Fear of violent attack by anti-riot police
Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)
November 13, 2006
Ref: 06111300
Fear of violent attack by anti-riot police
Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)
November 13, 2006
Ref: 06111300
A group of political and human rights activists as well as religious figures issued a public call yesterday for Bahrainis to participate in a demonstration calling for an investigation into the Bandargate scandal. Two months have passed since a former advisor to the Bahraini government issued a 214-page report revealing allegations that some high government officials have been conspiring to rig next week’s parliamentary elections. Yet the government has remained silent on the issue, refusing to launch an investigation or even comment on the validity of the allegations. Therefore, many figures and activists are organizing a public demonstration to insist that the government investigate the scandal. There are fears that the government may use violence to prevent it from going ahead, so we request local and international media and rights organizations to monitor the demonstration.
The rally will commence at 3pm on Friday, November 17th near Ras Al-Rumman mosque in the Capital Manama, heading towards the Financial Harbour.
Background and details
In September 2005, Dr. Saleh Al Bandar, an advisor to the Bahraini government, revealed in a 214-page report a scandal (now dubbed ‘Bandargate’) in which government officials prepared a 5-year plan to politically suppress the Shia community of Bahrain. It was alleged that Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, paid some $2.7 million to operatives to rig the upcoming elections, to spy on Shia organizations, and to set up fake civil societies, among other activities. However, as of yet, the government has not launched any investigations into the scandal allegations, nor has it attempted to explain the over 150 pages of documentation — signed bank statements, receipts, and checks — provided in the report as evidence for the claims. None of the implicated government officials have been reprimanded or suspended from their positions.
Instead, it would appear that the government is trying to cover the issue up. Dr Al Bandar, was arrested, deported from Bahrain, and prosecuted (in absentia) on charges of seizing government papers. A gag order was issued to ban the publishing of any news or commentary of the scandal (see BCHR Ref: 06100500). Several websites which continued to highlight the issue have been blocked by the government, and website owners were threatened with prosecution if they continued their activities (see BCHR Ref: 06110200).
The Bahrain Center for Human Rights and other civil societies have repeatedly urged the government to launch a transparent investigation and hold guilty officials responsible, including a petition sent to His Majesty the King. These requests have not been honoured by the government, which raises serious doubts on the credibility of the upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held on November 25.
We therefore call on all concerned people and organizations to join in calling on the government to investigate the claims of the conspiracy and to renounce its policies of sectarian discrimination documented elsewhere.
Fear of a violent attack by anti-riot police
The BCHR fears that the government may use violence to prevent the planned peaceful demonstration from going ahead on Friday. A similar demonstration organized by five political societies in late September was met with approximately 4000 paramilitary police officers, who attacked the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets (see AFP report, Sep 29). Similarly, two public seminars held in September by the HAQ Movement were also attacked by security forces, resulting in a number of injuries (see BCHR Ref: 06092400). In light of these event, the BCHR urges local and international media and rights organization to monitor this Friday’s demonstration in case it too is attacked