Bahrain National Democratic Opposition Parties suspend participation in dialogue

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The National Democratic Opposition Parties followed with serious concern the Executive Authority’s approach to hold economic, political and social life in Bahrain to serve its goals of greater control of the repressive security-state by increasing its outrageous violations of human rights. The opposition parties are also following with serious concern the Authority’s disregard to the calls of the UN Human Rights Council as well as international rights organizations on top of local rights and political groups demanding an end to the illegal arbitrary arrests, raids of and attacks against residential areas and the crackdown on all peaceful activities demanding freedom, democracy, social justice and equality.For over seven months, the opposition parties have made significant effort to find a negotiating genuine and meaningful dialogue that can lead to positive results for the people of Bahrain. This is because the opposition parties believe that the crisis in Bahrain is a political constitutional one that cannot be solved by militarizing the country. The Authority has not even respected the constitution and laws it had unilaterally imposed on the people.Solution in Bahrain can only be achieved through genuine negotiations to take country out of the crisis that is a result of the absence of democracy and the continuation of violations of human rights and corruption in addition to the restriction on the freedom of expression. Bahrain needs a dialogue that stands on clear bases with the regime’s desire to reach a permanent settlement that will prevent sectarian polarization fomented by parties inside the regime in attempt to divide and dominate over the society.The opposition parties were most keen to prevent a deadlock in the dialogue in its first phase, thus, we made an initiative of 6 points with the beginning of the second phase that was launched on 28th August. The initiative called for the following:1- To stop the incitement in the media and start building confidence bridges between parties to foster national unity. And to open the media for all civil and political powers without discrimination or exclusion.2- To free all prisoners of conscience according to the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.3- To achieve the required security detente by easing local tension and ending violations, illegal arrests and home raids by the security apparatuses. And condemn violence and counter-violence from any side.4- Allow all participating parties in the dialogue access to media.5- The Government must implement the pledges it has made before the international community, especially the recommendations of both the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and the United Nations’ Human Rights Council.6- Stop the driven attempts to categorize the society on sectarian and tribal basis, and stop the systematic discrimination against citizens.The magnitude of human rights violations perpetrated by the Bahraini Authorities has crossed all local and international expectations bringing the High Commissioner of Human Rights to condemn the Government of Bahrain and refuse to meet with Bahrain’s Minister for Human Rights because of the ongoing repression against citizens. Bahrain was also condemned by 47 states from America, Europe and Asia urging it to live up to its pledges, especially the implementation of the recommendations of both the BICI report and the UN Human Rights Council.The European Parliament has also issued a precise resolution demanding Bahrain to immediately stop the crackdown, free conscience prisoners, allow the opposition freedom of assembly and demonstration and begin real democratic reform through a genuine and meaningful dialogue.Instead of responding to the international community’s demands, the regime intensified its repressive policy, eluded from its pledges and increased its budget for Public Relation firms. The Bahraini regime’s white-washing efforts were revealed by the statements issued by ambassadors of great powers who clearly said that Bahrain official media published inaccurate information.The Justice Minister then issued an odd ministerial decision restricting the political societies’ communications with abroad for its fear of the truth that the Authorities try to hide by media block out. The arbitrary policy went on to arrest, Al Marzooq, the Political Assistant of Al-Wefaq’s Secretary General on Tuesday 17th September, in a manner that revealed disregard to political norms.Al Marzooq’s arrest contradicted international norms and standards as well as the National Action Charter, constitution and local regulations. The regime is also pressurizing Ayatollah Hussain Najati to force him to leave the country after revoking his citizenship along with 30 other citizens. This comes amid the ongoing political naturalization to change the demographic population in Bahrain and tire its economy. It also comes with the silencing of and attempts to dissolve religious foundations.  The pace of violations has increased since the launching of the National Dialogue on 10th February 2013. 1912 homes have been raided since. 1392, including 92 children and 13 women have been arrested, while 114 have been injured by the security forces. 93 citizens have been tortured inside and outside prisons, and 5 have died. 11 persons involved in torture of detainees have been acquitted. These persons are involved in the torture to death of 5 citizens in custody, and the killing of 5 other citizens. This explains the regime’s prevention of the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Special Rapporteur on mistreatment, as well as journalists and rights activists.In light of all these violations and the regime’s refusal to commit to its pledges, we, the National Democratic Opposition Parties have decided to suspend our participation in the National Dialogue and this decision will be subject to continuous review in light of the political and human rights developments on ground. We will respond according to the political and security developments in Bahrain. We call on the international community to act as per its international and moral commitments in human rights, given the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain. The regime takes responsibility of the failure of the dialogue as it is pushing the country to political and sectarian tension through its ongoing violations, sectarian discrimination and cleansing in jobs against a wide category in the Bahraini society. 18th September 2013The National Democratic Opposition Parties in BahrainAl-Wefaq National Islamic Society (AlWefaq)National Democratic Action Society (Waad)National Democratic Gathering Society (AlQawmi)Unitary National Democratic Assemblage (Wahdawy)Ekhaa National Society (Ekhaa) /129