Bahrain National Dialogue to resume today

Manama, 1 hours, 5 minutes
ago

Bahrain’s National Dialogue will resume today (August 28) with opposition groups planning to submit a list of six pre-conditions for continuing with talks, a report said.

The news has prompted concerns that the six political societies, led by Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, are seeking to hinder negotiations designed to end Bahrain’s two-year political stalemate, according to the report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Opposition groups, nine political societies (the Sunni contingent) led by the National Unity Assembly (NUA), three government ministers and eight National Assembly members will meet at the Isa Cultural Centre, in Juffair, today for the 24th dialogue session following the Ramadan break.

“The opposition societies will submit a list of six conditions during the talks as we believe it will help the process move forward,” said National Democratic Action Society (Waad) deputy secretary-general Radhi Al Mousawi.

He was speaking during a Press conference held at the society’s headquarters in Umm Al Hassam yesterday in the presence of representatives of other opposition groups.

The pre-conditions are allowing members of the Press to be present during the talks, ending any attempts to divide the society based on sect, implementing recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report, releasing alleged political prisoners, ending alleged police raids on homes and allowing all groups to voice their views.

“We want members of the Press along with media managers of all the societies participating to be present during the talks and not wait outside to get updates,” added Al Mousawi. “We want the sessions to progress rather than be stagnant so we have to take certain steps.”

However, NUA head Dr Shaikh Abdullatif Al Mahmood criticised the opposition move.

“No one can impose views at this stage of the talks when all participants should sit and finalise the agenda,” he said. “Any preconditions will affect the dialogue process.” – TradeArabia News Service

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Bahrain | opposition | Al Wefaq | National Dialogue |