Saudi activists maintain solidarity with their colleagues; Sultan rules out electing a Shoura council
Saudi Arabia, Politics, 3/23/2004

In statements issued yesterday, the Saudi Arabia's defense minister prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz considered that there is no opportunity for holding elections for the Shoura council in future, but did not rule out the idea wholly, "if the Saudi people want that."

In a press conference in Riyadh, Prince Sultan said replying to a question on the possibility of organizing elections for the Saudi Shoura council in the future that " No, because if a Shoura council is elected, people who do not know how to write and read will be chosen, and will have leaders with people supporting them unquestionably." He added " we, in the Shoura council choose, what was chosen by the God.. We, every four years, take qualified persons at the scientific and cultural level and in service of the citizen and from all areas, desert or urban.."

Concerning the municipal elections, the Saudi government promised to organize during one year, he said " municipal elections were officially announced.. and will be completed in the coming months."

Concerning reform activists detained in the Kingdom, Sultan indicated that those are "children that maintain rebellion against their parents." He said that they do not have to expect support from the new national committee for human rights in the Kingdom. Sultan stressed elimination of 80% of the " terrorist" members in the Kingdom and called on the others to surrender themselves for the authorities.

On the other hand, some 130 Saudi activists including university graduates and businessmen expressed in a petition their solidarity with Saudi reformers detained since several days in the Kingdom. The petition which was signed by 132 activists.

The petition which was signed by 132 activists said "we announce our solidarity with those detainees and their legitimate demands and call for urgent release of the detainees of opinions and conscience." The signatories considered " that such measure does not serve the march of reforms in this country."

They called on the Saudi authorities to "accelerate the process of reform in a way to protect the country from heavy risks besieging at the internal and external levels." The petition also called for enabling the detainees to assign lawyers to defend themselves, to meet with their families and to receive appropriate humanitarian treatment. In a separate matter a well-informed Saudi source said yesterday that the Saudi crown prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz will represent the Kingdom in the expected Arab summit to be held in Tunisia on March 29 and 30.

Previous Stories:
  We held frank discussion on detentions; Powell: our relations with Riyadh are strong   (3/20/2004)

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