Al-Wefaq won’t be playing come October 2006. They’re just not interested, and judging by how impotent our parliament, its bylaws and the constitution is and the impossibility of changing it from within, I don’t blame them.
Yes, I realise that this is a change in my position. I was angered by their first boycott, fully believing that they should have participated, for if they have, people like that twerp Al-Saidi and his ilk would not have had a cat’s chance in hell.
But seeing how Al-Wefaq has been (with their 3 other boycotting societies) driving the political agenda of this country much more effectively than parliament’s upper and lower houses combined, they are on the right path. Had the parliament passed a SINGLE law since their installation, I might have had a different opinion. They haven’t, and they never will either. The bylaws and constitution they are working with are so one sided, and so debilitating that it is impossible for them to do anything at all that would serve this country.
They could have at least tried to make constitutional amendments their very top priority, but all they have done so far is squabble and increase sectarian tensions in this peace-loving country. Nothing more, and nothing less.
If the so called parliament were to close for any reason this very minute for ever, no one would shed a tear, and no one would miss the morons who have been installed in that mental geriatric unit.
Rock on Al-Wefaq and co!
Bahrain’s main Shiite group vows to shun polls
INAA will boycott parliamentary elections next year unless its demands for constitutional reforms are met.
MANAMA – A Bahraini Shiite opposition group said on Thursday it would boycott parliamentary elections due next year unless its demands for constitutional reforms were met.
The general assembly of the Islamic National Accord Association (INAA) refuses “to deal positively with the parliamentary elections slated for 2006 unless constitutional reforms are introduced, in agreement between the ruler and citizens,” the INAA said in a statement received by AFP.
The main reform would confine legislative powers and the authority to act as watchdog over the executive to the elected parliament, while the mandate of an appointed consultative council would be restricted to giving advice, the statement said.
Electoral constituencies should also be delineated in a “fair” manner, it said.
The statement said the general assembly had agreed to “gradually turn (the INAA) from an association into a modern political party”.
Moves in this direction would include setting up branches across the country, where formal political parties remain banned, like in other conservative Gulf Arab states.
The INAA, the main political formation of Bahrain’s Shiite Muslim majority, and three allied groupings have demanded constitutional reform since boycotting 2002 polls in protest at a constitutional amendment which split legislative power equally between the elected chamber and the appointed consultative council.
Bahrain’s elected parliament, scrapped in 1975, was revived in 2002 as part of reforms spearheaded by King Hamad which turned the Gulf state into a constitutional monarchy.
The INAA and its allies – the leftist National Democratic Action Association, the pan-Arabist Nationalist Democratic Rally, and the Shiite Islamic Action Association – have organized two mass demonstrations in support of their demands since late March.
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Al-Wefaq won’t be playing come October 2006. They’re just not interested, and judging by how impotent our parliament, its bylaws and the constitution is and the impossibility of changing it from within, I don’t blame them. Yes, I realise…
Oy! Whatchagonado now?
I think the most important thing to do for your country right now is for liberals to get in a position to have a voice…buy a radio station now, cultivate media owners, blog in Arabic, start a newsletter on butterflies, form associations like sports associations, women’s associations. In the US , my husband and I belong to soooooo many associations…
One labor union, two college alumni associations, high school alumni association, college faculty association, 6 professional organizations, recreation associations, humane society, parks committees, historical association, volunteer fundraising associations for medical research, etc.
I could go on and on if I thought of them all.
Although not political parties…these provide outlets for us to have a voice and networks during an election. They all have mailing lists of people we know…You could form an association for the education of some issue that is non-threatening such as to promote multi-cultural food-fests at the speedway…or start an association of community newspapers that focus on neighborhood issues such as sports activities, schools, etc.
Just get all like minded liberals to GET IN A POSITION TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR ELECTIONS.
thinker
Oy! Whatchagonado now?
The key aim of the boycotting societies, is to get into a true DIALOGUE with the rular. And, I as a Bahraini citizen, say to the King, rejecting a petition signed by 70,000 people, and refusing to sit down with the societies in a serious bid to resolve the constitutional issue, is not in you’re interest, OR the people’s interest. The 1973 constitution was contractual. The 2002 ammended constitution is not.
The funny thing is the then-Amir, took what he wanted from the National Charter; calling himself “King” and changing the status of Bahrain to a “Kingdom”, and shoved the agreed 1973 constitution in the bin, which was the only reason 98% voted for the National Charter in the first place.
I don’t think that constitutional reform and changing the electoral boundaries (all demands stated in the report by the International Crisis Group). If this doesn’t happen, then I will be boycotting.
Difficult question Mahmood I pose to you. Since you are also in support of these aims, will you be joining the mainstream boycott too?
Oy! Whatchagonado now?
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but how can you set yourself up as a political party and not be a player in the political process??? Hmm…well let’s see….the LibDems (UK) and Libertatians (US) have been doing it for years, so I guess it can happen (snicker, snicker)!
😉
Oy! Whatchagonado now?
well, i don’t know – it’s quite easy to stand at the side and make big theoretical constitutional demands and avoid dealing with concrete problems. quite good that while you concentrate on the constitution nobody seems to notice that you’re basicly clueless with regard to any other issue – e.g. combatting unemployment by “fostering family and religious tourism” seems not so very convincing to me. i also wonder how one can on one side see how, aham well, unhelpful many parliamentary motions are, but on the other side assume that if only the elected chamber were empowered more, thenall of a sudden they’d contribute in a mature way …. i am sorry but i am really not tooo sure about this position.
