In an interview with Press TV, former Deputy Speaker Khalil al-Marzooq of the Wefaq bloc in Manama, gives his account of the tragedy unfolding in Bahrain as foreign troops are called in to stop anti-government protests.
Press TV: We know that you're not the first -- or only -- person among politicians and officials in Bahrain to resign. First of all, since you are in Manama and have been seeing this violence day to day there, just give us an account of what's been happening in Manama today and the reasons why you have resigned?
Al-Marzooq: What's actually happening in Manama today -- compared to previous nights -- is really that today is a massacre. When security forces stormed the villages called 'Sitrah,' and other villages like Boori, A-Ali, Modras, [etc]...security forces were shooting people with live ammunition, shotguns, teargas, and rubber bullets; it caused more than 1000 casualties and more than that, they have seized Sitrah medical centers and attacked (the) Modras medical center. They are not just killing; they are killing and preventing people from getting medical services.
All the deaths have happened from the follow-up of what happened two nights ago when vigilantes stormed villages and fired in the air to threaten people. That's when more than 30-50 people were injured in the last two days. This was to ignite people -- to make them get out of their houses and to make some sort of blockade to these vigilantes -- to these towns and villages. This is what's happening alongside with GCC troops entering Bahrain. There's been a call from the authorities to support regime security forces and the army to join them in killing the Bahrainis. Now, we have started with a total curfew -- what we call a national security decree has been issued by the king and handed over the affairs of the country to the chief commander of the Bahraini army so that nobody knows what's going to happen in the few minutes, or few hours to come. There are threats to all villages and to the people round about.
We have called to the international community -- especially the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, to call the king of Bahrain to stop killing his people and stop deploying extra forces. He has enough forces to kill his people, but deploying more forces that are supposed to protect the GCC countries, not to storm GCC people and kill GCC citizens.
Press TV: Tell us what you think of the role the United States has been playing when it says that the Saudi intervention is not an invasion, when it refuses to condemn it while at the same time, not welcoming it, but also trying to keep silent about it and not taking a stance. What is the US and Saudi role here and what do you think their concerns or intentions are? You're in Manama; what do you think the situation is like? You're also seeing the sentiments among the people and among the politicians.
Al-Marzooq: The American and Western position among those moderate demands -- not just in Bahrain, but all over the world, find themselves to be consistent with the relationship with the autocratic regimes. They have to change the Arab revolution that's been happening everywhere. And on the position to support the certain level to transform the demands of democracy as well as protection of human rights, I can see differences in statements, declarations and positions.
What surprises me is the position against the Saudi involvement with the troops, because my understanding of international law is that you don't call upon troops to come to your country unless you are seriously threatened by other troops, or another country. And the conflict here in Bahrain is not more than civilians and peaceful protesters demonstrating. So there is not a single position for any regime that will call another regime's troops, or for another regime to allow themselves to send their troops to other countries.
Press TV: How do you think this military intervention from Saudi Arabia, and the situation, (which is) now getting more violent, is going to affect the crisis in Bahrain in the days to come?
Al-Marzooq: This is just worsening the situation in Bahrain, but let me clarify that we don't want any troops to be here from the United States, Saudi or others. We don't want to turn our country into some foreign troops coming and fighting. What we need is for those troops to pull out and we will sort the defense by ourselves. If there is some protection from the United Nations to stop killing the Bahrainis...but the situation is not to have troops fight other troops. We don't want to turn Bahrain into an island for foreign troops to come and fight each other. This will destroy the country.
Simply, we don't want anyone to interfere in our affairs. We will defend ourselves with an open chest. And we will not accept any foreign troops, whether it's Saudis, Americans or other troops. Let Bahrainis sort out their problems without interference and we can defend ourselves.
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