Posts from — May 2011

First Arab woman to scale Mount Everest
May 28, 2011

Suzanne al-Houby, a Palestinian who lives in the United Arab Emirates, has become the first Arab woman to scale Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, she said in a statement on Saturday. — PHOTO: AFP

DUBAI – SUZANNE al-Houby, a Palestinian who lives in the United Arab Emirates, has become the first Arab woman to scale Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, she said in a statement on Saturday.

‘Becoming the first Arab woman to reach the top of the world was an enormous thrill and a great privilege,’ Houby said in the statement.

‘I would like to share this triumph with the Palestinian people and all Arabs – especially all the Arab women, young and old, who continue to contribute to the peace and stability of the region we all call home.

‘I will never forget the moment when my dream became reality, when I saw the prayer flags flapping in the thin air, marking the summit of the greatest mountain on earth,’ she said.

Houby, 40, spent 51 days making the climb, which she completed on the morning of May 21, the statement said, adding that she spent two years preparing for her Everest attempt. — AFP …source

MANAMA, March 20, 2011 (Xinhua) — A Bahraini Shiite woman holds the portrait of Issa Abdali Radhi during his funeral in Sitra, southern Manama, Bahrain, March 20, 2011. Issa was killed several days ago during the crackdown by the government military forces on the anti-government protestors.

Bahraini Shiites attend the funeral Mahmud Mekki, 23, who was killed the day before during violent police raid on anti-regime protesters in the village of Sitra

“Mohammad Abdol-Hossein Farhan” the 6 year old Bahraini child who was killed by Al-Khalifa’s solder is the most young martyr of Bahrain. They killed him by tear gas that was poisonous. The doctors stated that he was killed because of Asphyxiation.

There’s a Secret Patriot Act, Senator Says
By Spencer Ackerman – May 25, 2011 4:56 pm

You think you understand how the Patriot Act allows the government to spy on its citizens. Sen. Ron Wyden says it’s worse than you know.

Congress is set to reauthorize three controversial provisions of the surveillance law as early as Thursday. Wyden (D-Oregon) says that powers they grant the government on their face, the government applies a far broader legal interpretation — an interpretation that the government has conveniently classified, so it cannot be publicly assessed or challenged. But one prominent Patriot-watcher asserts that the secret interpretation empowers the government to deploy ”dragnets” for massive amounts of information on private citizens; the government portrays its data-collection efforts much differently.

“We’re getting to a gap between what the public thinks the law says and what the American government secretly thinks the law says,” Wyden told Danger Room in an interview in his Senate office. “When you’ve got that kind of a gap, you’re going to have a problem on your hands.”

What exactly does Wyden mean by that? As a member of the intelligence committee, he laments that he can’t precisely explain without disclosing classified information. But one component of the Patriot Act in particular gives him immense pause: the so-called “business-records provision,” which empowers the FBI to get businesses, medical offices, banks and other organizations to turn over any “tangible things” it deems relevant to a security investigation.

“It is fair to say that the business-records provision is a part of the Patriot Act that I am extremely interested in reforming,” Wyden says. “I know a fair amount about how it’s interpreted, and I am going to keep pushing, as I have, to get more information about how the Patriot Act is being interpreted declassified. I think the public has a right to public debate about it.”

That’s why Wyden and his colleague Sen. Mark Udall offered an amendment on Tuesday to the Patriot Act reauthorization.

The amendment, first reported by Marcy Wheeler, blasts the administration for “secretly reinterpret[ing] public laws and statutes.” It would compel the Attorney General to “publicly disclose the United States Government’s official interpretation of the USA Patriot Act.” .. .more

Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – Security forces in Bahrain have reportedly killed a male teenager yesterday March 30, amid continuing crackdown on the popular revolution around the country.

Fifteen-year-old Sayed Ahmed martyred from a faceshot in the village of Saar on Wednesday, Bahrain’s Al Wefaq political party announced.

