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Funerals Could Spark More Violence in Bahrain's Capital

   VOA News  February 18, 2011
   Bahraini  mourners  march in funeral procession in the western village
   of  Karzakan,  Bahrain, carrying the body of Isa Abdel Hasan, who died
   Thursday  during  clashes  in  Pearl  Square in the capital of Manama,
   February 18, 2011

Photo: AP

   Bahraini  mourners  march in funeral procession in the western village
   of  Karzakan,  Bahrain, carrying the body of Isa Abdel Hasan, who died
   Thursday  during  clashes  in  Pearl  Square in the capital of Manama,
   February 18, 2011

   Protesters  in  Bahrain are holding funerals Friday for several people
   who  died  in  a  crackdown  on  anti-government demonstrations in the
   capital, Manama, a day earlier.
   There  are  fears  the  funerals  could  be  a  flashpoint for further
   violence  in  Bahrain  and  elsewhere  after a wave of anti-government
   rallies in Arab nations.
   Bahrain's  military  took control of the capital Thursday, hours after
   riot  police  firing  birdshot, rubber bullets and tear gas stormed an
   anti-government  protest  camp.  At  least five people were killed and
   more than 230 others were wounded.
   Bahrain's  foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Khalifa, defended
   the  regime's  crackdown,  saying  it was necessary because the mostly
   Shi'ite  demonstrators  were  pushing  the  country to the "brink of a
   sectarian   abyss."  The  military  has  announced  a  ban  on  public
   gatherings.
   The  country's  health  minister  said three people were killed in the
   operation  to  clear  the square. But doctors said at least two others
   have  died  and  several patients are in critical condition. There are
   also reports that many protesters are missing.
   The  Shi'ite  al-Wefaq  party,  Bahrain's  largest  opposition  group,
   resigned en masse from parliament after Thursday's clashes. The bloc's
   18  deputies  in  the  40-member  legislature had already vowed not to
   return  until  King  Hamad  bin Isa al-Khalifa agreed to transform the
   nation into a constitutional monarchy with an elected government.
   Earlier  this week, protesters demanding sweeping political change had
   set  up  camp  in Manama's Pearl Square. On Wednesday, security forces
   stayed  back  as tens of thousands of Bahrainis gathered, dramatically
   expanding the protests.
   Demonstrators  want the Sunni ruling family to relinquish control over
   top  government  posts  and  address  the  grievances of the country's
   majority  Shi'ites  over  economic hardship, lack of political freedom
   and discrimination in public service jobs and the military.
   Bahrain's  king  recruits  foreigners  to  serve as police rather than
   trust  Shi'ite citizens to wear uniforms and carry weapons. About half
   of  the  island  kingdom's  1.3 million people are Bahraini, while the
   rest  are  foreign  workers.  Shi'ites  make  up  70  percent  of  the
   population.
   In 2001, voters overwhelmingly approved a national charter to lead the
   way  toward  democratic  changes. But a year later, the king imposed a
   constitution by decree that Shi'ite leaders say has diluted the rights
   in  the  charter  and  blocked  them  from achieving a majority in the
   parliament.
   Fears  have  grown within Bahrain that the country would be at risk of
   widespread  sectarian  violence  if  the  Sunni  monarchy becomes more
   unstable.  Arab  leaders  have  been  badly  shaken in recent days, as
   popular  uprisings  and protests flair throughout the region. That has
   raised concerns in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, both Sunni-governed states
   with restive Shi'ite populations.
   At  an  emergency  meeting  of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Manama,
   Arab  foreign  ministers  Thursday  issued  a statement of support for
   Bahrain,  underscoring  regional fears that the protests could spread.
   The  group  said  it "stands hand in hand in the face of any threat to
   any GCC member."
   Bahrain  is  home  to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and is also a regional
   offshore  banking  center.  The royal family has long been a strategic
   ally  of the United States in efforts to fight terrorism and push back
   the regional influence of Iran.
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References

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