AMMAN - A mass pro-reform rally ended peacefully in Amman on Friday after counter-protestors suspended a series of rival demonstrations.
In a so-called Friday “popular uprising for reform,” some 7,000 activists converged on the Interior Ministry Circle in Amman to call for urgent political reforms and protest a recent government decision to raise fuel prices.
During the rally, organised by the independent coalition National Front for Reform, participants called on the Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour to resign over what they described as “failed policies.”
Participants also called on the authorities to release dozens of protestors detained during a series of violent demonstrations over fuel prices last month that left over 70 people injured and resulted in millions of dinars in damage to government property.
In a break from protestors’ recent provocative calls for “regime change,” rally-goers urges instead for “regime reform,” chanting “reform and change has to come.”
Addressing rally-goers, Front leader and former prime minister Ahmad Obeidat called on Amman to implement “widespread reform” and curb corruption, which he described as the “root cause” of the country’s economic woes.
”We demand the combating of corruption as this is the main reason behind the bankruptcy of the state…the dominance of the corrupt has robbed the citizens of their right to live in dignity,” Obeidat said, addressing the crowd.
Friday’s rally also witnessed a large showing by the Muslim Brotherhood, Jordan’s largest political movement, which has been largely absent form the streets since the onset of fuel price protests last month.
In a speech to participants, Former Brotherhood Overall Leader Salam Falahat warned of a “popular uprising” should the government refuse to turn back on its decision to lift fuel subsidies.
Activists also called on the government to delay the upcoming parliamentary elections and overhaul the Elections Law, which they declared as “constitutionally invalid” and “undemocratic.”
Friday’s demo came amid heavy security presence, with the authorities blocking off all roads leading to the Interior Ministry Circle and Faras Circle in Jabal Hussein.
Friday was also marked by the absence of counter-protestors, who late Thursday decided to suspend planned rival demos at the site of the Front’s rally.
In a statement late Thursday, the so-called Youth Coalition for Loyalty and Allegiance announced took the decision in a bid to “preserve national security” and prevent potential clashes between rival activists.
Also on Friday, dozens of activists hit the streets in the southern cities of Karak, Tafileh and Maan in protest of the fuel price hike.
The Amman rally marked the largest single demonstration since the outbreak of nationwide protests over the November 12 decision, which led to an immediate 33 per cent rise in fuel prices and a near doubling in heating and cooking gas costs.
The government has refused to go back on the measure, claiming that the cutting of JD800 million in annual fuel subsidies was necessary to avert a “financial crisis".
Taylor Luck
