Bahrain: More martyrs, international activists deported, revolution continues

The latest martyr is a 19-years old young man who died today as a result of second and third degree burns to his body. Hussain Mohammad Al Baqqali had been arrested and released last month only to go back to demonstrate in the streets alongside his people.

His martyrdom has fuelled more anger among Bahrainis who are now more determined than ever to achieve the liberation of their country from both the Al Khalifa hereditary tribal dictatorship and the Saudi illegal occupation.

The first anniversary of the revolution was marked with country-wide protests, demonstrations and strife. The 14th February youth have been organising themselves and mobilising the public to participate in the week-long programme of protests designed specifically to remember the revolution that had started on 14th February 2011. On the first day a young man, Ali Abdul Hadi Mushaima was martyred, thus starting a wave of enthusiasm unseen before.

As he was being carried for burial the following day, another young man, Fadhel Al Matrook was gunned down by the Al Khalifa murder squads. The two martyrs set the ball rolling for the revolution that has since grown bigger every day.

However, the enemies of Bahrain and its people, namely the Al Khalifa and the Al Saud who have killed around 70 people so far in their quest to effect a population change are determined to continue their killing spree. In anticipation of country-wide demonstrations and protests, the regime had devised various tactics to suppress the people, aided by American and British military personnel.

Today, Bahrain’s dictators enjoy American and British support with the help of John Timony (America’s worst cop, according to Miami New Times) and the British officer, John Yates, who had linked to the phone hacking fiasco. Washington has ignored the plight of American citizens arrested, abused and humiliated by the Al Khalifa regime. Last night two American activists who were travelling in the car with Nabil Rajab, the President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, were arrested.

On 15th February, six other Americans who had come to join the protesters and support the movement for change had been arrested and deported. On Saturday 11th February two American activists; Huwaida Arraf and Radhika Sainath were arrested and deported. This is part of the policy to keep the lid on the atrocity of the regime that has sought to bring Bahrainis to their knees and accept the continued dictatorship of the Al Khalifa.

Last week many journalists were banned from entering the country to report on the deteriorating situation especially as the regime became more vicious and cruel in dealing with the Bahrainis.

On 15th February The Times newspaper published an editorial titled “Race to the bottom, Bahrain is not ready for the return of Formula 1. It said: “A year after a “day of rage” that shook Bahrain, the authorities are keen to show that stability has returned. They are, indeed, quite right.

Since demonstrators were cleared from the Pearl Roundabout in the centre of Manama; since protests were crushed; since fifty died and scores were arrested; since tanks and troops provided by Saudi Arabia crossed the King Fahd Causeway to crush remaining dissent; since protesters were subsequently rounded up and arrested; since those jailed included 20 doctors and nurses, sentenced to up to 15 years for treating the wounded, those opposed to the Government in this tiny corner of the Gulf have, indeed, quietened down.” It concluded: “The Pearl Roundabout became a symbol of dissent in Bahrain. It was torn down in March, and coins that featured its image were withdrawn from circulation.

These were the actions of a regime determined to airbrush protest. A Bahrain Formula One would mean they had succeeded.”

Meanwhile the Revolution continues with no sign that the horrific repression, including the use of excessive amounts of chemical and tear gases on demonstrators and houses, the arrest and summary torture, the draconian jail sentences and the media campaign against Bahrainis, have dampened the zeal to achieve real change in the country.

Recently the Al Khalifa have indicated they were going to forge a union with the Al Saud as a means to deflect the attention away from the Revolution. The people have only one way to go; to bring down the Al Khalifa hereditary tribal despotic rule with all legitimate peaceful means

Bahrain Freedom Movement
17th February 2012