Condemnations hail on regime over Irbid protest crackdown


13-04-2013 12:00 AM

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Various political, populist, and rights watchdog groups on Friday voiced concern and condemnation over the violent crackdown on pro-reform protesters in the northern city of Irbid on Friday.

Police and gendarmerie forces used tear gas and metal batons to disperse thousands of protesters yesterday during a demonstration renewing calls for tangible reforms and combatting corruption.

11 people were reported injured, including 5 police personnel during clashes between security forces and reform protesters.

Youth and popular pro-reform movements issued a statement on Friday denouncing the security forces' attack on protesters, accusing the Jordanian regime of "delving into a project against the aspirations of Jordanians for freedom and dignity," adding that the regime "revealed its official patronage of corruption, protecting corrupt officials, and patronage of thuggery against peaceful protesters."

The movements called on Jordanians to take part in a sit-in on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 6:00 PM in front of the Prime Ministry headquarters in Amman to express denunciation of Friday's attacks.

Reform movements in northern governorates will also hold a sit-in in front of the Irbid Governorate headquarters in the northern governorate to also express condemnation of the violent crackdown.

On its part, the Public Security Department (PSD) alleged that police and gendarmerie forces intervened and used tear gas and "appropriate force" to disperse crowds after participants from the reform protest clashed with counter-protesters, self-described as "regime loyalists."

A PSD statement on Friday said that 5 police personnel suffered injuries during the clashes, and accused a pro-reform protester of throwing a molotov cocktail at security forces.

The National Front for Reform, headed by former Prime Minister Ahmad Obeidat, issued a statement condemning what it described as "premeditated violence" against the peaceful protest calling for reform in Irbid.

The Front warned against such change in security dealing with protests, considering it "a development that reflects a new orientation by the regime to use violence and harsh containment with protests."

Meanwhile, the Jordan Teachers' Association blasted the security forces for the excessive use of force, denouncing the attack on a local teacher who suffered serious injuries to his leg before being arrested.

The association held security forces and the Interior Ministry responsible for any harm that befalls the injured activists.

The Free Hay Tafayleh activist movement in Amman stressed that the reform movements in Jordan have been fully committed to peaceful protests in the past 28 months since the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring.

"What happened on Friday in Irbid of evident attacks on peaceful protesters indicates the political regime's persistence to confront and crackdown on peaceful protest movements," a statement by the Hay Fatayleh movement said, adding that the crackdown indicates "the regime's political bankruptcy which has only exacerbated the political and economic crises in the country."

The movement called on Jordanians to stand in unity against oppressive policies that limit freedom of expression and peaceful protests, aimed - according to the statement - to divert attention away from the plans being prepared to resolve regional problems at the expense of Jordan (i.e. the establishment of an alternative homeland for Palestinians in Jordan).

Jordanians on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter reminded chief of the Public Security Department (PSD), Lt. General Tawfiq Tawalbeh, that he is now head of PSD, and no longer heads the anti-riot Gendarmerie department.

Friday's events constituted the first experience for Lt. Tawalbeh in his new position after being transferred to head the security forces upon the appointment of former PSD chief Lt. General Hussein Hazza' Majali as Interior Minister, a position that controls all security apparatuses.

Activists on Twitter and Facebook voiced concern over the change in method of dealing with peaceful protests, wondering if the policy of "soft security" has changed with the change in official positions.

On its part, the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood on Friday issued a statement condemning the "unjustified attack" on the protest in Irbid, organized by the Coordination Committee of Reform Movements (Herak), an umbrella of over 30 movements throughout the kingdom.

"Peaceful participants faced excessive attacks and dragging in the streets, use of sharp objects, and tear gas that affects vital faculties and the nervous system," a statement by the Muslim Brotherhood said.

A number of national figures and Islamist leaders who took part in the protest also faced attacks from security forces, according to media reports.

"Even journalists did not escape the security offensive carried out in front of cameras, noting that the security forces cracked down on the protesters before arriving to their final destination at Wasfi Tal Circle in downtown Irbid, the location agreed upon with security and official agencies prior to the protest.

"The unjustified crackdown comes in the context of a condition of disability that afflicts the regime in light of its failure to propagate its reform project that contradicts the will of the Jordanian people," the Muslim Brotherhood statement said, adding that "such practices will only lead the country to deeper crises."

The Brotherhood stressed its persistence in demanding tangible reform and combatting corruption, stressing that "all oppressive practices will not sway us from our just right to peaceful activism that expresses the conscience of the Jordanian people."








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