Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman ordered security agents to evict occupants of several villages in the path of sites earmarked for a futuristic Neom eco-city project by all means necessary, even if it required killing them, according to a former Saudi intelligence officer….READ FULL STORY HERE TO CONTINUE READING
Colonel Rabih Alenezi, speaking to a foremost news outlet, said the Crown Prince did not tolerate resistance from the villagers and instead labelled their unwillingness to relocate from the region as a rebellion against the government to be met with heavy sanctions, including death.
The news outlet speaking says that from satellite images of the region, it can be seen that three villages, al-Khuraybah, Sharma, and Gayal, including schools and facilities, have already been levelled.
Mr Alenezi, who is presently seeking refuge in the UK, said he was deployed to al-Khuraybah to evict the residents but copped out on the assignment by giving a medical excuse.
“Whoever continues to resist (eviction) should be killed, so it licensed the use of lethal force against whoever stayed in their home,” Mr Alenezi was cited as saying, based on the April 2020 clearance order.
A resident of the affected region Abdul Rahim al-Huwaiti, who shielded his property from being valued by the land registry committee, was a victim of the order. He made posts on social media decrying the evictions of natives who have for generations occupied the Huwaitat.Saudi authorities met his dissent with heavy gunfire, as he wound up dead during the clearance mission.
The kingdom uploaded a statement claiming that Mr al-Huwaiti fired live rounds against security operatives who were left with no other choice than to kill him. Still, the UN said the victim was murdered for resisting eviction.
The UN said at least 47 other eviction protesters were arrested and charged with terrorism. Of the 47, five had been placed on death row while 35 others were languishing in detention, the UN and ALQST said.
Neom, the eco-project for which the Saudi government was evicting villagers from their ancestral homes, will cost $500 billion. The project aims to reduce the kingdom’s over-dependence on oil for revenue.
Sources: https://gazettengr.com/saudi-crown-prince-gave-order-to-kill-natives-resisting-eviction-displaced-over-one-million-people-to-build-futuristic-city-neom-report/
Super City Saga: Saudi Crown Prince Authorizes Use of Lethal Force For Eviction.
ByAllNigeria
May 9, 2024