As it grows more desperate by the hour, Bahrain Regime “Bans” Marches that WIll NOT BE STOPPED

Bahrain bans opposition rallies, dialogue efforts continue
13 July, 2012 – By Atallah al-Salim – Reuters

DUBAI: Bahrain has said it is banning opposition rallies in order to prevent disruption to traffic and street violence that are sabotaging efforts to end unrest in the Gulf Arab state.

But the opposition described the move as a new attempt to silence them.

The island state ruled by the Sunni Al Khalifa family has seen unrest since an uprising for political reforms, led by majority Shi’ites, was launched in February 2011 after revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.

The uprising was initially crushed during a period of martial law but unrest has continued with regular organised protests by opposition parties and clashes between riot police and youths who say the monarchy marginalises them.

A senior official said the government had no new plans to ban rallies outright, but wanted to make sure they did not turn violent.

The Interior Ministry said this week it had banned a series of rallies on Thursday and Friday organised by the leading opposition party Wefaq, the latest in a series of publicly announced bans over the past month,.

It cited public interest and traffic concerns.

“Holding these marches will damage people’s interests and hold up traffic,” state news agency BNA said latge on Thursday, citing public security chief Tariq al-Hassan.

“The marches cannot be considered as responsible freedom of expression,” it said, adding that march organisers had not been able to control them in the past.

Senior Wefaq member Abduljalil Khalil decried what he said was a new policy to end the use of the street to demand reforms.

“This will lead to more escalation since people now feel no hope. There is no chance to practise their freedom, they have cornered everybody now,” he said.

Amnesty International criticised the bans on Thursday, saying the government was violating fundamental rights. A government statement said the interior ministry was working on identifying “approved locations” for rallies.

Since April the authorities have stepped up efforts to crack down on unrest. Activists cite an increased use of shotgun pellets, whose use authorities have declined to confirm or deny.

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