Bazaar strike goes on despite mullahs’ regime’s retreat from a 70 percent rise in taxes
NCRI – In an unprecedented solidarity and on their eight day of protests, merchants of all over Tehran Bazaar went on a general strike on Tuesday 13 July 2010. The strike covered a vast area from Bouzarjomehri Avenue all the way to the end of Abbas-Abad Bazzar.
Since this morning, all main bazaars as well as smaller ones in Serah-e Farvardin Junction, Timcheh Hajeb al-Dowleh, Amin al-Molk, Soltani Bazaar, Chaharsou Kouchak to Chaharsou Bozorg, Seh Dallan-e Malek, Seh Dallan-e Amir, Serah-e Dastmalchi, the bazaar of Hamam Chal alley, the whole Rahimia bazaar, Serah-e Park, the whole Kababiha alley and all sideways were on strike.
Although the shops were closed and despite the presence of plainclothes agents and State Security Forces, a large crowd came to Bazaar to express their solidarity with the strikers.
At 10:30, regime’s plainclothes agents and State Security Forces raided Fabric Sellers Bazaar and broke some shop doors aimed at intimidating merchants to break their strike. Nevertheless, facing merchants’ resistance, they were forced to leave the Bazaar and were stationed at Khayyam Avenue and Sabz-e Meidan square later on.
The merchants’ strike, which started on Tuesday July 6 in protest at mullahs’ regime’s predatory policies and unprecedented hike in taxes, continued on Sunday and Monday. Ironically, the regime announced holidays in 19 provinces under the excuse of hot weather in order to cover up the Bazaar merchant’s strike. On Sunday, against government’s announcement for holidays, a number of Bazaar merchants opened their shops but did not accept any customer.
Since the very first day of strike, the clerical regime has resorted to various tricks to stop it. On Monday July 11, in a six hour long session with the presence of deputy Commerce Minister, guilds representative and Tax Organization representative, the regime retreated from the 70 percent rise in income taxes and acceded to a 15 percent rise. Yet, the merchants rejected this agreement and continue their strike.
Secretariat of National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 13, 2010