> Dear Madawi,
> I was not writing to express my proudness of having mukhabarat people
> sitting in the court room. I simply think that there is more to the trial
> than just the contradictions.
>
> I liked your analysis, it is profound as usual. I agree that there is a
> great contradiction in the fact that we are having elections and an
> imprisonment of reforemers. It happened ironically evevn before that when
> the regime established the committee for human rights and arrested the
> reformers the following week leaving the poor 39 nominees speechless.
> However, I believe there is a kind of change going on in the country
> regardless all these contradictions. Maybe we need here your efforts as an
> anthropologist to give it a propper reading. Not only that, but also to
help
> presenting new ideas and strategies of manoeuvering.
>
> I think that we should make use of the time we are living in at the moment
> in grasping the change and elaborate on it. Of course I am not comparing
our
> opressed society with the free world, but everyone has her/his own fight.
> and I believe this is my fight. I think we are fortunate to have some of
our
> compatriotes live abroad who can see the whole picture from far and can
help
> by clearing it. Keep doing that Madawi.
>
> Take care,
>
> Hatoon
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Madawi Al-Rasheed"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 5:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mideast-Man] trials in Saudi
>
>
> >
> > -------------------
> > >
> > Dear Hatoon
> > I understand your position but this does not change my conviction that
> > this regime is a media phenomenon which tries to obsecure reality
> > rather than do something positive. You are free to hold on to it but I
> > reject it altogether as a regime that needs serious surgery rather
> > than cosmetic changes. What about reformers who ask for constitutional
> > monarchy and the regime plans to carry out municipal elections?. Can
> > you see the contradiction?They kid everybody by saying we have our
> > khususiyya and we change accoriding to our oun pace, meaning the way
> > the regime wants to change rather than what people want. Even those
> > who asked for consitutional monarchy and are now in prison feel deep
> > down that the regime is bankrupt that is muflis but they decided to
> > work with it and this is the result. They are in prison. Nayef and
> > Sultan admitted that society is illiterate and will elect illiterates
> > if given a chance. I think there is no more illiteracy than the one
> > represented by the trio at the top.
> > Forgive me for being honest but fortunately I live in a free country
> > whereas you do not and I perfectly understand your position.
> > Dear Madawi et al,
> > >
> > >I read your article in al Quds today about the reformers open trial.
> > Although I think you have diagnosed the situation strongly and
> > bravely, I think that what is happening in Saudi is a step that we
> > should encourage and help rather than show its complete uselessness.
> > It is the first time in history to admit of having political
> > prisonors, first time to accept to give them a trial, let alone to be
> > open or closed. It is first time to let political prisonors have
> > lawyers, and to express their views openly in the courtroom in front
> > of people and media. I think we should encourage such a step,
> > acknowledge it, consider it a positive change, then we can give it an
> > analytical criticism for future better and opener trials. We sensed
> > here, from those friends attended, and from their discription of what
> > happened that the state is willing to do something positive but the
> > executives do not know how. We are in a country that doesn't know what
> > transparencey means, or what human rights mean.
> > >
> > >This was our impression and we are happy with the achievements though
> > modest.
> > >
> > >
> > >*for those who are not aware of what this is about can check these
> > attachments and links (first and second trial).
> > >
> > >http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/saudi/?id=11037
> > >
> > >All the best,
> > >
> > >
> > >Mhmd, good luck with your exhibition.
> > >Najla, Azza, I'm glad you found your way to saharasafaris group list.
> > >
> > >Hatoon
> >
> > Madawi Al-Rasheed
> > mailto:madawi.al-rasheed@kcl.ac.uk
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
