Jordanian students vowed yesterday to press on with their sit-in protest in central Amman to demand reforms, undeterred by a stone attack they blamed on government supporters.
“They are trying to push us to leave,” said Saddam Basrawi, a 21-year-old university student. “Last night, they attacked us with stones, but we will endure and we will not budge, no matter what happens.”
About 500 youths from different movements, including the powerful Islamist opposition, had camped out in the rain and cold weather to call for reforms to the current regime, and more efforts to fight corruption.
They staged their demonstration next to the Interior Circle, or Gamal Abdel Nasser Square, in the capital.
“Our gathering is peaceful, but this did not prevent the attacks. Does the king [Abdullah II] agree with such actions? We are Jordanians and we have the right to express ourselves,” Reda Darwish, 20, said. “If they think that the attack will force us to go home, they are wrong. Attacks will only make us stronger and determined to stay here.”
At nightfall on Thursday, police attempted to disperse the youths, cutting off electricity to the square at about 11pm.
Protesters said about 50 “loyalists” attacked them with rocks after the power supply was lost, saying police who surrounded the scene did not intervene.
“We hold the interior minister responsible for this incident and we call on the king and the people to protect us from these thugs who are attacking us,” said Nihad Zuhair, another protester.
Police spokesman Mohamad Khatib said he was not aware of any casualties.
The protest camp came in response to a call on the social network site Facebook, a tool of many of the recent protests that have sprung up in Arab countries.
The students called for corrupt officials to be put on trial and demanded security services stop interfering in their affairs.
“The revolution is happening all around us,” they shouted. “Jordan, your turn is coming.”
“We want constitutional amendments to have parliamentary governments,” said Alaa Fazaa of the Jayeen [We Are Coming] group, adding the protests would go on until their demands were met.
Since January, left-wing activists have joined forces with nationalists and the Islamist opposition in calling for far-reaching political reforms and an end to what they say is rampant corruption.
The Islamist movement was planning a demonstration after midday prayers yesterday to push for reforms and mark the 43rd anniversary of the Battle of Karameh with Israel.
The government has formed a national dialogue committee to speed up reforms, but the panel is facing problems after the Islamists and other opposition groups refused to take part.
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