Shopping In Italy and Abusing Jordanians at Home: The Despicable Actions of King Abdullah II...


JNM, Amman-Jordan (Sunday, October 25, 2009): King Abdullah II’s Hit and Run Squad has struck again! This time the victim is the opposition leader Laith Shubeilat…the assault took place today around 7:30PM at a bread bakery in downtown Amman. Five men wearing civilian clothes followed Mr. Shubeilat to this bakery, jumped out of their Mercedes vehicle and then started attacking him from the back….Mr. Shubeilat was rushed to the hospital after he sustained several injuries in the head and face (see above picture). The attackers left the scene immediately in their Mercedes that carries a false plate number (a tacit maneuver and tactic usually used and conducted by the Intelligence community in Jordan). The police claimed that the incident was a result of an intense argument between Mr. Shubeilat and a few people in the bakery, a flat lie denied by Mr. Shubeilat and several eye witnesses happened to be in the bakery at that time. Mr. Shubeilat stated that the attack is an absurd revenge by the authorities after he delivered a recent speech at the Jordan Writers Association in which he accused the current regime of corruption, human rights abuses and failing to deliver genuine political reforms. In this lecture, Mr. Shubeilat specifically accused King Abdullah II of “selling the state’s real state and lands and deposit the proceeds in his personal accounts.” The Head of the Engineers Association in Jordan, Mr. Abdullah Obeidat, accused the regime’s men who defend clamping down on opposition and freedom of speech for “designing and carrying out this cowardly attack….These people are abusing us and our national unity, standing in the way for freedom of speech…They are punks…refuse and afraid of listening to other opinions and ideas…They are simply bunch of cowards.”
King Abdullah II and his wife just came back from an official visit to Italy, showing off the other side of their ugly faces and shopping in Rome for the latest fashions…spending hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state’s budget while the people of Jordan are reeling from abject poverty and lack of freedom to speak up and speak out against their absolute monarchy….In Jordan, no one has access to or even the right to know the budget of the royal family and how much they spend from the state’s coffers…The current budget deficit stands at $1.7 billion and the foreign debt has now reached $13.2 billion!!!
This man, King Abdullah II, is not ashamed of himself nor does he deserves any respect from the local and International communities. He rules Jordan with the iron fest and is indeed a military dictator that we must remove from power as soon as possible. This man has reached the point that he must be condemned in the strongest terms by all national and International human rights organizations, local and national personalities and worldwide human rights activists, and leaders of civil societies. King Abdullah II has reached the absolute political fleecing and he does not deserve any respect by anybody at home or abroad.
The Jordan National Movement (JNM) condemns this cowardly act of terror designed and ordered by King Abdullah II and his Gestapo-like security forces, urges all advocates of human rights to condemn this thuggish dictator and asks other nations to stop providing any financial and military assistance to this foolish, abusive and corrupt regime.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZDnjVqUe68
Shame in King Abdullah II's House



JNM, Amman-Jordan (Sunday, August 2, 2009): On Thursday, July 30, 2009, King Abdullah II gave the green flag to his Darak (Gendarmerie) Forces to attack a peaceful sit-in held by workers at the Jordan Ports Corporation (JPC) in the southern city of Aqaba. The protesters simply asked for fair distribution of profit after the JPC sold a housing project belongs to the JPC’s employees. These barbaric forces insisted that this sit-in must end in five minutes or they will use force. Within a few minutes, the Darak Forces attacked the peaceful protesters, beat them up severely and arrested more than 65 of them. Mr. Ahid Alawneh (right picture above), an employee of the corporation, was thrown out of a fast-moving vehicle belongs to Darak, according to several eye witnesses. Mr. Alawneh airlifted to the King Hussein Medical City in Amman on Thursday for extensive medical care after he sustained several serious injuries in his body. Dozens of protesters in this sit-in were injured, some of these injuries described by medical doctors as “severe and life-threatening.” Several political activists, human rights advocates and journalists in Jordan have condemned these barbaric attacks and asked the regime to put an immediate end to these irresponsible and cowardly acts of terrorism against the people of Jordan.
