* Is the confrontation between the government and the so-called popular movements-a very loose term which supposedly incorporates opposition political parties, unions and professional associations among others-over bread subsidies turning nasty? A quick glance at the main headlines of the weekly press and the incoming faxes at The Star suggest that the confrontation is getting uglier and nastier, with allegations of a government crackdown on opponents.
We are waiting for the government to clarify its position, but while we stand by rational calls for more dialogue, we need to remind all players that since Parliament in now in session, it is better to write or call one's deputy to state one's position and hope that the democratic process will do the trick of bringing this extremely controversial topic back from the realm of the sensational into the scope of responsible debate.
On the other hand, the government should not appear to be slaughtering the sheep just to get its wool. As our politicians know only too well, there is more than one way to skin a cat. The bread issue must not be used by either party to achieve ulterior motives; i.e. the government must not lose sight of the fine line separating legitimate right of expression and pure trouble making. By the same token, the popular movement must not be allowed to abuse the feelings of citizens by turning the issue of bread into a source of sedition.
Prime Minister Abdel Karim Kabariti presented a good case for the removal of bread subsidies. But does that change the fact that his government will have to pay a high political price for removing them? One can hardly expect Jordanians to take to the streets in jubilation to celebrate the impending government decision. On the other hand, Mr Kabariti, himself a deputy, knows only too well that deputies and political parties cannot afford to sit idly by and do nothing while the government makes and takes decisions that affect people's lives.
What is needed now is more brinkmanship and less political posturing. Alas since we can't expect the popular movements to deal with the issue in a less sensational manner, our pleas will go to Mr Kabariti and his diplomatic experience.
The Lower House will be the lynch-pin as it prepares to discuss the bread issue with the government. Mr Kabariti has dealt with the deputies on many occasions and he might feel less comfortable wheeling and dealing with deputies under the dome than with popular movements outside it.
* As if political confusion is not enough to fill our plate, the disqualification this week of Jordan's Judo player Walid Al Awazem from participating in the Atlanta Olympic games shocked and amused many Jordanians. Al Awazem was forced to withdraw after he failed to show up on time for a mandatory weighing session.
Information is still sketchy but it seems the Jordanian player was not informed by Jordanian administrators and coaches about the time and location of the session. Sources tell us that this is not the first time Jordanian champions miss an Olympic event because of lack of coordination between them and their managers.
During the Los Angeles and Moscow Olympic games, managers and administrators were accused of going shopping while athletes scrambled to register themselves and locate places of events. Jordan was pinning some hopes on Al Awazem especially since our Tae Kwan Do team performed honorably in the Barcelona games. We suggest that once the deputies finish with the bread issue they should concentrate their efforts on finding what in God's name did our athletes and their managers do, other than sightseeing and shopping, while in Atlanta. They should be able to get a first hand report since Minister of Youth deputy Mohammad Dawoodieh has joined our team in Atlanta, no doubt, to give our players a dose of moral support!
* News that the General Prosecutor has filed a case against the editor of Shihan weekly, Mr Jihad Al Momani, and former deputy and controversial columnist Dr Ahmad Owiedi Al Abbadi on charges of harming national unity and publishing seditious material at the request of Jordanian lawyer Ahmad Habawal brings the issue of regionalism and bigotry to the courtrooms many months after it has been used and abused by the local press. The interesting part is that the General Prosecutor cited the General Penal Code and the Press and Publication Law in his indictment.
The prosecutor referred to an interview Shihan had published in June with Dr Abbadi in which he repeated an earlier call of his that the government should confiscate at least 51 percent of the property of Palestinians living in Jordan. Dr Abbadi repeatedly talked in his columns about his fear that "true" Jordanians were becoming a stateless and powerless minority in their own country. His definition of a true Jordanian goes like this: Any Arab or Muslim of Ottoman parents who normally resided in Jordan before 25 May 1946.
That definition excludes all Jordanian citizens who came from Palestine in 1948 and 1967, namely refugees and the displaced, and who today make up more than half of the population. Dr Abbadi's extremist views are not thought to have won many supporters or friends. His opponents include some well known East Bank Jordanians. The legal case, brought by Mr Habawal in his person as a citizen, should attract attention. If the case is not dismissed for some legal or technical reason, it promises to constitute a landmark in the Jordanian-Palestinian relationship. Worse still, if Dr Abbadi was acquitted then the so-called Jordanian Likud (ultra right individuals whose line of thinking converges occasionally with that of Dr Abbadi) will have a field day.
What makes the issue interesting is that Mr Habawal did not file a case against Shihan and its editors. But since the prosecutor has cited violations of the press law, the newspaper became involved. The irony is that Dr Abbadi's statements appeared in an interview with Shihan where the interviewer was openly hostile towards Dr Abbadi and his ideas. Does that count in Shihan's favor? May be.
But Shihan had allowed Dr Abbadi a weekly space for his ideas for many years before it finally decided to pull out the plug. Not to worry, Dr Abbadi soon found home in Al Hadath and Al Bilad.