I recently got to sit down with a few people from the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organization (TAG) during their ongoing battle with the Amman Municipality (GAM). For those who don’t know the story it can basically be summed up into the following points: TAG purchases land just outside their HQ and on the borders of the Abdali project; the Abdali project begins an expansion phase due to increased interest; GAM tells land owners to sell their land to the project (with the private corp – Hariri investments – at the helm); some sell, others refuse.
Those are the major points but there are about 1000 details in between that have come about in the last two years. And this is the TAG side of the story. Some of the events are pretty much indisputable; they’ve become facts, just “arguable” facts.
TAG is one of the landowners refusing to sell. In fact the GAM has put a “hold” on all the land making it impossible for anyone to sell unless they plan on selling it to the Abdali Project, after which the hold is magically lifted until the transfer takes place.
TAG and others in the area received letters a few days ago telling them to vacate the land because it will be demolished to make room for the Abdali expansion. To be fair, I think in the context of all things we should consider it progress that a government institution actually sent a letter instead of having the occupants being met with a bulldozer and a wrecking ball.
Now I’m not going to go into the details of the mess, and I assure you that things the press has yet to mention are quite juicy (especially the intimidation tactics), but I kind of like my job, and wanting to keep it I won’t give anything away. What I’m interested in, on a personal level, are the questions.
Questions like why is the GAM and Hariri group in bed with each other?
And if you’re a big enough investor, how much political muscle does that come with?
And doesn’t this set a dangerous precedent?
Doesn’t this actually say to investors that hey, the Jordanian government will look after you, at least until you put the money to work; but in 10 or 20 years time, who knows. We could be sending you a letter telling you to make room for something better and someone bigger. In other words: where’s the protection?
And who stands up for the little guy? TAG is a huge corporation. The GAM has stopped them from building on their land and that little obstacle has lead them to rent several entire buildings across the city. But what about the smaller fish who don’t have the lawyers. Is their only option to sell or face acquisition?
Some did sell and that’s fair game; but did all of them sell willingly? Were they given a fair shake?
TAG can afford to fight this simply for the principle of it. But they’re not exactly representing anyone other than themselves. At least up until now.
In relation to the title of this post: the land in that area wasn’t exactly paradise to begin with I know. And I assume many of the people who ever had the misfortune of seeing the insides of the building of its previous occupant, would probably call it a hellhole.
But this is about the principle of the thing. The mindset. The same mindset that makes the overwhelming suggestion that Jordanians, Jordanian land, Jordanian homes, forests, heritage and just about everything is expendable in the name of progress. Remember Dibbin?
The question becomes: how expendable are some things?
Because if indeed the government logo of “the people” being Jordan’s most “valuable asset”, then out market value seems to be plummeting more and more these days.
GAM takes down TAG signs from the latter’s unfinished buildings
I think Omar el me3ani is on the board of directors for the abdali project..But a side note, I think i read somewhere that one of the tenants in a residential building was compensated 750JD/M2 for his land, and yet he was still complainig about how he was emotionally connected to his land!!Give me a break..
But in all, I think that TAG are being stubborn to get more money as a compensation..
Mohanned: actually tag isnt looking for money. technically they dont need it. according to them there is no number that would buy them out. they offered gam several alternative solutions.
they simply want to stay on their land.
I think the first solution that the TAG suggested is kind of unrealistic and probably more troublesome in the long run, but the second solution that they suggested seems almost fair, but it needs to be financially assessed first.
The price of office space in the new buildings will definitely be higher than the current price say in one of TAG’s buildings. So what do they give TAG? An equal amount of square meters? Or an equal value of square meters? Also, it’s really not that easy. TAG would have to temporarily relocate, and already they have incurred financial damages due to the hold that was put on construction of some of their offices, so there are costs that they will have to be compensated for.
But it’s really ironic, that this government, the one that supposedly has “fighting corruption” as one of the top items on its agenda, has approved the GAM request despite TAG’s objections that clearly and correctly pointed out the obvious conflict of interest, given that Mr. M’ani is both the head of the GAM, and on the board of directors of the Abdali company!!!
