(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The national opposition parties praised the people of Bahrain for their wide participation in the events of the 14 February revolution second anniversary, especially the inspiring enormous protest march that filled Budaiya highway on 15th February to show their persistence to achieve democracy and equality despite the painful agonies they have struggled for their political backgrounds, as the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) confirmed the regime's policy of political and sectarian discrimination against citizens.
The BICI, as well as the UN Human Rights Council and international human rights NGOs have all called on the Bahraini regime to adhere to the international covenants Bahrain is part of. However, the regime has continued its abuses and extrajudicial killings against innocent citizens. The last victims were the 16 year old, Hussain al-Jazeery, and Amina Sayed Mahdi, both killed on 14 February 2013.
The opposition parties have made big efforts to ease the political and security tensions through a series of initiatives, like the Manama Document issued on 12th October 2011, the Democratic Movement Visions on 6th March 2012 and the Nonviolence Principles Declaration on 7th November 2012. Unfortunately, the regime has only responded to these initiatives with more repression and killings of protesters under weak justifications that cannot stand in the face of evidence and facts. The regime is trying to escape its responsibilities by establishing meaningless commissions, some of them have not held meetings for more than two years and have not provided findings for inquires of death under torture or by fire amrs.
Although the preparatory sessions for dialogue have started, the opposition parties and the people are suffering under suppressive security measures. However, the opposition parties emphasize on the following constants:
Firstly; the opposition parties affirm their persistence to the constant principles they had announced in the Nonviolence Principles Declaration and respect to rights of community groups and individuals as well as its adherence to the fundamentals of human rights, democracy and pluralism. The opposition parties again, condemn violence from whoever be behind it, and assure that they will not use violent methods or infringe human rights and democratic mechanisms. Moreover, they insist to stand up for the people's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and association according to international covenants like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The opposition parties will continue to call for the adherence to the culture of non-violence renounce all forms of violence and counter-violence in its statements
Secondly: we call upon the authority to adhere to the principle of public freedoms and allow citizens to organize protests and assemblies anywhere, including the capital Manama, within agreed-upon laws that do not violate this fundamental right.
Thirdly; the security services' proclamation of discovering a "terror cell" is nothing new, as previous proclaims of the like, have been revealed to lack evidence several times, and that confessions had been obtained under torture. It's time that Bahrain reforms its judiciary and security services by changing the mentality of these services to bring them to respect citizenship, equality and human rights and help achieve sustainable development on all levels. The Public Prosecution also needs to go through rehabilitation; it needs to be impartial and fully-independent from the Ministry of Interior and security forces
Fourthly; the opposition is persistent to a serious and meaningful national dialogue as a way out of the political constitutional crisis in Bahrain, by enabling the people to be the source of all powers and ensuring principles of freedom, democracy and social justice and the establishment of a democratic civil state that stands on citizenship and equality as sustainable bases and not temporary tactics. The opposition stresses that the regime needs to abandon its suppressive security measures and live up to its promises made before its people and the international community to pave the way for the dialogue.
Fifthly; the opposition's communication with the international community to exchange opinions and explain its vision is nothing strange or unusual. This should not be faced with anyone's objection especially that the pro-government parties have also communicated with the world. This is a right we respect.
Statement issued on 21st January 2013 by:
AlWefaq National Islamic Society
National Democratic Action Society (Waad)
National Democratic Gathering Society (AlQawmi)
Unitary National Democratic Assemblage (Wahdawy)
Democratic Progressive Tribune
Ekhaa National Society (Ekhaa)
/129
The BICI, as well as the UN Human Rights Council and international human rights NGOs have all called on the Bahraini regime to adhere to the international covenants Bahrain is part of. However, the regime has continued its abuses and extrajudicial killings against innocent citizens. The last victims were the 16 year old, Hussain al-Jazeery, and Amina Sayed Mahdi, both killed on 14 February 2013.
The opposition parties have made big efforts to ease the political and security tensions through a series of initiatives, like the Manama Document issued on 12th October 2011, the Democratic Movement Visions on 6th March 2012 and the Nonviolence Principles Declaration on 7th November 2012. Unfortunately, the regime has only responded to these initiatives with more repression and killings of protesters under weak justifications that cannot stand in the face of evidence and facts. The regime is trying to escape its responsibilities by establishing meaningless commissions, some of them have not held meetings for more than two years and have not provided findings for inquires of death under torture or by fire amrs.
Although the preparatory sessions for dialogue have started, the opposition parties and the people are suffering under suppressive security measures. However, the opposition parties emphasize on the following constants:
Firstly; the opposition parties affirm their persistence to the constant principles they had announced in the Nonviolence Principles Declaration and respect to rights of community groups and individuals as well as its adherence to the fundamentals of human rights, democracy and pluralism. The opposition parties again, condemn violence from whoever be behind it, and assure that they will not use violent methods or infringe human rights and democratic mechanisms. Moreover, they insist to stand up for the people's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and association according to international covenants like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The opposition parties will continue to call for the adherence to the culture of non-violence renounce all forms of violence and counter-violence in its statements
Secondly: we call upon the authority to adhere to the principle of public freedoms and allow citizens to organize protests and assemblies anywhere, including the capital Manama, within agreed-upon laws that do not violate this fundamental right.
Thirdly; the security services' proclamation of discovering a "terror cell" is nothing new, as previous proclaims of the like, have been revealed to lack evidence several times, and that confessions had been obtained under torture. It's time that Bahrain reforms its judiciary and security services by changing the mentality of these services to bring them to respect citizenship, equality and human rights and help achieve sustainable development on all levels. The Public Prosecution also needs to go through rehabilitation; it needs to be impartial and fully-independent from the Ministry of Interior and security forces
Fourthly; the opposition is persistent to a serious and meaningful national dialogue as a way out of the political constitutional crisis in Bahrain, by enabling the people to be the source of all powers and ensuring principles of freedom, democracy and social justice and the establishment of a democratic civil state that stands on citizenship and equality as sustainable bases and not temporary tactics. The opposition stresses that the regime needs to abandon its suppressive security measures and live up to its promises made before its people and the international community to pave the way for the dialogue.
Fifthly; the opposition's communication with the international community to exchange opinions and explain its vision is nothing strange or unusual. This should not be faced with anyone's objection especially that the pro-government parties have also communicated with the world. This is a right we respect.
Statement issued on 21st January 2013 by:
AlWefaq National Islamic Society
National Democratic Action Society (Waad)
National Democratic Gathering Society (AlQawmi)
Unitary National Democratic Assemblage (Wahdawy)
Democratic Progressive Tribune
Ekhaa National Society (Ekhaa)
/129