[van-announce] Fwd: An Open Letter to Fire This Time and Youth 3rd World Alliance by Nasim Sedaghat

[Mike Krebs]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: nasimvan <nasimvan at yahoo.com>
Date: May 12, 2005 10:40 PM
Subject: An Open Letter to Fire This Time and Youth 3rd World Alliance by 
Nasim Sedaghat
To: nasimvan <nasimvan at yahoo.com>

An Open Letter to Fire This Time and Youth 3rd World Alliance by
Nasim Sedaghat
May 12th 2005

This is an open letter to Fire This Time and Youth 3rd World Alliance
that I am writing in order to share my thoughts on the recent
incidents around Mike Krebs' resignation from Fire This Time and
Y3WA.

I would like to start by saying it is the responsibility of
revolutionaries to always set the best example for how to live and
act consciously, with basic respect and care for other poor, working,
and oppressed people. As Mike pointed out in his statement, only six
months ago Fire This Time condemned the actions of those who came
into the East End Food Co-op and physically threatened FTT member
Ivan Drury. This was because they were using methods alien to the
working class as a way to settle political differences. Why is it any
different to carry out, condone, or deny the use of these same
methods when used against someone for trying to resign from a
voluntary organization?

I also must say that I support Mike Krebs' statement (Mike Krebs
Resigns from Fire This Time, is Assaulted by Ali Yerevani, May 5th
2005). Especially, since I witnessed the incident at the food co-op,
I can confirm that what he wrote about Ali Yerevani threatening him
and breaking his glasses was true, beyond any reasonable or
unreasonable doubt. I must also add that, as a member of Fire This
Time, I was not involved in planning or carrying out these threats
and assault against Mike.

I listened to the tape of the conversation Mike had with Ali and Ivan
the night before they came into the co-op to harass and assault him.
Shannon Bundock was present with Ivan and Ali when they were
threatening, among other things, to make Mike's life 'hell' if he
left FTT like this. It is therefore totally dishonest and
irresponsible for her to then 'flatly deny all of the charges' in the
response that her and Kira Koshelanyk wrote to Mike's statement.

When I tried to ask Y3WA members at a recent meeting why they were
refusing to admit to these unprincipled threats and assault on a
former member, I was met with silence and denial. This refusal to
show accountability and responsibility for the threats and physical
assault against Mike will only serve to harm the working class
movement, in Vancouver and beyond. It will also damage the
well-deserved and earned respect that Fire This Time and Youth 3rd
World Alliance have built over the last two years as serious
revolutionary organizations, not to mention the respect earned by
groups and coalitions that FTT and Y3WA work closely with, such as
Mobilization Against War and Occupation and Vancouver Communities in
Solidarity With Cuba.

I still agree with the overall political direction of these two
organizations. But, until I see some attempt to take responsibility
for the theats and assault against Mike, and admit that it was a
serious mistake, I am suspending my involvement with Fire This Time
and Youth 3rd World Alliance.

In Solidarity,

Nasim Sedaghat,
Founding member of Fire This Time and Youth 3rd World Alliance


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