WIHDAT REFUGEE CAMP - His Majesty King Abdullah said Wednesday he wants an election law that strikes a balance through fair representation of all voters in the different parts of the Kingdom.

King Abdullah said the envisioned change to the Elections Law is not just about cancelling the controversial one-person, one-vote system.

The Monarch made the remarks at a meeting with representatives of the Wihdat refugee camp, where he said the government is working seriously on giving back rights to citizens who were treated unjustly due to the implementation of the 1988 disengagement decision from the West Bank.

“We do not accept that any citizen suffers injustice,” the King added, in reference to many Jordanians of Palestinian origin, whose citizenship was revoked by the interior ministry.

His Majesty has directed the incumbent government to revisit files of these individuals to make sure that they were not subject to injustice.

Stressing that national unity is a key pillar of the state, the King called on all to be vigilant and stand up to all who attempt to undermine this “sacred unity”.

The King, who stressed the necessity of serious efforts for reform, said: “We want to proceed fast as citizens want something new.”

His Majesty also expressed hope that the National Dialogue Committee will achieve its work before the three-month deadline in order to come up with elections and political parties laws.

The Monarch added that the panel should come up with legislation that “opens a new chapter for the future of Jordan and Jordanians.

“I said more than once that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to reforms and we are serious in this regard,” the King said.

On the economic situation, the King urged the private and public sectors to work to solve citizens’ problems related to poverty and unemployment and creating new jobs as there is a need for 60,000 jobs every year while the government can create only 10,000.

“Our concern at this stage is the economic situation and the problems of unemployment and poverty. We should develop partnership between the two sectors and attract more job-generating investments.”

King Abdullah also instructed the government to address the needs and demands of the Wihdat refugee camp and enhance services in the area, which is home to about 55,000 people.

The King called for forming a committee representing the camp to determine priorities and present them to the government and the Royal Court for implementation.

During his visit to Wihdat, His Majesty toured the camp to the cheers of thousands of residents who lined the streets to greet their King.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit stressed Jordan’s position in defending the Palestinian issue and the right of return and compensation for the Palestinian refugees.

On the implementation of the disengagement from the West Bank decision, Bakhit added that the King instructed the government to study the issue and ensure justice, stressing that the Kingdom under Hashemite leadership does not accept that anyone is dealt with in an unjust manner.

He called on citizens who were subject to unjust treatment in this regard to report to authorities, vowing: “I will personally look into that.”

The premier added that Jordan supports the Palestinian Authority which is concerned with negotiating to restore the Palestinian rights, including the right of refugees for return and compensation.

He added that King Abdullah is the main defender of the Palestinian issue in the international arena.

On UNRWA employees, he said the Jordanian position is clear at the political and financial levels, referring to Jordan’s efforts at the diplomatic level to sustain the relief agency.

“We are aware that there are international entities which want and try to end this agency which has evolved as a symbol of the Palestinian plight.”

Noting that Jordan is home to 41 per cent of the Palestinian refugees in the agency’s five operation areas, Bakhit added that the Kingdom spends more than UNRWA to enhance the situation of refugee camps.

Bakhit added that a plot of land will be allocated for charity societies which take care of the orphans and persons with special needs to build offices, while the government will study other needs.

Wajih Azaizeh, director of Palestinian Affairs Department, voiced appreciation of the King’s support for the Palestinian refugees in the Kingdom.

“We are in a country where we are not afraid of each other but are concerned about each other,” he added.

Fahed Bayyari, former president of Al Wihdat Club and a member of the National Dialogue Committee, stressed on preserving national unity, adding that Jordanians are one family.

“The Hashemites are the guarantee for us and our rights. We live in an oasis of safety and security,” he said.

Also stressing on the need to preserve national unity, Mohammad Al Kouz, a mukhtar (local community leader) said: “Jordanians of Palestinian origin are with the Hashemites… We are one nation and we are all with you.”

“No one supports us and our cause like the Hashemites do. We will never forget your support for the Palestinian issue,” he added.

Representative of the camp, who reviewed its needs and demands, voiced appreciation for His Majesty King Abdullah’s makruma for the camp in fields of health, education, infrastructure and assistance of the needy.

They also voiced appreciation of the King’s support of the Palestinian issue and defending the right of return and compensation for Palestinian refugees.

They called for opening some roads in the camp and allowing its residents to build third and fourth floors in their building as they are currently restricted with building a second floor only in order to be able to absorb the natural growth of the camp’s population.

Noting that there is a large number of street peddlers and stalls in the area who supports their families, they called for allocating a plot of land to regulate their work and reduce traffic congestion in the camp, which they said suffers from overcrowding and traffic jams.

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