DATE=2/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245898
TITLE=IRAN SECURITY MINISTER (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAN'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED A NEW MINISTER OF 
INTELLIGENCE WHO IS PLEDGING TO REFORM THE GOVERNMENT'S SECRET 
SERVICES.  V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE
PREVIOUS MINISTER RESIGNED AFTER MEMBERS OF THE MINISTRY WERE 
IMPLICATED IN A SERIES OF POLITICAL MURDERS. 

TEXT:  THE IRANIAN MAJLIS, OR CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, WEDNESDAY 
OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED HOJATOLESLAM ALI YUNESI AS THE NEW 
MINISTER OF INTELLIGENCE BY A VOTE OF 197 TO NINE.

MR. YUNESI TOLD THE MAJLIS HE WILL WORK TO MAKE THE INTELLIGENCE 
MINISTRY STRONG, INDEPENDENT AND UNBIASED.  HE LATER TOLD 
REPORTERS THAT THE RULE OF LAW AND VALUES WILL BE HIS MAIN 
PROGRAM AND PLEDGED THAT REFORMS WILL BE MADE.

MR. YUNESI TAKES OVER A MINISTRY WHICH HAS BEEN ROCKED BY SCANDAL
IN RECENT MONTHS.  INVESTIGATORS HAVE ARRESTED A NUMBER OF 
MINISTRY EMPLOYEES FOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDERS LAST YEAR OF 
TWO DISSIDENT POLITICIANS AND AT LEAST TWO SECULAR INTELLECTUALS.

MR. YUNESI HEADS THE COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THE MURDERS.  HE 
TOLD REPORTERS A SCORE OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED IN THE 
MURDERS AND THAT 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.  HE SAID THREE OF 
THE LAST FOUR PEOPLE ARRESTED ARE EMPLOYEES OF HIS MINISTRY.  HE 
SAID  NO  DEPUTY MINISTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BUT THAT SOME 
OFFICIALS WITH THE RANK OF DIRECTOR-GENERAL ARE IN DETENTION.

HOJATOLESLAM ALI YUNESI IS A 43-YEAR-OLD RELIGIOUS LEADER WITH 
GOOD REVOLUTIONARY CREDENTIALS.  HE FOUGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
OF SHAH REZA PAHLAVI AND WAS TWICE IMPRISONED FOR HIS ACTIVITIES.
AFTER THE FALL OF THE SHAH, HE SERVED ON THE REVOLUTIONARY COURTS
AND MILITARY TRIBUNALS THAT TRIED MANY SUPPORTERS OF THE DEPOSED 
GOVERNMENT.  IN THE 1980'S, HE HELPED ESTABLISH THE INTELLIGENCE 
SERVICES OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT.

IRAN'S NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF IS VIEWED AS A POLITICAL 
CONSERVATIVE, BUT HE REPORTEDLY RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM MODERATE 
POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF HIS REPUTATION AS AN OFFICIAL WHO 
DISTANCES HIS WORK FROM HIS POLITICAL LEANINGS.

HOWEVER, EXILED IRANIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE  NOT  WELCOMED 
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW INTELLIGENCE CHIEF.  THEY RECALL HIS 
WORK ON THE MILITARY TRIBUNALS, WHICH DETAINED THOUSANDS OF 
PEOPLE AND SENTENCED HUNDREDS TO DEATH.  AND THEY SAY THIS 
BACKGROUND IS  NOT  LIKELY TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION'S POOR 
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH

24-Feb-99 10:28 AM EST (1528 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.