Report warns the Jordanian government: Maan incidents was: red warning
Jordan, Politics, 2/20/2003

An independent report issued yesterday in Amman warned that the bloody clashes which took place in the Jordanian city of Maan in November 2002 might be repeated in any other city in Jordan unless political and economic reforms are introduced.

The report which was issued by the "International crisis group" and debated by the chairman of this independent commission the former Australian Foreign minister Garitt Evans, to journalists said that "special factors had contributed in the tension in Maan but these might be common for all Jordanian areas."

Evans stressed after debating the report the objectivity and neutrality of the report.

The document which falls in 13 pages seeks to clarify reasons behind the clashes which resulted in 6 killings ( 4 civilians and two security members) and scores of wounded beside heavy material losses.The clashes, however, erupted while the security forces were searching for the well-known Islamists Muhammad al-Shalabi, known as "Abu Sayyaf" who is accused of killing the local police chief.

The international crisis group explained the clashes which are "the fourth incidents of the political violence in Maan since 1989" can be justified by the economic deterioration the 70,000 population city suffers. The report added that other elements behind the traditional political violence in Maan is the special condition this city enjoys. It was the first capital for the Hashimite Kingdom upon its creation, where tribes are permitted to carry weapons. The report continued that what provoked these clashes is also the bad political representation of the city and the absence of the channels of contacts with Amman and the disappointment over the stumbled ME peace process and the Iraqi crisis.

At the economic level, the report said, according to results of official investigation that the average income per capita for the people of Maan decreased at 20% from the national level, while unemployment rate is 19.2% against a national rate of 14.7%, while illiteracy in Maan increases to 19%. The highest rate in Jordan..

The report recommends vast political reforms permit "larger people's participation in the decision- Making process," enforcing the law equally on all areas and fighting the phenomenon of citizens carrying weapons and improving the economic condition in Maan.

Previous Stories:
  Jordan agrees to establish two camps for the Iraqi refugees   (2/14/2003)
  Jordanian elections law amended; six parliamentary seats for women   (2/12/2003)
  Two Jordanians released over Maan incidents   (1/15/2003)
  Al-Dostour: Jordanians arrested over Maan incidents   (1/9/2003)
  Maan forum holds the government responsible   (12/6/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search