October 1999

OCTOBER 1999

Bahrain: Crackdown on liberties at home; A Bahraini celebration in London
For the second consequent week, the security forces besieged Al-Sadiq Grand Mosque in Manama and prevented citizens from performing their Friday prayers on 29 October. The security forces initiated a major crackdown on 22 October and prevented prayers in several principal mosques around the country; the most prominent of which is Al-Sadiq Mosque. All people who were in the vicinity of Al-Sadiq Mosque on 29 October witnessed how a large crowd of people was prevented from entering the Mosque with security forces poised for an attack against peaceful citizens. The government also prevented people from celebrating a religious occasion on 21 October (birthday of Imam Ali) and this was the first time in the history of Bahrain. These repressive and intolerant measures are bound to backfire on the government, which has spared no effort in alienating the nation. The Interior Minster summoned the president and members of the General Committee for Bahraini Workers on 27 October. He started by threatening the executive committee with arrest unless they write a letter to cover-up the storming of their offices by security forces. He told the committee’s members that they must forget about granting them the right to unionise. Security forces raided the offices of the Bahraini Workers Committee last August. The Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” revealed on 28 October that an Israeli envoy visited Yemen and Bahrain with the aim of developing diplomatic ties. Last year, Israeli reports said that both the Bahraini and Israeli intelligence have started co-operating for monitoring Bahraini opposition activities abroad. In London, a special exhibition and seminar were organised on 30 October to celebrate the 700th year after the death of the great 13th-century Bahraini philosopher, Sheikh Maitham Al-Bahrani who lived in the period 1238-1299. Al-Bahrani work has been the subject of many studies including a 1952-MA thesis in the University of London. The prominent scholar, Dr. Mohammed Bahr-ul-Oloom presented a new research paper on the life and philosophical achievements of Al-Bahrani. The paper will be printed as a book in the near future. Celebrating the occasion, an exhibition was also organised with craft and artwork produced by Bahraini prisoners of conscience. The art and craft-works were leaked out from Bahraini jails to London showing the intellectual level of the citizens being tortured by mercenaries imported from outside the country for the sole-purpose of repressing the nation. Bahrain Freedom Movement 31 October 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Kuwaiti authorities harass dispossessed Bahrainis

The Kuwaiti authorities have stepped up their oppressive measures against the dispossessed Bahraini community in Kuwait. The Al-Khalifa ruling family demands the implementation of inhuman measures against Bahrainis as part of its bargain with the Kuwaiti royal family. On 22 October, the Kuwaiti security forces stormed a petrol station and detained Fadil Al-Ujaimi, 23, a Bahraini citizen who has been striving for a decent living in Kuwait. Fadhil was taken to the Kuwaiti intelligence headquarters in Salmeyya. There he was interrogated and ill-treated by intelligence officers who included a Bahraini officer. He was freed on 25 October and told that other Bahraini citizens will be subjected to rounding-up, interrogation, intimidation and threat of deportation to Bahraini jails. This inhuman treatment by the Kuwaitis contrasts the way the Bahraini people treated the Kuwaiti people during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. Not only the Bahraini citizens are presently being treated as cheap labour, but are also being subjected to a terrorising campaign. The opposition calls on human rights organisations to intervene in this matter and to urge the Kuwaiti authorities to stop victimising the Bahraini dispossessed community. A young Bahraini citizen was forcibly deported to Qatar on 24 October. Ali Hasan Maza’al, 21, had suffered harassment and detention for the past four years. He was detained for one year in 1996. After his release in 1997, he was prevented from continuing his secondary school education. As a result of this prevention he travelled to Qatar and completed his secondary school. He returned to Bahrain only to be detained in the airport and forcibly deported to Qatar. There are scores of young people in Bahrain who had been denied their right to complete their secondary education. Also, the government of Bahrain is only “national” government in the world that forcibly deports the natives while at the same time it imports mercenaries from the Syrian deserts and grants them full citizenship. Meanwhile, in Bahrain the security authorities imposed a widespread ban on all religious activities around the country. The interior ministry officers summoned Sheikh Mohammed Turki and threatened him of grave consequences if he is to continue leading prayers in mosques. Similarly the torturers of the interior ministry interrogated Seyyed Hussain Al-Hayki and similar threats were made against him. More information emerged about the widespread ban on religious activities on 22 and 23 October. The security forces besieged Seyyed Hashim Mosque in Tobli and banned a routine religious programme. Similarly, the security forces banned the residents of Bani Jamra from holding any programme. Bani Jamra is under a 24-hour surveillance and the house of Sheikh Al-Jamri continues to be under siege. Bahrain Freedom Movement 26 October 1999 Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Bahrain: Banning prayers in mosques

