Published: 14th July 2007
VILLAGERS in Bahrain will receive training in how to prevent violent clashes between police and demonstrators in a scheme that gets underway today.The initiative is understood to be the first of its kind in the Middle East.
It has been organised by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), based on an initiative from the Serbia-based Centre for Applied Non-Violent Action and Strategies (Canvas).
The European organisation advocates and promotes battles for democracy, but trains people worldwide in how to use peaceful strategies and tactics.
Human rights activists will go into several villages to train young people in diffusing potential conflicts and avoiding clashes that occur around Bahrain, injuring both policemen and demonstrators.
Published: 14th July 2007
VILLAGERS in Bahrain will receive training in how to prevent violent clashes between police and demonstrators in a scheme that gets underway today.The initiative is understood to be the first of its kind in the Middle East.
It has been organised by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), based on an initiative from the Serbia-based Centre for Applied Non-Violent Action and Strategies (Canvas).
The European organisation advocates and promotes battles for democracy, but trains people worldwide in how to use peaceful strategies and tactics.
Human rights activists will go into several villages to train young people in diffusing potential conflicts and avoiding clashes that occur around Bahrain, injuring both policemen and demonstrators.
Each village will have a co-ordinator who will give participants human rights training and explain non-violent strategies during weekly workshops, while Canvas officials will travel to Bahrain to offer local trainers their expertise.
Youngsters in Sanabis, Muharraq, Demistan, Karzakan, Bilad Al Qadeem, Manama and Sitra will benefit after showing the most enthusiasm for the project.
More than 200 people, aged between 18 and 34, will initially benefit from the year-long scheme, which starts in Bani Jamra today but organisers hope to eventually reach 1,000.
BYSHR president Mohammed Al Maskati said the scheme could lead to protesters giving flowers to riot police before a rally starts, copying a strategy used in Serbia to reduce tension.
He accepts it will be impossible to eradicate clashes between police and protesters, but believes the scheme is the first step towards finding a solution. Mr Al Maskati revealed a team of secret monitors will also infiltrate demonstrations to judge who is responsible for starting violent clashes. It will later prepare a report for the society so officials can decide how to tackle the issue.
geoff@gdn.com.bh
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