Voices must be Free to be Heard – Reform impossible without Voices of the Leadership

Bahrain: International support for the people as Al Khalifa commit more crimes
Bahrain Freedom Movement – 27/05/2011 – 5:29 p | Hits: 369

With the prospect of further flare ups next week of the people’s revolution, the Al Khalifa have been working around the clock to elicit some international support and legitimacy as a way out of the crisis. Their efforts have, however, failed drastically. The Al Khalifa crown prince’s visit to UK and Europe brought not tangible support to his policy of repression and dictatorship.

He proved to be an embarrassment to his hosts as people were infuriated by his presence. In London Bahrainis protested outside Downing Street as the Independent Newspaper declared on its front page: “Cameron embraces tyranny”. In a speech addressing the Middle East, U.S. President Barack Obama said that “mass arrests and brute force are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain’s citizens, and will not make legitimate calls for reform go away.” Calling for dialogue, he added, “You can’t have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail.” This statement followed the sentencing of two Bahrainis to death on a false accusation of participating in the killing of two policemen. There is now a feeling of outrage at the way the Al Khalifa have been allowed to kill Bahrainis with impunity; whether by bullets while protesting, torture in detention or execution in courts where the judge is the executioner. The ruling has been unanimously condemned throughout the world.

Yesterday, a protest delivered to the Bahrain Embassy in Brussels today by international, European and Belgian trade union organisations called on the authorities in the Gulf state to stop their violent campaign against the country’s trade union movement, to reinstate over 1,000 workers sacked and to drop false charges against union leaders, journalists and human rights defenders. “The Bahraini authorities have launched a vicious crackdown on peaceful and legitimate civil society organisations, including the trade union movement. There are real threats to the personal safety of people who are simply calling for legitimate reform and social justice. The government’s attempts to promote division and avoid change by misusing the power of the state are wrong and unsustainable. We are calling on them to stop repression, release all detained trade unionists, teachers, journalists, students and workers. The only way to end this impasse which threatens the country’s future is to open genuine dialogue for progress, and stop the repression,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.” …more