Continuing its policy of muscle-show and intimidation, the interior ministry besieged the grand mosque of Al-Sadiq (Qafool, Manama) on 22 October and banned citizens from praying. The person leading the prayers, Seyyed Hussain, was summoned by the intelligence department and threatened of grave consequences if he does not stop leading prayers. Similarly, the torturer Farooq Al-Ma’awdah summoned the elders of Karranah mosques and community centre (Matam) and informed them of his decision to ban their activities on 22 Friday. He ordered them to take prior permission before holding any prayer or function and that all the names of leading participants must be handed to him beforehand. The interior minister passed a message through some of his stooges that the government will continue its crackdown unabated despite government’s sponsored visit (16 October) to Bahrain by Sheikh Mohammed Mahdi Shams Din, the president of the Shia Islamic Council in Lebanon. International human rights organisations and observers are continually condemning the Bahraini government. The noble Lord Avebury said on 15 October during the debate on “Religions and International Order” in the British Parliament: in Bahrain, mosques have been desecrated and closed down, Imams silenced or exiled and leading clerics held in prison without trial by the ruling family. The ruler of Bahrain is also coming to this country in the near future. I hope that something will be said to him on those matters.” The US-based organisation “Freedom House” rated Bahrain as “Not Free” country in its recently issued report. It said, “Freedom of speech and the press are sharply restricted. Privately owned newspapers refrain from criticising the regime, while radio and television are government-owned and offer only official propaganda. The government continued to prohibit the publication or broadcast of information from the State Security Court in the trial of 18 accused of arson and possessing explosives. ” Arrests and detentions continued to be reported across the country. The following were arrested in Karzakkan: Ahmad Abbas Marhoon, 29 (brother of the martyr Fadhil Abbas Marhoon). From Tobli: Ibrahim Abdulla Ahmad Abbas, 20 (he had been frequently detained in the past 4 years). From Sitra: Ali Ahmad Abdulla Al-Tobaji, 17, Abdulla Ahmad Ibrahim Abdulla, 21. Top officials in the Labour Ministry have been accused of steeling BD 900,000 ($2.4 million) and importing 9000 illegal cheap workers from the Indian Subcontinent to work in Bahrain as “free visa”. “Free visa” workers are imported into the country and dumped in the market in return for a monthly commission paid to the importer. It was revealed that some of the top officials issued 9000 importation permits, each worth BD 100. None of the money has ever been credited to the ministry’s account. The journalist Ali Saleh raised the issue in the local newspaper “Akhbar Al-Khaleej”, but no official investigation has ever taken place to retrieve the money or to check who imported the 9,000 illegal workers. Bahrain Freedom Movement 24 October 1999

Tel/Fax: (+44) 207 278 9089

Joint Statement: Bahrain’s “new era” consolidates the older one

More than six months after assuming power, the new Amir of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain continues to be ruled by the same old mentality that dragged the country to political crises. The myth of a new era has turned to be the same old mentality that disregards the constitution of the country and abuses the basic rights of Bahraini citizens. Apart from some PR remarks by the new Amir, the defective features of the regime are being consolidated with vigour.

