12 February 2013 – 8:51am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Two years ago a small state in the Persian Gulf Bahrain was covered by a wave of public riots. However, experts state that there is a huge difference between Bahrain and other countries of Arab Spring. The see the reason for disturbances not in the social stratification, but in religious contradictions – the Shias – 70% of the population – are supported by Iran and rebelled against King who is a Sunni. At the same time the opposition denies involvement of a religious factor and states they are fighting for democracy.
The Bahraini opposition representatives were invited to Moscow by the public organization “Russian Society of Bahrain’s Friends”.
“The Bahraini people are constantly fighting for their rights. I mean not only the developments of February 14, 2011. In the last 50 years the Bahraini people have struggled for more active participation in the settlement of state problems,” Abdulnabi Salman, Secretary General of the movement “Democratic Tribune”, states. “We have real dictatorship and oppression of people in Bahrain, and the Bahraini people demand only democratic changes. Our opposition represents various layers of society: we have liberal, nationalist, left-wing, and other forces. They are united by a common program which makes clear our demands in a series of articles. And we have found out that Russia, as well as other forces in the world, treats our problems with understanding. All human right organizations of the world stand for the fair struggle of the Bahraini people, considering it to be legitimate. In Bahrain we believe that our problem is a political problem, it is also a legal problem. On February 14, 2011, we started demonstrations and it was within the developments in the whole Arab world, the so-called Arab Spring. But our demands didn’t appear on February 14. They have a long history. We are fighting for human rights. Since the 1950s a lot of our people have died in this struggle.”
“A lot of developments in Syria and Libya are discussed, but the facts of dictatorship and repressions which are committed in Bahrain are kept secret,” Fazil Iskander Abbas, Secretary General of the National-Democratic Movement, says. “For example, the government of Bahrain has been headed by one and the same person for 43 years, and no change is happening, even though the person is not competent for the position. Interference in the internal affairs of the state is taking place. Saudi troops were sent into Bahrain to suppress our people. It is probably the first time in the Arab world when a ruling regime has called for other Arab countries to settle its internal problems. We demand the establishment of an elected government. Our people stand against the appointed government. And they send troops to suppress such demands. Our opposition makes demands on the government and calls for dialogue, but the government ignores us. The dictatorial regime meets these demands with fire and violence. At the same time, there was no clear reaction to the interference of Saudi Arabia in developments in Bahrain.”
“We appreciate the efforts of the EU and the USA in the sphere of restriction of political repressions. At the same time, we demand improvement of support of our requirements. We urge Russia to play an independent and active role, for we in Bahrain could provide democratic changes in the interests of the whole nation,” Sheikh Aki Salman, Secretary General of the political union “Al Vifak Movement”, states.