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TITLE: Jordan: Sit-in Before American Embassy a Success |
AUTHOR: Ibrahim Alloush |
PUB: |
DATE: February 18, 2001 |
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Yesterday evening, representatives of all Jordanian opposition groups met at the offices of the Jordanian branch of the Baath party. In that meeting, the delegates resolved UNANIMOUSLY to hold a sit-in before the American Embassy in Amman between one and two pm today to protest the criminal Anglo-American bombing of civilian sites near Baghdad on February 16th. The delegates had vowed to hold the sit-in irrespective of any anticipated pressures by the Jordanian regime to ban or change the location of the protest. Then they went to sleep after having spread the word: "There will be a protest tomorrow in front of the American Embassy between one and two pm. Be there!" Come the morning, the Minister of the Interior and the Mayor of Amman called in the leaders of opposition parties at 9:30 am for an early powwow. Walking out of the conference with the Minister and the Mayor, the leaders of the opposition groups were all brainwashed. It was such a transforming experience for all of them: Muslim Brothers, Baathists, Official Communists, etc. They all got together and decided that the sit-in will be held in front of the United Nations instead of the American Embassy as planned earlier. Once again, Jordanian opposition parties didn't fail to fail the public. Once again, they earned the title: The Chicken of the Jordanian Opposition. The Real Thing: With the exception of Laith Shubeilatt and Yacoub Zayadeen, there weren't any prominent opposition figures around. Scores of independent activists decided to go on with the sit-in as planned originally the day before, where it should be, in front of the American Embassy. Along with them were quite a few members of opposition parties who did not like the changed location. As always, however, the majority of the protestors were average citizens. They went on time to meet the tanks and the anti-riot troops that were waiting there. They gathered more than fifty yards across the street from the Embassy, carried signs, and shouted slogans condemning the aggression on Iraq and saluting the Aqsa Intifada. About 1:30 pm they were pushed back again more than a hundred yards. Still carrying signs and shouting slogans in support of Iraq and the Intifada, the protestors stood besieged by the cold wind and the civilian cars of the Mukhabarat. Security men would zoom in on protestors' faces with video cameras. The tanks and the troops loomed in the distance. It was a good day to take a stand. About 1:40 pm, the head of Public Security approached the demonstrators and told them to go to the United Nations as agreed with opposition leaders. He said he cared for each one of the demonstrators personally and hated to have to use other than words. He said he would provide 'rides' out of the location if necessary. 'Till Two.. Till Two', calls erupted. The organizers promised to be out of there in fifteen minutes. To his credit, he chose to back off. Chants erupted: "El Rabieh Needs to be Liberated, from the Zionist Embassy", "O, Iraq, Dear Love, Strike the Heart of Tel Aviv". This went on till exactly 1:55 pm after which the crowd dispersed in peace. There were no reports of violence or arrests. The point was made. The sit-in was a success. SHAME ON THOSE WHO GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS WHEN THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE U.S. AND THE U.K. Later Ibrahim Alloush END |