these measures are having any effect. The military government can arrest as many or une nans tormer gangsters as it likes, but while the head gangster himselt continues remain in power no one is likely these mcasure As for the Shah setting up a commission of inquiry into his own wealth, this can only be a Nor is the escalation repression going to have any Cheer. The or WOrkers nave already shown way by generals' This decision to continue their struggle is not just a major blow to the regime but also a boost for the struggle throughout the country.
The newspaper workers are also resisting by refusing to return to work as long as the military continue to try and control the press.
A call by opposition forces for strikes to bring the military down is gaining LUYCEHHECHE Power workers SUPOUTE telecommunication workers and transport workers are all on strike tor pontcal demands Bazaars have remained closed as well as schools and universities. Street demonstra tions have already begur provincial towns and are likely to start up again in Tehran -The Peacock Throne already rocking heavily. If the oil workers' strike continues and other workers follow the lead then it may fall very quickly.
general strike must be extended with a call for th abolition of the monarchy, ar end to military government and narasaw anne seru of a constituent assembly freely recently. For the first time it opposes the monarchy and now calls for disruptive strikes to bring down the military government.
3) Tudeh