Reference ID 09BAKU687
Created 2009-09-01 05:05
Released 2010-12-03 21:09
Classification CONFIDENTIAL
Origin Embassy Baku
VZCZCXRO5697
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKB #0687/01 2440538
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 010538Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1658
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0062
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0140
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000687
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: NINJA BLACK BELT MASTER DETAILS USE OF
MARTIAL ARTS CLUBS FOR REPRESSION; xxxxxxxxxxxx
REF: a) BAKU 575
Classified By: POL/ECON COUNSELOR ROB GARVERICK,
REASON 1.4 (B and D)
Iranian Martial Arts Clubs Used for Political Repression
--------------------------------------------- ------------
¶1. (C) xxxxxxxxxxxx a licensed martial arts coach and
trainer xxxxxxxxxxxx, told Baku Iran watcher that private
martial arts clubs and their managers
are under intense pressure to cooperate with Iranian
intelligence and Revolutionary Guard organizations,
both intraining members and in working as "enforcers" in
repression of protests and politically motivated killings.
xxxxxxxxxxxx who provided originals of his Iranian
coaching license and technical certificate as xxxxxxxxxxxx.
He claimed that his xxxxxxxxxxxx with difficulty maintained
its independence from control by organizations affiliated
with the Revolutionary Guard and/or intelligence service.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
¶2. (C) xxxxxxxxxxxx observed that Iranian internal
security forces are highly suspicious of these clubs as
potential vehicles for organization and "combat" training
of future protesters and regime opponents. Nonetheless,
he asserted that their main motivation is seeking to
control these clubs is less driven by such fears as by
a desire to deploy their trained membership at will for
"special tasks." According to xxxxxxxxxxxx these tasks
range from providing martial arts training to
Revolutionary Guard members and Basij, assistance in
protest repression, intimidation, and crowd control, to
political killings. He observed that use of these clubs
and their members provides the security forces with
"plausible deniability" for dirty undertakings, as
well as trained fighters and potential trainers.
Alleged Contract Killings
-------------------------
¶3. (C) xxxxxxxxxxxx said he personally knew one such
martial arts master whom he said was used by the
Intelligence service to murder at least six different
individuals over the course of several months in
xxxxxxxxxxxx said that the victims included
intellectuals and young "pro-democracy activists,"
adding that his assassin acquaintance was ultimately
"suicided" by the authorities (i.e., killed in what
was subsequently labeled a suicide). xxxxxxxxxxxx
claimed that his club was raided and greatly restricted
xxxxxxxxxxxx after he and the club manager refused to
train Basij or lend them their facilities. He said that
they also refused to mobilize their membership to
assist in repressing local protesters xxxxxxxxxxxx.
Although he has stopped working at the school,
he claimed to be under relentless pressure to cooperate,
xxxxxxxxxxxx
¶4. (C)xxxxxxxxxxxx (Note and Comment: A xxxxxxxxxxxx
student recently echoed some of xxxxxxxxxxxx story,
noting that xxxxxxxxxxxx could only be held at night
as during the daytime his instructors are "required
to train the Revolutionary Guard." The use of martial
arts clubs membersas political enforcers/repressors
existed under the Shah, and, according to sources,
exists today in several neighboring countries,
including the Republic of Azerbaijan. End Note and
Comment).
xxxxxxxxxxxx "Pragmatic" on Post-Election Protests
--------------------------------------------- -
¶5. (C) On the topic of xxxxxxxxxxxx post-election
protest activities, xxxxxxxxxxxx said that almost
everyone he knew voted for Moussavi, and was angered
by the fabricated result.
Baku 00000687 002 of 002
However, he claimed that there was considerable reluctance
to turn to the streets once serious repression began.
He said that xxxxxxxxxxxx are "very pragmatic"; while not
afraid of protesting per se, they will only do so in favor
of a tangible end result that they feel is clearly in their
interest. He asserted that xxxxxxxxxxxx saw the election
and subsequent fallout as a power struggle within the
Tehran regime which had little to do with them or their
felt interests. "People see it as an issue for Tehranis,"
he said, and are "reluctant to risk their necks"
unless/until they feel that real regional policy changes
are achievable.
¶6. (C) xxxxxxxxxxxx
Lu
Click Here for Original Document
0 comments:
Post a Comment