Clashes broke out on Friday between security forces and supporters of a former deputy who was arrested Thursday on charges of “undermining the regime”, as pro-reformers cancelled a planned protest in the capital.
Relatives of former MP Ahmad Oweidi Abbadi converged on the eighth circle Friday evening to hold an open-ended sit-in shortly after a rally at the tribe’s nearby diwan in support of the ultranationalist activist, who was arrested late Thursday following his public call last month for the establishment of a “Jordanian Republic.”
Upon their arrival, Abbadi's supporters clashed with anti-riot forces who had cordoned off the Eighth Circle- a vital west Amman intersection and, according to eye witnesses, used use tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Following the clashes, Abbadi supporters attempted to close the intersection by setting fire to trash cans, damaging nearby commercial outlets in the process, according to a Public Security Department (PSD) statement published by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The PSD said nine persons were arrested for attempting to close the intersection and their involvement in the clashes, which left “several” security officers and policemen injured.
As of Saturday morning it was unclear if any of Abbadi's supporters were injured in the clashes.
Protest drive
Meanwhile, downtown Amman witnessed no demonstrations on Friday amidst growing signs that the protest drive is losing momentum as the pro-reform movement enters its 13th month,.
Following the withdrawal of opposition parties, independent and youth activists declined to take to the streets in Amman– marking only the second time since the launch of the pro-reform movement in January 2011 that the capital was free of pro-reform demonstrations on Friday.
Meanwhile, pro-reformers in the governorates continued their protest-drive, with dozens of leftist and independent activists leading marches in Salt, Karak, Maan and Tafileh.
Under the slogan “we will not give up on reform,” dozens of activists in the southern cities in Karak and Maan protested against recent decision to raise electricity tariffs and called for an end to corruption.
Friday’s demos also marked the absence of the Islamist movement, amidst signs that the Kingdom’s largest opposition force is withdrawing from the streets in preparations for wider participation in political life and upcoming parliamentary elections.
The Islamists’ lack of participation in Friday’s demos highlighted emerging divisions between Islamists and governorates-based popular movements, with youth and independent activists alleging that the Muslim Brotherhood has abandoned the pro-reform drive.
Islamist leaders denied any plans to abandon the pro-reform movement, attributing the Muslim Brotherhood’s lack of public events on Friday to “scheduling conflicts.”
“We will continue our participation in weekly protests until we arrive at our reform demands,” said Jamil Abu Baker, Muslim Brotherhood spokesman.
Jordan’s peaceful protest movement started as a small-scale demo against corruption in the town of Theeban in January 2011 and has since spread out to the outlying governorates along with the rise of so-called popular movements.
The pro-reform drive faces an uncertain future as it enters its second year, according to observers, with emerging divisions and rivalries among leftists, Islamists and governorate-based youth activists.
By Taylor Luck
