Jordan Protests - Game Changer - Moslem Brotherhood TRYING TO SAVE Jordan's King?

Jordan's King Abdullah has cancelled his visit to Britain next week, the Foreign Office confirmed tonight.

It comes after thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Jordanian capital of Amman today to demonstrate about spiralling fuel costs.

[link to www.itv.com]

Calls for the ouster of Jordan's King Abdullah II grew Friday, as thousands of protesters packed the streets of the capital and demonstrations resumed elsewhere.

Larger groups have demonstrated in Amman since the unrest sparked by fuel price hikes started three days ago, but Friday's march constituted the biggest single bloc yet to call for the end of the U.S.-backed monarch's regime. The crowd of some 2,500 also chanted slogans reminiscent of last year's uprisings in the region.

[link to m.apnews.com]

Despite increasing MSM coverage, there have been no significant protests in Jordan for 8 hours (no nighttime protests)...

We'll see if the conflict is Gaza nips this "Arab Spring" uprising in the bud...

Or maybe it's quiet...too quiet...

LumaQ (@LumaQ)
11/16/12, 3:06 PM
Never seen rainbow street so empty on a Friday night. A sad scene. #jo #jordan

Here's a US Embassy fact sheet of the protests in Jordan...

[link to www.jordanembassyus.org]

If you use twitter follow @hazem for information on the protests in Jordan

seemingly we'll know soon enough

View from the street:

The protests in Jordan continued for a fourth day on Friday – including a demonstration by thousands in downtown Amman. There were also some loyalist demonstrations by supporters of the king....

In one very important respect, Friday's protests are likely to be viewed in hindsight as a pivotal moment. For the first time, large numbers of demonstrators openly questioned the position of king Abdullah and, in some cases, the institution of monarchy itself.

"Qaddafi, Ben Ali and Mubarak all left ... Abdullah, go, go." (New York Times)

"The people want to topple the regime ... Abdullah, you either reform or you go." (Daily Star, Beirut)...

[link to www.al-bab.com]

Jordanian protesters, police scuffle as Amman demonstrations continue

Police armed with truncheons skirmished with protesters outside a central Amman mosque on Friday as demonstrations over rising fuel prices rocked this Western-backed Arab monarchy for a fourth straight day.

Scattered scuffles broke out between security forces and an agitated but predominantly peaceful crowd of about 4,000 people who rallied outside the capital’s Husseini Mosque after Friday prayers.

Many protesters chanted slogans demanding the ouster of King Abdullah II, the moderate monarch long regarded as a pillar of stability in the turbulent Middle East...

The country was relatively calm Friday evening as only a few hundred protesters returned to the streets in Amman and other major cities. Minor clashes broke out between protesters and security forces in the southern city of Tafileh after about 150 demonstrators attempted to march on the regional government headquarters. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd after several protesters began pelting them with stones.

Amman remained quiet as security forces prevented protesters from gathering near the Interior Ministry for a planned rally. Police also blocked a group of about 100 protesters from marching on the Royal Palace downtown.

The Friday protests had the backing of the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan’s largest political movement...

[link to www.washingtonpost.com]

The Labor Unions are Joining In....

Nadeen R. (@NadeenR)
11/17/12, 4:40 AM
Jordanian teachers union started an open-ended strike to protest the increase in fuel prices. #JO #ReformJO

More protests planned after evening prayers tonight....

Anonymous Jordan (@Freedom_Jordan)
11/17/12, 10:50 AM
Several protests announced in Amman; for today after Isha prayers: Jabal AlJofeh, Wehdat and Ashrafiyyeh;#JO#JordanRevolt

Analysis: Jordan's King Abdullah faces crisis

Osama Al Sharif -- an Amman-based commentator and syndicated columnist -- says the economic crunch is merging with evermore strident demands for political change, now led by the Muslim Brotherhood. But the sometimes violent protests in Amman and elsewhere this week have also included young men from poor areas, and for the first time a refrain from protests elsewhere in the Arab world -- "The People Want the Downfall of the Regime" -- has been heard.

The street protests this week have underlined a growing divide between older tribal leaders and a younger generation that's "on a totally different bandwidth," Al Sharif says.

