NOURNEWS - In the last days of last week, several provinces in the south of Jordan witnessed massive public protests.
Although there is not much news about the ongoing protests in this country due to the severe censorship imposed on the mass media and the serious treatment of cyberspace activists, the death of the deputy police chief of one of the provinces involved in the protests shows that the dimensions of violence in these events were high.
These protests, which started last Wednesday following the re-increase in fuel prices by the government with the strike of road transport network drivers in this country, continued with other businesses and quickly turned into street demonstrations by connecting with the gatherings of different groups of people.
The government of Jordan has increased the price of fuel several times this year, which has caused a sudden increase in the price of goods and public services in this country.
After the Ukraine war and the formation of the international crisis in the field of food and energy, many countries that are directly dependent on energy imports have faced unprecedented economic problems.
The sudden increase in the price of fuel and energy is very fragile for a country like Jordan that imports more than 85% of its consumer goods and the main income of its people is provided through goods transit or foreign tourism.
Considering the continuation of the energy crisis and the coming of winter, which has faced even European countries with an unprecedented crisis of rising prices and massive public protests, the continuation of demonstrations and strikes by various trade unions in Jordan is not far from expected.
The very sharp reaction of King Abdullah II of Jordan to the protests of the past few days in this country shows that the ruling body is also very worried about the continuation of the protests.
At the funeral ceremony of the deputy chief of police of one of the southern provinces involved in the protests, who was killed by the protesters during the recent unrest, the king of Jordan preferred to show the protesters the iron fist of the government and clearly announced that the government will deal with the protesters who started take weapons and tamper with public property, he will deal decisively and will not leave insults and attacks on the security forces unanswered.
The price of fuel, especially diesel, which is generally used by trucks and buses, as well as kerosene, which is the main fuel for heating in Jordan, has almost doubled this year, and for a country with a small and unproductive economy and dependent on foreign aid and investment, it is possible Managing the created situation is very difficult.
It seems unlikely that the western and Arab allies of this country, all of whom have been affected in some way by the recent energy crisis, will be able or willing to provide significant help to this country to overcome the crisis.
In the coming days, it will be clear that the country that did not engage in violence during the Islamic Awakening protests, can now overcome the protests that started with bloody conflicts or should prepare itself to face the political consequences of the social and economic realities of this country.
BY: Mohammad Ghaderi
NOURNEWS