Some people just dont understand what it means to be attached to their land, what emotional value means, and what dignity means, Mohannad not everyone is willing to sell his land for the right price, even Jordanians of Palestinian origin, isnt that shocking?
THIS IS CALLED CORRUPTION!
Hariri paid enough people enough money to get his way (lets not say who got paid lest we go to jail or somehow get run over by a car accidentally.) Of course Hariri is a master at investing with other people’s money. When the father died, he left Lebanon with a massive debt that will not be repaid for decades to come. And guess who will pay for it: Lebanese people.
GAM and others will learn a valuable lesson that Jordanian business will always be sacrificed for the smaller good of those who run country. I would not be surprised if GAM relocated outside the country as a statement of protest, followed by many others. And considering the drastic drop in investments in Jordan over the last few months, this will send a dangerous message, considering the high profile of GAM.
This is how some loot their citizens’ property in the name of what’s best for Jordan (which really means what’s best for their wallets).
So when the project is over, Hariri will have gotten a free ride at Jordanian tax payers expense, and the profits will go to a handful of powerful Jordanians, and those who subsidized the Abdali project with their taxes will get inflation and a commercial center that is out of reach for most Jordanians.
You know, we are supposed to be happy when outsiders invest in Jordan. I am not sure most Jordanians like foreign investments because they seem to constantly get the short end of the stick by having to pay more taxes to compensate the regime for the free breaks it gave to the investors.
Welcome to Jordan and Hala 3ammi!
the brilliant title says it all.
Mohannad,
If you are living in a very nice house with a good location and you are not in need for money. Would you sell your property? TAGI is not selling cause they are not in need of Al Hairi’s money and they like their location. Simply, no one can force you in selling your property!! They are not stubborn to get more money for compensation, cause they are not going to leave for whatever price is offered.
Please visit http://www.amaneh.net to learn more about TAGI’s point of view.
its the big guns fighting …
i heard ppl who sold their houses or biuldings sold them at more than market price … but i dont have sources for that …
TAG wants to stay there because they know whats the future of that area … if they wanted to come back to Abdali in the next years … they will pay ALOT more that what they are getting if they sold now …
We live in a country where law prevails, and when some corrupted people or those who have interests, start using there influences to over come the law, that does not give them the right to do what they want. Neither law nor religion justifies that. No one can make the other sell his property without his consent or under threat it would be void. If each one uses his influence, then we would be savages and at the end the stronger will live and the weak will die. Therefore I don’t think that our judicial system would allow that because we have faith in it.
You know? i love TAG’s way of uncovering this out, this trajedy represents much more than confiscation(estemlak) his buildings, it represents where is the law and where is rights of the citizens, its all in the pocket of who have authority… and then every one will ignore what is going on except the citizens themselves.
Some people just like to get the palastenian origin thing in everything even if the subject is about rice and tomatoes, right?Get over yourself not everyone is against “you” and trying to hit “you” in the back..
To everyone else, I was talking from business point of view, If I was to be kicked out anyway I will try to suck as much money as possible..And yes even in america they can kick you out of your house if the city has a project that will bring more money, for example O’hare airport is expanding and up to now they demolished 400 houses..
I am not defending the amaneh and if you read my first comment, I said that El m3ani is on the board of directors for the abdali project, and in a previous post for naseem about the “futuristic amman” I said that he is trying to polish his image after the Ibn el wazeer fiasco..
WOW..
Mohannad I am over myself, and I dont care who wants to hit me from the back, thats their prerogative, and hitting from the back is alive and well these days, so dont act like its not there. TAG on the other hand will be getting it in the back if they leave.
As for your favorite phrase “even in America” as if everything in America is the precedent for high moral and and economic values. America is the home fo cut-throat capitalism, so when people use the phrase “even in america”, I say: so what? who the hell are they? Cant you judge for yourself what is right and whats wrong? do you have to use references from mozambique or witchita? what happened to good old Jordanian sense of honor. Who said everyone in america supports capitalism? yes we know money talks. we know if you have enough money u can get away with murder ( ala OJ) but does that make it morally right?
Markus,
Habibi, what is your problem? Did you read what I said? And what does OJ have to do with the abdali project? Again, I am not here to get you or for that matter to get TAG, and I suggest that you leave the honor out of this..What I said is from business perspective, it is your problem if you don’t like what I said, and I was not refering to palastenians as you assumed(Maybe because I am jordanian?)
