Hungry for Freedom, Starving for Justice: a Story of Hunger Striker Adnan Khader
By Mira Dabit – Michaelmoore.com – moqawama.com – 22 February, 2012

Sometimes when I ponder about being a Palestinian, my mind travels towards the direction of responsibility, a heavy load of existence, survival, humanity and freedom. A life where everything seems to be somehow a beautiful disaster.

When people ask me how I view myself, I answer that I’m a Palestinian woman – which in my mind equals a survivor, a human.

A few months ago on a Tuesday morning, I drove past the Israeli barrier wall in Bethlehem, and stared at this ugly grey structure that has destroyed the geography of a once-beautiful land, turning it into huge prison blocks and bantu stands. Feelings of pain and anger filled my heart as I tried my best to avoid looking at this thing that to me is a visual representation of the “Israeli” occupation … until I came upon a graffiti on the wall that read in huge letters “existence is resistance.” These three words filled my face with a smile and a sensation of pride and honor to belong to a people who have dedicated their life to the plight and hope of justice.

What fills my heart today is the struggle of Adnan Khader, a 33-year-old baker from a village near Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Adnan Khader is now entering his 62nd day on hunger strike after he was put under “Administrative Detention” – that is, imprisonment without trail or charge or evidence in “Israeli” jail

Mr. Adnan Khader started his hunger strike protest on the 18th of December. His affiliation with an Islamic political group seems to be a good enough reason for being imprisoned in violation of his basic human right, stated in Article 19 of the UN bill of rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” So what was Adnan’s crime? Having opinions? Thinking differently than what “Israel” likes? What would the world be like if everyone who thought differently and expressed it was put in prison

Khader Adnan’s life at the moment is in the hands of the “Israeli” military court, an arm of the colonial Israeli occupation of the land of Palestine. Earlier this week, an Israeli military court rejected an appeal against Adnan’s continued detention. The “Israeli” prison service has said Adnan was being dealt with in accordance to his “definition as a security-administrative prisoner.”
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Saudi-backed Bahraini force attack mourning protesters in Sitra
22 February, 2012 – By shiapost

Saudi-backed Bahraini troops have attacked hundreds of people mourning the death of an elderly man killed by the Al Khalifah regime forces over the weekend, Press TVreports.

The violence erupted in the eastern city of Sitra where people had come out to mourn the death of 85-year-old Mansour Salman who died after inhaling toxic tear gas in an anti-regime rally.

The protesters who had taken out to the street also condemned the continuous crackdown on anti-regime demonstrators and called for the downfall of the regime.

Similar incidents of violence have also been reported in the villages of Dair, Boory and several other locations across the country.

Bahrain has been hit by a wave of anti-regime protests since February 2011. Dozens have been killed and hundreds wounded in the regime’s brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

Despite the ongoing crackdown, demonstrations have recently escalated in the kingdom. ..source

Egypt’s other revolution: Modernizing the military-industrial complex
By Shana Marshall, 20 February, 2012 – Pambazuka – FPIF

The Egyptian military produces a staggering array of manufactured goods: kitchen cutlery, flat-screen televisions, agricultural and household chemicals, refrigerators, industrial machinery, railway cars, and election booths. And while many of the military’s factory webpages make a concerted attempt to promote their wares, the careful observer gets the feeling that the production of air conditioners and gas stoves has superseded the production of guns and ammo. Although the military has been co-producing weapons systems in its factories under license from Western arms manufacturers for decades, the production lines and maintenance facilities constructing and modifying American M1A1 tanks, British armored vehicles, French Alpha Jets, and Chinese versions of Soviet MiGs are remnants of agreements originally signed in the mid-1980s and early-1990s, initiated by the now-deceased former Field Marshal (and staunch US ally) Mohamed Abdel Halim Abu Ghazala.