Re: Oy! Whatchagonado now?
I think empowering a Parliament is called ‘democracy’… but hell, what would i know
Re: Oy! Whatchagonado now?
I’m not suggesting that Al-Wefaq or its boycotting coleagues have the answers. Nor have I overnight become their supporter, I haven’t, I agree with them now that there are dire reformation of the main guide-book, the constitution of this country if we are to proceed as a modern country.
I agree with you that we have yet to see concrete plans detailing their positions on education, economy, information, health, labour, tourism and all the other important facets of running a modern country. However, you surely would agree that their main demand, that is, a proper and binding constitution if achieved will go a long way in repairing the demands of the country.
It is important that we have a parliament with at least some teeth. The current parliament does not have any effect for instance on the selection and confirmation of ministers and high public office managers, they do not have anything to say with financial oversight, they cannot initiate any form of legislation, they have nothing to say nor can they inforce government transparency and they cannot (have not nor will they ever) bring any corrupt official to trial or at least questioned although you and I know that these scum are prevalent in this country, hence are completely powerless.
Fixing the constitution and parliamentary bylaws are critical for the success (economically and otherwise) of a modern country.
Re: Oy! Whatchagonado now?
This I found very interesting as well, that is, Al-Wefaq has declared that they are gradually converting themselves from a “political society” to a “political party” (political parties are currently outlawed in Bahrain, even though the King HAS given his go ahead. Islamist members of the parliament have strongly objected to political parties and their name due to conotations of ‘evil doers’ present in the Quran, and more importantly their deduction that Bahrain is too young and immature of a democracy to warrant having political parties. The other objection they used is that as the main aim of political parties is to govern and we are a constitutional monarchy, there is no need for political parties.)
However, I strongly believe that in a democratic environment, political parties are an absolute must. That is the only way to collectively govern or at least properly represent yourself in parliament.
So yes, I think it is high time to have full political parties in Bahrain. We are mature enough.
Re(1): Oy! Whatchagonado now?
Lets just hope that noone calls their bluff. Boycotting elections has always been a losing proposition except when the elections are an obvious sham. (i.e. candidates pre chosen for a particular result, see Iran)
They may see themselves as taking a principled stand, and they may have a point, but they will end up being the real losers if they don’t have an ace up their sleeve, eh?
Please dont read it
Mr.Ali Salman is the only man moving in the right direction .why simply should he join a parliament which is made only as a interface of modern society and political rights with no delegation of doing any thing .
On the other hand if they decided any law it should pass throw the Shorra council and if it luckily do the king should approve it too.
In fact its total waste of time for all people ,government they are just fooling each other .
There is no trust between the government and people they keep talking about jobless rate and they bring international consultant houses to solve the unemployment problem and they forget it is simply will solve if the hire real Bahraini in Ministries like BDF and other departments we don’t need all the millions spend for consultation we need more serious and subjective plan to close the gap between the people and government .
With best of luck
Oy! Whatchagonado now?
I feel that a boycott is a “cop-out”. The current government will use it against them stating that “the boycott groups are 100% against democracy and threaten the brotherly love that is shared in our beautiful Bahrain”, or something like that. The best thing they (Al Wefaq and others) can do is run for office, then when they win the majority of seats in parliment (which they will), start to enact changes to the constitution. At that point the “ruler” will have no choice but to listen as the people elected the parliment and the parliment want’s change. Either that or we have a 1973 crisis all over again, which I highly doubt would happen.
Oy! Whatchagonado now?
Hmm.
I think Ali Salman and co are good poker players and they have just raised the ante. They have now put the King in a defensive position. He will either have to see them, or raise them. But – this is a direct challenge. If this process is to work, then it has to be inclusionary. If not with everyone, then with a critical mass.
Having said that, I also think that Al Wefaq should not boycot, they should really work from within parliament. They will then have time to become a significant power within parliament and try their hand at dealing with significant issues (unemployment and jobs). I think the best way to shut Al Saidi up is to have him pit against Al Wefaq.
So .. both sides need to come together and compromise. Soon.
Re: Oy! Whatchagonado now?
and give yet another chance to Al-Saidi and co to run the country into the ground? no. I shall participate and shall vote for whoever I think the fittest. I respect their option to boycott and respect every individual’s choice to vote or boycott, but as I implied above, it is a political game that is being played, and as JJ has succintly put it, it’s a poker game!
Re: Oy! Whatchagonado now?
I’d agree, IF the parliament was representative, not when you get 500 people voting for 1 MP in Rifa3, and 13,000 voting for 1 MP in the Northern District. In that sense, the parliament is not representative of the majority, and the minority (Alsaidi and co) are given a louder voice than they deserve. The fact is, the way the electoral boundaries are drawn, the salafi/wahabis will always get into the parliament whether Alwefaq boycotts or not. It is absolutely clear that pressure from Within is not effective. The constitution cannot be ammended in this bicameral system, and ultimatly the KING has VETO.
Morally, and principally, unless there are no concessions by the King, I support the boycott all the way.
I can’t bring myself to put a paper into that kinda ballot box.