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Bahrain Newsfeed
how cool is thishttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-1247762016 February 2011 Last updated at 17:57 Bahrain protests: Demonstrators occupy Pearl Square
The disturbances in Bahrain are part of a wave of unrest across the region
Thousands of people are occupying the centre of the Bahraini capital on a third day of anti-government protests.
The numbers of those who had camped out overnight in Manama's Pearl Square were swelled by many who joined the protests throughout the day.
Security forces have pulled back to ease tensions after previous days' clashes left two dead and dozens injured in the Gulf kingdom.
The protesters are calling for wide-ranging political reforms.
Bahrain is a key US ally, hosting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. The US has expressed concern at the violence and called for restraint.
Wednesday saw more than 1,000 people attend the funeral in Manama of a man who was killed on Tuesday during clashes with police at the funeral of another protester. Mourners chanted slogans calling for the removal of the government.
Police officers are reported to have been detained over the two deaths, with the country's interior minister describing the deaths as "regrettable" and extending condolences to the families of the deceased.
The disturbances in Bahrain - where the Shia Muslim majority has been ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family since the 18th Century - are part of a wave of anti-government unrest that has swept the Middle East.
What happened in Tunisia and Egypt has encouraged us to move forward to ask peacefully for our demands”The Bahraini demonstrators say they want:
- political prisoners to be released
- more jobs and housing
- the creation of a more representative and empowered parliament
- a new constitution written by the people
- a new cabinet that does not include Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, who has been in office for 40 years
Many had to return to work after Tuesday's public holiday to mark the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, but correspondents say the momentum remains with the protesters so far.
In a rare TV appearance on Tuesday, Bahrain's king, Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa, expressed regret about the deaths of protesters and said he would continue reforms begun in 2002 when the emirate became a constitutional monarchy.
Opposition boycott Since independence from the UK in 1971, tensions between the Sunni elite and the less affluent Shia have frequently caused civil unrest. Shia groups say they are marginalised, subject to unfair laws, and repressed.
The conflict lessened in 1999 when Sheikh Hamad became emir. He freed political prisoners, allowed exiles to return and abolished a law permitting the government to detain individuals without trial for three years.
He also began a cautious process of democratic reform. In 2001, voters approved a National Action Charter that would transform Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy. The next year, Sheikh Hamad proclaimed himself king and decreed that a National Assembly be formed.
There was also greater protection of democracy and human rights. Although political parties were banned, "political societies" could operate.
Landmark elections were held in 2002, but the opposition boycotted them because the appointed upper chamber of parliament, the Shura Council, was given equal powers to the elected lower chamber, the Council of Representatives.
Formerly zenga zenga !
Protests banned in Bahrain, Military steps up
Article
Bahrain protests banned as military tightens grip
Protests have been banned in Bahrain and the military has been ordered to tighten its grip after the violent removal of anti-government demonstrators, state TV reports.
The army would take every measure necessary to preserve security, the interior ministry said.
Three people died and 231 were injured when police broke up the main protest camp, said Bahrain's health minister.
The unrest comes amid a wave of protest in the Middle East and North Africa.
Bahrain's demonstrators want wide-ranging political reforms and had been camped out in the capital, Manama, since Tuesday.
Tanks and checkpoints
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed Washington's "deep concern" in a call to the Bahraini foreign minister on Thursday.
Mrs Clinton "urged restraint moving forward. They discussed political and economic reform efforts to respond to the citizens of Bahrain," a state department official told the BBC.
Police action was necessary to pull Bahrain back from the "brink of a sectarian abyss", Bahraini Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said on Thursday.
Bahrain's Shia Muslim majority has been ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family since the 18th Century.
The announcement on state television said the army had taken control of "key parts" of the city.
Tanks, army patrols and military checkpoints are out on key streets, with helicopters deployed overhead.
Barbed wire has been erected on roads leading to the main protest area, Pearl Square, and the interior ministry has warned people to stay off the streets.
Protesters and opposition politicians expressed outrage at the violence of the crackdown.
A leader of the main minority Shia opposition, Abdul Jalil Khalil, said 18 MPs were resigning in protest.
Ibrahim Sharif, of Bahrain's secular Waad party, told the BBC the protests would continue.
"We are going to do what's necessary to change this into a democratic country, even if some of us lose our lives," he said.
"We want a proper, functioning, constitutional democracy."
Mr Sharif said the riot police had moved into Pearl Square at about 0300 (0000 GMT) as people were sleeping.
Bahrain's authorities defended their actions. Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa told the BBC up to 70 police officers had been hurt.
"When (the police) first went in, they went in without any intention to harm anybody, just to move the people who were occupying the roundabout and blocking traffic," Sheikh Al Khalifa said.
"Some of those people left but some of those people came back and fought."
He added: "I think restraint is being used."
But many protesters said there had been no warning about the raid.
On Thursday morning there were angry scenes outside Manama's main hospital, Salmaniya, as hundreds of people gathered, some answering calls to donate blood and others defacing images of the Bahraini royal family.
