15th-18th November 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

New Bahrain trade federation splits union movement
As unrest continues in Bahrain, the Gulf kingdom's trade union movement appears to be splitting in two. A breakaway federation says it has attracted thousands of members since launching in July. The organisation which uses the curious acronym, BLUFF - says its rival is "too political and no longer focuses on labour issues". BLUFF stands for the Bahrain Labour Union Free Federation. Its vicepresident, Basim Kuwaitan, told the BBC that unions from 12 companies had joined his organisation and estimated the number of members as "between 13,000 and 15,000". Mr Kuwaitan says the reason for the creation of a new federation was simple. The existing General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), he claims, was "not labour related anymore". Read More

Bahrain seeks charges for Shiite protest calls

Bahrain says it has taken legal action against some Shiite worshippers accused of mixing anti-government protests with annual religious ceremonies. The crackdowns during the Shiite commemorations building toward Ashura marking a seventh century battle in Islam's early decades could cause further tensions between Shiite religious leaders and the Gulf nation's Sunni monarchy.

Opposition groups and others, including the U.S. State Department, have strongly denounced a government order last month to outlaw protest gatherings. The move seeks to quell a 21-month uprising by Bahrain's majority Shiites seeking a greater political voice. A government statement Sunday says "a number" of Shiite religious gures have been referred to the public prosecutor for delivering political sermons or leading anti-government chants. Read More

Bahrain: Last Throes of a Desperate Regime

Since Bahrains uprising against absolute monarchal rule began in the wake of last years Arab Spring, the al-Khalifa regime has brazenly trampled over the civil and human rights of its people. This past week it stripped 31 citizens of their nationality, effectively leaving them stateless and in legal limbo. Repealing citizenship signals that increasingly desperate measures are

being employed by the government to quell the asyet undeterred rebellion. The state-run Bahrain News Agency announced the Ministry of Interiors decree: According to clause (c) of Article (10) of the Citizenship Law which permits the reevaluation of nationality when a holder of the Bahraini citizenship causes damage to state security, the Bahraiin citizenship of the following individuals have been revoked: Read More policy. Murder, torture, lawless imprisonments, and daily atrocities get tacit support.

Situation in Bahrain frustrates London

All parties to the conict in Bahrain are called on to settle their grievances through peaceful and meaningful dialogue, the British government said. British Foreign Ofce Minister Alistair Burt praised the opposition al-Wefaq party

which, along with ve other opposition groups, issued a declaration of non-violence. The minister said he spoke with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa, however, stating ongoing violence in the country was "deeply worrying." A series of bombings rocked the Bahraini capital this month, leaving at least two foreign nationals dead. Read More the Bahraini governments progress in implementing the recommendations of the BahrainIndependentCommi ssion of Inquiry. POMED has found that the Government of Bahrain has fully implemented three of the BICI reports 26 recommendations, and has made no meaningful progress toward six of the recommendations. Read More

Bahrain Cracks Down on Freedom

The ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is one of the world's most brutal dictatorships. It's also a valued US ally. Bahrain is home to America's Fifth Fleet. Imperial priorities matter most. Washington backs Bahraini harshness. State terror is

Bahrain ruthlessly wages war on freedom. Fundamental human and civil rights are spurned. Activists, protesters, medical professionals treating them when injured, independent journalists, and others supporting right over might are brutalized and imprisoned. Read More

New POMED Report: One Year Later: Assessing Bahrains Implementation of the BICI Report
The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) has released, One Year Later: Assessing Bahrains Implementation of the BICI Report, a report looking into