Bahrain spring 3 years on - Fearful repression and need for reform

The Arab spring in Bahrain started on 14 February 2011 when thousands of people started to camp out at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the capital. They stayed for weeks before they were forcibly evicted and the monument torn down. Protests have continued, and protesters have also used violence in response to the governments violent crackdown. They reached a climax on the 3^rd anniversary. Protesters are from the Shia majority population, asking for an increased role in the political system and improved economic conditions in a country run by a royal Sunni family. The biggest Shia party is al-Wefaq society.

The King has repeatedly promised reforms, but nothing has happened yet. Amnesty International released a report on 13 February describing a deteriorating situation. Last year the King made a decree banning demonstrations in Manama. Human rights defenders and opposition activists, who call for peaceful demonstrations, and journalists covering them, are rounded up. Children are detained and beaten.

Protesters at the Pearl Roundabout after the funeral of one of them. 

Government forces demolished the monument in March 2011.

The US government published a report in April 2013 urging for reforms, but the Bahraini government call it “totally siding with the terrorists who seek to sow chaos in the whole region”. Bahrain accuses Iran of funding and training the opposition. Saudi Arabia has close and influential relations with Bahrain, but s in a fierce competition and proxy war with Shi’a populations in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.

Continuing to support violence with money, arms and other resources will only prolong the suffering of the people. More democracy, freedom and respect for life is needed, to achieve this reforms and real dialogue to reduce tensions is my the strategy I propose to follow.

Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, just east of Saudi Arabia.

Background
Bahrain is a small island state consisting of one main and 30 small islands in the Persian Gulf. Two-thirds of the population is Arab, the rest are mostly foreigners from Iran, India, Pakistan, Britain and the US. The Shi’a population is in majority, The Sunni minority, and there are also Christian, Jewish , Hindus and Baha’is.

The al-Khalifa family, originally from Saudi Arabia, has ruled Bahrain since 1783. In 1861 they signed a treat y with Britain refraining from piracy, slavery and going to war, while the British agreed to defend Bahrain. The British decided to withdraw its forces from the Gulf in 1968, and the ruling sheikh Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifa proclaimed independence in 1971.

Sheikh Isa ibn Salman.

King Hamad al-Khalifa.

Increased tensions and reforms
Discrimination against the Shi’a population, economic problems and reductions in public spending led to increased tensions, especially after the Revolution of Iran in 1979. Bahrain formed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman in 1981. The construction of a 24 km long road, the King Fahd causeway, linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has strengthened economic, political and defense ties. The US Navy has the headquarters of its Fifth fleet in Bahrain, and the UK a small military presence. The new King Hamad, who succeeded his father in 1999, tried to ease tensions by releasing Shi’a dissidents and promote a new Constitution in 2002. The King appoints a Prime Minister and a Council of Ministers. The legislative branch consists of a 40 member Consultative Council appointed by the King, and a 40 member Chamber of Deputies elected by the population. The first women were appointed in 2000, and in the 2002 elections women could stand for election for the first time. In 2006 the first woman was elected to parliament.

Economic challenges

Bahrain was the first emirate to discover oil in 1932, but reserves and production have been limited. Refining crude oil from Saudi Arabia has been more important, and so has other sectors like commerce, shipbuilding and repair, aluminium processing, finance and tourism. The result is a diversified economy compared to its neighbours.

But unemployment, especially among the youth has been high. The King initiated a plan in 2008 to increase employment of Bahrainis and limit sponsorship of foreign workers.

King Hamad al-Khalifa and Donald Rumsfeld.

Demonstrations start
But discontent was rife, and when the demonstrators led to the removal of President Ben Ali in Tunisia and Mubarak in Egypt, thousands of Bahrainis gathered at the Pearl Roundabout. They asked for economic reforms, anew constitution, a more representative parliament and release of political prisoners. The Police cracked down and killed two of them, anger increased and demonstrations continued. A more violent crackdown killed and injured more people. On 14 March a GCC force of 1500 soldiers came over the King Fahd causeway on the government’s invitation to preserve public order. The opposition objected to what they saw as an invasion. The next day King Hamad declared a state of emergency. Security forces entered hospitals, attacking and arresting doctors and nurses attending injured demonstrators. Protest leaders were arrested and on 18 March security forces cleared the roundabout and demolished the monument. Human rights activists and protesters were detained in secret locations, and thousands of workers dismissed. Feeling safe, the King lifted the state of emergency on 8 May and ordered the GCC forces to leave in June.

National dialogue
King Hamad convened a reconciliation conference in July 2011, but few of the opposition were invited and the agenda didn’t include their demands. The King announced the Bahraini Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) to investigate the government’s response. The commission reported that the government used excessive force, and tortured people in custody. It also refused the government’s claim that Iran was behind the unrest. The King accepted the conclusions and set up a commission to implement the recommendations. Many workers were readmitted and Shi’a buildings rebuilt. But all responsible officials stayed in positions and repression continued. The US State Department reported on 19 April 2013 «The United States has urged the Government of Bahrain to implement the full range of BICI recommendations, take steps to implement additional reforms, and ensure progress in the National Dialogue that began in February 2013.» The Bahraini Minister of State for Information Affairs responded by saying: "The report includes texts which are totally far from the truth, adopting a manner that fuels terror and terrorists targeting Bahrain’s national security". She added “The Government of Bahrain deplored the stance of the US State Department which tolerates all security measures and tough regulations to protect the American national security, while denying the right of other countries to do likewise”.

In May 2012 King Hamad amended the Constitution, but the opposition asked for a fully elected parliament with fair elections. Talks were suspended after Khalil al-Marzook, assistant Secretary General of al-Wefaq was arrested in September.  Al-Wefaq is a registered political association representing the Shi’a of Bahrain, and al-Marzook is a former Head of the Legislative and Legal Committee of parliament. On 5 January 2014 the Crown Prince restarted talks with the opposition.

Sources and more information
http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/bahrain-fears-violent-crackdown-ahead-third-anniversary-protests-2014-02-13
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26414.htm
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/558032
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/bahrain-opposition-unveils-roadmap-talks-2014297415781523.html

I am open to your comments and proposals.

Warmly
Bjarte Bjørsvik