Bargaining Economic and Social Services against Civil Rights!
Oppression and Restrictions is not the Right Solution for the Escalating Unrest
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
26 July 2008
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is highly alerted for the recent escalation in political and security tension leading to more restriction on basic freedoms and violations of civil, political, economic and social rights. Most restrictions and violations are directed against Shia individuals, groups and villages. The BCHR has occasionally warned that restrictive and sectarian policies would lead to more disturbance and unrest.
Bargaining Economic and Social Services against Civil Rights!
Oppression and Restrictions is not the Right Solution for the Escalating Unrest
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
26 July 2008
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is highly alerted for the recent escalation in political and security tension leading to more restriction on basic freedoms and violations of civil, political, economic and social rights. Most restrictions and violations are directed against Shia individuals, groups and villages. The BCHR has occasionally warned that restrictive and sectarian policies would lead to more disturbance and unrest.
Addressing editors-in-chief of local newspapers at Al Safriya Palace, the king of Bahrain said: “We have bought many lands and properties for the benefit of the residents of Al-Malikia (a Shia village in Bahrain west cost) that’s to build houses, sport clubs and shopping malls, but stability is a must for the continuity of these projects of development and modernization. The inhabitants of Al-Malikia are recommended to take the right position against the intruders who muddle with the security of their village” The statement was a reaction for continuance protests in Shia villages especially since December 2007, against state policy based on sectarianism and calling for detained activists.
As an implementation for the king statement, the Council of Ministers announced that development is bond to security. The official statement revealed that the cabinet has assigned the ministers of work, housing and municipality to continue the project of development in Al-Malekia only when security is restored in the village and in other villages. The statement concluded that “no development without security ” The minister of municipality warned that all development projects will be excuted only when the inhpitants take the nessessary security and national responsibility encouraging people to inform or take action against each other.
As a reaction to the statements by the king and cabinet, the Northern area’s municipal councilor, Ali Mansoor, warned residents could start dishing out vigilante justice to anyone they catch trying to stir up trouble. His comments came after 40 people gathered near the village market and began chanting anti-government slogans on Sunday. One man from Hamad Town was arrested after villagers called the police. Mr Mansoor said families were not only concerned for the safety of their children, but also worried that services newly provided to Malkiya could be stopped as a form of punishment. “Malkiya has been deprived of government services and we will stop anyone who comes between them and us.” However, Mr Mansoor also reserved some criticism of the police for the way they were handling the problem. He said they often made it worse by dishing out collective punishment. “If an eight-year-old child is seen burning a tyre, the whole village is punished for the child’s act by police using tear gas and causing chaos. “The residents complain about the ministry’s attitude because many people get punishment for the actions of others.”
Nabeel Rajab, BCHR’s vice president commented that the government has since independence neglected villages from deployment projects specially those villages that witnessed wide protests during the eighties and nineties. But it is the first time that officials declare openly this policy.
It is worth mentioning that Al-Malekia is one of few Shia remote villages which use to be considered as loyal to the ruling family. Members of the ruling family in the past two centuries took over the village occupying most of its farms and coastline which is the workplace and the main source of income of the villagers. Ever since, the village has remained the least developed compared to other areas in regard to housing, roads, schools and other main services. As a result, during the last three years, the new generation in the village has widely revolted resulting in continuance protests. The first spark was when a member of the ruling family closed the last accesses of the village to the sea.
The Bahrain Centre for Human rights is highly concerned for the policies of collective punishment and sectarianism. “Bargaining economic and social rights with civil rights, such as the freedom of opinion, association and assembly, is a clear violations of both relative International convention of which Bahrain is a member state” said Nabeel Rajab. “Moreover, It is highly dangerous that officials pressurize citizens to inform or take actions against other citizens under the pretext of maintaining security” he added.
The BCHR is calling on the authorities to put an end for policies based on sectarianism and to react positively to 2005’s recommendations by the International Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination (CERD) to secure economic and social rights to deferent groups including Shia and provide specific statistics in that regards.
BCHR calls also to resolve the direct problems generating unrest: i.e.; the use of excessive force against peaceful protests and arbitrary arrest, torture and unfair trial especially against political and human rights activists.
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Al-Waqt daily newspaper- 20 July 2008
Bahrain News Agency – 20 July 2008
Alayam Daily news paper – 25 July 2008
Gulf Daily News – 22 July 2008