Bahrain Regime Expands Genocidal Purge of Pro-democracy Citizens

Bahrain: New attacks on democracy movement
Sunday, April 17, 2011
By Ash Pemberton

The Bahraini government has ordered the dissolution of two opposition political parties. The move is part of its crackdown against the pro-democracy movement that broke out in February.

The al-Wefaq and al-Amal parties were ordered to dissolve for “threatening peace”. The order is in response to their involvement in the protests that called for the removal of the Khalifah royal family, which has ruled the country for more than 200 years, the April 14 Washington Post said.

Four people were killed in police custody after authorities launched a campaign of mass arrests, CNN.com said on April 13. At least two of those killed showed signs of torture.

Human Rights Watch said at least 430 people have been arrested in the crackdown.

The Bahraini government has also attacked media organisations critical of the crackdown. Three editors of the Al-Wasat newspaper have been charged with publishing “fabricated news” and “false pictures”.

The crackdown began on March 15 after troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded Bahrain to assist the government’s failing efforts to stop the protests.

More than 30 people were killed and hundreds injured since the protests began on February 15.

The US has remained silent about the repression. Bahrain has long been a key ally for the US, due to its strategic position in the Persian Gulf. It also hosts the US navy’s fifth fleet and a US airbase. …source