Six years of disasters may herald the eventual downfall of a despotic regime

Despite what appears to be a serious deterioration of the political situation in Bahrain, there is a mood of optimism within the widening circles of opposition. Six years after the imposition by the ruler, Sheikh Hamad, of his own constitution, new political realities are emerging that indicate the end of the ruling family’s “era of deception”.

Furthermore, the consequences of the total collapse of Sheikh Hamad’s political programme are likely to herald a decisive phase in the historical struggle between the people of Bahrain and the ruling Al Khalifa family. It can be argued that there may not exist another regime (except that of the Al Khalifa) that is so widely out of step with the people it purports to rule.

The two sides stand on two opposite sides with nothing in common; political, historical or cultural. This is not new. The historical documents relate a long history of total detachment between the two sides and a deep-rooted animosity resulting from the fact that the Al Khalifa who had occupied the islands by force had not been able to bridge the gap between the colonialist attitude and that emanating from natives. They have always lived in seclusion; arrogance and feeling of superiority. They have always treated the people of Bahrain with disdain. The grandfathers of the current generations were treated as slaves, often beaten and killed for disobeying the Al Khalifa orders. Lorimer, the famous historian of the Gulf region at the onset of last century, outlines the grievances of the natives, while the Major Daly, the British Political Agent in the 1920s had prepared long lists of crimes committed by members of the Al Khalifa against the natives of Bahrain.

However, as the decades passed, the people have attempted to overcome those historical injustices and looked forward to long-lasting remedies.

Instead of calling from the removal of the occupiers from their lands, they sought to co-habit with them in return for a degree of good governance.

This has been the case for the past eight decades. Petitions, strikes and peaceful demonstrations have been the main ways of airing their grievances. The situation had at times erupted in popular uprisings (in the fifties, sixties, eighties and nineties). In almost all these events, innocent Bahrainis were brutally suppressed, often with fatal consequences. When Sheikh Hamad rose to power in 1999, following the death of his father, h e promised to change the situation. The people rewarded him for what they saw as kind words with the endorsement of his charter in February 2001. He had promised that it was a step to re-instate the country’s constitution, which was the only legal document that offered legitimacy to the Al Khalifa rule. In February 2002, however, everything came to a sudden halt when he unilaterally abrogated the constitution and imposed his own version of the new governing rules. The people reacted in fury and the situation has been deteriorating rapidly. Whether by design or default, he thought that the participation in the “elections” of half the members of his shura council would end the political boycott by the people to his rule. When the Al Wefaq participated in the elections of 2006, he and his supporters inside and outside Bahrain, thought that they had sealed the final victory over the opposition.

Now the situation is clearly far from that. The total polarisation of opinion in the country against Sheikh Hamad and his ill-fated programme cannot be dismissed as peripheral. It is a serious challenge to the Al Khalifa rule that could, one day, culminate in the total collapse of the hereditary dictatorship. He may have been able to exploit the country’s riches to his advantage, and may have succeeded in wooing some old foes back into his fold. But what about the masses? Those who have joined the mass movement either in demonstrations, or signing the successive petitions especially the latest one calling for the dismissal of the prime minister, are genuinely seeking a fundamental change in the political system that has ruled the country with fire. The killing in December of Ali Jassim, 30, was a timely disaster for Sheikh Hamad and his supporters. The people reacted in anger and resolved to continue the peaceful struggle until the Al Khalifa are defeated.

With his son, the crown prince, sucked in the muddy lakes of corruption, embezzlement and arrogance, the ruling political circles have been devoid of credible contenders for leadership. Neither Sheikh Hamad, nor his son, have presented a credible alternative to his uncle, the prime minister who is one of the worst political figures in the history of the country, and the most corrupt of all. The people have given their verdict in the ongoing petition that he has to go soon. It is unlikely that he will remain much longer, but his successors are unlikely to be much more credible than him.

The ruler, Sheikh Hamad also has blood on his hand. He has so far killed and tortured scores of Bahrainis. Among his victims are Nooh Khalil Al Nooh, Mohammad Jum’a Al Shakhouri, Mahdi Abdul Rahmad and Ali Jassim. He has failed to investigate these deaths.

Now he and the rest of the Al Khalifa will have to answer questions by the Unite Nations Human Rights Council shortly, about a long list of human rights abuses and sheltering torturers. He has taken every possible deceptive step to circumvent the investigation, including the appointment of a Shia minister to defend him. He will not succeed. The victims of his torture chambers, including those who are currently languishing in his torture cells, are ready to testify for the international body, and Sheikh Hamad cannot escape the inevitable guilty verdict expected form the investigation, unless bribery has reached its ranks and files.

History is being re-written in Bahrain as the people have refused to be contained or co-opted by the corrupt regime of the Al Khalifa. As they commemorate the bleak day of 14th February, they are proud enough to proclaim their moral high grounds, remembering those who have paid the ultimate price in sacrifice for what their beliefs. Their sons and colleagues are spending the best part of their youth in the Al Khalifa torture chambers, simply because they had the courage to express themselves freely. They deserve respect, greetings, and above all, support and solidarity from all freedom-loving people.

Bahrain Freedom Movement
30/01/2008