The intervening decade saw few new agreements — and none on the scale of these previous projects. Owing primarily to a reputation for poor quality, the Egyptian military lacks a robust export market for its defense products, many of which end up in warehouses. Yet the military’s production lines continue to roll out weapons systems that exceed what even a bloated military can absorb: thanks to its continuing M1A1 co-production program with the US, Egypt is now home to more tanks than all of Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America combined. The military’s economic planners know that a revival of their defense-industrial complex will not be achieved through an expansion of these aging operations, but rather through cultivating new smaller scale projects that partner the Egyptian armed forces with a diverse portfolio of second- and third-tier foreign defense manufacturers willing to transfer modern technologies in exchange for lucrative sales contracts with Cairo. …more

cb editor: The death of Hajj Mansour Salman Hassan, is yet another example of King Hamad’s murderous reign, as hired authority figures appoint themselves as experts in fields where they lack credentials as legitimate experts. ITS BULLSHIT KING HAMAD. Timoney is an expert on brutality but hardly an expert on health effects of CS gas – wonder if he’s ever read the lable? Cherif Bassiouni is a biased Human Rights expert not a Grand Prix consultant or spokesperson for the people of Bahrain. These men are posers and opportunist grand standing for the morally reprehensible al Khalifa Regime.

Bahraini Old Man Martyred of Toxic Gas
local editor – moqawama.org

As the Bahraini government insists in its series brutal attacks on civilians, 70th Bahraini civilian has been martyred of asphyxia after Saudi-backed regime forces fired toxic tear gas into his house.

Hajj Mansour Salman Hassan, 85, from Sitrah village, was martyred Saturday morning after al-Khalifa forces attacked his house using tear gas.

Martyr Hajj Mansoor was asleep in the hall in when al-Khalifa mercenary forces threw toxic tear into his house.

As his daughter carried him to the another room, she came back to find her father thrown on the ground breathing heavily, his eyes red and his left hand had swollen as a result of falling.

“He could not speak,” she said.

The family tried to transfer him to the nearest hospital but because of heavy toxic gases covering the region, they were not able to hospitalize him.

His health was getting worse, when he was transferred to emergency Salmaniya hospital. However, all doctors’ efforts went in vain as the old man was martyred.
…source

Bahrain grand prix should go ahead, says independent commissioner
Paul Weaver – guardian.co.uk – February 2012

Supporters of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled for 22 April, have won an important ally in the shape of Cherif Bassiouni, a United Nations war crimes expert and the chairman of the independent commission which has monitored the fractious situation in the Gulf state over the past 12 months.

The Egyptian Bassiouni – who was appointed by the Bahrain royal family but has been critical of the authorities after last year’s disturbances – has written to the chairman of the Bahrain GP, Zayed Alzayani, and also to the Formula One principal rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, giving his support for the race to go ahead, despite the ongoing protests from pro-democracy groups.

In his letter, Bassiouni says: “The grand prix is a significant national event, which is of great interest to a substantial percentage of the population and all of its communities. It is, therefore, an event of deserved national pride, which you have used in this year’s launching as a way of promoting national healing and reconciliation.

“Aside from the economic, publicity and public relations advantages that the grand prix brings to Bahrain it is, on the one year anniversary of the February/March events of last year, an important point of departure for the people of Bahrain to forge ahead in their national efforts towards reconciliation.”

Bassiouni was appointed by the ruling royal family, who last year had to back down under domestic and international pressure and abandon the race which was scheduled to launch the 2011 season, to chair an independent report into the event.

But his criticism of last year’s clumsy efforts to control the protesters can now only lend credence to his current position, which is not only that the race should go ahead but that it could also be a force for good for the troubled country.

The future of the race remains in considerable doubt, and a final call may not be made until a week or so before it is due to take place. At the circuit the feeling is that it will happen. But if there are pictures broadcast around the world of demonstrations being violently put down near to the track it could be an expensive own goal for the sport.

As for Bahrain itself, the government is anxious not to experience a repeat of last year, when an estimated £300m was lost following the cancellation. …source

A year of repression: Bahrain continues crackdown on press
By Khalid Ibrahim – Committee to Protect Journalists – 13 February, 2012

In the year since peaceful protests began in Bahrain on February 14, 2011, the government has targeted the press corps with assault, detention, harassment, and torture to obstruct their coverage. My organization, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, has documented a systematic campaign by authorities to silence coverage of our country’s unrest. Here are just some of the many attacks on the press:

Bahraini newspapers are either guided or owned by the state except for Al-Wasat, whose staff members have come under severe attack because of the paper’s independence. Karim Fakhrawi, a founder of Al-Wasat, paid the ultimate price. He died in police custody in April 2011, just three days after imprisoned blogger Zakariya al-Ashiri also died in custody. Authorities have barred independent investigations into the deaths despite the fact that both journalists were healthy before being imprisoned just days earlier.

