Jordan’s King Dismisses Cabinet

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/wo...mid=tw-nytimes

Jordan’s King Dismisses Cabinet

By ETHAN BRONNER

Published: February 1, 2011Digg

RAMALLAH, West Bank — King Abdullah II of Jordan fired his government in a surprise move on Tuesday, in the face of a wave of demands of public accountability sweeping the Arab world and bringing throngs of demonstrators in the streets of Egypt.

The Jordanian news agency Petra announced that following recent protests in Jordan itself, the king had sacked Prime Minister Samir Rifai and replaced him with Marouf al-Bakhit, a former general and ambassador both to Israel and Turkey. He is widely viewed as clean of corruption.

The official announcement said Mr. Bakhit would have the task of “taking practical, swift and tangible steps to launch a real political reform process, in line with the king’s version of comprehensive reform, modernization and development.” It added that the king asked Mr. Bakhit and the new cabinet to “bolster democracy” and proceed “with nation building that opens the scope for broad accomplishment to al dear sons or our country and secure them the safe and dignified life they deserve.”

Recent demonstrations in Jordan marked the first serious challenge to the decade-old rule of King Abdullah, a critical American ally in the region who is contending with his country’s worst economic crisis in years.

Last Friday, thousands took to the streets in the capital Amman as well as several other cities shouting “We want change.” Because direct criticism of the king is banned, the focus has been on his government. Banners decried high food and fuel prices and demanded the resignation of the prime minister, appointed by the king.

On Saturday there was a sit-in of about 400 people in front of the prime minister’s office calling for his resignation. He has been criticized for lack of accountability.

In recent months, journalists, former generals and students have attacked corruption, lowered subsidies and lack of democracy in Jordan, especially recent reductions in freedom of expression. The marchers have been a mix of Islamists, trade unionists and leftists. To counter the criticism, recently the king announced an increase in civil service pay and $125 million in subsidies for basic goods and fuel.

After Tuesday’s announcement of a new prime minister, reactions among protest leaders were cautiously positive.

Nahed Hattar, a leftist activist, said in a telephone interview that he considered the change a good move but he wanted to see the government program before rendering judgment.

Ali Habashneh, a retired general who had participated in public protests, said the appointment was “wise. He is the right man to lead the country at this time.”

The new prime minister, Mr. Bakhit, served briefly in the post once before in 2006 after Amman hotels were attacked by terrorists. He is close to the king and has been closely involved in the peace treaty with Israel.

While King Abdullah has detractors in Jordan, there seems at the moment to be little push to end the monarchy. The pressure has been focused on economic issues and government accountability.

Meanwhile, also in response to the mood sweeping the region, in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority announced it would hold local elections, postponed last year, “as soon as possible.” Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s government said it would set the election date next week.

Ranya Kadri contributed reporting from Amman, Jordan.

[StrontiumDog]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/co...-the-protests/

Jordan's appointment of a new prime minister will not be enough to silence the protests

By Con Coughlin
World
Last updated: February 1st, 2011


King Abdullah II (Photo: EPA)

After Tunisia and Egypt, now it’s Jordan’s turn to feel the heat from the protest movement that is sweeping the Middle East. Having seen one president overthrown and another clinging to office, King Abdullah of Jordan’s decision to sack his entire cabinet and appoint a new prime minister to carry out “true political reforms” smacks of desperation to me.

People have been calling for reform in Jordan for as long I can remember (I first covered the country for this newspaper in the early 1980s), but those calls have largely gone unanswered by the country’s rulers.

Both King Hussein and his successor have run relatively benign autocracies (unless you happen to be an Islamist militant, which is another story) and are generally held to be popular with their people.

The only problem is that, as in Egypt, Jordan has an energetic, highly educated young population that has no outlet for their talents. It may well be that the monarchy can survive in Jordan. But for that to happen King Abdullah needs to make sure that, this time around, the Royal Palace is serious about setting up a truly democratic government.

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/wo...-nytimesglobal

Jordan’s King Meets With Muslim Brotherhood

By ETHAN BRONNER

Published: February 3, 2011

AMMAN, Jordan — King Abdullah II, struggling to stave off growing public discontent, widened his political outreach on Thursday and met with the Muslim Brotherhood for the first time in nearly a decade. He also asserted in a statement that he would fight corruption and foster broad national dialogue.

The statement from the royal court said, “The king reaffirmed in a meeting with a delegation from the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamic Action Front that it is important for them to work together to press political reform that will increase the role of citizens in decision making.”

A Muslim Brotherhood leader, Zaki Bani Rshead, said earlier in an interview in his Amman office that the newly appointed prime minister, Marouf al-Bakhit, had offered the movement a role in his government but that it had turned him down.

“We refused because we want the prime minister to be elected, not appointed by the king, and we want real elections,” he said. “We are willing to be a partner but in a real government.”

The Muslim Brotherhood is estimated to have the support of 25 to 30 percent of Jordan’s six million people. It was expected to lead modest demonstrations on Friday calling for democratic steps, although others who had taken part in past weeks said they would hold off and see the nature of the new government.

