(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In an interview with us, Ali al-Faraj, political activist, tells us about the recent discussion to address the turmoil underway in Bahrain.
Q: Why do you think that negotiations are taking place even as people are still out on the streets and the crackdown on them is continuing?
Faraj: What the regime has arranged is not a negotiation. What the regime has arranged is actually a conference which is run by the government and a very small minority. It's going to fail for sure because it doesn't represent the opinions of the people.
The people are not happy about this conference because the demonstrations are continuing in Bahrain. Basically, what is being arranged is a conference which will make a recommendation and will be presented to the government. And then the government and the king will decide whether to do those recommendations or not.
Q: Let me get this straight, if the opposition leaders are negotiating with the regime, making recommendations, they can speak for themselves. But are they speaking on behalf of the people out on the streets who are putting their lives in danger too?
Faraj: It's not actually a negotiation, it's a conference. Imagine 300 people who are meeting together. There are people who are saying their opinions; that is all. It's not a negotiation between the two main sides.
The government organized this conference for their image, for the public, for the media. This conference is not going to represent the people at all. Even the political parties are being represented by 37 people, and the opposition is being represented by a very small minority. It's not a negotiation, it's just a conference.
Q: Shouldn't the opposition leaders go into a conference with a regime that has clamped down on peaceful protesters and has even brought in troops from neighboring Saudi Arabia to help it carry that out?
Faraj: I believe the decision by the opposition to join this conference is a mistake, actually. It's not good policy. The people are not happy with this conference, so why should anybody go there?
/106