Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, played defense during most of yesterday's lecture when answering questions that ranged from the government's policy on women's rights to its role in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Bandar's entire talk with students and faculty functioned as an extended question and answer session.
A number of student questions criticized Saudi political policy. Bandar consistently reminded the full ASEAN auditorium audience that Saudi Arabia was moving forward, even if it was at a slow pace. "If my grandfather returned [to Saudi Arabia], he would think we were crazy," Bandar said.
Instead, Bandar believes, the US needs to remain out of Saudi politics. "Why don't you let us decide for ourselves?" Bandar said. "It is arrogant to assume that you know better than our people."
He argued that when the people were ready for changes in the political structure to take place, then they would happen. "There is no point of being 100 steps ahead of the people," Bandar said. "Once we have the right majority, then we will go for it." At present, Saudi Arabia is a monarchy.
Bandar appeared confident that the Saudi people were happy with the current state of rule. He argued that they could protest and rebel any time they wanted to. "Think of Russia," he said. "Think of the Red Army. Change happened there in spite of the KGB. You can not govern a people who don't believe you are good for them."
Bandar sent a similar message when asked about women's rights: keep out. In Saudi Arabia, women have no voting rights, are not allowed to congregate in public, and are not allowed to drive. Bandar stressed that change would come. "Saudi women want economic independence," he said. "First they have to have an education. Saudi women are much, much better off than 30 years ago. Give them a chance -- give them economic potential."
Saudi Arabia has been forced on the defensive since Sept. 11, when it became clear that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Bandar said that it isn't fair to pass judgment on an entire nation over the actions of a small number of extremists. The fundamentalists "have hijacked a great religion," he said. "These cannot be people who believe in this faith."
The Saudi Embassy released a 350-page report last month as proof of the work that has been done to counter terrorist activity.
Bandar is confident that part of the purpose of the attacks was to break down the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US.
Before the lecture, Bandar held only his second press conference since the Sept. 11 attacks. During the press conference, he said that part of the reason why there is so much animosity towards the US is because it is not skilled at making a good impression through the media. "You are not so hot when explaining yourselves to the world," he said. "The other side defines you."
Just last week, Saudi officials announced that within a year elections would be held for municipal councils. This is a step from which there is no going back, Bandar said. He acknowledged that Saudi Arabia still had much work to do. "We should open the media more, we should open dialogues more," he said. "We should continue the election process. I think if Saudi people know what the plan is, they will be willing to wait."
Bandar left to a standing ovation, and those who attended the talk were satisfied. "He was defensive, but that didn't surprise me," Fletcher student Chris Cady, said. "That's a diplomat's job -- to represent his country. He gave good answers."
Professor Andrew Hess, Director of the Program for Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization, recruited Prince Bandar to come to Tufts. Bandar previously visited Tufts in 1990.
More from The Tufts Daily
