The Al-Kandarah police station in Jeddah has launched an investigation into the cases of 20 expatriates of Ethiopian and Pakistani descent who were arrested for instigating the riots that recently took place in Jeddah….
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UNACCEPTABLE: Rioters block Jeddah’s Sitteen Street on Thursday morning. (AN photo) JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS
The riots, which led to the closure of Al-Sitteen Street in Jeddah, started when several illegal expatriates took to the streets with staffs and sticks, obstructing traffic and vandalizing cars.
The rioters have been charged with violating the Kingdom’s laws, which prohibit gathering without prior government permission. The illegal expatriates were also arrested for possession of sharp objects and assaulting citizens and residents.
Investigations are set to take place prior to the transfer of their files to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
Ethiopians residing in Jeddah, meanwhile, denounced the conduct of their fellow nationals who violated the Kingdom’s labor laws, characterizing their behavior as unacceptable.
“The Kingdom has hosted them and their families and has allowed them to live with dignity; their behavior is intolerable. The Kingdom has the right to regulate its labor market and to maintain its security just like any other country,” said Yousif Bajazi, an Ethiopian expatriate living in Jeddah.
Mousa Dardeir, another Ethiopian expatriate, said: “The Kingdom gave expatriates sufficient time to correct their status so they should have taken advantage of the amnesty period. This is no way to react to their situation.”
Reporters from the local media met with some of the arrested rioters who expressed their regret.
Mohammed Hassan, one of the expatriates who was arrested for his involvement in the riots, said he took to the streets thinking it would accelerate his repatriation home.
Hassan called on members of his community to respect the Kingdom’s laws and not get carried away with the behavior of other lawless individuals.
“I saw some expatriates carrying sticks and standing in the streets and they told me this would speed up their return home, so I joined them. I didn’t realize the situation would deteriorate to that level. I have made matters worse for myself now,” said Ishtiyaq Hussein, another arrested expatriate.
The Northern Province police station said 75 rioters have been referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution. The demonstrations in Al-Azeziyah damaged 14 vehicles and caused numerous injuries
.Police in Ethiopia have arrested dozens of people outside the Saudi embassy in the capital Addis Ababa in a crackdown on demonstrators protesting against targeted attacks on Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia.
Police units blocked roads on Friday to prevent the protest at the embassy from growing and forced some journalists to delete photos.
“The police came and they beat us… and now more than 100 people are at the police station.
Getaneh Balcha, Blue Party
One protester, Asfaw Michael, who was beaten, said he did not understand why Ethiopia wanted to shield Saudi Arabia from the protest.
According to the Ethiopian government, three Ethiopians were killed last week in Saudi Arabia in clashes with police. Saudi authorities are in the process of repatriating at least 23,000 illegal immigrants from Ethiopia.
“The police came and they beat us…and now more than 100 people are at the police station,” said Getaneh Balcha, a senior member of the opposition Blue Party movement, adding the party chairman and vice chairman were among those held.
The government said protesters did not have a permit to demonstrate and confirmed that arrests had been made, but did not say how many.
“It was an illegal demonstration, they had not got a permit from the appropriate office,” Shimeles Kemal, a government spokesman, told the AFP news agency, adding charges could be brought against the organisers.
“They were fomenting anti-Arab sentiments here among Ethiopians … the demonstration itself was illicit, so the police took measures and apprehended some,” he said.
Many foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are fleeing or are under arrest amid a crackdown on the kingdom’s nine million migrant labourers. Close to 500 Ethiopians have been repatriated.
Last weekend, Saudi residents fought with Ethiopians and a video emerged of a crowd dragging an Ethiopian from his house and beating him.
The security sweep in Saudi Arabia comes after seven months of warnings by the government, which has created a task force of 1,200 Labour Ministry officials who are combing shops, construction sites, restaurants and businesses in search of foreign workers employed without proper permits.
More than 16,000 people have already been rounded up, according to authorities
Eritrean opposition groups and Eritrea observers are reporting that it has been close to a month since the president of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki.,
has been seen in public, fueling speculations once again that he is either terribly sick or incapacitated. Eritrean officials are not willing to confirm or deny the reports. In a photo that was released several months ago, Isaias looked sick and frail. Ethiopian Review sources have reported previously that Isaias Afwerki has told close confidants he will step down in 2014. His son, Abraham (shown in the photo below), is said to be among the likely successors. Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Eritrean opposition groups and Eritrea observers are reporting that it has been close to a month since the president of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki.,
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. has been seen in public, fueling speculations once again that he is either terribly sick or incapacitated. Eritrean officials are not willing to confirm or deny the reports. In a photo that was released several months ago, Isaias looked sick and frail. Ethiopian Review sources have reported previously that Isaias Afwerki has told close confidants he will step down in 2014. His son, Abraham (shown in the photo below), is said to be among the likely successors.
Image may be NSFW.
