NEWS: Saudis Urged to Protest For Regime Change, page 1

posted on Dec, 15 2004 @ 02:53 PM

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A London based exile group is attempting to plan demonstrations within Saudi Arabia demanding regime change. The group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), has organized demonstrations in Saudi Arabia in the past. Saudi Arabia has strict laws against such demonstrations. There are some fears that terrorists attacks may be timed to coincide with the demonstrations.

www.middle-east-online.com
DUBAI - A Saudi Islamist dissident group has called for demonstrations in Riyadh and the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Thursday in support of a regime change in the conservative kingdom.

"We are expecting at least tens of thousands of participants, and the mobilisation by the regime of its anti-riot forces, special forces and national guard," Saad al-Faqih of the London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA) said.

Faqih's estimation of "tens of thousands" of protestors, however, appeared unrealistic considering the strict laws of Saudi Arabia, which outlaws any political demonstration.

But MIRA has succeeded in organising past demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, with several hundred people taking to the streets of several cities on October 14, 2003 to call for reforms.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

A popular uprising may be in the planning stages in Saudi Arabia. Many groups, including Al Qaeda, have called for the removal of the Saudi royalty. It is unclear if the group organizing tomorrows planned demonstrations is a pro democracy group, or an Islamic fundamentalist group.

Rumors have been flying on the internet in Islamic forums that tomorrow may actually be a day when another terror strike is planned for in Saudi Arabia. Either way, we should keep a close eye on the Kingdom tomorrow.

Related News Links:
www.trackingterrorism.com
www.homelandsecurityus.com

SwedishMeatball

posted on Dec, 15 2004 @ 08:33 PM

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This is not good at all. It is obvious that if the Al Saud regime is ended, then it is very likely that it will cause a terrible backlash against the United States. Currently, the Saudis enjoy a relationship with the United States, unlike any other nation in the world, but who knows what would happen if another group takes power? This would definately mean that the Saudi Arabia would be a much safer haven for terrorists, and this would likely drastically increase the number of terrorist attacks. If MIRA gets its way than bad news is surely to follow.

JoeDoaks

posted on Dec, 15 2004 @ 08:57 PM

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Don't hold your breath for any breakthroughs in Saudi-land or anywhere else in the Muslim world. It is contrary to the religio-political nature of the peoples. Without a 'strongman' or in-place group no uprising is going to happen there. From the time of the Prophet until now only religious based power groups have seized power in that area of the world except possibly for the Mamalukes and Young Turks.*

Saudi Arabia is a dictatorship, just the kind of country the U.S. likes to do business with. America will help destabilize any opposition. I have serious doubts that MIRA or any other group is a true opposition group.

The Saudi royal family is small and maintains power through repression and bribery. From the founding of Saudi Arabia (1902) until the present

Hereditary rule, called royal (as if this matters), maintains a lockhold on the country. Even with repressive laws, such as

CIA factbook
death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, coc aine, and hashish; not a major money-laundering center, improving anti-money-laundering legislation

Saudi Arabia is an arcane society of a rich and privileged minority that relies on mercenary armed forces to maintain power. Without a nationalistic movement no meaningful change will occur and all else is mere posturing.
*

little mamluke history
1260-
Battle of Ayn Jalut- Hulugau & the Mongol horde are turned back from Egypt by the Mamaluke army of Sultan Baibars. The Mongols had ridden since China and ravaged Bagdhad,Moscow and the Holyland.The Mamelukes were originally a elite guard of slaves handpicked as children to be brought up as fanatical fighting machines. They eventually seized power in Egypt and ran things until Napoleon's invasion in 1798.
When emmissaries from the Caliph of Bagdhad asked the Mameluke sultan who was his family and by what right did he rule the Sultan shook his scimitar in their faces and declared "This is by what right I rule!' and throwing some gold coins on the floor and watching the slaves and eunuchs scamper for them "And That is my family!!'

brief on Young turks
The Young Turks was the name given to a group of army officers who favoured reforming the administration of the Ottoman Empire. In 1908 the group rebelled against the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid.

phreak_of_nature

posted on Dec, 16 2004 @ 10:47 AM

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I find it interesting that today's audio tape release from Osama bin Laden is also calling for the overthrow of the Saudi Royalty. Apparently OBL and MIRA have similar goals.

But I would agree with those who have said that MIRA will not have much of an influence in Saudi Arabia, and little success in overthrowing the regime.

[edit on 12/16/2004 by phreak_of_nature]

Gazrok

posted on Dec, 16 2004 @ 10:56 AM

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Osama's long had it in for the Saudi royals... Oddly enough though, one of his key criticisms (them allowing US troops to base there), is no longer a point...

SIRR1

posted on Dec, 16 2004 @ 11:00 AM

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I posted this story Tuesday on ATS 12/14/04
www.abovetopsecret.com...

phreak_of_nature

posted on Dec, 16 2004 @ 11:05 AM

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Saudi Security forces met and dispearsed protestors in both Riyadh and Jeddah. The appeared at the planned locations for the protests and have arrested at least 6 protestors. The rest of those who should up, quickly left. Security forces have remained in place to deter protestors from regrouping.

appnews.myway.com

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Police chased would-be protesters through the streets of a port city and arrested others in the Saudi capital, responding with overwhelming force Thursday to calls from an exiled dissident for demonstrations against the Saudi royal family.

There were reports of scores of arrests in Jiddah and Riyadh but officials refused to confirm or deny those reports, saying a statement would be released soon.

London-based dissident Saad al-Fagih, head of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, had called via his TV and radio stations and on his Web site for simultaneous anti-monarchy protests in Riyadh and the eastern seaport of Jiddah. Al-Fagih could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

The group failed to pull off protests last month. Last year, al-Fagih's group mobilized only about 100 protesters in Riyadh and similar numbers in Jiddah, Dammam and Hail, partly because large numbers of security forces waited at the demonstration venues, as they did Thursday. Police fired tear gas to break up last year's demonstrations and arrested scores of protesters.

In Jiddah Thursday, at least six people were seen being arrested and dozens in small groups were seen running from police. At one point, a volley of gunshots could be heard in an area were protesters were trying to gather. It was not immediately clear what happened.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

MIRA has been unsuccessful in organizing protests in Saudi Arabia. They have tried several times, however Saudi Security has stopped them every time. Perhaps it's because they have posted the intricate details of the planned protests on the internet where Saudi officials have as much access to the plans as the public.

FlyersFan

posted on Dec, 16 2004 @ 01:29 PM

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The Saudi Royals are all dead men walking. They have
appeased the Wahabbis terrorists while stepping on the
'commoners' of Saudi Arabia.

When the day comes, I sure hope those Royals
(that manage to stay alive and escape) don't all
flock to this country looking for protection. They
made the mess that Saudi Arabia is. They should
have to stay in it.

FredT

posted on Dec, 16 2004 @ 01:36 PM

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Very few people realize how precarious the House of Saud's grip on power truly is, nor do they grasp the potential consequences of thier overthrow. the U.S. and the west has made thier bed with Ibn Saud and his progeny and have no choice but to sleep in it. If The wahhabis gain controll, you have 2 of the top 3 oil reserves in the controll of extreemists who are openly hostile to the United States. That is why Iraq is strategicaly so important. If the Saudis fall, (in addition to the name change of the country, it was afterall named after Saud ie Saudi) it will be very hard to get oil out of the gulf. However, it can be transport by a pipeline through Turkey to the Caspian.