On the 12th of July, Head of Revolutionary Guards Intelligence, Hussein Taib, announced that a big economic corruption file is on their agenda. Less than a week later, former Executive Director of Mellat Bank and his assistant for financial affairs were arrested by the intelligence of Revolutionary Guards.
Taib, who was exposed to some rumors and accusations, proclaimed himself prosecutor and a defender of people’s rights saying, “executive officials, including the judiciary, have to show outlaws no mercy, and disseminate results of investigations to people.”
Although seems marginal, the remarkable point in the statements of the extremist Head of Intelligence of Guards’ is his description of “acquaintance” as “a natural right of people.” He showed his interest in people’s rights; meanwhile, his staff has practiced all kinds of repression against the Iranian people for many years, starting from suspension of newspapers in 2000, and widespread arrests of national sectarian activists in the winter of the same year and spring of 2001. In addition to that, this intelligence service launched a campaign of student suppression and intimidation of independent and critic journalists. The worst of all is the direct intervention and major role in the coup of 2009 elections, and the bloody repression of civil objections for millions of citizens due to election-rigging, which reflects the black and evil history of the Intelligence of Guards.
However, it seems that Taib and his companions were not content with this. They showed interest in the “widespread economic corruption” in the country that led to the arrest of two senior managers at Mellat Bank in light of investigations about the astronomical salaries of some senior officials.
Taib and his staff, who claim prosecution of the widespread economic corruption in Iran, are now talking about people’s rights. In fact, there is no clear and accurate job description for the Guards Intelligence. There is a big question mark on their duties and responsibilities in addition to their role in the economy of the country.
For example, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards announced in April 2008 that Khatam Alnanbia headquarters received nearly 1,300 projects in various sectors. Meantime, representative of the Jurist Leader at Revolutionary Guards said that this headquarter has listed more than 1,500 projects on its agenda, and today, more than 400 projects are under construction.
The commander of Khatam Alanbia headquarters announced that this organization is responsible for more than 2,500 urban projects in various sectors, Including waters, dam construction, oil refineries, power plants, gas delivery lines, railway and highway projects, which cost thousands of billions of Tomans. Moreover, the cooperative establishment and piers owned by the Revolutionary Guards organizations reflect the imminent intervention of this headquarters in the economy of the country, which more complicates the situation.
The cooperative establishment is one of the Revolutionary Guard’s major organizations. It is active in the stock market and banking and is the largest shareholder of many big companies and banks.
The issue of Revolutionary Guards piers is obvious, but no details are available. Mehdi Karroubi, former head of Parliament in its sixth session, stated that the Revolutionary Guards has established 60 illegal sea piers in the southern part of the country. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former head of Anti-smuggling of goods and hard currency department, also announced 37 illegal piers. In addition to that, Ahmadinejad’s government announced in 2006 that there are 24 illegal piers in Iran. By the end of Ahmadinejad’s era, the total number was 167 illegal piers out of control of the government.
This list doesn’t seem to come to an end. A huge number of companies and individuals tried to evade the economic sanctions in recent years to maximize their power and wealth. They also traded on the nuclear and missiles projects for their own interests, and filled up their pockets, taking advantage of their positions as brokers and mediators. They also dominated foreign currency market for many years and benefited from the cover of “maintaining the security of the regime” in order to increase their property and wealth by all means.
In the absence of an independent, fair and courageous judiciary, people don’t believe that any of the Guards and its intelligence members, or even their relatives would be arrested and trialed someday.
The speech of the intelligence of Revolutionary Guards head about tackling economic corruption, as well as the people’s right applies to the saying, “The worst misfortune is the one that makes you laugh,” an evil sponsored by the head of the regime. Khamenei appointed Taib Head of the Guards intelligence whose reports have become the reference for his speeches, analyses, and procedures.
Twenty months ago, Hassan Rouhani stated, in his speech during the second year of his term, that even if intelligence, guns, money, newspapers, media and other powers are concentrated in the hands of one single organization headed by Abu Dhar Al-Ghafari or Salman Al Farsi, it will spoil and go bad. Today, Rouhani is in his last year of presidency. He is living under pressure because of the astronomical salaries issue. In order to lessen pressure, he has to handle the role of the Revolutionary Guards in the profiting economy in a direct and transparent talk.
If Rouhani has the courage to respond, it won’t only be his best defense, but also, for the second time, will expose advocates of independence, oppressors, and revolutionary like Taib before the Iranian people and to what extent they believe in “facts is the right of people.”
Quoted from Zaitoun Website
This article does not necessarily reflect the views of Arabain GCIS
