NOTE: This letter was sent by Nasim Sedaghat to FTT after resigning over the assault of Mike Krebs by Ali Yerevani -ed.
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
