Press Release: Calling for #Self-Determination – We Are Not There Yet!
by Pearl Revolution Political Center – مركز 14 فبراير السياسي on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 6:30pm ·

After more than six months in suspension, the Youth Coalition of Feb 14 Revolution has suddenly decided to resume the “Self-determination” anti-regime protests, which they organized throughout the last year. In political terms, Self-determination is “the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or interference(1)”.

It is worth to mention that the concept was first promoted by US ex-president Woodrow Wilson following WW1(2). Knowing how US policy makers think, the purpose behind promoting self-determination was not a noble one at all but was the complete opposite. The concept was used to fuel sectarian and tribal conflicts in rival countries in order to undermine the political systems or at the very least to destabilize them. It is not surprising that the UN only intervene to “help” nations achieve self-determination after destructive and armed conflicts.

Although some exceptions apply, such as the case when the UK occupation of Bahrain was ended in 1971 where a “fake” self-determination vote was conducted. The end result was merely a replacement of UK occupation by complete US influence and hence real self-determination was never achieved.

Another recent example is the independence of South Sudan district from Khartoum (which is outside US sphere of influence). The very first diplomatic visit conducted by the president of the “new” nation was to the occupied Palestinian territories (Israel)!

In other words, relying on the UN and the “International Community” to achieve self-determination is pointless because the end results would be pre-determined to benefit US interests and its Western allies.

The Youth Coalition of Feb 14 Revolution has called for the right of self-determination based on UN guidelines(3). In our opinion, this approach is futile and would place the fate of the Bahrain revolution in the hands of the US because the UN is nothing but a US puppet after all.

Nevertheless, there are two possible options for a self-determination vote in Bahrain:

1) Constitutional Monarchy.

2) Second: an independent state – such as republic.

Even in the unlikely event where the UN (and US) support self-determination vote, the first option is guaranteed to triumph due to the massive and unlawful political naturalization in Bahrain and abroad too.

Nonetheless, the right for self-determination does not exempt criminals from punishment regardless of the vote result. And since all regime figureheads in Bahrain have committed crimes against humanity (including Salman the Alkhalifa Crown Prince), the first option effectively becomes invalid and thus the second option wins by acclamation and there would be no need for self-determination vote from the first place!
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