Iran: Farmers in Isfahan rally, demand river water shares
Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Dec. 30, 2018 - Farmers in the town of Varzaneh in Isfahan Province, central Iran, are continuing their rally on Sunday, saying they are even willing to risk their lives to have their demands fulfilled. These protests have continued for months now.
Farmers in this area of Iran, like many other towns and cities across the country, are protesting the policies implemented by Iranian regime authorities. Rivers throughout Iran are rerouted and river flows obstructed to provide for projects mainly pursued by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and other initiatives that profit only those linked to Iranian regime authorities, or considered insiders.
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Iran, Nov. 25, 2018 - On Sunday, the farmers of Gharneh, East Isfahan, gathered in front of the Yazd water pumping station in protest to the government’s mismanagement of water sources. In the past years, the Iranian regime’s corrupt policies has cut off adequate access to irrigation water, causing much damage to the farmers of Isfahan.
The IRGC, which controls a large part of the country’s economy, has been using the province’s water sources for its own benefit. The building of dams and water channels, which are serving the needs of IRGC-run companies, are threatening to destroy the farming lands of Isfahan.
Farmers of Gharneh protest for their right to water
In the past year, the farmers of Isfahan have protested for months and on several occasions, demanding their right to water. As the regime has failed to respond to the demands of the farmers, they decided to take matters in their own hands. Sunday’s protest was taking place in front of one of the IRGC-run water pumping stations, which channels Isfahan’s waters to the neighboring Yazd province to serve the needs of different regime-affiliated companies.
The protesters threatened to destroy the station if the government does not take concrete measures to fulfill their demands. The farmers had brought along their front loaders and machinery.
At noon, still having received no response, the farmers proceeded with destroying the pipeline that channels the station’s water to Yazd. Security forces subsequently attacked the farmers.
The pipeline that sends Isfahan's water to Yazd
East Isfahan is home to more than 300,000 people, most of whom are farmers. In the past years, drought and mismanagement of water by the government has caused a real threat to their livelihoods. The farmers have time and again protested to the transfer of the province’s water to Yazd.
Isfahan is not the only province where water protests are ongoing. In recent months, similar protests have taken place in Khuzestan and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Regime officials have promised to respond to the demands of the farmers, but have yet to fulfill their promises.
Protests by farmers of Isfahan
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Azad University students issued a declaration in which they outlined their demands in 9 articles. The declaration was reported by the state-run Fars news agency. Among others, Azad University students demanded, “Resignation and apologies by the president of the Sciences and Research University and the president of the Azad University (i.e. Ali Akbar Velayati who is the foreign policy advisor to the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei)”, “establishment of an emergency room on campus”, “renovation of the bus fleet and campus transportations”, and “installation of shields to protect landslides and guardrails along the road.”
