09/14/2005
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Another day of terror. Among the victims, even though it hasn’t been officially confirmed, appears to
be Zaid al-Samari, one of the 36 being hunted by the Saudi authorities and whose
name appeared on a list made public some months ago. This list is in addition
to one that was released in May 2003, when four suicide bombers blew up three
western residential complexes in the capital Riyadh, causing the death of 35 people
and wounding another 200. From that moment a war between agents of the Saudi special
corps and militants from orthodox groups of the country began. With the victims
from yesterday, an almost daily occurrence that has gone on for two years, there
are at least 140 victims of both civilians and police and more than a 100 militia
killed. The fact that all the militia that appeared on the first most-wanted list
have been arrested or killed demonstrates that the government in Riyadh has used
a heavy hand against fundamentalism in the country. But the fact that after two
years another list has been released demonstrates the problem of armed integrationalism
in Saudi Arabia hasn’t been resolved.
On the edge of the volcano. “Since the debut of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, the centre of threats made
by groups was Saudi Arabia. The aim to overthrow the Saudi dynasty and impose
an Islamic republic in Saudi Arabia has never been abandoned, therefore the episode
in Damman isn’t a surprise it’s only the last in a long series.” Comments from
Mario Scialoja, head of the World Muslim League in Italy and ex Italian Ambassador
in Riyadh, on the battle between the special corps and fundamentalist of the last
few days. It is certainly the capacity of the Saudi forces that makes Scialoja
optimistic about the final outcome of the actions of the Persian Gulf monarchy.
“I still remember the military exercises which I took part in as an Italian diplomatic
representative in Riyadh, “ recounts the ex ambassador, “they were real demonstrations
of force. What’s more, it’s a very big country, Saudi Arabia is very easily controlled
because the large cities are modern and don’t have places to hide in like the
medieval cities of other middle eastern countries. For some time the security
apparatus has worked in a commendable way against those that want to destabilise
the country, because now terrorism isn’t only looking to the West but also to
moderate Arabic countries. Saudi Arabia is as much as a victim of terrorism as
are Great Britain, the United States and Spain.”
The future of Saudi Arabia. Some months ago King Fahd died. For sometime power was in the hands of Prince
Abdallah, the Prince Regent, brother of the dead monarch. Now the throne is officially
in the hands of Abdallah. According to you he is one of the people that best knows
Saudi Arabia, could this cause internal tremors within the royal family that could
then lead to the reinforcement of terrorism? “Absolutely no,” responds Scialoja,
“Abdallah had been nominated the Prince Regent for some time, according to a mechanism
that was introduced at the time that Saudi Arabia was founded. Since taking the
reins of the country Abdallah has taken notice of the signs that Saudi society
has sent and has put life into a various new openings. For example, women can
now work in the Ministries, and in the first time in its history, there have been
local administrative elections. In the future there is talk of the possible election
of a National Assembly and votes for women. The country has started to change
even if it is slow. I believe that as long as the sons of Abdelaziz are alive,
the founder of Saudi Arabia, these rules will be respected. There will be a need
to see what happens when his great grandsons, the third generation, get into power.
But personally I believe that nothing will happen, because the royal family, in
difficult times, has always known what’s best.” And this is a difficult time for
Saudi Arabia, which, in two years has seen 240 people die on its streets.
printsend
An interview with Mario Scialoja, of the World Muslim League in Italy
Another day of terror. Among the victims, even though it hasn’t been officially confirmed, appears to
be Zaid al-Samari, one of the 36 being hunted by the Saudi authorities and whose
name appeared on a list made public some months ago. This list is in addition
to one that was released in May 2003, when four suicide bombers blew up three
western residential complexes in the capital Riyadh, causing the death of 35 people
and wounding another 200. From that moment a war between agents of the Saudi special
corps and militants from orthodox groups of the country began. With the victims
from yesterday, an almost daily occurrence that has gone on for two years, there
are at least 140 victims of both civilians and police and more than a 100 militia
killed. The fact that all the militia that appeared on the first most-wanted list
have been arrested or killed demonstrates that the government in Riyadh has used
a heavy hand against fundamentalism in the country. But the fact that after two
years another list has been released demonstrates the problem of armed integrationalism
in Saudi Arabia hasn’t been resolved.
On the edge of the volcano. “Since the debut of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, the centre of threats made
by groups was Saudi Arabia. The aim to overthrow the Saudi dynasty and impose
an Islamic republic in Saudi Arabia has never been abandoned, therefore the episode
in Damman isn’t a surprise it’s only the last in a long series.” Comments from
Mario Scialoja, head of the World Muslim League in Italy and ex Italian Ambassador
in Riyadh, on the battle between the special corps and fundamentalist of the last
few days. It is certainly the capacity of the Saudi forces that makes Scialoja
optimistic about the final outcome of the actions of the Persian Gulf monarchy.
“I still remember the military exercises which I took part in as an Italian diplomatic
representative in Riyadh, “ recounts the ex ambassador, “they were real demonstrations
of force. What’s more, it’s a very big country, Saudi Arabia is very easily controlled
because the large cities are modern and don’t have places to hide in like the
medieval cities of other middle eastern countries. For some time the security
apparatus has worked in a commendable way against those that want to destabilise
the country, because now terrorism isn’t only looking to the West but also to
moderate Arabic countries. Saudi Arabia is as much as a victim of terrorism as
are Great Britain, the United States and Spain.”The future of Saudi Arabia. Some months ago King Fahd died. For sometime power was in the hands of Prince
Abdallah, the Prince Regent, brother of the dead monarch. Now the throne is officially
in the hands of Abdallah. According to you he is one of the people that best knows
Saudi Arabia, could this cause internal tremors within the royal family that could
then lead to the reinforcement of terrorism? “Absolutely no,” responds Scialoja,
“Abdallah had been nominated the Prince Regent for some time, according to a mechanism
that was introduced at the time that Saudi Arabia was founded. Since taking the
reins of the country Abdallah has taken notice of the signs that Saudi society
has sent and has put life into a various new openings. For example, women can
now work in the Ministries, and in the first time in its history, there have been
local administrative elections. In the future there is talk of the possible election
of a National Assembly and votes for women. The country has started to change
even if it is slow. I believe that as long as the sons of Abdelaziz are alive,
the founder of Saudi Arabia, these rules will be respected. There will be a need
to see what happens when his great grandsons, the third generation, get into power.
But personally I believe that nothing will happen, because the royal family, in
difficult times, has always known what’s best.” And this is a difficult time for
Saudi Arabia, which, in two years has seen 240 people die on its streets.Christian Elia
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