And by the Way the abdali project represents an gold mine for the GAM from all the taxes it will collect from “future” residents of the area so don’t expect them not to do anything they can..
But again it is corruption in its clearest picture, all the country is corrupt from the top to the bottom, so we’d better live with for now until we can change it..
* A gold mine
* live with it
If we are talking business here, and yes the benifits are BIG, but why not GAM started Legal Actions acording to law from the start???
This case started according to TAG in 2005 meaning Ma3anni was not the Mayor yet.. in other words GAM wants the land but through negotiations under the table without reveeling to public.
As a Jordanian “regardless of origin”, I’m supporting public benifiting projects, the problem here is the way of handling with this issue.
If TAG wants more money, thats thier right, and they deserve it, If they dont want to leave, again thats thier right & Law decide whats next.
But as Amman citizens, under the name of capitalizem, are we welling to be relocated, its obviuos that Amman will be apartments city not houses, we’ll sell our Family houses and live in apartments in Amman if can aford or relocated out side Amman.
This is rediculous. TAG must not give up their rights, although i dont feel comfortable about the company. But the AMANEH is doing a stupid mistake by doing that. By the way I liked the website http://www.amaneh.net its a very advanced way to fight back.
I Love Mr. Talal abu ghazaleh ,
Go A Head Mr. Talal , we are with you
Ahmad
بسم الله الرØÂمنالرØÂيم
قدم او قدمت مجموعة ابو غزالة الكثير ودليل على ذلك نجاؠالاستمرار ويكÙÂيالسمعة الطيبة للجامعة لكنماذا قدمت لنا الامانة وما الهد٠منتجميد بناية جامعية ومنستخدمونيا امانة عماÙâ€
أرجو منالأخوة ÙÂيعموننشر هذا الرد كاملا.
إنالبلبلة التييØÂدثونها ÙÂيالعبدليمجرد شوشرة لإبتزاز الأمانة والمستثمرونللØÂصول على مبالغ مالية خيالية، ÙÂلماذا واÙÂقت كلية القدس بعظمتها وإنسØÂبت. مع العلم أنلكلية القدس مساØÂØ© أرض أكبر ومشروع تنمويأهم للشعب والبلد.
أريد أنأØÂدثكم عننÙÂسي، أنا موظ٠سابق ÙÂيتلك الشركة التيما زالت صامدة لخدمة البلد كما تدعي. هذه الشركة التييدعيمؤسسها أنه عصاميونزيه جداً جداً جداً. لدرجة أنه لم يسرق مستندات وزبائنسابا ومشاركوهم قبل أنيستقيل بشكل Ù…ÙÂاجيء ÙÂيالعام 1972 ليبدء ببناء مؤسسته العظيمة المشكوك بأمرها. ولقد أنهوا خدماتيلأننيكشÙÂت قضية تزوير تمس أمنالدولة وتسببت بإلقاء القبض على المجرم الذيوقع بالصدÙÂØ© (أولØÂظه العاثر ربما) بينيدايوتØÂت إدارتيوقد سيق للتØÂقيق معه منقبل الجهات الأمنية (وهو موظ٠مØÂترم ومØÂتر٠كما قال عنه مديريهم السابقين)
لقد عملت معهم لمدة 3 أشهر ÙÂقط وقد تبينليمدى الÙÂساد الإداريالذيتتميز به هذه الشركة عنغيرها منالشركات، ÙÂعلى الأقل 85 % منموظÙÂيها ÙÂاسدينأو عديميالشخصية أو مناÙÂقينوجبناء أو بلا ضمير، أما البقية ÙÂإنهم مغلوبينعلى أمرهم يمتثلونلما يصدر بØÂقهم منقرارات عشوائية وتعسÙÂية، لا أعتقد أنهم صابرونعلى هذا الإذلال خوÙÂاً على تأمينلقمة العيش لمنيعولونوإنما لإعتقادهم بأنهم ÙÂييوم ما سيØÂققونالتغيير وسينتصر الخير على الشر ولتØÂقيق مستقبل وظيÙÂيمرموق أيضاً. على كل أتمنى لهم التوÙÂيق وأنتتØÂقق آمالهم.