1. The new Amir bypasses the constitution in the same way as the previous Amir bypassed it. Article 65 pertaining to the elected legislative authority and other articles relating to the National Assembly are still suspended. Instead of indicating his intention to restore the dissolved parliament, the new Amir repeatedly emphasised that he has nothing to offer more than the powerless and unconstitutional Shura Council.
2. The Committee for Popular Petition (CPP) has a mandate from some 25,000 citizens who signed a petition calling on the Amir to restore the rule of constitutional law. The new Amir refuses to receive the CPP delegation, just as the previous Amir refused to recognise the right of the people to demand their rights.
3. There are more than 1500 political prisoners and detainees. The new Amir released 320 of them last June and many of these had been re-detained. All these citizens are subjected to either the unconstitutional State Security Law or the verdicts of the unconstitutional State Security Court.
4. The iron-fist policy continues to be adopted by the government. More unconstitutional military and paramilitary-based administrations are being continuously installed in the country, thus smothering civil liberties and institutions.
5. The government adopted a new PR policy aimed at deflecting international pressure without impacting the dictatorial policies. The recent formation of a human rights committee belonging to the unconstitutional Shura Council is but one example.
6. The government is also playing with time to avoid implementing its obligations toward human rights. For example, a scheduled visit by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was delayed for one year. The UN team was scheduled to visit Bahrain this month, but the government claimed that the new Amir needs more time to prepare for such a visit, and thus it was delayed until October 2000. This rescheduling explains why the government re-started a campaign of repression detaining and re-detaining scores of citizens in the past three months.

In view of the above, the Bahraini Opposition calls on the international community, friendly governments, human rights and civil society organisations, to urge the Bahraini government:

1. To release all political detainees and prisoners who are held under the provisions of the unconstitutional State Security Law and Court.
2. To end the state of emergency and to abrogate the laws and codes which contravene the country’s constitution and internationally binding conventions and treaties.
3. To comply with applicable international human rights standards and to ratify the international covenants on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Bahrain Freedom Movement

National Liberation Front in Bahrain

Popular Front in Bahrain

20 October 1999

Bahrain: Government’s disrespect of constitution is the cause of crisis
Dawn raids and arbitrary arrests were reported in several parts of the country. On 14 October, the security forces attacked Tobli and detained Seyyed Adnan Seyyed Hashim, 19, Seyyed Jalal Mahmood Sharaf, 17, and Seyyed Isa Ali Ismail, 17. They were detained at around 8.00 pm from their parents’ houses. It is worth noting that the latter two people had recently been freed as part of the so-called “Amiri pardon” after spending one year in arbitrary detention. Many of those who had been freed were re-detained by the security forces. On the same day, the security forces attacked Karzakkan and arbitrarily detained Hussain Isa Abdulla, 18, Abdul Amir Isa Abdulla, 17, Mohammed Jasim Abdul Rasool, 17, Monir Ahmad Ali Al-Sheikh, 17, Abbas Hassan Juma Al-Shakhori, 15 and Mohammed Hassan Ashor. All these teenagers were picked up from the streets of the area. The intelligence department banned the prayers in Al-Zahra Mosque in Hamad Town and the person leading the prayers in that mosque (Sheikh Mohammed Turki) is being continually ill-treated by the torturers. Burnt tyres and loud sounds of exploding gas-cylinders were reported in several places, such as Hamad Town, Bori, Aali, Isa Town, Nuweidrat, Tobli, Sanabis and Daih. The atrocities of the security forces increased in the past few days coinciding with the visit by Sheikh Mohammed Shams Al-Din (President of the Lebanese Shia Islamic Council) to Bahrain. The message being sent by the government is that it does not care or respect any attempt by anybody for alleviating the situation. The pro-democracy leader, Mr. Mohammed Jaber Al-Sabah, wrote an article in the Lebanese newspaper Al-Safeer (16 October) welcoming Sheikh Shams Al-Din and drawing his attention to the gross violations committed by the government of Bahrain. Mr. Sabah referred to the country’s constitution and explained the roots of the crisis by indicating the government’s disrespect to the articles of the constitution. Bahrain Freedom Movement 19 October 1999 Fax: (44) 171 278 9089