The Darak Forces were established and supported by King Abdullah II (see above the king attending one of Darak’s events). Its mission is to prevent holding public meetings and demonstrations, terrorize the people of Jordan and bring them on their knees.
As a result of these ongoing attacks ordered directly by the king, it is difficult to have sympathy for the Hashemite tyrant, but King Abdullah II keeps trying to buy friends and influence in the international community. The king's orders to attack peaceful protesters, human rights activists, reporters, writers, and journalists have increased over the past few months and weeks. Many diplomatic observers in Amman firmly believe that this is an indication that the countdown of the regime’s total collapse is ticking. Recently, the king expressed fear that Jordan will be a substitution country for the Palestinian people instead of Palestine (West Bank and Gaza). The great majority of Jordanians (Eastern and those of Palestinian origin) have been living in peace, security and harmony since 1948 despite many attempts by the Hashemite regime to divide them. However, the real threat that the king is fearing right now is that his dictatorial regime will be replaced by a free and democratic system, which is a genuine desire in the hearts and minds of millions of Jordanian citizens.
Further, abuses of human rights, travesties of justice, unequal distribution of national resources, political oppression and abject poverty breed indefinite cycles of violence and vicious acts of terrorism. These dimensions of daily hardship are widespread and growing rapidly in Jordan. The current condition in Jordan is unbearable and heading towards a situation worse than what was happening in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s era. The current regime has absolute executive power of appointing and dismissing governments, creating illegitimate and rubber stamp parliaments by picking and firing senior judges, senators and high-ranking advisers. These ongoing circumstances are creating potential junior and senior terrorists who would have nothing but hate towards those countries that support absolute monarchical regimes in the Arab world.
The Jordan National Movement (JNM) condemns these ongoing attacks and strongly believes that these acts represent not just a clear setback for basic human rights, but a political fleecing despite well-publicized denials from the king himself and his timocracy and appointed government. We profess today our deep concern and resentment regarding the tragic collusion displayed by King Abdullah II and his secret police. This must not be replicated under any circumstances. We call upon all worldwide defenders of human rights to do everything within their power to focus upon, censure and condemn human rights violations by King Abdullah II, his intelligence community and Gestapo-like security forces.
The U.S., Europe and the civil world have to face this reality: Either discontinue supporting absolute monarchical regimes in the Middle East region or face a countless number of angry people. Those oppressed and freedom-loving people will turn to violence and terrorism and do everything at their disposal to vent out their immense anger at the U.S. and other countries that support these cruel and rogue regimes.
Hence, the Jordan National Movement (JNM) urges all democratic countries, worldwide free societies and international civil institutions to take bold, practical and courageous measures against the current corrupt absolute monarchical system in Jordan. We need to work together to curb this regime’s double-faced local and foreign policies that have deceived the global civilized community regarding its daily dictatorial activities against the people of Jordan. We must work hand-in-hand to defeat growing terrorism in the Arab world: Peacefully and democratically!
10 Years of Injustice and Oppression: The Fairy Tale of King Abdullah II’s Absolute Dictatorship and Accession to the Undemocratic Throne


King Abdullah II (left) & with his Freind Odday Saddam Hussein (right)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
King Abdullah II’s fixation on maintaining the absolute political monopoly of his family--the Hashemites--has left him standing on shaky ideological ground. He has refused to accept the constitutional monarchy and threatened those proactive leaders, such as Mr. Rheil Gharibeh, who have demanded this basic right, with prison sentence. Jordanians have questioned the ruling Hashemite family’s monopoly on political power and, by speaking out publicly, they have violated the rules of game in Jordan, which rely on a high degree of pretense and tacit complicity about the political system’s contradictions. The opposition leaders such as Dr. Ahmed Oweidi Al-Abbadi, Toujan Faisal, Laith Shbeilat, Ahmed Obeidat, and Rheil Gharibeh are leading unprecedented movement to make real changes in the constitution, criticizing King Abdullah II’s undemocratic rule, rampant human rights abuses and corruption practices, and his pursuit of economic modernization without genuine political reforms.