[link to www.cnn.com]

...“When the Hashemites came from Saudi Arabia on camels with nothing, we protected them. And now they've destroyed us,” explains Majdi. “We have cement, potash, petroleum, copper, phosphates. And yet we have the worst economic situation in the whole country.”

Whatever the history, communities in Jordan's northern and southern tribal areas, including Tafilah, have been willing to practice lesse majeste the longest and with the most flair in the kingdom. In turn, they've been punching above their weight in shaping Jordan's political narrative as tensions have escalated... Each week, they have mobilized protest actions designed to zing those at the top, from dress deliveries to anti-corruption dances.

In no small part, the cities outside Amman have led the charge because the economic pinch facing Jordan is being felt most sharply in their communities. Neglected by economic-development projects in recent years, they have been squeezed by stagnating wages even as rising fortunes in Amman have caused prices countrywide to soar....

“I want a constitutional monarchy and a new government, like in Great Britain,” he says.

Should that fail to materialize, however, his prescription is harsh: “It will be the revenge of poor people against rich people. The anger of poor people is what will bring down this regime.”

Read more: [link to www.al-monitor.com]

Jordan erupted into wide-spread protests on the evening of November 13, protests that are large, spreading and increasingly violent... in what Jordanians are calling the “November Revolt” ...

Since at least 2008, I have sensed a palpable shift in the anger directed at the regime. There of course were always those who were anti-regime and against monarchs and monarchy, but what coalesced in 2008 was a growing sense that a class of elites closely tied to the regime were robbing the country’s resources under the guise of privatization, while the majority of Jordanians were struggling under the weight of increased prices in food, fuel, and basic commodities. The combination of this deepening economic crisis and the growing anger with corruption was tangible in 2008.

Significant labor actions beginning in 2006, which have grown exponentially since January 2011, were also part of this picture. Jordan was also witnessing increased incidents of violence on university campuses, among clans in different regions, and incidents of violence directed at the police.

And then came the Arab uprisings. These events of 2011 propelled and accelerated forces that were already at work in Jordan and had been for some time. Jordanians were no longer afraid to protest. . . no longer asked permission to rally, march or strike. Citizens were no longer afraid to criticize the government and increasingly no longer deterred by red lines surrounding criticism of the royal family, despite arrests aimed at policing these red lines.

Political transformations are not zero sum games. For anyone familiar with Jordan, the events of the last few days – and the anger that is being directed at government institutions and the king – are no surprise. This was long in coming. Although much is unpredictable at the moment, and Jordanians are understandably afraid that violence will grow...

[link to www.jadaliyya.com]

Summary of Protests though Friday...

According to the government's own figures, there were 91 protests and/or riots across the country during the first three days of disturbances last week: 15 in Amman, 29 in the northern governorates, 20 in the south and 27 in the central region. By Friday, a total of 280 people had been arrested and detained, though some of them had also been released.

There was probably an element of wishful thinking in the Jordan Times's claim of a return to normality on Saturday. Early on Saturday a municipality building in Kerak governorate was set alight; during the daytime (as the Jordan Times acknowledges) opposition groups were meeting to plan their next moves and, once evening prayers were over, demonstrators were back on the streets in several parts of Amman.

Today, student strikes are due to start at several universities: Yarmouk University in Irbid, the University of Jordan in Amman and the Tafileh Technical University. Zarqa University and Al-Hussein University in Ma'an were both insisting that classes would go ahead and urging students not to join the strike.


[link to www.al-bab.com]

Another summary of protests through Saturday

A relative calm prevailed throughout Jordan on Saturday, following 72 hours of violent protests against increased fuel prices that led to dozens of injuries and more than 200 arrests across the country.

Life largely returned to normal in Amman and the outlying governorates Saturday morning as shopkeepers reopened their stores and authorities scaled back security services’ presence along major roadways and commercial centres.

Eyewitnesses reported a security presence in Karak and Tafileh — the only two cities that witnessed large-scale violence Friday night — with military tanks and Gendarmerie Forces stationed around major commercial districts.

There were no street demonstrations during the day as opposition groups and grass-root protest coalitions held a series of meetings to decide “the next steps” in their campaign protesting against a government decision to lift fuel subsidies.