Raytheon wins a $16 million contract to provide Maverick missiles, trainers and spares to Bahrain, Turkey, Canada and Italy Monday, 18 October 1999 Raytheon Company, Tucson, Arizona, has received a $16 million contract to provide Maverick missiles, trainers and spares to Bahrain, Turkey, Canada and Italy. Raytheon Systems Company will provide 58 AGM-65G/F (tactical), 20 TGM-65G (trainers), as well as 13 spare guidance units. In order to yield the best price, the effort was bundled with 5 separate direct commercial sales contracts for 98 tactical missiles, 20 trainers and 11 spare

guidance units, said a Raytheon statement today.

The AGM-65 Maverick is a joint Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps precision-guided missiles used for close air support and interdiction. It is also used by 27 nations. Work under this contract is expected to be completed by mid-2001. All work will be performed at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Arizona; Santa Barbara, California; Farmington, New Mexico; Andover, Massachusetts; Austin, Texas and Midland Ontario, Canada. A total of 200 guidance units will be manufactured in Raytheon’s new multi-missile factory in Tucson. Bahraini “domestic banks’s financial prospects are constrained — revenues from the offshore banking sector are significant” — Moody’s

On 15 October Lord Avebury mentioned Bahrain during the debate on Religions and International Order (The UK House of Lords)

((In Bahrain, Shi’a mosques have been desecrated and closed down, Imams silenced or exiled and leading clerics held in prison without trial by the Sunni ruling family. The ruler of Bahrain is also coming to this country in the near future. I hope that something will be said to him on those matters. ))

Bahrain: Inaugurating a “human rights committee” by escalating repression
The prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa Al-Khalifa, left Bahrain again and this time he headed to Thailand. He is also expected to visit the USA and is likely to make a private trip to Europe, which may include Britain. The new Amir is preparing for a visit to Britain that is likely to take place in the second half of November. This will be the first visit to the UK since he assumed power last March. An envoy from Tony Blair, the British PM, has met the Amir on 13 October to finalise details of the visit. The government-controlled media resumed attacks on Al-Jazeera Satellite TV Channel for its coverage of the Amiri decree for setting up a human rights committee via the all-appointed Shura Council. Al-Jazeera referred to the views expressed by the opposition on the appointment of this powerless committee. International media organisations including the BBC Arabic Service, Monte Carlo, AFP and others have commented on the formation of this window-dressing committee. The government is also preparing for the visit by Sheikh Mohammed Mahdi Shams Al-Din, the president of the Shia Islamic Council in Lebanon. Shams Al-Din will start an official visit on 16 October, and the government is attempting to utilise it as part of a PR exercise. Similarly, the meeting of the Arab Lawyers Union will take place on 25 October, and the government is preparing its appointed human rights committee to meet with the lawyers in the name of human rights. The appointed individuals have been instructed to whitewash the image of the government. Local press announced on 13 October that human rights courses “will become compulsory for all Bahrain University students studying for their law degrees,” The Law section director is a member of the ruling family and the opposition hopes that this will be an opportunity to spread the education of human rights. The University of Bahrain is one of the worst places where ethnic cleansing is exercised in day light without a shame. The opposition calls for an end to the racist and autocratic policies of military junta controlling the university. Inside the jails, torture continues to escalate. Mr, Abdul Wahab Hussain, Mr. Omran Hussain Omran, Mr. Hassan Mushaimaa, Sheikh Hussain Al-Deihi, Seyyed Ibrahim Al-Alawi, Sheikh Hassan Sultan, Sheikh Ali Ashor and Sheikh Mohammed Al-Rayyash are all suffering from their prolonged detention and maltreatment. Mr. Mahdi Sahwan and Mr. Hussain Awal have been transferred to solitary confinement. Abdulla Ibrahim Al-Shakhori who is in detention for four years without charges is also reported to be continually subjected to torture. The State security Court, headed by a member of the Al-Khalifa ruling family, dragged a group of ten citizen for a second hearing on 13 October. The group includes seven teenagers (16 and 17 years old) and all have been in detention for about two years. No information was yet available on the outcome of the session. It was also reported that a 5-year child (daughter of the detained Omran Hussain Omran) is awaiting a court hearing following the arrest of the entire family last month. The child was accused of throwing a small stone on a police jeep. The intelligence department continues to interrogate and intimidate Sheikh Mohammed Turki. Earlier this month thirteen security officers stormed the house of Sheikh Turki. He was ordered to stop leading prayers in Isa Town mosque. Four teenagers arrested from their houses in Malkeya continue to suffer from ill-treatment. The four are Seyyed Hashim Kadhim, 16, Seyyed Ahmad Al-Jaway, 16, Jaffer Ibrahim, 16, and Mohammed Ibrahim, 20. Two others were also detained from the same area: Jasim Khalaf and Abdulla Ashor Kadhim.