Since King Abdullah II assumed his absolute monarchy on Tuesday, June 9, 1999, extrajudicial killings rose, and torture and limits on freedom of expression continue to pose an intensive and serious plight. The travesty of justice and democracy in Jordan is a fact. On June 7, 2009, Rana Sabagh, a well-respected and an independent Jordanian columnist and former Reuter news writer stated, “The 2007 Parliament elections represent an unprecedented crisis and political scandal.” Jawad Bashiti, another independent columnist, described these elections as a “political prostitution.” According to a scientific poll conducted by the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, published on May 27, 2009, “53 per cent of Jordanians are not satisfied with the performance of the current Parliament in general and 56 per cent are not satisfied with performance of their representative….with one quarter of the population saying they support dissolving Parliament before its term ends.” CSS pollster Mohammad Masri commented that "A retreating confidence among the public towards their representatives in Parliament reflects that the political milieu in the Kingdom is unhealthy and lacking the conditions necessary to ensure a balance. This will further diminish public interest in this establishment."
The last ten years were filled with unpleasant events. Public freedom is restricted under laws passed by Parliament whose members were elected via vote-buying and unprecedented fraud. On a daily basis, many Jordanian civil rights leaders and reporters are being dragged to the security and intelligence authorities simply because they are mobilizing the public against absolute monarchy. They are protesting and writing hard-hitting stories about local developments that have enraged high government officials including members of the royal family. Advocates of a free press and freedom of expression charge that the arrest of political leaders, journalists and several other unknown reporters is part of growing regime efforts and concerted campaign to crack down on Jordanian publications. The press body firmly deems that what has happened is a massive conspiracy and despotic move by the regime. The regime has proscribed newspapers, bribed journalists via hush money and monthly stipends (exploiting their economic hardship), arrested and beaten up dozens of reporters, slapped draconian laws on the press that would definitely curb media freedoms. The king’s security forces routinely trail reporters. Many Jordanian journalists firmly believe that their phones are tapped and mobility is monitored, and therefore fear to spread the word to the outside world.
During the last 10 years of oppression, Jordanians have been queasy, and for good reasons. Jordan is suffering a severe bout of inflation, created by the combination of rising incomes and an insufficient supply of consumer goods. There is also a growing housing shortage for the poor and middle class, and an exponential decline in the provision of social services and quality of the health system. Most ominously of all, Jordan’s $11.2 billion debt is rapidly mounting. Jordanian intellectuals have argued that Jordan is ill-equipped to make the rapid leap--economic reforms--that the king is taking now. How, for instance, could a nation with more than 30% of unemployment cope with the sudden giant increase in all essential consumer’s products such as wheat, eggs, dairy products, rice, ...., etc? How would an economy already on the brink of collapse respond to such a drastic program of shock therapy? How could a quality environment be established for foreign direct investment in our homeland, as a source of capital and technology, while the monarchy regime and its “YES SAYEHDNA (SIR) GOVERNMENT” are practicing massive corruption and violate the rule of law on a daily basis?
Contrary to the harsh sentences given to political opponents of the Hashemite Royal Family, there is a policy of not investigating or prosecuting actual corrupt actions of individuals and corporations, particularly those associated with the Royal Family. Nancy Bakir, Minister of Public Sector Reform, stated on May 29, 2009, that more than “30 thousand governments jobs were filled illegally.” A Jordanian official who asked not to be named, told Jordan National Movement (JNM) in Amman, that “the credibility of Jordan suffers from the actions of black sheep in public administration and royal court.” Another Jordanian said “In Germany for instance, the penalty for bribery in business is five years. Why should we not apply the same to Jordan?” A senior USAID official told a JNM official in Washington that “our mobility in Jordan is closely monitored by the regime’s security forces…we are certainly uncomfortable working under such circumstances…” Ordinary Jordanians firmly deem that all this only emphasizes the need for political reforms to go hand in hand with economic reforms. They strongly believe that economic liberalization by itself creates new growth, but also new and immense opportunities for corruption. For instance, secret price-fixing agreements between companies tendering for contracts must be considered as a criminal act punishable with several years in prison.