Speak Out or Get Out
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Bahrain: Speak Out or Get Out

By Richard Sollom on May 27, 2011 Tweet this

Ireland has a long history of promoting human rights at the international level; the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, later became the top human rights official at the United Nations. But the country’s leading medical institution, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), has been conspicuously absent in the global call for the Kingdom of Bahrain to stop its relentless and systematic attack on medical workers. Since mid-February, reports of human rights violations in Bahrain have increased significantly as Bahraini authorities have attempted to suppress anti-government protests. Given the close ties of RCSI to the Bahraini government, its lack of response should come as no surprise.

This relationship dates back 20 years: the Royal College has run post-graduate courses and exams in Bahrain, and many Bahraini medical students have studied in Ireland.

Several RCSI members have disappeared during the crackdown in Bahrain and targeting of medical professionals, including Ghassan Dhaif, Baser Dhaif and Ali Al Ekri, who was arrested while performing surgery at Salmaniya Medical Complex. The RCSI sent a fact-finding mission from Ireland which met with Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. However, the mission did not meet with any of the families of the missing medics. After the trip, the RCSI declined to comment on their findings or release a report despite criticism coming from England’s Royal College of Surgeons. Amnesty International Ireland has since spoken out against RCSI, demanding they use their influence to pressure the Bahraini government to release the medics.

The families of the missing have speculated that the reason for the RCSI’ refusal to criticize the government is financial. RCSI Bahrain represents an important starting point for expansion into the Middle East, and the RCSI has invested millions of Euro to bolster their relationship with the Bahraini government.

Medical professionals and the facilities in which they operate provide essential services and receive heightened protections under international law. Amidst violence, medical professionals and institutions must remain firmly dedicated to their duty to provide medical care to those in need regardless of nationality, ethnicity, political affiliation, or other social division. This concept of “medical neutrality” is firmly grounded in international humanitarian law, professional codes and ethics, and international human rights law.

Physicians for Human Rights documented gross violations of medical neutrality and human rights in its recent report Do No Harm: A Call for Bahrain to End Systematic Attacks on Doctors and Patients.

PHR joined the American College of Physicians, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Medical Association, Doctors for Human Rights-UK, the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organizations, and the National Arab American Medical Association in petitioning the Crown Prince of Bahrain to cease attacks on hospitals, patients, and medical professionals.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has an ethical responsibility to call for an end to the egregious and systematic attacks on doctors – some of whom are their own alumni — who face trumped up charges of medical malpractice and treason. The Royal College must speak out, if not — get out of Bahrain. …source

Bahrain: Ongoing trials against demonstrators and more than 30 have been sentenced
May 25th, 2011

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about sentencing of 4 demonstrators yesterday in National Safety court ( Military court) .

On 25 May 2011 , 4 demonstrators sentenced :

1- Rashid Adnan Alawi Al Sayad was sentenced to one year imprisonment for taking part in illegal protests and disrupting public order.

2-Sayad Ahmed Mustafa Mohammed was sentenced to one year imprisonment for taking part in illegal protests and disrupting public order. ( Activist and Had interviews with the media – attached his photo with Al-Jazeera English).

3-Hassan Jaafar Ali Mhanna will be jailed for one year after being convicted of participating in illegal protests for criminal ends. He got another three-month prison sentence over driving a vehicle the registration plate of another one. However, the court found him not guilty of inciting the overthrow of the ruling system.

4-Hassan Isa Mohammed who was found guilty of holding pamphlets calling for the overthrow of the kingdom’s ruling system and social fabric. one-year prison sentence.

Cases on-going:

1- fifteen people are charged with murdering a Pakistani national called Abdulla Malik Abdulla, attacking other people, taking part in illegal assemblies for criminal ends and disrupting public security, the court decided to adjourn the hearing to next Sunday, May 29 in order to enable the suspects to meet their relatives and appoint lawyers.