Bahrain Freedom Movement 14 October 1999

Fax: (44) 171 278 9089

Bahrain: A committee appointed for whitewashing the image of the government
The Amir issued an order on 10 October for setting up a human rights committee made up of six members from the Shura Council. The latter is an unconstitutional body that has no legislative or monitoring powers and is subject to governmental control in terms of its agenda and issues that can be debated. The committee’s responsibility includes “studying laws and rules currently practised in Bahrain and proposing amendments in order to protect human rights.” A spokesperson for the BFM stated that the government appointed individuals from the powerless Shura Council following its failure to form such a committee through lawyers. Bahraini lawyers understood that the aim of the government was to whitewash its tarnished image following a series of international condemnations by human rights organisations. The UN Human Rights Sub-Commission was scheduled to send a delegation to Bahrain to investigate cases of arbitrary detention this month. However, the government requested that this visit be delayed for one year to enable the authorities to prepare the grounds. The opposition believes that the government wants to use the name of such a committee as part of its PR exercise, while at the same there is no indication that any real changes would take place in relation to stopping abuses of human rights. Torture and arbitrary detention have increased in the past three months. Bahrain Freedom Movement 10 October 1999 Fax: (44) 171 278 9089

MANAMA, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Bahrain said on Sunday it would set up a human rights committee from members of the Shura council, an appointed body which has no direct legislative powers, the Gulf News Agency reported.

It said Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa on Sunday decreed the setting up of the six-member committee which would be appointed from members of the Shura (consultative) council.

The committee’s responsibility includes studying laws and rules currently practised in Bahrain and proposing amendments in order to protect human rights.

Bahrain appointed the 40-member Shura council in 1992 to review laws drafted by the cabinet before being sent to the emir for final approval.

Bahrain’s elected assembly was dissolved by the government in 1975, two years after it was set up. Political parties are banned in the island, the Gulf’s main financial and banking hub.