On Tuesday, after weeks of low-level protests demanding change here — and after huge street revolts brought political upheaval to Tunisia and Egypt — Abdullah fired his cabinet and appointed Mr. Bakhit prime minister. The king publicly instructed him to pursue democratic reform and reach out to a broad range of constituents. Mr. Bakhit has held many consultations in preparation for forming his government, in itself a rare step here.

Abdullah, who turned 49 on Sunday and has been on the throne for 12 years, is clearly shaken by the events regionally and in his own country. He has been paying surprise visits in recent days to poor areas and villages and ordering assistance to the families he encountered. Thursday’s statement acknowledged the failure of recent efforts at reform, placing blame on “people who put their personal interests above the public interest, fear of change and hesitation in making decisions.” It said the king expected the new government to start a comprehensive national dialogue that includes all segments of society.

It added that a new electoral law should be drafted that would attract political parties to take part in elections and that all the country’s issues should be discussed publicly “with transparency, openness and clarity.” It vowed tough punishment for anyone involved in corruption, saying, “no one is above the law.”

Few predicted imminent danger to Abdullah given the long devotion to his family among Jordanians. But complaints against the king, once largely unheard of, have been growing markedly.

[StrontiumDog]

Babylon & Beyond

Observations from Iraq, Iran,
Israel, the Arab world and beyond

JORDAN: Clashes erupt at pro-democracy rally in Amman

February 18, 2011 | 6:26 am



Jordan has had regular peaceful protests in recent days pressing King Abdullah for political reforms, but a Friday demonstration outside the Husseini mosque in Amman turned unexpectedly violent when a gang of more than 100 pro-government counter-demonstrators rushed in and began beating the protesters with metal and wooden clubs.

An estimated 300 demonstrators fled quickly onto side streets to escape while hundreds of police stood by and did not intervene, according to witnesses. At least eight people were injured.

“The police allowed those thugs to beat us up,” said Muafak Mahadine, a leftist columnist who was injured along with his son, a film director, who is hospitalized with a concussion.

He said the protesters included lawyers, doctors, engineers and others who have been pressing the king to revise the constitution to hand over more power from the monarchy to the parliament. “This is a march we go on every Friday. We haven’t changed our slogans or what we were saying for the past four weeks. Nothing about getting rid of the regime. We’re asking about democratic changes. The 1952 constitution. Fighting corruption. Stop normalization with Israel,” Mahadine said.

The attackers were shouting slogans vowing to defend the king with their blood and their souls, he said. “We have no problem with these slogans. This is up to them,” he said. “But suddenly they attacked us. They looked just like the thugs we saw in Tahrir in Cairo.”

--Kim Murphy in Amman

Photo credit: Amman Net online newspaper

[StrontiumDog]

http://www.france24.com/en/20110220-...l-fast-reforms

Jordan king wants 'real and fast' reforms


Jordan's King Abdullah II has urged speedy reforms, comprehensive dialogue and more efforts to battle corruption amid popular discontent and pro-reform protests.

AFP - Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday urged speedy reforms, comprehensive dialogue and more efforts to battle corruption amid popular discontent and pro-reform protests.

"When I talk about reform, it means that I want real and fast reforms," the king told government officials, MPs, senators and members of the judiciary, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

"Political reforms need to be modern. I am waiting for government recommendations about a mechanism for a comprehensive dialogue to help achieve political development."

The king called on the government and parliament to "move swiftly to deal with any issue related to corruption."

"If you suspect corruption, start an investigation immediately. If you find out that the corruption accusations are untrue, make this clear... irresponsible talk harms the country," he said.

Jordanians have been demonstrating since January to demand political and economic reform, calling for an end to corruption and for suspected corrupt officials to be put on trial, regardless of their rank.

On Friday, witnesses and medics said that a mob wielding batons waded into a pro-reform protest in Amman injuring eight people in the first such violence since protests began in Jordan.

The government has condemned the violence, and Justice Minister Hussein Mujalli said on Sunday a probe into the incident was under way.

[StrontiumDog]

Jordan protesters vow to press on despite attack

Jordanian ‘loyalists’ attack, injure youths: witnesses

Jordan protesters vow to press on despite attack

Friday, 25 March 2011


Jordanian protesters shout anti government slogans in the streets of downtown in Amman

AMMAN (AFP) Jordanian students vowed on Friday to press on with their sit-in protest in central Amman to demand reforms, undeterred by a stone attack they blamed on government supporters.

"They are trying to push us to leave," Saddam Basrawi, a 21-year-old university student, told AFP.

"Last night, they attacked us with stones, but we will endure and we will not budge no matter what happens."

Around 500 youths from different movements, including the powerful Islamist opposition, had camped out in the rain and cold weather to call for reforms to the current regime and more efforts to fight corruption.

If they think that the attack will force us to go home, they are wrong. Attacks will only make us stronger and determined to stay here Reda Darwish, protester

They staged their demonstration next to the Interior Circle, or Gamal Abdel Nasser Square, in the capital.

