“The world is watching. And how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and is not. … This is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran. This is an issue of the Iranian people.”

The election in Iran, where previous president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was retained power in the country, have resulted in calls for a recount, protests, and violence in the country. Threats (and acts) of violence against protesters of which Mr Obama elsewhere said “We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people,” Obama said in a written statement. “Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.” (CTV)

Recently, “Iran expelled the BBC’s correspondent in Tehran yesterday and accused Britain of pouring agents into the country to sabotage the election.” This came after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called “Britain the “most treacherous” of the Western powers that were fomenting unrest in Iran.” (Times Online)

As the unrest and violence in Iran continues, what role should other countries play? What response should we have as individuals and nations when we hear about injustices in the world?

Image credit: marctonysmith

The Toronto Star reports:

Twenty years ago on June 4, 1989, between 800 and 1,000 people died here, when the government ordered soldiers to turn their tanks and guns on their own people to put down a democracy protest by students and workers. In the two decades that have passed, the event haunts the ruling Communist Party still. But there was no mention of it in any of China’s official media today.

The Age news in Australia notes:

The Chinese Communist Party left nothing to chance for yesterday’s 20th anniversary of the June 4 massacre, inundating Tiananmen Square with hundreds and probably thousands of security men. At midday yesterday, tourists in and around the square were outnumbered by blue-uniformed police and green-uniformed armed police.

Do you remember hearing about this event when it happened, or did you or someone you know experience it themselves? What lessons do you think this sad event has to teach us today?

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