He called on Mr. Mandela not to allow Khatami to take advantage of his trip to South Africa and presence at the summit to legitimize the theocratic regime ruling Iran.
Mr. Rajavi added: Khatami's election as president last year has not brought any changes in the nature of this anti-human regime. In nearly two decades, he has been part and parcel of the mullahsÕ regime and was for 10 years its propaganda minister whose primary task was to justify and whitewash the mullahs' atrocities.
NCR President underlined that Khatami was not elected as president in a free and fair election. He became a candidate after declaring his allegiance to the mullahsÕ religious rule, and with an oath of allegiance to the velayat-e faqih (the absolute supremacy of religious leadership). In the past year, Khatami has repeatedly defended this principle and stressed that he recognized freedom only in the "context of the velayat-e faqih," and that "the rule of law means defending the velayat-e faqih."
He said: During Khatami's first year in office 250 persons have been hanged and seven stoned to death. Widespread arrests and the crackdown on scores of demonstrations, strikes and protests by students, workers and the public at large have continued as well. Terrorist attacks against the Iranian Resistance abroad have also escalated.
Khatami's heaping praise at Assadollah Lajevardi, the "Butcher of Evin" after he was brought to justice on August 23, laid bare what he means by "a government that is in the service of the people" and the kind of services his "civil society" offers to people, Mr. Rajavi said.
NCR President emphasized: After two decades, the clerical regime has reached the end of the line. The situation in Iran today is reminiscent of the shahÕs final months in office. The difference is that unlike the shahÕs era, a nationwide, well-organized movement with an extensive social network and a well-known political alternative -- the National Council of Resistance -- and a military arm -- the National Liberation Army -- is present and active in society and will naturally be the first winner of any development.
Reiterating that Iran's seats at international forums belongs to the Iranian Resistance, Mr. Rajavi called on the Non-Aligned Movement to expel the ruling medieval regime which has been condemned 42 times by the United Nations General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
September 1, 1998
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