Green Energy
Newsmax:
Hundreds Back Facebook Call for Saudi 'Day of Rage'
Wednesday, 23 Feb 2011
DUBAI — Hundreds of people are backing a Facebook campaign calling for a "day of rage" across Saudi Arabia next month to demand an elected ruler, greater freedom for women, and release of political prisoners.
The page calls for a "revolution of yearning" on March 11 in the kingdom, which an absolute monarchy rules and is the world's biggest oil exporter.
More than 460 people had endorsed the page by Wednesday morning, but it was impossible to verify how many of them were inside Saudi Arabia or whether any protest would materialise.
Arab uprisings which overthrew leaders in Tunisia and Egypt were mobilised by youths using social media, but activists in Saudi Arabia say a recent Internet call for a demonstration in Riyadh failed to bring anyone onto the streets.
A protest last month in Jeddah after floods swept through Saudi Arabia's second-biggest city was quickly broken up.
The demands included "that the ruler and members of the Shura (Consultative) Council be elected by the people" as well as calls for an independent judiciary, release of political prisoners and the right of freedom of expression and assembly.
They also sought a minimum wage of 10,000 riyals ($2,700), greater employment opportunities, establishing a watchdog to eliminate corruption, and cancellation of "unjustified taxes and fees".
Other requests included rebuilding the armed forces, reforming Saudi Arabia's powerful and conservative Sunni Muslim clerics, and "the abolition of all illegal restrictions on women" in the kingdom.
Despite Saudi Arabia's oil wealth, it is grappling with unemployment that hit 10.5 percent in 2009. It offers its 18 million nationals social benefits, but they are considered less generous than those provided by other Gulf Arab oil producers.
Saudi state television said King Abdullah, returning home on Wednesday after months of absence for medical treatment, would grant benefits to Saudis worth billions of riyals.
The measures did not include political reforms in the absolute monarchy such as fresh municipal elections demanded by liberals or opposition groups. The kingdom has no elected parliament and does not tolerate public dissent.
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Washington Post: Report: Saudi police open fire at protest, says witness By SARAH EL DEEB The Associated Press Thursday, March 10, 2011; 2:49 PM CAIRO -- Saudi police opened fire Thursday to disperse a protest in the mainly Shiite east, leaving at least...
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Guardian: Saudi expectations high before Friday's 'day of rage' protests Shia minority have defied ban on demonstrations for two days and are optimistic that change can be effected Al-Qatif in Saudi Arabia's eastern province has a harsh...
-
Bloomberg: Saudi Government Says Demonstrations, Marches Prohibited by Kingdom's Laws By Glen Carey - Mar 5, 2011 10:53 AM ET Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said that demonstrations, marches and sit-ins are “strictly” prohibited under the...
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Saudi activists eye protests, wait for new cabinet JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Democracy activists in Saudi Arabia say the government is closely monitoring social media to nip in the bud any protests inspired by uprisings that swept Arab countries,...
- And Away We Go….pro-reform Saudi Activists Launch Political Party
If these guys last a month, the Al Saud are either dead or exiled within a year. I’m CERTAIN we can all imagine the likelihood of just what will replace these freaks.GINSTU WIELDING QURAN SHRIEKING ZARQAWIS AND KSM’S ON CRACK(Reuters) - Saudi Islamists...
Green Energy
Newsmax:
Hundreds Back Facebook Call for Saudi 'Day of Rage'
Wednesday, 23 Feb 2011
DUBAI — Hundreds of people are backing a Facebook campaign calling for a "day of rage" across Saudi Arabia next month to demand an elected ruler, greater freedom for women, and release of political prisoners.
The page calls for a "revolution of yearning" on March 11 in the kingdom, which an absolute monarchy rules and is the world's biggest oil exporter.
More than 460 people had endorsed the page by Wednesday morning, but it was impossible to verify how many of them were inside Saudi Arabia or whether any protest would materialise.
Arab uprisings which overthrew leaders in Tunisia and Egypt were mobilised by youths using social media, but activists in Saudi Arabia say a recent Internet call for a demonstration in Riyadh failed to bring anyone onto the streets.
A protest last month in Jeddah after floods swept through Saudi Arabia's second-biggest city was quickly broken up.
The demands included "that the ruler and members of the Shura (Consultative) Council be elected by the people" as well as calls for an independent judiciary, release of political prisoners and the right of freedom of expression and assembly.
They also sought a minimum wage of 10,000 riyals ($2,700), greater employment opportunities, establishing a watchdog to eliminate corruption, and cancellation of "unjustified taxes and fees".
Other requests included rebuilding the armed forces, reforming Saudi Arabia's powerful and conservative Sunni Muslim clerics, and "the abolition of all illegal restrictions on women" in the kingdom.
Despite Saudi Arabia's oil wealth, it is grappling with unemployment that hit 10.5 percent in 2009. It offers its 18 million nationals social benefits, but they are considered less generous than those provided by other Gulf Arab oil producers.
Saudi state television said King Abdullah, returning home on Wednesday after months of absence for medical treatment, would grant benefits to Saudis worth billions of riyals.
The measures did not include political reforms in the absolute monarchy such as fresh municipal elections demanded by liberals or opposition groups. The kingdom has no elected parliament and does not tolerate public dissent.
-
Washington Post: Report: Saudi police open fire at protest, says witness By SARAH EL DEEB The Associated Press Thursday, March 10, 2011; 2:49 PM CAIRO -- Saudi police opened fire Thursday to disperse a protest in the mainly Shiite east, leaving at least...
-
Guardian: Saudi expectations high before Friday's 'day of rage' protests Shia minority have defied ban on demonstrations for two days and are optimistic that change can be effected Al-Qatif in Saudi Arabia's eastern province has a harsh...
-
Bloomberg: Saudi Government Says Demonstrations, Marches Prohibited by Kingdom's Laws By Glen Carey - Mar 5, 2011 10:53 AM ET Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said that demonstrations, marches and sit-ins are “strictly” prohibited under the...
-
Saudi activists eye protests, wait for new cabinet JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Democracy activists in Saudi Arabia say the government is closely monitoring social media to nip in the bud any protests inspired by uprisings that swept Arab countries,...
- And Away We Go….pro-reform Saudi Activists Launch Political Party
If these guys last a month, the Al Saud are either dead or exiled within a year. I’m CERTAIN we can all imagine the likelihood of just what will replace these freaks.GINSTU WIELDING QURAN SHRIEKING ZARQAWIS AND KSM’S ON CRACK(Reuters) - Saudi Islamists...