as part of severe clampdown on all who joined or openly supported the protest movement.
King’s son says: No escape for opponents of his father
Issued by Bahrain Centre for Human Rights – 6 April 2011
The Authorities in Bahrain has staged a campaign to dismiss or take strict measures against thousands of employees and workers including those working in the public sector, university, main national companies and professionals in sectors such media and sport. This comes as a part of a crackdown on the pro-democracy demonstrations which also include until now: the arrest of around 400 community leaders and activists, daily harassments and use of excessive force by military and security forces against Shiaa villages and at check points, and the ongoing sectarian hate campaign by pro-government media against Shiaa citizens and opposition groups.
as part of severe clampdown on all who joined or openly supported the protest movement.
King’s son says: No escape for opponents of his father
Issued by Bahrain Centre for Human Rights – 6 April 2011
The Authorities in Bahrain has staged a campaign to dismiss or take strict measures against thousands of employees and workers including those working in the public sector, university, main national companies and professionals in sectors such media and sport. This comes as a part of a crackdown on the pro-democracy demonstrations which also include until now: the arrest of around 400 community leaders and activists, daily harassments and use of excessive force by military and security forces against Shiaa villages and at check points, and the ongoing sectarian hate campaign by pro-government media against Shiaa citizens and opposition groups.
King’s son says no escape for opponents of his father:
On 4 April Nasser Al-Khalifa, a son of the king of Bahrain and the head of Bahrain Olympic Committee, made an oral intervention on a show broadcasted by Bahrain official TV, stating that restrictive measures will be taken against everybody who participated in anti-government protests during the last two months. Naser Al-Khalifa said: “..Bahrain is an island with no escape passage, everybody who interfered in these issues will be punished and everybody who took a stand (supporting the regime) will be awarded. The people who stood with or against the king are well-known to us[1] ”.
National government-run companies:
According to a pro-government newspaper, on the 4th of April, BATELCO (Bahrain Telecommunication Company) sacked 85 workers after an internal investigation reportedly found them guilty of taking part in a nationwide strike[2] .
An investigation committee formed by Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) to probe the absence of employees during recent events decided to sack nine members from the governing body of its trade union for their role of instigation and participation in the general strike. It acquitted two members and decided to continue investigations with two others. The committee is also conducting an investigation against employees who were absent from work during recent events. Around 230 employees will be subjected to investigation as the first group. Earlier, it had also dismissed company union chairman Abdulghaffar Abdulhussain[3] .
According to a source from the government run aluminum company (ALBA), the number of its workers dismissed had now reached 150. More than 100 employees have also been sacked from APM Terminals, the company which runs the Khalifa Bin Salman Port, in addition to 50 from Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), and 17 from Gulf Air. Three Gulf Air workers have also been suspended, pending further investigation[4] . TAMKEEN, a government project to train and find jobs for the unemployed, has reportedly terminated two year job-training contracts at BATELCO with 100 Shia citizens.
The Public sector:
Several hundreds of employees and workers at the public sector, who do not have the right to form or join trade unions, are also being reportedly subjected to punishments and dismissal for suspicion of participation in protests and absence of work during national strike. Public sectors which contain high percentage of Shia, such as education and health, could whiteness a wider wave of punishments and dismissals. No statistics or information has been provided yet.
According to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on 6 April, the Ministry of Health suspended 30 doctors and nurses who had been referred to an investigation committee and that many more employees will be sacked in the coming days[5] .
University of Bahrain (UOB):
University of Bahrain announced on 6 April that investigation committees had recommended the dismissal of; a female dean of one of the colleges, 7 university professors, 25 administrators and 62 university students. It recommended also the suspension of 5 PhD scholarships, issuing a final worming for a female professor and a first worming to another female professor. The announcement stated that the committees will continue investigations with many others for “having been part of disruptive events” [6] .
