Bahrain Polls Crowded in Tense Elections
By JIM KRANE
The Associated Press
Saturday, November 25, 2006; 5:34 PM
MANAMA, Bahrain — The Shiite Muslim majority in this small U.S.-allied Persian Gulf nation hoped to increase its political power Saturday in parliamentary elections that have worsened frictions with Bahrain’s dominant Sunnis.
With similar tensions weighing heavily on neighboring Arab countries planning their own steps toward democracy, campaigning in Bahrain was marred by sectarian fear-mongering and a backlash against 18 women candidates. Voting also bore signs of organized corruption.
Bahrain Polls Crowded in Tense Elections
By JIM KRANE
The Associated Press
Saturday, November 25, 2006; 5:34 PM
MANAMA, Bahrain — The Shiite Muslim majority in this small U.S.-allied Persian Gulf nation hoped to increase its political power Saturday in parliamentary elections that have worsened frictions with Bahrain’s dominant Sunnis.
With similar tensions weighing heavily on neighboring Arab countries planning their own steps toward democracy, campaigning in Bahrain was marred by sectarian fear-mongering and a backlash against 18 women candidates. Voting also bore signs of organized corruption.
Turnout was high but orderly, though officials said they did not know how many of the 300,000 eligible voters took part. Results weren’t expected before Sunday, but with more than 200 candidates vying for 40 National Assembly seats, many races appeared headed for Dec. 2 runoffs.
Many voters played down the significance of the vote, only the second in recent years for this island state where the government has long been controlled by the family of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his uncle, Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
An election in 2002 _ the first since parliament was dissolved in 1975 _ was marred by a boycott by opposition Shiites and liberals.
“For 30 years we had no say over what our government does,” opposition candidate Huda al-Mutawah said after casting her ballot. “This is the beginning. It’s not complete democracy, but it’s a start.”
No matter what the results, the power of those elected remain limited. The National Assembly is tempered by the 40 members of the upper chamber appointed by King Hamad, who must approve any legislation. Opposition members say the system is designed to preserve Sunni dominance.
Bahrain’s vote has been a landmark for women, who failed to win seats in 2002. This year they are guaranteed a seat, since pro-government candidate Latifa al-Gaoud was running uncontested. She will be the first female legislator in the Persian Gulf.
Among Bahrain’s neighbors, Kuwait allowed women to vote and run for office for the first time in elections held in June. No female candidates won, but a woman was given a Cabinet post.
Qatar and Oman have held low-level elections and the United Arab Emirates has announced similar plans. Saudi Arabia held municipal elections but, alone among Mideast nations, barred women’s participation.
In Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, opposition backers worried a sophisticated campaign of dirty tricks and corruption would skew the voting in the government’s favor.
In September, leaked documents depicted an alleged government scheme to weaken the country’s long-oppressed Shiites, who make up about two-thirds of the population. The plan called for bringing in Saudi voters from the pro-government al-Dosari clan to vote in Bahrain, while handing Bahraini citizenship to Sunnis from other countries, including the South Asian nation of Pakistan.
Several irregularities Saturday appeared to lend credence to the allegations, which the government has denied.
While international observers were blocked from monitoring the polls, dozens of Saudi nationals holding dual Bahraini citizenship appeared to be voting at a polling station on the causeway at the Saudi border.
One man, Rashid al-Dosari, 38, of Khobar in Saudi Arabia, climbed out of a Chevrolet with Saudi license plates and held a green Saudi passport and a red Bahraini passport in his hand. A companion told him to show only the Bahraini passport to election officials.
“I’ve had a Bahraini passport for eight years,” al-Dosari explained, wearing a red-checked headscarf and a long white robe. “My wife is Bahraini.”
Meanwhile, in the Shiite-dominated Karzakan district, a polling station was more than 2,500 ballots short of the 12,300 registered voters, monitoring judge Mubarak al-Haji said.
In the capital, Manama, voters were turned away because of apparent computer glitches. In the Muharraq suburb, election monitor Mohammed Hussaini said some voters arrived clad in Pakistani national dress but displayed legitimate credentials.
Information Minister Mohammed Abdel Ghaffar said small incidents were bound to happen, but said he was unaware of any major voting violations.
© 2006 The Associated Press
