Bahrain: Martyrs fall, Western activists expelled but revolution continues – Bahrain Freedom Movement

Two Bahrainis were martyred in recent days. The first is Hussain Al Baqqali, 21, who died as he was participating in an activity to close the road near his hometown of Jidhafs. He was mourned by his colleagues and the people as a young man of action who has always been on the scene at the forefront of demonstrators and protesters. His funeral on 21st February was severely attacked by the Al Khalifa mercenaries who flooded the area with large amounts of chemical and tear gases.

The second martyr was Mansoor Salman from Sitra who was in his seventies. He had been in his house when lethal chemical gases were thrown inside the house. His daughters struggled to save him and he was taken to hospital where he died on Saturday 18th February. With his martyrdom the people who were gassed to death by the Al Khalifa has risen to more than 20 in the past six months. His town was sealed to prevent people attending his funeral. At the end of the mourning services three days later, no people were allowed into Sitra where he had been buried.As the revolution enters its second year, new aura of enthusiasm is spreading among the youth who are leading the daily protests that the collapse of the Al Khalifa hereditary dictatorship is drawing nearer. Furthermore, it is becoming more resolute in its aims and strategies. It is no longer confined to limited demands but is intent on achieving real transformation into a democratic system that respects the will and aspiration of the people. Daily protests have continued in all parts of the country with men and women taking to the streets chanting anti-regime slogans and demanding the end of its black era. Security forces directed by John Timoney and John Yates have committed serious war crimes, many of which are documented on videos. They shot people at close range; used excessive lethal gases against demonstrators, threw chemical gas cannisters inside inhabited houses and shot live ammunition, rubber bullets or shotgun at peaceful demonstrators.An international campaign to stop the Formula1 race being held in Bahrain has been launched. Human Rights Watch voiced its opposition to the prospect of the taking the race back to Bahrain while torture and killing by the regime have continued unabated. Outrage by racing drivers, human rights activists and political campaigners has been expressed. Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 supreme authority is accused of succumbing to financial and political pressures by agreeing in principle to go to Bahrain, despite his knowledge that regime is involved to its knees in torture and other abuses. The online petition site, Avaas has launched a campaign to stop the race being held in Bahrain. It included an online petition calling for the race to be transferred somewhere else. The petition says: This week, the Bahrain government is desperately trying to cover up its crackdown and show it’s now fit to host the Grand Prix. But if we expose their abuses, we can keep wavering F1 teams out of brutal Bahrain. Six months ago the regime was shooting protesters and Avaaz got F1 teams to unanimously refuse to race in Bahrain. Now the Bahrain government is again trying to whitewash its image. But this weekend a young boy’s mutilated body washed up on the beach — a tragic sign of continued repression of democracy activists. We know Red Bull and Mercedes care what we think — let’s call on them to stop the race again until independent observers say regime violence is over and democratic voices are free.  We have only days before the decision. Let’s stop the Bahrain F1 and show the regime that only an end to brutality will unblock business. Sign the urgent petition now and send this to everyone — when we reach 200,000 signatures, we’ll deliver directly to the teams.Meanwhile the repression of the regime has extended to non-Bahrainis who went to the country to support the pro-democracy activists. Ten Americans and four of other nationalities were expelled from the country for joining the protests. The Obama administration has failed to take action against the Al Khalifa and the Saudi occupiers supporting them.Bahrain Freedom Movement

24th February 2012