The media sector:
Fatima Al-Khawaja (Journalist and Radio programmer) and Rashed Abdul-Raheem Shareef (technical radio programmer), were dismissed last week from their jobs at the government-run Radio without prior notice, apparently, for suspicion of sympathizing with protestors demands. Furthermore, on the 3rd of April, Government-influenced Board of Directors of Al-Wasat daily newspaper fired editor-in-chief Dr. Mansoor Al Jamri, managing editor Waleed Nuwaihedh, and local news editor Aqeel Mirza. This occurred a day after Bahrain TV accused the newspaper of deliberately publishing plagiarized news in support of protesters. Two Iraqi journalists working for the same newspaper since 2005 have been deported. The Information Affairs Authority (IAA) confirmed yesterday that a case filed against Dr. Al Jamri and the publication was now being investigated by the Public Prosecution. Pro-government Al-Ayam daily newspaper has reportedly dismissed four journalists all belonging to the Shiaa sect.
Sports sector:
On the 4th of April, on a show broadcasted by Bahrain official TV, two TV broadcasters and two sports officials (all pro Government belonging to the Sunni Muslim sect) interviewed via phone well-known national athletes and sports officials (all belonging to the Shiaa Muslim sect) regarding their participation in protests or sympathizing with protesters. The interviews had a tone of interrogation and accusation of treason. During the show, the broadcasting team repeated the urgent need to take firm action against all athletes who took part in or supported the protests. During the show, they announced that AlMuharraq Sports Club had decided to suspend all athletes who participated in protests, and that Al-Refa Club had suspended a football player, Mahmood Al-Ejmi, for the same reason. They also stated that boards of other well-known clubs were having urgent meetings to do the same. Three National team football players were arrested the following day: Alaa Hubail, Mohammed Hubail and Ali Saeed while a well-known basketball player was not found by security forces at his home. It is worth noting that relatives of the king occupy all high ranking positions in the national sport institutions and the major sports clubs.
According to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on 6 April, the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) announced that Mohammed Adnan Mahfoudh Mohammed (The wel-known national team football player) is no longer working for it. It is be noted that Mohammed Adnan joined the Oil Ministry in 2003[7] .
Background information:
The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), first announced a nationwide strike after the killing of peaceful protestors calling for reforms by the military and security forces on the 14th and 15th of February. However, the GFBTU called it off on February 20th, after the military first withdrew from the Pearl Roundabout. The GFBTU then announced an indefinite strike on March 13th in solidarity with protesters who had been violently evicted from the area adjacent to the Bahrain Financial Harbor, which was also called off on March 22nd on condition that the authorities secure the safety of workers while on their way to work.
Since the 13th of March, residents belonging to the Shiaa sect have been afraid of going to work or driving out of their neighborhoods because of the spread of a new phenomenon that began to appear in Bahrain: roaming gangs in civilian clothes, armed with guns or long sticks. They were often masked and sometimes clad in military boots, which many Bahrainis took as proof that they were members of government security forces. These gangs set up their own checkpoints and targeted Shia civilians which resulted in many arrests, injuries, disappearances, and in some cases: death.
Recommendations:
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) calls upon the relevant international actors concerned with protection of human rights to take applicable action and calls upon the authorities in Bahrain to:
• Allow a prompt, independent and transparent investigation in all circumstances that lead to the escalation of events and absenteeism from work, including killing and injuring hundreds of citizens and the role of armed thugs in hindering people from going to their workplaces.
• Promptly restore all the rights of those who lost their jobs or were otherwise punished as a result of practicing their basic rights and freedoms including support or participation in peaceful activities.
• Refrain, as work providers and through influence on the private sector, from mass sackings and other repressive measures to punish dissidents and activists.
• Promptly engage in serious dialogue with opposition and independent civil society groups to address the grievances and demands for reforms in order to promote human rights and restore peace and stability.
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[1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lTTgOWNf2A[2]Batelco sacks 85
[3]Trainees sacked
[4]same as previous
[5]NOGA Fires Mohammed Adnan Mahfoudh
[6]Bahrain University Fires College Dean, 7 Teachers, 25 Administrators and 62 Students
[7]NOGA Fires Mohammed Adnan Mahfoudh