On November 8, a court in Manama found four Al-Wasat journalists guilty of publishing false news in March 2011. The journalists–Editor-in-Chief Mansoor al-Jamri, Managing Editor Walid Noueihed, Local News Director Aqeel Mirza, and Senior Editor Ali al-Sherify–were fined 1,000 dinars (US$2,650) each. Al-Jamri’s wife, journalist Reem Khalifa, has been targeted as well. On July 14, pro-government supporters assaulted Khalifa in a Manama hotel. I was there, and I have testified about the attack against her and how she faced her assailants with courage. But the politicized judiciary ignored her complaint and instead heard a complaint brought against her by government supporters who lodged allegations of defamation and assault. Authorities continue to pursue these false charges against Khalifa, who was the victim of the assault.

Police officers, by law, have a duty to protect citizens, but journalist Mazen Mahdi’s rights have repeatedly been violated. Security forces have beaten, humiliated, handcuffed, and blindfolded Mahdi, a contributor to Deutsche Presse Agentur, because of his coverage of demonstrations. These attacks were carried out in police stations and in the presence of other officers.

Reuters cameraman Hamad Mohammed Iqbal was injured twice while reporting on peaceful protests. On September 8, he suffered a neck injury when security forces attacked a crowd of demonstrators. On December 15, he was hit with tear gas while covering a demonstration. Nazeeha Saeed, a correspondent for France 24, was kicked, punched, and slapped after being arrested on May 22. Accused of lying in her coverage, Saeed was freed only after she was forced to sign a confession that she was not allowed to read. …more

Russia warns Israel not to attack Iran
22 February, 2012 – By Alexei Anishchuk – Reuters

MOSCOW: Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be a disastrous and played down the failure of a U.N. nuclear agency mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over the Iranian atomic program.

“Of course any possible military scenario against Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of international relations,” Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told a news conference.

It was one of Russia’s starkest warnings against resorting to force, an option Israel and the United States have not ruled out if they conclude that diplomacy and increasing sanctions will not stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.

“I hope Israel understands all these consequences … and they should also consider the consequences of such action for themselves,” Gatilov said. “I hope a realistic approach will prevail, along with a sensible assessment.”

Russia, China as well as many allies of the United States are concerned that any military action against Iran could engulf the Middle East in wider war, which would send oil prices rocketing at a time of global economic troubles.

Iran has threatened to retaliate for any attack, or even if it feels endangered, by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for Gulf oil exports crucial to the global economy, and hitting Israel and U.S. interests in the Middle East.

Tehran has refused to stop sensitive nuclear work such as uranium enrichment despite four rounds of U.N. sanctions and a slew of additional measures imposed by the United States and the European Union, which fear Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons.

The Islamic Republic says its efforts to produce nuclear fuel are solely for electricity generation.

The failure of two days of talks between Iran and senior International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials, who were refused access to a military site where they believe Iran tested explosives of use in nuclear weapons, dimmed the chances of Western powers agreeing to renew broader negotiations with Iran.
…more

Police Chief Timoney, Meet Bahraini Mothers
by Medea Benjamin – 21 February, 2012 – Common Dreams

John Timoney is the controversial former Miami police chief well known for orchestrating brutal crackdowns on protests in Miami and Philadelphia- instances with rampant police abuse, violence, and blatant disregard for freedom of expression. It should be of great concern that the Kingdom of Bahrain has brought Timoney and John Yates, former assistant commissioner of Britain’s Metropolitan Police, to “reform” Bahrain’s security forces. [A Bahraini anti-government protester argues with riot policemen. (AP)] A Bahraini anti-government protester argues with riot policemen. (AP)

Since assuming his new position, Timoney has claimed that Bahrain has been reforming it brutal police tactics in response to recommendations issued by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. He says that there is less tear gas being used and that while tear gas might be “distasteful,” it’s not really harmful.

I have no idea what country Chief Timoney is talking about, because it’s certainly not the Bahrain I saw this past week, a week that marked the one-year anniversary since the February 14, 2011 uprising.

