Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - April 19, 2001 - Hashemi’s Account of the Tea Farmers’ Protests in Gilan and the Inauguration of the Karkheh and Masjed Soleyman Dams by Seyyed Mohammad Khatami

Hashemi’s account of the tea farmers’ protests in Gilan.

The death of Soltan Ali Soheili, a member of the security forces.

Full Text of the Daily Entry:

I worked at home and in the Koushk office. I completed revising the index for the twelfth volume of the "Rahnama" commentary and read part of a book listing articles about Iran published in The Times of London, organized by the Foundation for History. In foreign media, Iran’s extensive missile attacks on six bases of the Monafeqin [Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization] in Iraq, in retaliation for their mortar strikes, have been widely covered.

The border clashes between Bangladesh and India have ceased after several days. The U.S., in a show of intimidation toward China, has dispatched a warship to support spy planes flying near Chinese borders. China has stated that it will return the seized U.S. plane only if the U.S. is prepared to halt these flights.

After Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories in Gaza, Palestinians fired several mortars into an Israeli settlement, and Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, announced that there should be no mortar attacks. American newspapers have published numerous critical articles about the Saudi Arabian government, seemingly in response to Prince Nayef’s [Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia] visit to Iran and the signing of a security agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, along with Israel’s condemnation of Palestinian attacks.

Today, the Karkheh and Masjed Soleyman dams were inaugurated in the presence of Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, [President of Iran]. Meanwhile, in Gilan, tea farmers protested against the mismanagement of payments for green tea leaves, staging demonstrations and blocking roads. I had warned Mr. Khatami yesterday that such a situation might occur. They dispersed after being promised reforms and have given a three-day ultimatum.

In Turkey, a widespread hunger strike by political prisoners protesting changes in prison conditions continues, with 13 of them dead so far. Protests against economic problems and government policies also continue. In Cincinnati, USA, African Americans have threatened to resume riots, and it appears there have already been 19 victims.

Unfortunately, Mr. [Soltan Ali] Soheili, a guard at the children's home, passed away today from a heart attack. He was the father of a martyr.