2-Ali Yussef Abdulwahab Al Taweel and Ali Atiya Mahdi Al Shamloul are accused of killing policeman Ahmed Al Mrissi while on duty in Sitra village.The case has been adjourned till 29 May, 2011.

3- Raed Jassim Mohammed, Qassim Hameed Khatim, Mohammed Hassan Ali, Mohammed Ibrahim Jassim and Hassan Mohammed Abd Al Khadhr Al Asfoor, as well as Salman Ahmed Mohammed who was tried in absentia, faced charges of attempting to murder a civil inspection group for terrorist ends, possessing unlicensed weapon and taking part in illegal protests at the GCC Roundabout “Pearl” in order to disrupt public security.The case has been adjourned till 30 May, 2011.

4-Ali Yussef Yaqoob is accused of attempting to security officer on March 15, 2011, the court heard three witnesses, including the victim, who asserted that the suspect used a GMC to run over the policeman who was, along with his colleagues, trying to disperse protestors who were throwing pebbles at security officers and blocking roads. The case has been adjourned till 30 May, 2011. …source

Hamza al-Khateeb aged 13 years old tortured and killed in Syria

May 28, 2011 by sks

This is the story of a 13-year-old healthy boy named Hamza AlKhateeb. Hamza’s cousin was killed on the hands on the Syrian regime a few days before he had decided to go out in a peaceful demonstration with other people in his area. He was arrested on April 29, 2011 by the Syrian regime forces. A month had passedby with his family not knowing where he is, or if or when will he be released. On May 27, 2011, he was released to his family as a dead body. Upon examining his body, the signs of torture are very clear.

His skin was peeling off his hands and feet, and his neck was broken. There were a few bullets in his body that were used as a way of torture rather than to kill him with. Clear signs of severe physical abuse appeared on the body such as marks done with hands, sticks, and shoes. Hamza’s penis was also cut off. That is sadder than this story is the fact that it is not the only one. In fact, it is one of many. There are many men, women, elderly, and children that have been arrested and not back. The death toll has surpassed 1200 people since the beginning of this revolution. Group graves have been discovered in the city of Daraa and the Syrian regime is still trying to cover the facts and deny the evil acts that were committed towards the Syrian people.

We, the Syrian people, request the United Nations to take a firm stand against the Syrian Government. We also request the United Nations and Human Rights Organizations to do a full investigation of cases such as Hamza’s and many others. We, the people of Syria, deserve the right to live a free dignified life, and we are calling upon every free soul to help us achieve that. …source

…”we have to stand in the face of 5 monarchies, 4 monarchies which sent troops to help violate our freedom”

Jordanian MPs and over 1500 political and juridical activists condemn Camp Ashraf massacre
Jordan – Jordan’s Parliament

Algabas daily, Kuwait, May25, 2010

This declaration noted that over 1500 Jordanian figures, including 15 members of Parliament, 3 former ministers, dozens of former parliamentarians and senators, dozens of former politicians and diplomats, dozens of independent Islamic figures and personalities that represent different Islamic interpretations, academics and journalists, employers of private sections, retired figures, physicians and nurses, businessmen and TV and film producers, human rights advocates, law experts, researchers and legal counselors, Muslim and Christian clerics, religious figures and Imams of mosques, engineers, syndicate activists in charity societies, judges and Sharia law judges, association and syndicates, through signing this declaration, recognized the” April 8, 2011 attack of Iraqi forces against Camp Ashraf, which is a disarmed area”, and “the massacre that they perpetrated against the Ashraf residents” as a shameful act for humanity that deserves condemnation and abhorrence and it dangerously violates international laws and common laws and it flagrantly challenges the Fourth Geneva Convention, under which the Ashraf residents are considered protected persons”.

This declaration also supports the proposed plan of the European Parliament delegation led by Struan Stevenson to Iraq regarding the protection of Ashraf residents. …more

Why the Bahrain Grand Prix must be cancelled immediately
Tom Cary is The Telegraph’s Formula One Correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter @tomcaryf1
By Tom Cary Formula One Last updated: February 18th, 2011

There is now no question in my mind that the Bahrain Grand Prix must be cancelled. Why wait until next week? Bernie should do it now.