Activists said they intend to return to the streets Saturday evening, with rallies planned for Karak, Tafileh and Amman.

By Saturday afternoon, no location or time had been set for the evening rallies.

Saturday’s relative calm comes after four days of violent protests triggered by a government decision to raise fuel prices late Tuesday which, according to authorities, resulted in 100 separate riots that led to over 70 injuries and the death of one citizen.

Sporadic clashes between protesters and security personnel were reported across Jordan late Friday.

[link to jordantimes.com]

AP Story on Jordanian Arrests -

A Jordanian official says the country’s military prosecutor has charged 89 activists with inciting violent revolt, after protests over price hikes swept through the U.S.-allied kingdom last week.

He says a total of 158 men in their 20s and 30s were arrested during riots that began on Tuesday that left one person dead and 75 others, including 58 policemen, injured.

[link to www.washingtonpost.com]

More Unions Striking...

Jordanian unions held a strike on Sunday to protest fuel price rises, two days after thousands of demonstrators in Amman called for the king to go, an official told AFP.

"All 15 unions except the nurses' union stopped working between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm (0800-1100 GMT) on Sunday," said Mahmud Abu Ghunayma, head of Jordan's 15-member professional associations body...

The head of the doctors' union, Ahmed al-Armuti, said the strike had excluded "emergency sectors," including midwifery and nursing.

The teachers' union told AFP it striked on Sunday, with spokesman Ayman al-Akur saying "the strike was observed by 70 to 75 percent of schools across the country".

(teacher's strike will continue tomorrow)

[link to english.ahram.org.eg]

NY Times slides how on Jordan protests...

(many of the pics were taken by guy I follow on twitter)

[link to www.nytimes.com]

Anonymous Jordan (@Freedom_Jordan)
11/18/12, 12:01 PM
From Amman, we announce it a republic" - Tafaileh Neighborhood chanting now #JO;#RevoltJO

Hazem Zureiqat (@hazem)
11/18/12, 8:24 AM
Teachers Association in #Jordan extends its strike (initially planned for today only) until tomorrow. #JO #ReformJO

The U.S. is now involved in the mess in Jordan. There are now U.S. troops on the ground in Jordan who are tasked with protecting the Jordanian Royal Family.

[link to www.wnd.com]

Thread: Muslim Brotherhood now Targeting Jordan - US Boots on Ground to Protect King

Interestingly, there are many connectins between members of the Jordanian Royal Family and the West.

For instance, the mother of King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan is British-born Princess Muna al-Hussein wh was born Antoinette Avril Gardiner.

Also, King Abdullah II's wife, Queen Rania of Jordan, is American-born Lisa Halaby.

The King himself was educated at prep schools in Massachusetts, completed his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and completed a graduate degree at Oxford University in England.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

I imagine the King's mother being British-born, the Queen being born an American, and the King having been educated in the U.S. and England have all had an effect on Jordan's political stance toward the West.

These multiple and significant connections to the West on the part of the Jordanian Royal Family have also undoubtedly impacted the willingness of U.S. (NATO?) forces to offer military protection to the Jordanian Royal Family.



Last Edited by Biochemky on 11/18/2012 12:19 PM

Reform Jordan Statement...(issued 2 hours ago Arabic translation - looks like they are in it for long haul)...


Met with the Executive Office of the National Front for Reform Sunday, 11/18/2012, and decided as follows: -

First: to salute and support and support for the free Jordan from north to south and from east to west rebelling against increased prices and rampant corruption.

Second: Call to march major national on Friday, 11.30.2012 in the area stretching from Firas Circle to the internal rotor in Jabal Al Hussein after noon prayers and under the heading "popular uprising for reform"

Third: call for a national gathering in the compound of unions this week under the title "National Meeting of the deal to raise prices."

Fourth: the admission of the "party of Jordanian life" in the National Front for Reform as of Sunday, 11.18.2012.

Fifth: condemn the Israeli aggression on Gaza and condemn the silence of official Arab regime that aggression and to salute all the heroes and martyrs of Palestine.