قبل ÙÂترة قام 600 منموظÙÂيالمؤسسة المناÙÂقينطبعاً بالتوقيع على عريضة تطالب السلطات التشريعية والØÂكومة بتغيير موقÙÂها تجاه ما ÙŠØÂدث (أيقضية الإستملاك) مدعيينأنمستقبلهم متوق٠على هاتينالبنايتينوبهدم هذه المبانيسيتشردونهم وأطÙÂالهم ÙÂيالشوارع، يا الله كم هذا النÙÂاق واضؠوتاÙÂÙ‡. وبينهم وبينأنÙÂسهم يعلمونأنمعلمهم (الأستاذ رئيس مجلس الإدارة ØÂÙÂظه الله) غير نزيه كما يقول لا وبل يطلقونعليه النكات ويستهزؤونبه ÙÂيجلساتهم الخاصة.
برأييالشخصيأرى أنالمنطقة ستصبؠأجمل بكثير بدونبناياتهم الإثنتين، وإنالمستثمرونبمنطقة العبدليأهم بكثير جداً للشعب والأردنمنمجرد شركة تقدم خدمات التدقيق والملكية الÙÂكرية والإستشارات، ÙÂهناك منهو Ø£ÙÂضل منهم بكثير ÙÂيالسوق المØÂليوالعالمي.
كما أننيأستغرب منأصØÂاب الشركات والمؤسسات كي٠يطمئنونعلى وضع أعمالهم ÙˆØÂساباتهم بينأيديهؤلاء وكي٠يتعاملونمع شركة يتمتع مؤسسها بتاريخ مشبوه.
قد يعتقد البعض بأننيØÂاقد أو إنتهازيلأننيأقول هذا الكلام، ولكنما رأيته منهم ÙŠÙÂوق الخيال وإننيوالله لم أكنأنويالتØÂدث بهذا الموضوع لولا أننيأريد أنأوضؠبعضاً منالصورة، وأظهر بعض كذبهم واÙÂتراءاتهم على أمانة عمان.
I donno from where did you got these lies? we should be more objective sir.
every body say this even the insiders.
الدكتور طلال أبو غزالة,
إننياØÂييك على تمسك انت وابنائك الموظÙÂينلانك مواطنيداÙÂع عنØÂقه ولا استطيع تÙÂسير وقو٠الامانة الى جانب مشروع العبدليالذيوانتم ÙÂلنينÙÂع الاردنبشيء وانما سيكونلمصلØÂØ© المشروع ÙÂقط…
اجمل شيء اقرأه هو: باقونهنـــــا
والاجمل هي: نبذل جهدا اكبر لنبقى ÙÂيالمقدمة
Hi Guys,,,
If you’re really looking for an educated analysis of this situation, check the following FACTS:
1. TAG’s land is about 3,000 square meters.
2. The land and buildings were evaluated at around 6 million JD
3. At the start of negotiations Abdali offered TAG 8 m JD for the land and then upped it to 10 m JD.
4. TAG counter OFFERED their land for 22 m JD (so much for “our property is not for sale”
5. Abdali revised their offer to 12 m JD
6. TAG revised their offer to 35 m JD !!
7. After a meeting between loai Abu Ghazaleh and Abdali , TAG revised their offer to 40 m JD
8. Finally TAG asked for 55m JD based on their calculation that Abdali stands to make a lot of money by the addition of TAG’s property (so all they really ever wanted was a piece of the pie)
9. GAM had already plans to build 3 road exits to serve the new project, so they had no alternative but to legally confiscate the land and pay fair compensation which is the norm everywhere in the world.
For all of those who think TAG are heroes fighting the “System”… think again.
TAG IS SIMPLY EXTORTING MORE MONEY FROM GAM & ABDALI!!!!
THIS is the REAL story and I look forward to any INFORMED comments.
Phillipe Shams
“All theory, dear friend, is grey, but the golden tree of actual life springs ever green.”
Johann Wolfgang von Göthe 1749-1832
Whatever they try to do TAG is REALITY.
Dr. Nidal Amarin