There are times when sport needs to take a back seat and this is definitely one of those times – no matter how much money is involved or how many interested parties there are (and remember, it’s not just F1’s pockets which are being lined by the grand prix, a cancellation would hit the local economy too, small businesses etc).

The latest reports, in particular this one by Nicholas D Kristoff of the NY Times, paint a terrifying picture of a country that has lost control and lost the plot.

I’ve got to be careful what I say here. In these situations it is always difficult to separate truth from rumour; to tell whether destabilising forces are distorting the picture (for instance, the atrocities described by Kristoff may have been committed by rogue factions who have ulterior motives rather than Bahraini officials). There are pro-government marches too, which haven’t received half the attention. Propaganda may well be clouding our judgement.

But the reaction of the authorities to Kristoff’s report – if true – suggests to me that they are not altogether in touch with reality. A tweet from the American on Friday morning was extraordinary, describing how Bahrain’s royal family is unhappy with his reporting.

“I’ve heard that through the PR firms that they hire,” Kristoff said. “There is apparently a campaign to get me fired – I don’t really know how they’re going to proceed with that. Most remarkably, one member of the royal family tweeted that I am supplying weapons to outlaws and that I have ties to Hezbollah. To me this was a reflection of the completely delusional world in which the government lives. The government does not want reporters here… This is a wealthy country, it’s cosmopolitan, it’s well-educated, it’s a banking centre. And then they have this thuggish behaviour, with police sent in firing on people, crowds. It is astonishing and it breaks your heart.” …more

Ecclestone hopeful Bahrain GP goes ahead
© AP, 27 May 2011
© AP Images

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone still hopes the Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead but admits finding a prospective date in an already long season could yet prove a headache.

F1’s governing body has given Bahrain until June 3 to decide if a new date can be set for the race this year.

It was meant to be the season opener on March 13, but was canceled by Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa after anti-government protests in the country.

“I hope F1 will be racing there, the teams are happy, the problem is the date,” Ecclestone said Thursday at the Monaco Grand Prix. “The trouble for the teams is that it is difficult with all their people, so they’re going to speak to them and find out what the general feeling is.”

Team chiefs discussed the matter after Thursday’s second practice session in Monaco had ended.

The decision whether the race goes ahead, and when, will be made during next week’s World Motor Sport Council meeting in Barcelona.

One possible option is for the Bahrain Grand Prix to take India’s slot at the end of October, meaning New Delhi would have to wait until early December for its inaugural appearance — a move that would also add to an arduous season.

“The teams are concerned they will be overextended, but we have to make a decision because the teams want to know what is going on,” Ecclestone said, adding that there will be no extension to Bahrain’s deadline.

As things currently stand, the Brazilian Grand Prix is scheduled to be the last of the season on Nov. 27.
…source

Bahrain: Acts of harassment and intimidation against Messrs. Abdulla Alderazi and Essa Al-Ghayeb

URGENT APPEAL – THE OBSERVATORY – BHR 007 / 0511 / OBS 083 – Acts of harassment and Intimidation
May 27, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the summons of Mr. Abdulla Alderazi, Secretary General of the Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS), for interrogation by the Military Prosecutor as well as about the travel ban imposed on Mr. Essa Al-Ghayeb, BHRS Deputy Secretary General.

According to the information received, on May 22, 2011, Mr. Abdulla Alderazi was summonsed to the Office of the Military Prosecution for an interrogation without being given any explanations. When he got to the military premises, Mr. Alderazi was interrogated for more than two hours during which he was extensively questioned about his human rights activities and his communication with both international and local media outlets, like Al-Jazeera and Al-Manar. Mr. Alderazi was also accused of participating in the peaceful demonstrations movement that took place in February 2011, although he reminded his interrogators that the right to peaceful assembly was protected by the Constitution of Bahrain.