Bahrain: State security court re-starts its campaign of repression
The State security Court, headed by a member of the Al-Khalifa ruling family, re-started its campaign of repression against the citizens of Bahrain. On 6 October, the following citizens (who are from Nuaim, mostly children and have been in detention for about two years) were dragged to the court for a short session. The session was adjourned until 13 October: 1. Riyadh Abdul Aziz Al-Madhi, 16. 2. Maher Hassan Yehya Rahmah, 17. 3. Mohammed Baqir Saleh, 17. 4. Mahmood Abdulla Al-Afoo, 16. 5. Mahmood Al-Nooh, 16. 6. Hussain Al-Nakhlawi, 16. 7. Mahmood Abdul Al-Sheikh, 16. 8. Sheikh Nadhim, 32 9. Monir Makki Al-Sheikh, 17 10. Mohammed Abdul Karim Al-Nasheet, 16. Alongside the above ten people, the Court dragged two others who had already been sentenced to three years jail: Yousif Al-Karob, and Hani Khamis. On 2 October, the security forces attacked a house in Qadam and arrested three brothers Yasir Majid Al-Alawi, 20, Mohammed Majid Al-Alawi, 18, and Mohsin Majid Al-Alawi, 16. The brothers were beaten severely for one day. Later, the security forces attacked the area and arrested Hamid Ali Yousif Yahya, 17, Ismail Isa, 18, and Ali Salman, 19. These were transferred to Budaya Police Station and are being tortured. The gloomy political atmosphere intensified following the failure of the new Amir to mention anything positive in his speech in front of the unconstitutional Shura Council. The situation is getting worse with violations of human rights on the increase. Bahrain Freedom Movement 6 October 1999 Fax: (44) 171 278 9089

Bahrain: Dictator cornered by citizens
On the evening of 4 October, the torturer Abdul Aziz Atteyat Allah Al-Khalifa was cornered by the citizens during a live programme broadcast on TV for “explaining ” the new regime of “mukhtars”. A citizen asked, “How have you selected the 18 mukhtars?” He said “mukhtars have been selected by people not by us. The people elected them, and then we sent their names to PM who approved them!!!”. A caller by the name Um Abdulla asked: “I live in Adleya and I only knew about our mukhtar from local press, so how could you say that we elected them?”. Reply: “No.. you go see your mukhtar, he is very open, your mukhtar is Khalid”. The same lady rang later saying this name was not the mukhtar selected for her area!!”. Another caller, Abu Ummar: “You said that mukhtars were elected by people. I am from Moharaq and I know that people in Manama didn’t elect them”. Reply: “mukhtars were elected by people..!!!”. Another caller by the name Abu Fahd: “I am from Sanabis and was kept for 6 months in prison after being acquitted by the (security) court. I have been searching for a job but everywhere I go they say bring your finger-print clearance from ministry of interior.. but you know every time the answer from the ministry (we don’t recommend this person for this job)…where should I go???”. The torturer replied “you follow this issue with the relevant ministries…”

Attempting to gag Al-Jazeera:

Mohammed Al-Motawwa (information minister) failed in his attempt to gag Al-Jazeera Satellite TV. On 29 Sep, GCC information ministers met in Abu Dhabi and refused to discuss the complaints submitted by the Bahraini government against the TV channel. The Bahraini government announced last June that it was going to submit a complaint following the broadcasting of a short interview with a Bahraini opposition figure. On 2 October, Al-Motawwa met with local journalists and ordered them to start attacking Al-Jazeera channel and blame it for destabilising the state security

Bahrain Freedom Movement 5 October 1999

Fax: (44) 171 278 9089

October 1999

Delaying tactics adopted by the government;

