Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 22, 1983

I studied until seven in the morning. I went to see the site of the new library. Because of the lack of space, we have moved the Majles Library to the site of the Negarestan Museum - in the garden of the former Marble Palace, adjacent to the Majles. It is a good location and they have done a good job with the decor; but there are few visitors and, in reality, the library is unused; despite all those books and 15 staff members. In Tehran, many libraries are in such a state; perhaps this is the case in many places; since I have dealt with the library of the Fayziyeh School in Qom - which has a great many visitors - such cases are unacceptable to me.

I attended the Majles Defense Commission for consultation on the modern army bill; they have been working on this bill for a long time. It has been completed and major changes have been made. I raised the two or three objections that had been conveyed to me by Imam's Advisory Office. The distinction between noncommissioned officers and officers and the problem of air force technicians becoming officers and the non-involvement of Imam's Advisory Office in the army organization were discussed, as was whether we should have compulsory military service free of charge at all or whether the entire army should be professional and voluntary. No conclusion was reached. Overall, good things have been incorporated into the bill toward eliminating discrimination and moving closer to justice and equality.

Before noon and at noon, I had several meetings in my office. In the afternoon, we had a meeting of the party representatives' caucus in the Majles. I complained about the lack of activity and cohesion among the party members in the Majles. It was decided that we would become active and resolve the problems and that the impeachment of Mr. Nateq [Nouri] would be placed on the party's agenda; I also spoke about the possible disadvantages of the impeachment.

Mr. [Mohsen Rafiqdoust], the Minister of the Revolutionary Guards, came with his deputies. They gave reports. I came home at night. I watched the interview with the repentant Mojahedin-e Khalq members - which was being broadcast on television - it is interesting; but since it has happened so often, it may not have much appeal.

For those who know that during the previous regime, expressions of remorse and interviews by Muslim revolutionary forces rarely occurred, it is very interesting and important, and even more extensive than the expressions of remorse by the Tudeh members in the past and the issue of the magazine «Ayineh-ye Ebrat» which repentant Tudeh officers published.