"Our gathering is peaceful, but this did not prevent the attacks. Does the king (Abdullah II) agree with such actions? We are Jordanians and we have the right to express ourselves," said Reda Darwish, 20.

"If they think that the attack will force us to go home, they are wrong. Attacks will only make us stronger and determined to stay here."

At nightfall on Thursday, police attempted to disperse the youths, cutting off electricity to the square around 11:00 pm (2100 GMT), an AFP journalist witnessed.

Loyalists attack


Jordan, your turn is coming Protesters


Protesters said around 50 "loyalists" attacked them with rocks after the power supply was lost, saying police who surrounded the scene did not intervene.

"We hold the interior minister responsible for this incident and we call on the king and the people to protect us from these thugs who are attacking us," said Nihad Zuhair, another protester.

Police spokesman Mohamad Khatib told AFP he was not aware of any casualties.

The protest camp came in response to a call on the social network site Facebook, a tool of many of the recent protests that have sprung up in Arab countries.

The students called for corrupt officials to be put on trial and demanded security services stop interfering in their affairs.

"The revolution is happening all around us," they shouted: "Jordan, your turn is coming."

"We want constitutional amendments to have parliamentary governments," said Alaa Fazaa of the Jayeen (We are Coming) group, adding the protests would go on until their demands were met.

Since January, left-wing activists have joined forces with nationalists and the Islamist opposition in calling for far-reaching political reforms and an end to what they say is rampant corruption.

The Islamist movement is planning a demonstration after Friday midday prayers to push for reforms and mark the 43rd anniversary of the Battle of Karameh with Israel.

The government has formed a national dialogue committee to speed up reforms, but the panel is facing problems after the Islamists and others refused to take part.

[StrontiumDog]

Jordan opposition demands PM

After Jordan's govt invite to start a dialogue

Jordan opposition demands PM’s ouster after unrest

Saturday, 26 March 2011


Jordan's PM accused the country's Muslim Brotherhood of "taking orders from the Muslim brothers in Egypt & Syria"

AMMAN (AFP) Jordan's Islamic opposition, leftists and trade unions on Saturday demanded the ouster of Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit, who they blame for violence that has killed one person and injured 130.

"We demand the prime minister and intelligence chief (Mohammed Raqqad) quit," said Firas Mahadin of the March 24 youth group at a news conference organized by Islamists. "We have reached a point of no return."

His father, Muwaffaq Mahadin, a prominent leftist writer, warned "the country is heading towards a civil war and the government is responsible for that because it wants to avoid reforms."

We have invited the Muslim Brotherhood for talks, away from protests and demonstrations, but apparently they have agenda to create chaos in the country Maaruf Bakhit , Jordan\\\\\\\'s PM

The rift between Jordan's government and Islamists widened after the prime minister on Friday accused the main opposition movement of spreading chaos following the death of a protester, the first in the kingdom.

"Stop playing with fire... stop hiding your real intentions," Prime Minister Bakhit told Islamists in an address broadcast on Jordanian television.

"We have invited the Muslim Brotherhood for talks, away from protests and demonstrations, but apparently they have agenda to create chaos in the country," Bakhit said.

Jamil Abu Bakr, spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, said "by accusing the Muslim Brotherhood, the government is trying to escape its responsibilities" proving his calls for reform and freedom were false.

Meanwhile, Islamic Action Front (IAF) chief Hamzah Mansur, accused the government of "crimes against humanity."

"The government of Maaruf Bakhit has given proof that it does not believe in the reforms, it is a government with blood on its hands which today has committed crimes against humanity," he said.

The IAF is the main opposition party and political branch of Muslim Brotherhood which found protection in Jordan in the 1950s and 1980s when they were persecuted in Egypt and Syria.

Adopting an unusually strident tone, Bakhit accused the Muslim Brotherhood of "taking orders from the Muslim brothers in Egypt and Syria," adding their refusal to dialogue signaled they chose "chaos" for the country.

Friday's violence in Amman, the first of its kind since protests erupted three months ago, left one person dead and 130 people wounded three of them in critical condition.

It came as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates held talks with key ally King Abdullah on a previously unannounced visit.

U.S. officials say the king has been more active in pursuing reforms compared to other leaders in the region.

The government had formed a commission for national dialogue, which was rejected by Islamists, but 15 of its members quit Friday, accusing the government of "committing a massacre" and "lack of seriousness in its commitment to reform."

With these resignations, and six others previously, the future of this panel, which now has only 31 members out of 52 initially invited to join, is uncertain.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Saad Hayel Srour has announced the opening of an investigation "to determine those responsible for violence.

"We are a strong state and we can protect our citizens," he told reporters.

The clashes erupted Friday when about 200 government supporters hurled large stones at more than 2,000 young demonstrators from different movements, including the powerful Islamist opposition.

Police broke up the protest camp of the demonstrators who were urging regime reforms and more efforts to fight corruption.

"The authorities' aim was to get rid of the group of youngsters, who remind people of the protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain", a political analyst told AFP.