Bahrain : calls for establishment of “armed groups” : a dangerous precedence and a violation of the international Conventions
The King of Bahrain issued a decree cancelling the emergency law in 1st of June 2011, and concurrently several invitations were promoted for the formation of armed groups supported by governmental institutions.
On the 27th of April 2011, the Governor of the “Southern Governorate” stated that the governorate will evaluate a program that aims to “protect the people of the “Southern Governorate” from the outlaws following the tragic events that our beloved Kingdom has experienced in the recent period and the initiative shown by volunteers from the local community to preserve their areas from all mischief, and we have seen the Peoples’ Committees for the protection of their areas out of fear and concern over their areas”, and ensured that the volunteers will be trained and rewarded financially. (Ref: http://www.bna.bh/portal/mobile/news/454495)
Between the 14th of February and the 16th of March, many residents of some areas have complained the attack of armed groups “with knives, swords and sticks” on their areas to target them.
One of the protesters – against the government – pointed out to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights: “that through the 14th of February to the 16th of March armed groups have attacked their area “with knives, swords and sticks” which led the residents to place barriers preventing strange cars from entering their area”.
On the 11th of March 2011, hundreds of protestors – against the government – participated in a march towards the Royal court, and the riot police prevented the protesters from reaching the court (a metal barbed wire was placed near the Clock Roundabout in Riffa), following the march, an armed group attacked “with knives, swords and sticks” the protestors, the groups were situated behind the riot police.(Ref: http://www.alwasatnews.com/3109/news/read/531930/1.html)
In the previous march (March of the Royal court) the member of House of Representatives Mr. Jassim Al-Saeedi – pro-government – participated and addressed the crowd while carrying a sword.
On the 2nd of May 2011, Mr. Adel Fleifel – a former officer in State security and accused of torture in the nineties, and many local and international organisations demanded for his trial – participated in Al-Wesal Channel (a TV channel) and pointed to the necessity of forming a “voluntary army”. Several advertisements spread in the streets calling for the formation of this “voluntary army”. (Photos attached: Adel Fleifel, Ads for army formation).
On the 17th of May 2011, Mr. Abduallah Hashim – a lawyer and member of the National Unity gathering – participated in a sit-in and delivered a speech for about 5 minutes (a video of the speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j43iVNXT5B4 ) and before finishing the speech a group of participants in the sit-in attacked the “24 Hour Supermarket” owned by Jawad Business Group(-pro-government– groups have accused Jawad cooperation of funding the protestors in the Lulu “Pearl” Roundabout during the sit-in between the 14th of February to the 16th of March and demanded the boycott of the company’s stores, and the stores at several areas were targeted and vandalised by un-known groups). (Photos of vandalism in Jawad Supermarket are attached).
On the 25th of March 2011, an unknown group attacked the house of Mrs. Muneera Fakhro – a prominent activist in the secular opposition – and grenades releasing strange gases were thrown.(Ref: http://www.alwasatnews.com/3122/news/read/534040/1.html)
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights expresses its deep concern regarding the calls for the formation of armed groups, and ensures that these calls contribute to sectarian clashes, and requests from all parties to not exploit the political situation to create a sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, and certifies that these (unregulated) groups violate the international Conventions and the standards of the international law of human rights.
End item/ 129