Jordanians must demand major amendments in the constitution such as reducing the authority of King Abdullah II and ask that his role be relegated to that of a titular leader henceforth. The king must listen and act swiftly before it is too late. We must start working toward a “True Housecleaning Strategy” which will permanently restore and refurbish the economic and political landscapes in our homeland. This long-term restructuring strategy will make Jordan more competitive in the global economy. We all must be determined to reshape Jordan by making persistent forward steps toward a robust democracy and greater respect of rule of the law. Otherwise, for the king, this is may be the last time he will celebrate his accession to the throne!
Open Letter to U.S. President Barack Obama
February 25, 2009


President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
In light of the imminent visit of King Abdullah II to the United States, we are writing you this letter concerning the current political, social and economic developments and landscapes in Jordan. Please do not allow King Abdullah II to deceive or sidetrack you! The King says one thing in the presence of foreign leaders, dignitaries and world press and media, but acts very differently back home. For instance, the King is using international forums and other international gatherings for merely public image and propaganda to show his western audience and his foreign interlocutors that he is a real democrat believing in democracy and human rights. Truly, he is a young yet growing thuggish dictator in the heart of the Middle East.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recently issued several stern, comprehensive, and accurate reports regarding the most recent human rights abuses in Jordan, conducted directly by King Abdullah II’s regime and his cruel and Gestapo-like intelligence apparatus. This report reinforces other reports issued by Amnesty International in the United Kingdom. The Jordan National Movement published these pictures and brief comments showing human rights abuses committed against journalists, political and opposition figures, and ordinary citizens in Jordan. Freedom House in Washington, DC, issued this 2008 report re: the status of political rights and civil liberties in Jordan. This regime in Amman has failed to adhere to international treaties including international human rights conventions and accords. In addition, since coming to power in 1999, King Abdullah II has failed to deliver on initial pledges to promote democracy and the rule of law.
His rule has become increasingly authoritarian and no serious political opposition is permitted to form. His government and the intelligence community manipulate the judiciary, and no independent judges are allowed to operate. According to a report submitted by Mohammad Samed Al-Raqad, the former President of the Judicial Council (recently terminated by the King), to King Abdullah II, on Sunday, May 13, 2007, “the judicial system lacks administrative and financial independence.” The separation of the executive, legislative and judicial powers in Jordan does not exist. These branches are intertwined and subject to direct and constant interference by the King, security and intelligence apparatus, secret police and influential members of the royal family and fat cats in the business community.
On Sunday, August 19, 2007, King Abdullah II issued this order: “We, Abdullah II Ben Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in pursuance of Paragraph 1 of Article 34 of the Constitution, order that elections of the House of deputies be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law.” In other words, the King decided to dissolve Parliament. This statement represents one dimension of the absolute monarchy in Jordan. King Abdullah II decides everything and anything: At his own pleasure, he appoints and sacks Members of Parliament, Prime Ministers, Senators, Ambassadors, Supreme Court Judges, and high-ranking officials, intelligence and military commanders, and runs Parliament and Municipality elections that are tribal and full of fraud. Similar to previous national elections, future Parliament and Municipality elections will be held based on the one-person, one-vote system, a tribal and ethnic-based voting system aims to customize and recruit unprofessional and pro absolute monarchy legislators whose main concerns lie with personal interests, bribery and favoritism. This impartial and fake system has been widely criticized on the national and international stages. Further, on January 25, 2009, former Prime Minister Ahmed Obeidat stated, “How can we respect and trust the current Members of Parliament who say publically that they have won their seats via vote-buying?”
As far as the media is concerned, the regime in Jordan displays essential features of an authoritarian media system. All broadcast media is controlled and manipulated by the appointed government and royal court circles. Strict control over Jordan Radio and Television is exercised through the General Intelligence Department (GID), which also oversees print media, and can act against any perceived dissension: incarceration, employment termination, and newspaper closure or suspension. Attorney Saleh Al-Armouti, President of the Jordan Bar Association, and Attorney Hatim Al-Ghoeiri, former judge at King Abdullah II’s Military Court, stated on December 20, 2008 that “more than 100 cases per year of Italit Alisan (lashing at the King) are filed by the military prosecutors.”
