Thus, Khatami again rendered futile any expectation about the possibility of change in the regime and admitted that what he means by upholding the law is nothing but defending the ruling religious dictatorship. Contrary to his election promises, Khatami made no mention of freedom of parties or the press.
In the first 100 days of Khatami's presidency, suppression and execution at home and export of terrorism have continued and expanded. At least 55 have either been hanged or stoned to death in public. Some 14 dissidents have been assassinated abroad by the mullahs' hit squads. These developments reaffirm that Khatami has neither the interest nor the power to initiate any change or reform in the medieval dictatorship ruling Iran.
Khatami was also unable to conceal the deepening conflicts within the regime. He openly assailed the Judicial Branch, stressing that it must act within the law. He also said that he would soon introduce the Office to Oversee the Observation and Implementation of the Constitution.
This office will be in charge of overseeing the conduct of the three branches and particularly the Judiciary. The creation of this office will certainly foment the hostilities among the mullahs.
In recent weeks, the Judicial branch summoned a number of mayors of the various districts of Tehran as well as Gholam Hossein Karbastchi, the Mayor of Tehran, who had supported Khatami in the elections. The mayors were sentenced to prison terms or heavy fines.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
November 18, 1997
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