25th June 2012

BAHRAIN MEDIA ROUNDUP

Are Bahrains Sunnis Still Awake?
More than sixteen months have passed since the start of Bahrains Sunni Awakeningthe mass political mobilization of Sunni citizens launched exactly one week into last years Shia-led uprising. While the unprecedented scale of the counter-movement was and still remains clear (supporters famously, if implausibly, claimed attendance of more than 300,000), what exactly it represented is as much a puzzle now as it was then. The leaders of the nascent associationsthe National Unity Gathering (NUG) and, later, the al-Fatih Awakening (Sahwat al-Fatih, so-named for the mosque where its rallies take place)were not the familiar faces of the countrys established Sunni political societies, but individuals with relatively little history of direct political involvement. Initially aiming only to halt the momentum of anti-government demonstrations, the coalitions soon invoked platforms of their own and demanded tougher crackdowns on protesterssometimes even expressing wider aims, like ending corruption and empowering parliament. Read More continues to tolerate Manamas undemocratic actions. The June 18 report by the Bahrain Center for Human Rights depicts a deteriorating situation in Bahrain accentuated by mass arrests, excessive force against civilians and protesters including childrentorture of prisoners, and trials in military courts. Bahrain is heading down a dark path of instability, sectarianism, violence, and potential terrorism under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa, uncle of King Hamad and great uncle of Crown Prince Salman. Read More spend it prosecuting human rights lawyer Mohammed Al Tajer, who was tortured by the Bahrainis after he chose to represent and advocate for others abused by the countrys regime. Putting a torture survivor on trial is certainly an odd way for the Bahrain authorities to mark the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, said Human Rights Firsts Brian Dooley. Read More

Bahrain signs point to growth of conflict

As the Bahraini authorities try to paint a picture of a country returning to normality after the wrenching protests of last year, events on the ground point to a different interpretation. King Hamad bin Issa alKhalifa is being received at 10 Downing Street, while his son,

the reform-minded crown prince, is received by Hillary Clinton in Washington, as western allies try to encourage the governments stated intention to change its ways after the bloody crackdown on dissent. But, despite some progress, the cycle of unrest and repression continues as this polarised society, pitting the majority Shia Muslim against the ruling minority Sunni Muslims, drifts toward a deeper sectarian conict. Read More accusations against the state's security forces, and make recommendations that would help implement less violent conflict management in the country. The commission set about its work immediately, and presented its results - under the title "Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry" - in November 2011. The report's authors pulled no punches. They unambiguously accused the state of abusing its powers. They mentioned 13 people killed by security forces, and another five who died under torture. Read More anger and hatred toward the United States, which then sometimes manifests itself in acts of anti-American terrorism. The title of this article from the Sunday edition of the New York Times sums it up: As Hopes for Reform Fade in Bahrain, Protestors Turn Anger on United States. Read More

No spring in Bahrain
For a while, the king of Bahrain gave the impression he wanted to improve the human rights situation in his country. A study raised hopes of improvement, but they were soon dashed. It seemed like the dawn of a new era. In July 2011, a few weeks after protests began in spring, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain called in an international investigation commission. It was meant to investigate incidents during the demonstrations, examine

Bahrain Repression Belies Government Stand On Dialogue

Bahrain remains a repressive state, and civil rights are violated daily. Forty-one years ago, Bahrain celebrated its first year independence as a budding democracy. This December it will celebrate its forty-second independence as a practitioner of repression and reprehensible autocracy. For all intents and purposes, Washington unfortunately

Bahrain Prosecutes Abused Human Rights Lawyer on International Day for Torture Victims
As people around the globe mark the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture tomorrow, June 26, the Bahraini government will

US Support of Dictatorship Leads to Anti-American Anger in Bahrain

The people of Bahrain are figuring out what libertarians have long been saying about U.S. foreign policy that the U.S. government is sometimes partly responsible for the tyranny under which people are suffering and have suffered for a very long time, which then produces

Obama makes Arab Spring more of a mess

A year ago. Barack Obama described the epic wave of revolution that had begun in Tunisia and Egypt as "a historic opportunity" for the United States "to pursue the world as it should be." He said America must promote "change that advances selfdetermination and opportunity." And he asserted that "we can make a difference" in how the uprising turns out. Today the badly misnamed "Arab Spring" is beginning to look like an epic mess. An ugly civil war in Syria could easily spread across the Levant. In Egypt, the victory

of an Islamist in a democratic presidential election has prompted a power struggle with the military. Violent political conflict continues in Yemen, Libya and Bahrain. Only Tunisia appears headed toward the new era of democracy and development that Obama promised to promote, and even there it's not clear how tolerant a new Islamist government will prove to be. Needless to say, Middle Easterners have been the prime makers of this muddle. But given the expectations raised by Obama, it's fair to ask: How much of it is his fault? Read More

Tea with FT Middle East: Mike Merritt

As revolutionary fervour swept from north Africa into Bahrain in February 2011, protests moved into the heart of Manamas business district, bringing the calls for democracy and equality to Investcorps doorstep. The protests and ensuing crackdown touched the lives of every Bahraini and expatriate, turning colleagues

against each other along sectarian and political lines, and forcing many bankers to ee for the safer connes of nearby Dubai. When asked about the impact of these tumultuous events, Mr Merritt becomes less talkative. I am not going there it is not my business. I am not a political person, he says. We are an apolitical organisation and it is way over my pay grade. Read More

US Support of Dictatorship Leads to Anti-American Anger in Bahrain

The people of Bahrain are figuring out what libertarians have long been saying about U.S. foreign policy that the U.S. government is sometimes partly responsible for the tyranny under which people

are suffering and have suffered for a very long time, which then produces anger and hatred toward the United States, which then sometimes manifests itself in acts of antiAmerican terrorism. The title of this article from the Sunday edition of the New York Times sums it up: As Hopes for Reform Fade in Bahrain, Protestors Turn Anger on United States. Read More