On Monday, November 10, 2008, King Abdullah II, the ultimate decision maker in the country, told chief editors of Jordanian daily newspaper at a meeting held in the Bab Al Urdun Palace, “in Jordan there will be no detention of any journalist for carrying out their duty.” This is hypocritical and misleading statement aimed to misinform and mislead worldwide human rights and press organizations as well as the international community. On January 22, 2009, Ahamd Al-Tamimi, a journalist in the Al-Ghaad daily newspaper was abducted by three security officers in Irbid, north of Jordan, and beaten up severely…these security agents told Mr. Al-Tamimi that the did this because of his daily reporting and writings in this newspaper. On January 9, 2009, Al-Darak Forces, established recently by King Abdullah II, who has put its operation orders in the hands of the corrupt Minister of Interior (recently terminated), Eid Al-Fayez, cracked its whip and baton on the head, face, and body of Yasser Abu Hlalah, a daily columnist at Al-Ghad daily newspaper and Chief of Al-Jazeera TV Satellite Station in Amman, during a demonstration held in Amman against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Hlalah was rushed to the hospital and went under urgent surgery to stitch several cuts in his head and face. Members of this TV station also sustained injuries and several cuts on their bodies. On December 23, 2008, King Abdullah II’s GID detained two journalists, Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Ziad Al-Tahrawi, from Al-Baida newspaper, for reporting on mismanagement and corruption at King Hussein’s Medical City. In March 2007, King Abdullah II ratified the Press and Publications law that abolishes imprisonment for journalists; however, he refused to amend the Penal Code which gives carte blanche to the unelected government (appointed by the King), Military Court and GID to jail and imprison journalists and human rights activists.
The national and international status of Jordan’s economy, public health and labor rights are sliding backward. Jordan is ranked 53rd on the Transparency International’s 2007 Corruption Perception Index. Dr. Rood Rihani, a Medical Specialist in Pediatrics, stated on February 17, 2008 that children cancers make up 10 percent of all cancerous cases in the Kingdom. According to Dr. Rihani, “300 Jordanian children are diagnosed with cancer every year.” The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) current reports on Jordan’s economy stated that the increase in foreign debt in Jordan exceeded 4 percent of its GDP. Recently, the World Bank ranked Jordan 104th as a safe and quality investment environment in the world. The exponential rise in national and foreign debts is staggering. The total debt currently stands at $11.2 billion. From December 2007 to May 2008 alone, the national debt increased by $1.8 billion. On July 30, 2008, Dr. Fahad Al-Fanek, the general manager of and a columnist for the state-run Jordanian daily Al-Rai, wrote “the inflation rate is much more than the 8-9 percent range suggested by the Minster of Finance and the IMF’s experts…this poses a serious threat to the economic and social stability of the country.” On August 31, 2008, Member of Parliament Nariman Al-Roosan asked the government to investigate a serious corruption and human rights case, published by the US-based Chicago Tribune newspaper, accusing Jordanian businessmen and high-ranking officials, including relatives of Bassem Awadallah, the former Chief of the Hashemite Royal Court, of human trafficking. Further, drug use and trafficking is rising exponentially during King Abdullah II’s rule: Jordan’s Anti-Drugs Department recently reported that the number of drugs/substances abused cases, such as the use of cocaine, hashish, marijuana, heroin, and opium, approximately quadrupled: from 2585 (between 1990-1997) to 9564 (1998-2005).