'Exercise restraint'
The crackdown has caused unease in the West. Bahrain is a key UK and US ally and hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the violent clashes, calling on Bahrain's government to "exercise restraint".
Britain has also said it will review its licences for arms exports to Bahrain. The UK has sold tear gas and riot control equipment to Bahrain, but the Foreign Offices says these licences will be revoked if it is found those arms were used to facilitate internal repression.
Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, are to hold an extraordinary meeting in Bahrain on Thursday.
Bahrain's foreign ministry said council members were "expected to announce their support for the [Bahraini] government in security, defence and politically".
Since independence from the UK in 1971, tensions between the Sunni elite and the less affluent Shia have frequently caused civil unrest. Shia groups say they are marginalised, subject to unfair laws, and repressed.
The conflict lessened in 1999 when Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became emir. He began a cautious process of democratic reform. In 2002, he proclaimed himself king and landmark elections were held.
But the opposition boycotted the polls because the appointed upper chamber of parliament was given equal powers to the elected lower chamber.
Injured Protester
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then He is not omnipotent.
Is He able, but not willing?
Then He is not malevolent.
Is He both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is He neither able or willing?
Then why call Him "God"?
Bahrain newsfeed
due to the current situation, i think its important to report the atrocities taking place.
- 1747: Back to events in Manama, Bahrain: Ammar tells the BBC: "I was at the Salmaniya medical centre when the police came in and started firing tear gas and shooting rubber bullets. They are also preventing doctors from helping people. I also tried to get to Pearl roundabout, from where you could hear some gunshots, but I couldn't get there because the roads were blocked. They say they are getting into ambulances and getting protesters out."
WHY kléber, WHY!!!!!!!
AJ had a video yesterday of the distress in the hospital and a severely beaten doctor
R.I.P Juan Almeida Bosque
"The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely
the oppressive situations which we seek to escape,
but that piece of the oppressor which is
planted deep within each of us." Audre Lorde
- 1820: Bahraini Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad has appealed for calm, saying there can be no divide between Sunnis and Shia. Speaking on TV, he said: "I express my condolences to all Bahrainis because of the painful days that we are living. We need time to evaluate what happened and to regroup together again and to restore our humanity, culture and future."
another leader disconnected with reality. while his security force throw people out of ambulance to finish them off, he appeal to calm.
such move is nothing but fear of what could happen next.
WHY kléber, WHY!!!!!!!
the bahrain ground forces are only 6000 peoples strong, no wonder they get freak out by demonstrations, in the event of massives rally, they will not be able to contain the strenght of the protest.
bahrain is also an oil rich country. if the industry grind to a halt....
WHY kléber, WHY!!!!!!!
- 1905: Fatema, who lives across from Salmaniya Hospital in Manama, tells the BBC it is a crazy scene in the capital right now: "Injured people have been brought in cars (to the hospital) all day and there are thousands of people outside. There is a lot of anger, but I've never seen Bahrainis so united before."
Its in time of crisis that people tend to get together.
WHY kléber, WHY!!!!!!!
from al jazeera:
2:03am At Salmaniya Hospital, a Bahraini army officer who sided with the anti-government protesters is pictured kissing a female demonstrator's hand.
WHY kléber, WHY!!!!!!!
Well...the people in bahrain have taken teh square and pitched camp. They have free food and drinks and are planning to stay untill the entire regime is toppled.
they have warned opposition leaders not to negotiate with teh royal family...everybody who does will be seen as a traitor.
Background to Imperialist interference in Bahrain:
http://leninology.blogspot.com/2011/...-frontier.html
Overly dramatic title but an important step. Hopefully as some soldiers and policemen cross over to the side of the people more will join them and the Monarchy will be forced to give in to its people.
I know Bahrain has been pushed to the sidelines a bit with the madness in Libya but the struggle of the Bahrainian people should not be totally out of our minds.
this regime will probably become a constitutional monarchy.
WHY kléber, WHY!!!!!!!
"Win, lose or draw...long as you squabble and you get down, that's gangsta."
REVOLUTION: Bahrain Protests Throw Kingdom Into Chaos
REVOLUTION: Bahrain Protests Throw Kingdom Into Chaos
A modern, democratic, free and egalitarian World cannot exist
alongside the arbitrary rule of kings, despots and dictators, or even
the rule of pseudo-democratic bourgeois elitists. I fully expect ALL
monarchies -- including the equally-decadent british and west-european
ones -- to be swept away by the current rising tide of World-wide
social revolution.
Long Live the World Socialist Revolution.
All Power to the Workers' and Farmers' Councils and Communes.
-- grok.
BAHRAIN PROTESTS THROW KINGDOM INTO CHAOS:
<http://www.wbez.org/story/home-page-top-stories/2011-03-13/bahrain-protests-throw-kingdom-chaos-83653>
--
The Financiers & Banksters have looted untold trillions of our future earnings.
