The Tunisia Effect - Continuing Coverage of the Revolutions of 2011

[Tee Kay]

Oman...

Oman shuffles cabinet amid protests

A raft of minor reforms have been floated "in the public's interest" by the sultan of Oman, as protesters stopped traffic and broke street lights in the country's largest industrial city.

A crowd of 500 protesters, demanding democracy and jobs, gathered on Saturday outside a shopping mall in the city of Sohar, barricading vehicles and shoppers.

"It has been going on for hours now,' said resident Mohammed Sumri.

"They are at the Globe roundabout blocking traffic."

Though protests are rare in the country on the south-eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula, the police did not intervene, witnesses said.

Decree

Oman's ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, issued a decree announcing a raise in stipends for university students - which will reportedly be boosted by between US$65 and US$234 a month - in order to "achieve further development and provide a decent living", said the state-run Oman News Agency.

A cabinet reshuffle has also seen the replacement of six ministers - though long-serving ministers were not affected.

In addition, Sultan Qaboos announced the creation of a consumer protection bureau and said he was looking into opening cooperatives in the 2.8million-strong country - an absolute monarchy where poltical parties are banned.

"We want democracy," shouted crowds in Sohar. "We want the Shura council to have legislative powers. We want corrupt ministers to go - we want jobs," they chanted.

 

[aronnax]

Meanwhile in Tunisia

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12588004

Three people have been killed in clashes between hundreds of demonstrators and security forces in the Tunisian capital, authorities say.

Police used tear gas, batons and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators outside the interior ministry in Tunis.

Police and masked men in civilian clothes, armed with sticks, moved through streets looking for protesters.

The protest comes a day after police cleared huge crowds from the streets demanding the prime minister resign.

That was the biggest rally since President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled after weeks of unrest.

The fighting went on for several hours on Saturday, as protesters tried to storm the interior ministry, right in the centre of Tunis, and police repeatedly repelled their attacks, says the BBC's Paul Moss in Tunis.

I'm now not sure whether or not I should support the Interim government or the Protesters. I know the Tunisians want all elements of Ben Ali's administration out but they need some form of transitional government till the elections!

 

[Oishi]

How big is the actual support for the Saudi monarchy outside of the monarchy?

When I worked in Bahrain the Saudis came across the causeway to drink etc.

I occasionally had a drink with a son of a Saudi brigadier based in Eastern Province.

Maybe I saw just a side of the coin, but it's peaceful on the other side of the causeway. Sure, they don't shout "Hail, Kaiser!" whenever the king gives a speech, but I take it you've never been there.

Even I go to Bahrain to taste a little bit of freedom, but once people drink the elixir of freedom (or semi freedom, in Bahrain's case), they became addicted to it. And in just a blink of an eye, other forms of government seems more evil, riots pop up everywhere like mushrooms, and the next thing you know, it's anarchy. Saudi Arabia will never be an open country (or semi open).

I think that deep down, many are still loyal to the royal family. There wouldn't be Yukon XL, Suburban, Lexus, and Chevrolet on the streets if it weren't for their virtuous rulers (sugar coated, nvm). The best part is that there are no taxes levied on the people, even expatriates.

 

[Silurian]

Maybe I saw just a side of the coin, but it's peaceful on the other side of the causeway. Sure, they don't shout "Hail, Kaiser!" whenever the king gives a speech, but I take it you've never been there.

Even I go to Bahrain to taste a little bit of freedom, but once people drink the elixir of freedom (or semi freedom, in Bahrain's case), they became addicted to it. And in just a blink of an eye, other forms of government seems more evil, riots pop up everywhere like mushrooms, and the next thing you know, it's anarchy. Saudi Arabia will never be an open country (or semi open).

I think that deep down, many are still loyal to the royal family. There wouldn't be Yukon XL, Suburban, Lexus, and Chevrolet on the streets if it weren't for their virtuous rulers (sugar coated, nvm). The best part is that there are no taxes levied on the people, even expatriates.

Yes I never crossed the causeway to Saudi.

The Bahrainis are also still loyal to al-Khalifa they just want a more democratic country.

Obviously you know more about the current situation in Saudi than me but how will the people react if Bahrain and other neighbouring countries become more democratic. How will the majority Shiites in the Eastern province react, will they start to disrupt oil production.

 

[Oishi]

How will the majority Shiites in the Eastern province react, will they start to disrupt oil production.

I don't think they would. Many educated Shiites work in Saudi Aramco albeit being discriminated in payment and services. If the remainder of the Shiites decide to disrupt oil production then they should be wary to close the holes first before blowing up an drilling rig or an offshore platform, or the whole Ghawar/Safaniya Oil Field would explode.

IMO, Saudi Arabia would still be conservative. Expats who are not Muslims were not allowed to enter Mecca and Medina. Unlike Christianity's holy city, Mecca and Medina did not fall to another non-Islamic empire.

side rants: If only Abraha of the Kingdom of Axum captured Mecca, then probably there would be no Islam. If only the 12 apostles ventured to this place, then Muhammad probably became on of the greatest Christian theologians.

 

[aronnax]

Tunisian interim PM Ghannouchi resigns over protests

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12591445

Tunisian interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has announced on state TV that he is resigning - a key demand of demonstrators.

