By Safa Haeri PARIS 7TH July (IPS) With only hours to the first anniversary of the Iranian students uprising that was crushed ruthlessly on orders from Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i, the leader of the Islamic Republic, the leader of nationalist students called for the organisation of a referendum allowing the people to freely chose their political system and regi.

Speaking on the phone to Iran Press Service from Germany where he lives now, Mr. Qolamreza Mohajeri-Nezhad, the Deputy Secretary of the Associations of Nationalist Iranian Students said the same as our fathers, on proposal from Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini voted for an Islamic regime in a referendum, we, their sons, are demanding a referendum to choose our system, compatible with our demands and international conditions", he said.

Arrested following the suppression of the students pro-democracy demonstrations held between 9th to 13th July 1999, Mr. Mohajeri-Nezhad spent several months in prison before being released. He left for Germany recently with the help some German cultural and human rights organisations.

He compared the situation in Iran to a "fire under the ashes", but warned that to ignite the fire, there is no need for a strong wind, as a gentle blow would be enough.

"If Mr. Khatami fails to deliver the good, to guarantee basic freedoms and meet people’s demands, doubtless that there will be an explosion before the next presidential elections. The situation is like a fire under ashes, needing a gentle blow", he commented,

Asked to describe the regime the students and the Iranian people are after, he immediately said "a truly democratic regime where religion is separated from the State and politics".

"We and the great majority of the people are for a secular system, for we know that religious-based regimes like ours today are finished, belongs to history. In fact, that’s exactly for this reason that reforms promised by President Mohammad Khatami are facing mounting difficulties", Mr. Mohajeri-Nezhad pointed out.

In an open letter written to the Iranian President, Mr. Mohajeri-Nezjad warns him that if he continue compromising with the hard liners and ignores the people’s demands, he would be abandoned by his supporters, made mostly of students and the young ones.

"If Mr. Khatami is genuine in his promises and is the reformer he claims, then he should not hesitate in satisfying the people’s demands for freedom of the press, of expression, of political parties, of organisations and unions, if not, there will be many 8 July ahead", he added vividly.

In his view, it was after the authorities did not heed student’s demands that slogans changed tone, became harder and harder, got closer to the core of the system, reading "Seyyed Ali Shame on You Abandon the Monarchy" or "Ali Pinochet Iran Would Never Become Chile".

Asked what are the chances of Mr. Khatami in the next presidential elections in case he fails to satisfy the public, Mr. Mohajeri-Nezjad’s answer was negative, saying "no one has entered a marriage with Mr. Khatami!

"We have patience, we are tolerant, we don’t want another revolution, we are for the success of the reforms, but we would never accept our believes and aspirations be abused, especially by those who were opposing the reforms and now, disguised as islamist leftists, have become reformists", he pointed out.

Mr. Mohajeri-Nezhad says his fellow students consider Mr. Khatami as a "bridge" between the present Iranian systeme to a secular one where politics are separated from religion.

"We are aware that Mr. Khatami is not the man for the changes and for the reforms we are after, meaning true democracy and secularism, equality of rights for all Iranians, regardless of sex or religion, end to the religious apartheid, monopoly of the power by a handful of power hungry, but he could serve as a bridge putting the train of the reforms on the rails. He is the man of transition towards democracy", Mr. Mohajeri-Nezjad explained.

In his opinion, the situation in Iran changes at such a rapid pace that people like Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Nouri, the former Interior Minister who is now in prison who once were models for the young ones are "outdated".

"Fortunately, people are no more after models, symbols, heroes or gods. There is no more room for cult of personality. People’s only model is democracy. Anyone capable of realising this goal would be welcomed", he assured. ENDS MOHAJERI-NEZHAD 7700