[link to translate.google.com]

The King of Jordan didn't know a word of Arabic when he became King, he had to read from a paper and spoke many broken words in the first "Kings Speech", I do not know how can a person like that have the ability to run a country, people around him, the ones who are old and more experienced are the ones fooling him around and ruining the country. It is a basically one big mess thats all.

New YouTube video of Friday's peaceful protests

One minor correction -

Queen Noor (the former Lisa Halaby) is the current King's step mother.. She was married to King Hussein (Abdullah's father)...

Queen Rania is of Palestinian descent. Her family lived in Kuwait until the 1st Gulf War. After the US returned Kuwait to the al-Sabah family (current Emirs) all Palestinians who lived in Kuwait were ejected for allegedly siding w/ Saddam Hussein.

I've heard he speaks heavily accented Arabic...

His mother "the typist from Ipswich" was not popular (blue-eyed blonde)...

She was replaced by a very popular Palestinian Queen who died in a suspicious helicopter crash... The rumor is that she was not popular w/ the East Bank Arabs & the Hashemites b/c she was Palestinian....

Noor avoided Muna's "issues" by emphasizing her Arab ancestry (American w/ Syrian father) and by being a tireless advocate for Jordan. I'm not saying she was universally loved, but I do think she was better received than Muna...

I found it interesting that some of the protestors who are active on Twitter are trying to get contact information for Hamzah (Noor's oldest son)... king Hussein wanted Hamzah (who is Hussein's spitting image) to succeed him, but Hamzah was too young when Hussein succumbed to cancer....

There has been talk (among the opposition) of Abdullah stepping down and another member of royal family taking his place as a constitutional monarch. I am guessing that some protestors see Hamzah as a candidate for that role...

YouTube video of Saturday Night protests in Ashrafiye

Note - Ashrafiye is a suburb of Amman (Jordan's capital)

Government Left With Few Options But Likely to Fight

...By insisting that last week’s controversial lifting of fuel subsidies was necessary to avert a financial crisis, PM Ensour placed the country into a “no-win” standoff with critics of the decision.

“If the government insists on its decision, the protests in the streets will only continue and protesters’ demands will become greater,” ...

“If the government backs down over fuel prices, it will have essentially surrendered its economic policies to the street,” ...

Short of reversing its decision, analysts say the government should embark on a series of emergency “confidence-building measures” to defuse anger in the streets and regain public trust...

One of the alternative measures available to officials is to accelerate efforts to tackle corruption, which citizens’ widely view as one of the main causes behind the country’s current economic woes...

...another alternative option . . . is a series of “in-house” austerity measures, such as cutting back the pensions and salaries of current and former ministers and officials, to send a message to the public that the government too is tightening its belt...

With the government torn between economic realities and rising street anger, analysts say the government can solve the country’s various political and economic woes by issuing one simple declaration: a state of emergency...

[link to jordantimes.com]

Has the Moslem Brotherhood Decided to Save Jordan's King...

Egypt will pump the full amount of natural gas to Jordan as specified in a previous agreement by mid-December, according to Egypt’s petroleum minister.

On Sunday, Petroleum Minister Osama Kamal said now that demand for gas from Egypt’s electricity sector has declined, the government will be able to resume pumping to Jordan in full. The kingdom is currently experiencing mass upheavals following a government decision to cancel petroleum subsidies.

Egypt currently pumps only 70 million cubic feet of gas per day to Jordan, less than a third of the 240 million cubic feet per day specified in a 2004 agreement....

[link to www.egyptindependent.com]

Background - Moslem Brotherhood is supported by Emir of Qatar (a monarch). Qatar is a major financial backer of the new MB-led gov't in Egypt. None of the successful Arab Spring uprisings (Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen) resulted in the overthrow of an Arab monarchy...