Mr. Alderazi was told that he might be referred to the military court for trial on the charges of “spreading false information about Bahrain” pursuant to Articles 167 and 176 of the Criminal Code of Bahrain, punishable by six months to one year of imprisonment and/or a fine of 100 Bahraini Dinar (187 Euros). He immediately denied these allegations.

In addition, on April 17, 2011, Mr. Alderazi received a letter that “suspended until final decision” him from his work at the University of Bahrain where he was teaching as a lecturer in the English department. To date, he remains without further news about this new measure against him. To that extent, the Observatory recalls that hundreds of Bahraini have recently been dismissed from their positions for their assumed participation in the demonstrations or for their human rights activities. The Observatory further recalls that on September 8, 2010, the Ministry of Development and Social affairs published a ministerial order ordering the dissolution of the Board of Directors of BHRS, the dismissal of its Secretary General and the appointment of an employee of the Ministry to administer the NGO until the holding of a general assembly, pursuant to Article 23 of the Law of Association No. 21 of 1989. On September 19, 2010, the Board of Directors lodged a complaint against the Ministry. The case was referred to the Urgent Matters Commission, which has failed to date to decide on the matter.

Furthermore, on May 26, 2011, Mr. Essa Al-Ghayeb, who was due to participate in a seminar on the death penalty in Kuwait taking place on May 27-28, was prevented by passport control officers from boarding the plane at the Manama International Airport and informed that he was banned from travelling. Indeed, since the entry into force of a state of emergency on March 15, 2011, the authorities may issue travel bans without providing further details nor any means to challenge it. …more

End actions against the medics in Bahrain
May 27, 2011 By admin 5 Comments

Dear Editor,

Recent events in the Kingdom of Bahrain have evidenced violations of the Geneva Conventions, with the arrest of doctors and nursing staff treating persons injured during civil unrest in that country.

The Physicians for Human Rights organisation, together with Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International and others, have called for a cessation of such actions. Latest information reveals these persons are to be put on trial.

Ireland has a direct involvement with the Bahraini authorities, training and advising on healthcare through a medical school involvement in that country, and it is now incumbent to speak out in defence of colleagues who have disappeared and are believed to be in custody.

Readers are encouraged to register their protest through the International Red Cross Committee in Geneva (guardians of the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols) or any of the above-mentioned organisations.

John Good,

Centre for the Care of Survivors of Torture,
Dublin 7. …more

Human Rights Watch
May 26, 2011

“……”Sadly, serious violations like arbitrary arrest, incommunicado detention, and alleged torture by Bahraini authorities pre-date the imposition of martial law in mid-March,” said Tom Porteous, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch. “There is little reason to think that ending martial law on June 1 will make much difference in Bahrain’s menacing human rights climate.”

Human Rights Watch questioned whether a successful Formula One event could be held in an environment characterized by large-scale arbitrary arrests, prolonged incommunicado detentions, credible allegations of torture, and mass dismissals of workers, in violation of Bahraini as well as international law. According to recent news reports, those dismissals and arrests include about a quarter of the staff of the government-owned Bahrain International Circuit, the site of the annual Bahrain Grand Prix.

Human Rights Watch noted that Bahrain, rather than halting its abusive practices, has restricted news coverage of protests and the aftermath [Just like Syria!]. It has detained and beaten Bahraini journalists, including some working for international media, such as France 24. Earlier in May, the government expelled the Reuters correspondent Frederik Richter, the only international journalist based in Bahrain in recent years, who had been covering events there since 2008. Since April 20, the government has prevented Human Rights Watch from working in the country.
“International racing officials should ask Bahraini authorities about the fate and well-being of the Bahrain International Circuit staff,” Porteous said. “And racing officials should seriously consider the appropriateness of holding a Formula One event this year in Bahrain in light of the scale of human rights violations there.”” …source

Cleric Describes Bahrain as “Large Prison”

Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ahmad Khatami blamed the US as well as the Bahraini and Saudi regimes for turning Bahrain into a large prison with hard labor.
“The US, al-Saud (of Saudi Arabia) and al-Khalifa (of Bahrain), have turned Bahrain into a big jail under tough conditions,” Ayatollah Khatami said, addressing a fervent congregation of worshippers on Tehran University Campus here on Friday.