I was in Bahrain for five days before being deported for joining a peaceful women’s march. During my stay, I accompanied local human rights activists to the villages where protests were raging and police cracking down. Every day, I inhaled a potent dose of tear gas, and came close to being hit in the head with tear gas canisters. Every evening I saw the fireworks and smelled the noxious fumes as hundreds of tear gas canisters were lobbed into the village of Bani Jamrah, next door to where I was staying. The villagers would get on their roofs yelling “Down, Down Hamad” (referring to the King). In exchange, as a form of collective punishment, the whole village would be doused in tear gas. I went to bed coughing, eyes burning, wondering how in the world the Bahrainis can stand this.

Tear gas is supposed to be used to disperse violent gatherings that pose a threat to law and order. It is not supposed to be used on unarmed protesters who are simply exercising their freedoms of expression and assembly.

“Shamefully, Bahrain has the highest tear gas use, per capita, in the world,” said human rights activist Nabeel Rajab. “And the police don’t just shoot outside to disperse crowds. They use the tear gas canisters as weapons, shooting them directly at people. And they shoot the gas right into people’s houses. If Mr. Timoney thinks the use of tear gas here is ‘moderate,’ he has obviously not spent many evenings in Bahraini villages.”

Timoney also told reporters that there is no evidence that tear gas has killed anyone. He should meet Zahra Ali, the mother of Yassin Jassim Al Asfoor.

On November 19, 2011, riot police—running around the village of Ma’ameer searching for a few people chanting anti-government slogans—fired three tear gas canisters directly into her home.
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Coma woman due to be flown home for treatment dies
By ANIQA HAIDER – 22 February, 2012 – Gulf Daily

A WOMAN who had been unconscious in hospital for almost a month died yesterday – a day before her company was due to send her home to India for treatment.

Rose Nisha Naikarottu Baby Varghese, 28, was admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex on January 25 after slipping into a coma during an asthma attack.

The Avis Rent-a-Car administration secretary had earlier been pronounced brain dead.

The family, who live in Manama, claim tear gas used to disperse protesters may have triggered the asthma attack.

“She suffered from cold and cough that led to the asthma attack and breathlessness and fell unconscious in my arms,” said her brother Anish Baby Varghese.

He thanked doctors for doing everything they could to save her. “We were waiting for the doctor’s permission to take her to India. After getting the approval, the company arranged to send her today, if she had been alive.”

Ms Varghese joined Avis in 2007. Her husband Binu T David, a former Bahrain Financing Company marketing executive, now works in Qatar.

The couple came from Pathananthitta, Kerala, and lived in Bahrain for seven years.

A mass prayer will be held today at St Mary’s Orthodox Church, Manama. The family is expected to leave tonight with the body after completion of legal procedures.
…source

Bahrain Sunnis warn government over dialogue at rally
22 February, 2012 – Reuters – By Andrew Hammond

MANAMA, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Sunni Muslims warned the Bahraini government at a rally against entering a dialogue with Shi’ite-led opposition parties, as pressure mounts for the Sunni-led Gulf Arab state to end unrest now entering its second year.

The tourism and banking hub, dominated by the Sunni Al Khalifa family, has been in turmoil since a protest movement for democratic reforms erupted on February 14 last year and was put down one month later with a period of martial law.

“How can there be a dialogue at this time? The majority of citizens ask, is this the time for dialogue and a political solution? Security is the priority!” said Khalid Bloashi, reading a statement from a Sunni youth group that organised the rally of about 20,000 people in central Manama late on Tuesday.

“The priority is deterring vandalism that aims to blackmail the nation for foreign agendas… We will never accept backroom dialogue, so for how long will the state ignore us?”

The warnings over dialogue come after it emerged last week that royal court minister Khaled bin Ahmed last month met figures from Wefaq, a Shi’ite Islamist party which won almost half of parliament seats in past elections, as well as three secular opposition parties on a separate occasion.

The crowd, carrying a sea of Bahraini flags peppered with the green flag of government ally Saudi Arabia and a few others, chanted back: “No dialogue! No dialogue!”

Recent months have seen an escalation in clashes between riot police and Shi’ite protesters. Shi’ites are thought to be a majority on the island and complain of political and economic marginalisation. The government denies this.

Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and iron bars. Activists say that while police have not used live fire, an official death toll of 35 last June has risen to over 60 as a result of heavy-handed use of tear gas, stun grenades and speeding police cars. Two people died in police custody last month. …more