The security apparatus’ dirty hands and spies are everywhere, conducting despicable business on behalf and under the directions and watchful eyes of King Abdullah II and members of the royal family. Like the King, the security commanders, including the Chief of the GID, are above the law, and they have absolute authority to detain any person regardless of any legal requirements and ramifications, select and endorse ministers, senators, members of parliament and high rank King officials; interfere in municipal and parliament elections and passport renewals; conduct and practice wide-range favoritism, and terrorize public employees. For instance, on December 9, 2008, Aamer Ahmed died at Wadi Al-Seer District’s Police Station due to a severe beating by unidentified police officers. Similar to several other cases of police brutality, this case has never been investigated nor prosecuted in the court of law. On February 1, 2009, Attorney Abdul Karim Al-Shridah, Chairman of Prisons and Jails Committee at the Arab Human Rights Organization in Amman, stated (after recent visit to Al-Jwaidah prison), that “several prisoners, specifically Firas Said Al-Rifair, Muath Brizat, and Samer Abu Arab, told him that they have been subjected to severe physical beatings (including sodomy) and torture by security officers and prison guards…these prisoners showed me the marks of this systematic physical abuse…these are absolutely inhuman practices…”
It was absolutely shameful and ludicrous to hear Queen Rania, the wife of King Abdullah, stating on Thursday, September 21, 2006, during a conference organized by Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, that the “only way to create a stable and secure world is to address global injustices, specifically in the Arab world,” while she and her husband, King Abdullah, and members of the royal family are standing in the way by not allowing the Jordanian people to elect a representative government! Queen Rania has been playing significant overt and covert political roles in the daily functions of the unelected government. She is appointing ministers and high-level officials, interfering, dictating and steering the executive branch of the state. Queen Rania is assuming this unconstitutional role despite opposition from the great majority of Jordanians. She is responsible for promoting corruption and nepotism in the appointed government and royal court. While Jordanians live an impoverished life, Queen Rania spends a huge portion of the country’s resources on private jets, new palaces, lavish parties, royal receptions and her very expensive fashions. Jordanians live under a cruel dictatorial regime that refuses dialogue with the opposition (a “my way or the highway” kind of mentality), imposes its will on the people, uses fear and intimidation by throwing dissidents in jail, changes governments as it pleases, and resorts to bribes to enlist supporters and appoint them in key governmental and royal court positions. On January 31, 2008, the Honorable Toujan Al-Faisal made it very clear that King Abdullah II was behind the government’s decision to ban her from running for previous Parliament elections. To prevent and convince the Honorable Al-Faisal not to run for these elections, King Abdullah II offered her three new Mercedes cars, one for her and the other two for her two daughters, a luxury single family home in a posh area in Western Amman, and a blank check for unlimited cash money. The offer was delivered by Saad Kheir, former Director of the corrupt General Intelligence Department (GID). Also, the Honorable Toujan Al-Faisal, former MP, stated that a member of the royal family informed her that King Abdullah II ordered his security apparatus to prevent her from running. The King said, “do whatever it takes…do not underestimate her this time…” On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, the thuggish and bloody dictator King Abdullah II sentenced the scholar and former MP Dr. Al-Abbadi to 2 years in prison for speaking up against corruption and human rights abuses in Jordan.
Queen Rania is also upstaging her husband in foreign affairs. On December 31, 2008, Queen Rania told Al-Jazeera TV Station, “the Arab diplomatic wheel has not been working for many decades…We, the Arabs, have failed to convey our voice to the world’s decision makers [re: the Arab-Israeli conflict], despite the justice and legitimacy of the Palestinian cause….” Many domestic, regional and foreign observers in foreign affairs laughed at these naive comments that prove the queen’s utter lack of understanding of the basic principles of foreign and international affairs. Jordan is now without even a Crown Prince. Queen Rania, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin, has pressured her husband King Abdullah II to terminate Prince Hamza on November 28, 2004, son of Queen Noor (the American-Jordanian wife of the late King Hussein), to pave the way for her son (Prince Hussein), to take over as heir to the throne as soon as he becomes 18 years old, a foolish step that will raise eyes brows in Israel and amongst Eastern Jordanians.