“In the country’s prisons, medieval torture [techniques] is practiced under US management and they have drilled the leg of one man and burned the body of another,” he said.

The Iranian cleric said Israeli and British elements oversee the torture of protesters in Bahrain and their henchmen, who are supporters of the Ba’ath forces of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and Zionists, and carry out their orders.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty’s over-40-year rule.

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states were dispatched to the tiny kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors. …source

[editor note: new story, old news? working on verification of currency of reported events]

Bahraini forces attack villages
27/05/2011 05:19:06 PM GMT

Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have attacked anti-government protesters in several villages across the Persian Gulf sheikdom.

Witnesses say regime troops used tear gas and concussion bombs to disperse protesters in Diraz, Bani Jamrah and some other villages on Friday.

The protesters called for an end to the Al Khalifa rule and the immediate release of detained anti-government protesters.

According to witnesses, Bahraini protesters in recent days have their faces covered to avoid recognition by regime forces.

Saudi-backed Bahraini troops have arrested hundreds of anti-government protesters during overnight operations after identifying them based on pictures taken from opposition rallies.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or arrests on Friday.

Since the beginning of anti-regime protests in Bahrain in mid-February, Manama has launched a harsh crackdown on anti-government protesters, rounding up senior opposition figures and activists in dawn raids and arresting doctors, nurses, lawyers and journalists who have voiced support for the protest movement.

While the whereabouts of many detainees are still unknown, Bahraini authorities have begun to try a number of detained activists in what the opposition calls kangaroo courts.

Protesters have been charged with several counts such as attempting to overthrow the monarchy, and they are being tried in a special security court set up under martial law.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the Bahraini government for its brutal crackdown on civilians.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which visits detainees in conflict situations, has been trying to see and contact Bahraini detained activists since mid-March. But so far Manama has refused to grant it permission.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s state news agency says that military prosecutors have asked the country’s highest court to review death penalties issued against two anti-regime protesters.

Human Rights Watch as also called on the country to stop trying civilians in military courts. …source

Activists from around the Middle East tell FP what they’d like to hear from Obama’s speech on Thursday.
MAY 18, 2011

Bahrain
Nabeel Rajab

What did you learn about the United States’ foreign policy in their response to the uprising in your country?

We thought that our regime’s strong ties with the U.S. administration would strengthen our movement towards democracy and human rights, but unfortunately it turned out to have the opposite effect. It is the first time we feel this kind of oppression and pain caused by the U.S. decision to practice double standards in their foreign policy.

I am afraid that the cautious silence of the U.S. administration has caused them to lose the hearts and minds of the people in this part of the world. It has become evident today that, to the United States, democracy and human rights should only be applied to countries that are in conflict with the United States — but not with dictatorships it calls its allies.

It is time for the United States to realize the urgency of the situation before it completely loses momentum with the people here. Look at history: The United States did the same thing with Iran more than 30 years ago and this is the result. The United States should no longer build its long-lasting strategy depending on repressive regimes, but rather with the people before they lose both. …source

Boats set sail to aid Gaza
31 May: Launch of Freedom Flotilla 2

Freedom Flotilla 2 hits the waves at the end of this month with 12 ships from 23 countries – including Canada, Ireland, Britain, Australia, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia and the US. Spearheaded by the Free Gaza Movement, which had previously sailed five successful missions to Gaza aboard two small adapted pleasure boats, last year’s flotilla had ended with boats attacked by Israeli commandos. Eight Turkish and one US civilian were killed, over 40 were injured and 700 were jailed as a result.

