Jordan premier announces fuel price rises
Jordan’s prime minister announced price hikes for petrol and other fuel, setting off demonstrations and calls for general strikes.
Protesters blamed Jordan’s problems on King Abdullah II, who has the final say in all civic matters. They also demanded the resignation of the prime minister, a top aide of the king.
Premier Abdullah Ensour’s announcement on state TV cited a need to offset five billion US dollars in state losses from a rising fuel bill.
The news sparked protests in the capital, Amman, and at least 12 other cities across Jordan.
“Revolution, revolution, it is a popular revolution,” chanted about 2,000 protesters in an impromptu demonstration at a main Amman square, housing the Interior Ministry and other vital government departments.
The protesters – affiliated with Muslim, Arab nationalist, Marxist, Communist and youth opposition groups – also targeted Abdullah in a rare public display against the monarch.
Criticising the king in public is forbidden in Jordan and is punishable by up to three years in jail.
“Freedom is from God, in spite of you, Abdullah,” they shouted.
Hours later, about two dozen protesters tried to take down a street portrait of the king hung on a billboard, but riot police encircled it, preventing the protesters from reaching it.
Cars jammed petrol stations to stock up on fuel before the price hike takes effect.
Mr Ensour said a type of fuel used in public transport will rise in price by 14%, while kerosene oil used for household heating goes up by 28%.
Cooking gas will jump 54%, he said. Many low-income Jordanians use the gas for heating.