As taxpayers, Jordanians are misinformed and blocked from accessing critical information related to the state budget, monetary policies of lenders from foreign countries, and even basic information, such as the annual income of members of the royal family. No one in Jordan, including members of Parliament, knows about or is even allowed to discuss the budget of the royal court. Since he assumed power in 1999, the king increased the size of the royal court staff from 300 to 3000 employees. The aim for this increase is to have two governments: One for public services and the second to make strategic decisions without even consulting with Parliament, a clear violation of the current constitution. King Abdullah II lacks command of the Arabic language; he speaks Arabic with a heavy accent and has never spoken at or attended an Arabic press conference or delivered a lengthy speech in Arabic. In public meetings, King Abdullah II asks the appointed Prime Minister, to answer questions on his behalf, due to his poor Arabic speaking skills. In addition, the King and members of the royal family spend most of their time traveling abroad spending millions of dollars without documenting their expenses or making them public. They do not pay taxes, and their annual and sources of income are unknown to the public or appointed government.
JNM stands firm to defend the rights of the people of Jordan to effect change and make genuine and speedy constitutional changes. On January 19, 2009, the Chairman of the National Initiative for Reforms, Rhail Gharibah, announced that “more than 100 national figures are now together to establish a wide national front to change the current absolute monarchy to constitutional system via peaceful and democratic means…” King Abdullah II himself declared on March 15, 2005, in an interview with Peter Jennings of ABC news that he would embrace and support such a system. Since this famous interview, the King has been dragging his feet to implement long-awaited reforms. His excuse is that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must be resolved first! Why Israel, which is very similar to Jordan in terms of geo-political and demographic dimensions, is a full-fledged democratic state?
As far as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is concerned, we firmly believe that the solution of this conflict is either establishing an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza or annexing the Palestinian territories to Jordan and Egypt respectively. If the latter solution is determined by the United States and the International community, then a genuine democracy must be established in the new state “the United Republic.” Simply put, the successful Iraqi model of democracy or the unity of Northern Yemen and Southern Yemen can be applied to this new Republic: A presidential council, headed by Eastern Jordanian, and comprised of members who represent the large Palestinian community (majority) and other minorities. The elected Prime Minister is of Palestinian origin, and the Speaker of Parliament and President of the Senate are Eastern Jordanian and Jordanian of Palestinian descent respectively.
The royal family in Jordan must understand that we will not relinquish our total commitment to these essential reforms. JNM will seek every single diplomatic avenue and peaceful means to inform the international community of the current and future exacerbating circumstances in our homeland, Jordan. As stated by Professor Marc Lynch in an article, written by Simon Tisdall on Tuesday, November 29, 2005, in the UK-based Guardian Newspaper, “After six years in power, King Abdullah had little to show for his frequent speeches about reform. His tenure had been characterized by a steady decline in freedoms.” Today, these reforms are absolutely nonexistent. According to a scientific survey conducted by the University of Jordan’s Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) and published on December 27, 2008, “Approximately 80 per cent of respondents expressed fear of criticizing the government in public, up from 78 per cent last year.” JNM will work consistently and wholeheartedly to reverse the regime’s absolute military-style of governance.
To avoid generating new evil terrorists and suppressed people, spread peace, economic prosperity and lasting tranquility in Jordan and the Middle East region at large, we urge your administration to work hand in hand with Jordanian opposition leaders, leaders of civil society, and the Jordanian National Movement to carry out this long-awaited change swiftly, peacefully and democratically!
Cc:
U.S. Vice President (via Chief of Staff)
French President, French Embassy, Amman, Jordan
British Prime Minister, Embassy of Britain, Amman, Jordan
Japanese Prime Minister, Embassy of Japan, Amman, Jordan
Russian President, Embassy of Russia, Amman, Jordan
Chinese President, Embassy of China, Amman, Jordan
Prime Minister of Canada, Canadian Embassy, Amman, Jordan
George Mitchelll, President Obama’s Special Envoy to the Middle East
Human Rights Watch, New York, U.S.A.
Human Rights First, Washington, D.C.
Amnesty International, United Kingdom
Freedom House, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Dept. of State, Jordan Desk
U.S. Congress
European Union
United Nations
The International Federation of Journalists, Brussels, Belgium
European Federation of Journalists, Brussels, Belgium
Committee To Protect Journalists, New York
The U.S. Press, the International Press, and the Arab & Arab-American Press
Printer Freindly Copy of this Statement