The UN fact-finding mission report on the incident, released last September, found evidence of grave breaches of the Geneva Convention, including wilful killing and torture committed by Israeli forces. Israel has justified its soldiers’ actions as self-defence and has said it will use snipers and attack-dogs to stop future flotillas.

Israel has vowed to stop this year’s flotilla, but activists are planning a co-ordinated defence using nonviolent direct action and anti-piracy tactics. Says writer and anti-war activist Fintan Lane of the Irish Boat to Gaza effort: ‘We’ll be doing everything in our power to prevent the Israeli army coming onto our boats, because if they board us they will kill us.’ …more

Bahrain: Bahraini authorities stormed the home of human rights defenders “Third stormed ”
May 27th, 2011

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) is deeply concerned about Mr.Naji Fateel Member of the Board of Directors of the BYSHR.

Today( 27 May 2011 – 2 am) :Security forces stormed his house, “Third stormed ” looking for him,but could not be found.

Mr.Fateel , Previously arrested in 2007 and was released later.He subjected to torture in prison.

Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights calls for protection of human rights organizations and human rights defenders.

Ref: http://byshr.org/?p=423

Union Leaders Arrested in Bahrain Crackdown
Jane Slaughter – May 26, 2011

As the Arab Spring movements for democracy swept the Middle East, the tiny oil kingdom of Bahrain saw repeated demonstrations in its own version of Cairo’s Tahrir Square. In the kingdom’s Pearl Roundabout, union members were among those calling for constitutional reform. They’ve held two general strikes.

The government, with support from neighboring Saudi Arabia, cracked down violently, arresting and beating suspected protesters and firing more than 1,300 workers, including 12 of 15 officers of the oil union. Twenty-one political and human rights leaders are being tried in as a group in military court, charged with conspiracy to overthrow the government. The government wants to bring oil union leaders in front of the same court, where the death penalty is on the table.

Authorities are looking at photos from the marches and telling employers to fire people they can identify, targeting workers from the majority Shia Muslim population. AFL-CIO Solidarity Center staffer Shawna Bader-Blau and Greg Junemann, president of the Professional and Technical Engineers union (IFPTE), went to Bahrain May 10-12 to meet with members of the beleaguered General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.

Labor Notes: What was the Bahrain labor movement like before the protests? Shawna Bader-Blau: It was the most activist and progressive labor movement in the Gulf, the unique gem of the labor movement. It’s horrifying to watch it attacked and threatened with being dismantled. Bahrain’s union federation has 25,000 members in 65 workplaces out of a workforce of 600,000. Of those, 400,000 or so are migrants, mostly from South Asia. The federation fought for migrants being allowed to join the unions and run for election.

They have unions in oil, telecom, aluminum, hotels, Gulf Air, ship repair. All of those have seen a majority or near majority of their leaders fired. The public sector doesn’t have organizing rights but they have “societies.” The entire leadership of the teachers’ society was arrested. One top leader of the nurses’ society appeared on TV in what appeared to be a forced confession.

There is a ferocious campaign in the state-run media, naming individual union leaders, showing pictures of people who demonstrated, with a circle around their faces.…more

Backstop Bahrain
Posted by Joseph Cotterill on May 26 14:15.
ft.com/alphaville
DIFC – Dubai, May 26, 2011
Thursday’s political risk datapoint:

The main driver underlying Moody’s decision to downgrade is the significant deterioration in Bahrain’s political environment since February. The government of Bahrain has forcibly suppressed an uprising by the Shi’ah-led opposition with the backing of an intervention of armed forces from other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), most importantly from its neighbour Saudi Arabia. Political tensions in the country remain high and there seems little prospect of the underlying causes of the unrest being peaceably resolved, at least over the short term. The political outlook is therefore highly uncertain.

Moody’s believes that these events are likely to have damaged economic growth significantly, especially in services sectors such as tourism, trade and financial services. These sectors had previously been championed by the government in its effort to diversify the economy away from oil. The timing and pace of any economic recovery will very much depend on political developments. In any case, the negative effect on consumer and investor confidence will likely linger.