Their bureaucratic police & military goons are here to make us all pay for it.
Forever.
Well FORGET THAT. Let's get it *ALL* back from them -- and more.
**Socialist revolution NOW!!**
Build the North America-wide General Strike.
TODO el poder a los consejos y las comunas.
TOUT le pouvoir aux conseils et communes.
ALL power to the councils and communes.
And beware the 'bait & switch' fraud: "Social Justice" is NOT *Socialism*...
---
Published on WBEZ (http://www.wbez.org)
Home > Printer-friendly
Bahrain Protests Throw Kingdom Into Chaos
NPR Staff and Wires March 13, 2011
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators cut off Bahrain's financial center and drove back police trying to push them from the capital's central square shaking the tiny island kingdom Sunday with the most disruptive protests since calls for more freedom erupted a month ago.
Demonstrators also clashed with security forces and government supporters on the campus of the main university in the Gulf country, the home of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet.
The clashes fueled fears that Bahrain's political crisis could be stumbling toward open sectarian conflict between the ruling minority Sunnis and Shiites, who account for 70 percent of the nation's 525,000 people.
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa said the government is willing to discuss reforming its semi-democratic parliamentary system. But protesters like Hassan al-Mubarak are in no mood to talk
"This government, we've been giving them a chance for 230 years," he said. "They don't want to change."
The opposition is split between those who favor confronting the regime and others who are looking to negotiate.
In some neighborhoods, vigilantes set up checkpoints to try to keep outsiders from entering. Bahrain's interior ministry warned Saturday that the "social fabric" of the nation was in peril.
A day after visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged quick progress toward reform, thousands of protesters gathered before dawn to block King Faisal Highway, a four-lane expressway leading to Bahrain's main financial district in downtown Manama, causing huge traffic chaos during morning rush hour and preventing many from reaching their offices on the first day of the work week.
"No one was able to go to work today. Thugs and protesters were blocking the highway," complained Sawsan Mohammed, 30, who works in the financial district. "I am upset that Bahrain is no longer a stable place."
Security forces dispersed about 350 protesters "by using tear gas," the government said. But traffic was clogged until late morning and many drivers sent messages of rage and frustration to social media sites.
"I blame the protesters for what's happened in Bahrain today," said Dana Nasser, 25, who was caught in the traffic chaos and never made it to her office.
About 2 miles away, police at the same time moved in on Pearl traffic circle, site of a monthlong occupation by members of Bahrain's Shiite majority calling for an elected government and equality with Bahrain's Sunnis.
Many protesters in recent days have pressed their demands further to call for the ouster of the Sunni dynasty that has held power for more than two centuries.
Witnesses said security forces surrounded the protests' tent compound, shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at the activists in the largest effort to clear the protesters since a deadly crackdown last month that left four dead.
Activists tried to stand their ground and chanted "Peaceful! peaceful!"
The crowd swelled into thousands with protesters streaming to the square to reinforce the activists' lines as police continued firing tear gas. By early afternoon, police pulled back from the square, eyewitnesses said.
At Bahrain University, Shiite demonstrators and government supporters held competing protests that descended into violence when plainclothes pro-government backers and security forces forced students who had been blocking the campus main gate to seek refuge in classrooms and lecture halls, said Layla al-Arab, an employee at the Arts Collage.
Two protesters sustained serious head injures and hundreds looked for medical help, mostly with breathing problems from tear gas, hospital officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The Gulf kingdom holds particular importance to Washington as the host of the main American military counterweight to Iran's efforts to expand its armed forces and reach into the Gulf.
Bahrain has also tried hard to position itself as an attractive investment destination and Middle East banking center. Even the passport stamps issued to incoming visitors declare the kingdom as "Business-friendly Bahrain."
NPR's Frank Langfitt contributed to this report, which includes material from The Associated Press Copyright 2011 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
Source URL: http://www.wbez.org/story/home-page-...om-chaos-83653
Links:
[1] http://www.npr.org/
This is really, really bad news:
etc.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...hrain-protests
the more I learn about the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the more I want to turn into a hardcore tankie Stalinist. The entire royal family deserves to fry.
"Win, lose or draw...long as you squabble and you get down, that's gangsta."
The BBC have reported that protesters have put up road blocks to oppose the Saudi forces mentioned above.
It will be interesting to see how the US tries to 'spin' this development.
It's no coincidence that the Saudis sent troops into Bahrain just after US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, paid them a visit:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...-bahrain-gates
well...the porverbial shit is about to hit the proverbial fan...
after the Gulf-counsil sent troops in...the Bahrain government has declared the state of emergency and gave orders to the military top do everything necessary to restore order.
An evening clock is expected as well as crack down on the protests....media and internet is being heavilly restricted.
Reports are a bit unclear but at least one Saudi soldier has been shot and killed by protesters.
Protesters are seeding mad about the foreign intervention...and have stated they will not back down.
COMMUNISM !
