Archive | November, 2011

Crowdsourcing BICI’s report


Commission's Chair Professor Mahmood Sharif Bassiouni

Overall, from the various tweets I’ve seen and the snippets I’ve already read from the report, there are inconsistencies in incidents I attended personally but notwithstanding that, I believe – so far – that it’s balanced enough and can serve as a catalyst for real change in this country if it is adopted immediately and transparently. Heads MUST roll, the first of which is the Minister of the Interior for him and his ministry botching the whole affair and holding the country in terror for all this time. As the cabinet did not take any meaningful action, I believe they should do the honorable thing and summarily resign. If they don’t the king should fire them all without delay.

Thank you Professor Bassiouni and the other commissioners for taking our affairs seriously.

Now with 501 pages, the BICI Report takes a lot of reading. I propose that we start posting interesting snippets or facts drawn from it here to create our own executive summary. Click here to download it, read it and I look forward to your comments.

Waiting, with bated breath

Bahrain pro-democracy demo in the capital Manama

I think every person in Bahrain is awaiting the release of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry scheduled for Nov 23rd after a delay of a full month from the originally declared date of release. To remind us of what their task is:

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was established on 29th June 2011 in the Kingdom of Bahrain pursuant to Royal Order No. 28 by His Majesty, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The Commission has been tasked with investigating and reporting on the events that took place in Bahrain from February 2011, and the consequences of those events.

The Commission has been asked to determine whether the events of February and March 2011 (and thereafter) involved violations of international human rights law and norms, and to make the recommendations that it deems appropriate. The Commission has been asked to provide a complete narrative of the events and the context for these events; to describe any acts of violence that occurred, as well as the actors involved in such acts; and to investigate instances of alleged police brutality and violence by protestors and demonstrators against others. The Commission has been asked to explore the circumstances and appropriateness of arrests and detentions; to examine allegations of disappearances and torture; to probe allegations of media harassment and other pressure tactics used against participants in demonstrations and public protests; to discuss the alleged unlawful demolition of religious structures; and to describe the alleged involvement of foreign forces and actors. [source]

I hope that the report is truly independent and unbiased, and that its recommendations are enacted with alacrity by his Majesty to get this country out of the proverbial bottle-neck. Doing anything else would be a betrayal of those who have given their lives to this country and its people, the last of whom will be buried in the next hour or so. May Allah rest their souls and may their sacrifice never be forgotten, and let their names guide this country into a better more equitable future.

The Source of Instability

Secretary Clinton encouraged both Bahrain and Saudi to embrace the Arab Spring. I do hope that they do because it IS in their best interest t do so. What we actually see on the ground now; however, is abstinence and a deep sense of denial. It’s almost as if some in both countries’ administration are refusing to believe that the Arab Spring has arrived at their shores and that it could never happen to them. For those still in disbelief, she had these wise words:

“The greatest single source of instability in today’s Middle East is not the demand for change,” she said, “It is the refusal to change.”

ArabianBusiness.com

These words should have jerked them awake to the fact that the US administration (and the democratic world) recognizes that they are the biggest rocks in the path to democratic change. To me, what’s veiled within them as well is the somewhat diplomatic warning that if they don’t embrace such change and acquiesce to their public’s legitimate demands, the US might well not stand by them but for once actually stand on the “right side of history” and gladly watch them fall.

The whole Arab world, not just Bahrain, needs to embrace change and use the positive energy within change to forge forth with a better more inclusive and democratic future in which institutions rule, rather than the whims of individuals.

Clinton continued:

Clinton said the United States would continue to have “frank conversations” with long-time allies such as Bahrain, where the Sunni ruling family brought in troops from Sunni allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help crush a protest movement earlier this year.

“Mass arrests and brute force are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain’s citizens and will not make legitimate calls for reform go away,” Clinton said, saying the tiny Gulf country’s monarchy had made public promises to begin political dialogue and investigate abuses.

“We intend to hold the Bahraini government to these commitments and to encourage the opposition to respond constructively to secure lasting reform,” she said.

Reuters

Good. I know that intrinsically everyone wants to be on the right side of history, ultimately, but some need to be judiciously encouraged to tread a path in that direction. This pressure by a major power which has a vested interest in this region as well as the local political opposition groups are good manifestations of the much required pressure. The momentum of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya will gain strength and the laws of motion will take root. Whether the remaining Arab countries will use that momentum for their benefit, or get rolled over and discarded in the process remains to be seen.

Eid Mubarak!