…from beneath the crooked bough, witness 230 years of brutal tyranny by the al Khalifas come to an end
Random header image... Refresh for more!

Broken promises, misdirection and redefinition of narratives filed with lies and deceit, dominate King Hamad’s new agenda for reform

by Courtesy

cb editor: King Hamad is hard at work reducing and redefining democratic reforms in a complete abandonment of 2002 constitutional promises, which seems to be precisely what set off the 14 February Uprising to begin with… J.E Peterson has a good paper titled Bahrain: Reform, Promise and Reality publish by J.E. Peterson, a great read for grounding regarding the history of King Hamad’s bullshit reforms. HERE

Bahrain king promises to expand parliament powers

Bahrain’s king promised Sunday that the strife-wracked Gulf nation will move ahead with political reforms that widen the powers of the elected parliament to oversee governments selected by the ruling monarchy.

15 January, 2012 – By REEM KHALIFA – Associated Press

MANAMA, Bahrain — Bahrain’s king promised Sunday that the strife-wracked Gulf nation will move ahead with political reforms that widen the powers of the elected parliament to oversee governments selected by the ruling monarchy.

The reforms are part of recommendations that emerged last year from talks between various political and civil groups on easing tensions in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, which has faced more than 11 months of protests by the island’s Shiite majority.

More than 35 people have died in the unrest, which began as an Arab Spring-inspired uprising for greater rights but has shifted into a challenge against the authority of the 200-year-old ruling Sunni dynasty. Bahrain’s leaders and Gulf Arab allies claim that Shiite power Iran has encouraged the violence in the strategic nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

In a nationally televised address, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said he would soon issue royal decrees to amend the constitution and grant a greater role to the 40-seat lower house of parliament.

The measures include allowing lawmakers to approve governments proposed by the ruling dynasty and giving greater authority to question and remove Cabinet officials. Parliament would also play a larger role in setting the state budget and proposing laws, he said.

But the changes are unlikely to appease Shiite opposition groups. Bahrain’s main Shiite groups have withdrawn from parliament and boycotted the so-called national dialogue reform talks last summer. …more