The crisis has also affected Bahrain’s public finances. In February, the government announced cash transfers to families, and in May the parliament approved an expansionary budget for 2011-12. The resulting rise in current expenditure is reducing fiscal flexibility.

Even as the Bahraini government is set to lift martial law at long last, Saudi and other Gulf military forces show no signs of leaving, for example.

So it’s a weird kind of backstop. More like a brutal embrace. But if we are talking backstops, isn’t interesting to note that Bahrain government paper has traded at around 100bps tighter than Dubai debt during the Arab Spring?

And that’s even counting the big rally in Dubai bonds this year, a significant reason for which was the United Arab Emirates’ own backstop of Dubai companies’ debt restructuring.…more

Bahrain falls 51 places in Global Peace Index 2011 on unrest

Bahrain’s score deteriorated by the second-largest margin after Libya
26 May 2011

Bahrain’s global peace ranking has dropped 51 places to 123 out of 153 countries according to a report by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

The Gulf state, which faced a wave of Shi’ite-led protests in February and March that left at least 29 people dead, was the second biggest fall after Libya which declined 83 places to 143 position.

The uprising in Bahrain and the dramatic escalation of violence by the army against protesters in mid-February is reflected in sharp deteriorations in most of the country’s measures of societal safety and security.

Bahrain Detailed Report
Bahrain Rank: 123
Change in score 2010-11: 0.429
Change in rank 2010-11: -47

Protests in Bahrain calling for economic and political reform began on February 14th 2011 and gathered momentum after two protesters were shot in the first two days. In an extraordinary escalation, on February 18th, the army was deployed on the streets of central Manama, the capital. Troops fired live ammunition at protesters who gathered there – a sudden escalation of violence in a small, peaceful country with a low crime rate that was reflected in its position around the midpoint of the GPI in previous years. The dramatic events of February and March, inspired by the unprecedented “Arab Spring”, led to sharp increases to most of the qualitative indicators of conflict and safety and security in society, precipitating a slide in the rankings to 123rd position. The drop would have been even more pronounced but for improvements to three of Bahrain’s GPI indicators from last year: a reduction in military capability and sophistication, a fall number of armed service personnel and a slight improvement in the Political Terror Scale tally (to 1.5). …more

Bahrain Meets Majority of International Standards for Human Development; Aims to be First Arab Country to Upgrade Millennium Development Goals
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Thu May 26, 2011 5:39pm EDT

Bahrain Meets Majority of International Standards for Human Development; Aims to be First Arab Country to Upgrade Millennium Development Goals

PR Newswire

MANAMA, Bahrain, May 26, 2011

MANAMA, Bahrain, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — As Bahrain nears its international targets for human development, the country should expand its Millennium Development Goals while incorporating the Economic Vision 2030 plan, says UN Resident Coordinator Sayed Aqa. If accomplished, Bahrain would be the first Arab country to meet its current targets and upgrade its Millennium Development Goals, according to Gulf Daily News..

“Bahrain has met almost all of the international goals and standards with the exception of environment and women and we are proceeding there,” he said. “All goals should be upscaled and additional goals for Bahrain should be put according to the vision and government plans to make Bahrain an example in the region because no Arab country has done what we call MDG plus or upscale MDG targets.”

During Aqa’s tenure, Bahrain improved in categories such as human rights, women’s empowerment, political development and trade. Successful initiatives like trade negotiation programs for the Industry and Commerce Ministry, Free Trade Agreements, UNDP capacity development and strategic planning, and information management programs for parliament and the Shura Council have led to the country’s progress. In addition, Bahrain has seen success in microfinance and NGO training.

“The most significant achievement I would say is that as a result of that pilot program now two banks have been created in Bahrain, the Family Bank and Ebdaa Bank,” he said. “They both now give loans to small business and that is a result of the success, so now we can reduce our engagement and have a true national process.” ..more