Bahrain news – Bahrain Freedom Movement

14/01/2012 – 2:49 p | Hits: 754

HORRENDOUS, APPALLING INJURIES INFLICTED BY AL-KHALIFA POLICE – F1 IN BAHRAIN? – NOW A JOKE!: SOME ILLEGALLY DISMISSED WORKERS “OFFERED JOBS BACK” BUT MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED: SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNTOUCHED AS PAKISTANI POLICE SCAPEGOATS COME TO COURT: TIMELINE – 13th January 2011 10.57 GMT:

This is the true face of Bahrain’s Al-Khalifa Government reflected in the destroyed features of Nader Abdul Enam, a young man who was shot in the mouth last night by police firing a stun grenade directly at his head.

Nader Abdul Enam, Mutilated by the Government of Bahrain

Nader, who is a well known activist and blogger, was taking part in a peaceful demonstration of around 3,000 people led by human rights activist Nabeel Rajab in Manama yesterday evening, when their path was blocked by riot police.

The police dispersed the march by firing a fusilade of stun grenades and tear gas.

Clearly, the Bahrain Police, contrary to all official training manuals from the manufacturers of this pernicious equipment, deliberately target the upper body of protesters, oblivious to and not caring what damage they cause.

As can be seen from this video, the march was peaceful, there was no damage to people or property until the point where police, instead of firing into the air, deliberately aim at civilians,HERE:

Frankly, why anyone, connected with Formula One racing would want to support this disgusting regime by coming to Bahrain is almost impossible to understand.

An official of the Government said in a statement,”Security forces warned those involved and requested them to disperse, but after they disobeyed orders the security forces took the necessary legal measures”.

Danger in Bahrain – Boycott Bahrain F1! – courtesy Carlos Latuff

Well, if shooting an unarmed person in the face at close range is “legal measures”, then Bahrain has an awful long way to go before it emerges from the Dark Ages. 

Such an act and the resulting injury, if caused in the West, would certainly result in an inquiry at the very least and probably a prosecution.

But unlikely in Bahrain where demonstrators killed by direct impact from tear gas shells has already resulted in no reaction from the Government whatsoever.

The sooner this abhorrent regime falls the better for human kind. Nabeel Rajab, who was beaten up by police officers following a similar protest last week, said, “We are using the streets peacefully. We are marching for our rights”. Carry on Nabeel, your cause is just.

Earlier, it was reported that in a speech at a rally before the march, Nabeel Rajab told his audience that it was their right to protest peacefully and to protest every day if necessary. “This revolution is the responsibility of everyone, not just our youth – that’s why this protest gives me hope,” he said.

Some protesters in Bahrain have now also started a campaign of “civil disobedience”, refusing to pay their water and electricity charges until the Government agrees to substantial change.

SOME ILLEGALLY DISMISSED WORKERS “OFFERED JOBS BACK” BUT MANY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED:

In reaction to both internal and international pressure, some small signs of hope emerged this week, with statements from both the Bahrain F1 Circuit (BIC) and the Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Balteco) that they would reinstate  workers dismissed last year.

However, the devil is in the detail. Why were workers dismissed on purely sectarian and political grounds in the first place?  Are the workers to be compensated for 9 months or more lost wages? Are they being reinstated on the same terms, pay, conditions and positions as before?

Wife Protests Her Husband’s Job Loss at Bahrain F1 Circuit – courtesy Nick Kristof

Until the answers to these questions are obtained, the moves will be seen just as a cynical ploy to head of international condemnation of Bahrain and the cancellation of the F1 Grand Prix.

The Bahraini authorities also announced yesterday that 12 Shia mosques out of the more than 30 Shia religious buildings that they demolished following the demonstrations last March, are to be rebuilt. The statement said that work on 5 had already begun and will begin soon on 7 others.

Again though, there are many questions to be answered. Who is rebuilding them? To whose design and wishes? Where and on sites controlled by whom? And are the Shia clerics and community fully involved in this?

SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNTOUCHED AS PAKISTANI POLICE SCAPEGOATS COME TO COURT:

Lastly, the prosecution commenced on Wednesday of this week of five police officers accused of involvement in the death of well known Bahraini blogger Zakariay al-Asheri, who was beaten to death with a plastic water hose while in custody.

Two of the officers are accused of the murder, the other three of not reporting the crime. All of the officers are of Pakistani origin, part of the large mercenary force employed by the Al-Khalifa Government to carry out their “security enforcement” work.

None of the officers are Arabic speakers and their “not guilty”pleas in court had to translated from their native Urdu.

There is a deep suspicion in the majority Shia community, almost none of whom are employed in the police force or security services, that the 5 men are being used as “sacrificial scapegoats” in order to try and publicise the fact that Bahrain Government is trying to “implement the recommendations of the BICI report”.

The fact remains that not 1 single senior official in the Bahrain Police force, the Ministry of Interior or any branch of Bahraini security has yet to be held accountable or responsible for the human rights abuses, torture or deaths that have occurred in Bahrain since last February.

The only senior official to lose his job, a member of the Royal family, was immediately promoted to 2 more important jobs, one of which was adviser to the King on “internal security”.

It is reported that if found guilty they will receive 7 years in jail.  That is in stark contrast to the 15 year, life imprisonment and death penalties imposed on members of the Shia community recently and does nothing to promote their or international confidence in justice in Bahrain.

See Mahmood Al-Yousif’s commentary on the trial of the policemen, HERE:

King Hamad Takes Part in F1 – courtesy Carlos Latuff