Jordan is the 3rd Arab Monarchy at risk from Arab Spring inspired uprising. The Gulf States (including Qatar) crushed 1st uprising that threatened monarchy (Bahrain)... Jordanian special forces are supposedly suppressing Arab Spring protestors in another monarchy (Kuwait)...Many wondered if Qatar would support or suppress MB protestors in the uprising in Jordan...In fact, protestors in Amman told Qatar to either support them or stay out of the uprising in Jordan or the protestors would "turn to IRAN"

Looks like Qatar is supplying a carrot. These protests began when Jordan ended price supports on Fuel. Jordan obtains natural gas at BELOW MARKET price from Egypt. MB-led Egypt has not been honoring those contracts. Egypt is financially supported by Qatar. Now, suddenly Egypt will fully honor the BELOW MARKET gas contracts...Reducing fuel costs in Jordan...Ending the reasons the protests began...

interesting...

In case you missed it, the newest "news" from Jordan just explained the entire Arab Spring...

It isn't about democracy...

It isn't about rights...

It isn't even about the Moslem Brotherhood...

It's about getting rid of regimes we don't like & supporting regimes we like...

We don't like dictators but we are fine w/ absolute monarchs...

Which is strange b/c dictators usually did something to earn their power (they were a popular officer who led the uprising or they "protected the state"). Middle Eastern dictators often represent a group (Mubarak represented Egyptian military; Assad represented the Alawite)

Monarchs were just born into the right family...

What Libya's UN Ambassador says about Qatar & the Arab Spring (this is the guy who defected & cried at UN which helped to get sanctions against Libya approved)...

UN Ambassador Shalgam Names Qatari Names...

Shalgam has written a new book about the 2011 revolution. The take-away - Qatar was the puppet master. Qatar was behind revolution. Qatar has supported Islamists in Libya. Emir of Qatar wants to be new Caliph (ruler of entire Middle East). He also revealed that many Libyan politicians have taken pay-offs from Qatar (luxury cars & new homes). One named politician who received a car is on the new Libyan cabinet. Not surprisingly, Shalgam's new book has not been mentioned in the western media.

BUT - he began talking about Qatar's role in Libya a year ago and excerpts from one of his interviews on AJA made its way into Foreign Policy Magazine.. Here it is-

Shalgam: Even the Libyans don't understand this (possible Qatar led coalition) Qatar leading America & France? Who is Qatar?

Shalgam: Does Qatar even have an army? Qatar only has mercenaries, from Nepal & from Bangladesh & from Pakistan.

Shalgam: What capability does Qatar have? Our brothers from Qatar helped us but I fear Qatar will meet the fate of Gaddafi's megalomania.

Shalgam: Qatar might have delusions of leading the region. I absolutely do not accept their presence (in Libya) at all...

Shalgam: What is Qatar doing there (in Libya)? Qatar isn't neutral with all parties. Qatar will gather these weapons & give them to others...

Shalgam: What makes Qatar so special that it sets up an operations room (in Libya) to lead Britain & the US, this is totally unacceptable...

Shalgam: We will not accept to be a new emirate that belongs to the new "Emir of the Believers" in Qatar...

[link to blog.foreignpolicy.com]

Kuwait Times Op-Ed on Jordan Protests (From Yesterday)

Do you think the Muslim Brotherhood rule will bring bees and honey to the people of Jordan, change its natural resources and open the economy or its natural wealth? Will it bring democracy and tolerance that the Jordanian society has been enjoying over the decades; thanks to the sagacity and wisdom of the Hashemite ruling family? Will Jordan have a multi-party system as it is or will it become a one-party state covered with the extremism cloak....

The entire international community has been grappling with the economic crisis but the Jordanians have been among the worst hit due to the decision of the Brotherhood members, including the incumbent leaders in Egypt, to suspend the supply of gas. Since the inception of Jordan, it has been depending on tourism, foreign aid and remittance from Jordanians living outside; yet King Abdullah has diversified the sources of income and provided more financial resources through financial investments, new industries and investments in uranium exploration; thereby, greatly improving the condition of Jordan.

Upshot - Controlled Media in Gulf Monarchy accuses Moslem Brotherhood of causing Jordanian crises but cutting off gas supplies...

It makes sense for Egypt to cut off gas supplies (below market price)...

But the gas supplies have been turned back on to save a monarchy...

[link to www.arabtimesonline.com]

The world we live in is unbelievable...The conspiracy theories are true and the media truth is lies...WOW

Well that happens with a lot of royalties around the world tbh. Can you tell us more about the real situation since you are in Jordan?