Autocrat premier rejects reform
The government of Bahrain has been encouraged to continue its violations following its success to delay the intended UN team visit by one year. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was supposed to visit Bahrain this October. However, the Bahraini government attempted to suspend the visit on the pretext that the new Amir will need time to remedy the situation. The visit of the UN team was re-negotiated to take place in October 2000.This explains why the government halted the release of detainees and why it had re-embarked on a new wave of atrocities. It is hoping to play with time and to continue repressing the nation. The lack of any progress in the field of political reform in Bahrain since the present Amir came to power earlier on 6 March 1999 is being viewed as a catalyst for further unrest in the not too-far future. Instead of heeding the call for political reform including the reinstatement of the country’s constitution, the Al Khalifa have embarked on a series of measures aiming to deflect the attention of the masses and deprive the opposition of the means to attack their policies. However, these measure are far from being democratic or in line of the main demands of the people. The government is keen to be seen to be doing something without addressing the real grievances of the people. Over the past three years many measures were taken to ensure total control by the Al Khalifa over the country. Activities that were not in line with the policies of the prime minister have been banned, and the infamous decision last year to disband the elected body of the Bar Society was such careless decision, that had to be revoked in the wake of international criticism. The prime minister attempted to exercise absolute control through the establishment a system that is too beaurocratic. The country was first divided into four districts under the control of a member of the Al Khalifa family, two of whom had already been named. The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs was later formed, the aim of which is to centralise all religious activities in the hands of the minister of justice. Last month 18 mukhtars (apponted persons), were appointed by the interior minister for monitoring the sitution in specified localities. Real change was not forthcoming. Many people are asking: why? Although it is not easy to provide a definitive answer, few assumptions are put forward. The first relates to the nature to the hereditory dictatorship of the Al Khalifa who oppose change and who allow no public debate of their actions. The second is that the government, on advice from an international network of advisors, is made to believe that situation would become quiet as a result of the use of force and collective punishment techniques. Thirdly, the regime has become so corrupt that none of its senior members would like to be questioned about their behaviour. All share similar crimes and everyone loathes the prospect of being scrutinised by ordinary citizens. The recent steps taken to woo back foreign businesses and confidence can be understood within the context of the policies of misinformation and deception. The opposition has not so far dissuade foreign investors from coming to the country but they themselves have refrained from returning knowing how bad is the situation. On the other hand, the Government of Bahrain does not seem to have confined their quarrel with their own people, but others have similar grudges against the government. The relations with Saudi Arabia is cautious, while Kuwait tries to maintain the anti-Saddam policies. Last month’s the meeting in Cairo saw the flare up of emotions among the delegations indicating the extent of rift in the region, and the Al Khalifa chose to stand by Kuwait, to the dismay of the United Arab Emirates. In return the Kuwaiti authorities arrested two Bahraini exiles in Kuwait and handed one of the to Bahrain for more torture and absue. The Bahrain’s government is attempting to silence all opposition voices inside the country and outside. According to unofficial reports the Al Khalifa have allocated a large budget for propaganda and public relations activities outside Bahrain. So far, the propaganda machinery has failed to dislodge the opposition from its international standing and it is likely that the confused situation may backfire against the prime minister and his gang. It is also difficult to suggest why the new Amir has failed to honour his pledge that he had given to the people when he assumed power last March. It is not too hypothetic to suggest that a bloodless coup took place soon after the mourning period had ended. The prime minister today controls all major activities and strategies of the country. The Amir has accepted the role of a less powerful figure rather than face his uncle on every step he is required to take. Today, the prime minister controls everything in the country whilst the Amir is busy shuttling in and out of the country leaving the internal situation totally in the hands of his uncle. It is difficult to see a real change as long as Sheikh Khalifa retains his post as a premier. With the obvious lack of interest on the part of the friends of the Al Khalifa to exercise the role of mediation or that of pressing the government for reform, the waves of protests are likely to emerge once again. Today there is a young generation in the country with enormous experiences. Most have suffered at the hands of the torturers and subjected to all forms of humiliation and ill-treatment. Coupled with the institutionalised racist policies of the prime minister, the scene is set for further outbreaks of public anger. The delaying tactics being adopted by the government to stop international condemnation in the form of either UN resolutions against human rights abuse or stands by international human rights organisations, may give the government a breathing space until the next move, but it will not end the internal strife. A responsible stand by friends of Al Khalifa should be based on serious calls for political reforms including the reinstatement of the country’s constitution, and respect of human rights. Tactical moves by the government must be rejected and serious reform of the political system must be undertaken. The people of Bahrain have suffered enough under emergency laws and it is time for them to be removed. Bahrain Freedom Movement 1 October 1999

Fax: (44) 171 278 9089