He was speaking at a news conference in Tunis, after making a lengthy speech defending his record in government.

Mr Ghannouchi is seen as being too close to former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who was toppled in an uprising last month.

Mr Ghannouchi had served under Mr Ben Ali since 1999.

On Friday and Saturday, anti-government protesters held huge rallies calling for Mr Ghannouchi's resignation.

At least three people were killed in clashes between hundreds of demonstrators and security forces in Tunis on Saturday.

Tunisia's government had insisted it was introducing reforms as fast as it could, and that they were planning to hold elections by next July.

But thoses promises did not seem to satisfy the protesters, correspondents say.

BUT the Protesters are still unhappy!!! GGRRRR!!!

-----------

Qatar, the UAE and Lebanon now battle it out for "Most Stable Arab State" title.

 

[Leoreth]

Lebanon? Seriously?

 

[Marla_Singer]

Nicolas Sarkozy just adressed to French people on TV. His speech was exclusively dedicated to Arab revolutions.

He told he heard the call from the Arab people for a right to democracy and free speech, and a reject of any autocratic regime no matter its nature (including fundamentalist). He told France also has to answer to that call in its diplomatic relationship with the region. As a result, he decided to change the French government so that the country could move more positively. This included a resignation of the contested minister of foreign affairs and also the minister of the interior.

The new minister of foreign affairs, Alain Juppé, is a former prime minister of Jacques Chirac. He's known for his strong professionalism in diplomatic matters.

I think this is a great move. I'm far from being a fan of our current president and I still wish him out for next election in 2012, but he told exactly what I hoped France would say on the topic. I'm very happy this evening.

 

[Tee Kay]

Lebanon? Seriously?

I know.

The world's gone all topsy-turvy.

Meanwhile the Libyan opposition has officially formed a rival government in Benghazi. Link.

 

[aronnax]

I know.

The world's gone all topsy-turvy.

Meanwhile the Libyan opposition has officially formed a rival government in Benghazi. Link.

I suppose protests and riots are like volcanoes.

Keep erupting, and its not that strong.

Hold it for 24 or 30 years and you get a nationwide revolution.
Hold it for 42, and you descend into Civil War.

Hold it for 2000 years and you get Israel.

 

[Dachs]

We could give Abdullah II the throne of Hejaz after he's overthrown in Jordan.

Robbing Yusuf to pay Yazid?

 

[Tee Kay]

Yusuf is not married to Queen Rania.

 

[Racsoviale]

After having heard a bit about this queen Rania I looked her up on wikipedia, and damn Abdullah you are one smooth cat

 

[Tee Kay]

Heh.

An aircraft was shot down this morning while it was firing on the local radio station. Protesters captured its crew," Reuters reported, citing a witness, Mohamed.

From Al Jazeera English blog

 

[Silurian]

Iran has arrested and put in prison opposition presidential candidates

 

[Formaldehyde]

Didn't they just have an election?

 

[Silurian]

from AFP

TEHRAN — Iranian security forces have shifted opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi to an unknown location from his Tehran residence where he was being held under house arrest, his website Sahamnews.org said Monday.

Prosecutor general Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei confirmed "restrictions" had been imposed on Karroubi and fellow opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, in the first such acknowledgement.

Sahamnews.org said the cleric and his wife were shifted from their home late Thursday, and that the transfer was witnessed by a neighbour.

The BBC have said they are in a military prison in Tehran

 

[Formaldehyde]

Oh them. Not a huge surprise. They have been under house arrest for weeks on charges of inciting people to riot.

 

[Tee Kay]

Oman: protests peaceful, for now

Protesters rallied in Oman on Friday, demanding political reforms and more jobs. Rival demonstrations were also held in support of the country's ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The anti-government sentiment in Oman differs from the rest of the region’s turmoil in two major ways – there has been much less violence and much more support for the country's leader.

Egypt: too good to last?

Around 1,500 protesters have stormed Alexandria's state security headquarters after earlier clashes with police, gaining control of its lower floors and driving police officers to hide in the upper floors of the building, witnesses and protesters told Al Jazeera.

Hundreds of the protesters stormed the building on Friday night, after petrol bombs and gunfire were reported as emanating from within the building.

Bahrain: sectarian division flares

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have gathered in Bahrain, as protests in the Gulf nation continue for almost three weeks.

Crowds gathered at Manama's Pearl Roundabout, the epicentre of the protest movement, on Friday, where Al Jazeera's Online producer, Gregg Carlstrom, reported "tens of thousands" had marched.

At the same time, protesters rallied outside the headquarters of Bahrain's state television building in Madinat Isa, 15km south of the capital.

Friday's demonstrations, both calling for political reforms, came a day after sectarian clashes between members of the country's Sunni and Shia communities.

 

[Verbose]

Egypt: too good to last?

Well, it was the police and state security they went after, not the military in charge. It could perhaps be construed as mopping up operations?

In other news, Egypt got a new Prime Minister, Essam Sharraf, who joined the protests early and apparently has some street cred as a result. Also a public referendum about a (first) round of changes to the Egyptian constitution has now been scheduled to 19 March by the military authorities.