-Imam Sadiq mosque- Manama27th December 2013Today, we will have a quick review on 2013 to shed light on the revolution that erupted on 14th February, 2011. We will go through the main issues related to the revolution: the media, human rights, political and regional aspects. The media aspect, which is on two levels:The local level: we have been left with only one newspaper that is officially allowed to cover the news, yet, under so many restrictions. It is trying hard to cope with and show its viewpoint within these restrictions. Except from this newspaper, all other local newspapers belong to the official state media or quasi-state media. The honest media remains more influential and owns more credibility than the state’s media which lacks credibility. The influential capability of the local media is very limited, not close to zero though, but it is very limited. Before and during the uprising, to date, this media has not shown any credibility, even in news, let alone analysis and articles. Therefore, readers and listeners no longer consider this media a source for the truth or information, let alone any influence. When regimes continuously choose to be against the reality, they eventually lose their credibility and their ability to influence. They rely on false information to influence, but with time, they will be in absolute loss of credibility. In this revolution, we don’t have a problem with the current state media, its performance adds nothing and changes nothing. It has no influential ability over the revolution or the citizens demanding democracy. If it is falsely accusing people and twisting facts that are so clear to the people, the people will certainly be more resolute and convinced that radical reform is needed and it is the right choice. However, I’m still satisfied, like I said before, that we shouldn’t read or interact with most of this media, and maybe all. The main reason I’m calling you to ignore this media, is to avoid the annoyance and frustration it causes you through its constant provocations and insults against the people and a particular sect and figures to avoid reading or listening to sectarian incitement. We can’t stop such insults now. But when you read them you will feel more irritated and you shouldn’t have to. We do not fear that this media can influence and change the peoples’ ideas. But it’s just to avoid being frustrated by the lowly language it uses. You don’t need to subscribe to any newspaper, or listen or watch any channel. Believe me, you won’t miss out on anything. I have a responsibility to follow everything in the news, yet, I have not needed to open these newspapers and still get to the truth. I can easily know what’s true and what’s not, what’s positive and what’s negative, without the hassle to open to refer to these newspapers. Now, the online media is a battlefield, the rivalry is boiling. The regime is making progress in website activation because it is financially more capable. The regime can hire one, ten or even a hundred for these jobs. You can refer to the announcements of the Ministry of Information in this. Nonetheless, you are the ones with a just cause.Internationally, there are two points:First point: the mostly read newspapers in America and Europe have continued to write about Bahrain. More than 90% of their coverage about Bahrain reflected the fact that there is an oppressive regime suppressing a people demanding democracy, which is something good. For political reasons, and because of the events that are happening across the region, the Bahraini issue is not being covered on a daily basis by Satellite channels. This issue is linked with political positions and the regional situation. Of course, blood attracts the media more. When there is an explosion in Beirut, which, by the way, we strongly condemn, it will take headlines in the news. We condemn violence whoever may be behind it, and we are totally concordant to this standard. The broad picture of the Bahraini issue in the international media is that the people are demanding democracy, freedom and essential political rights, and its demands are rightful. The world respects the people of Bahrain and shows more support to them day after day. On the contrary, there is a regime that suppresses these aspirations because it is an oppressive regime. This idea has become stronger year after year, and this is how the events of 2013 have been pictured in the international media.Human rights aspect:In 2013, Bahrain continued to be one of the worse countries in human rights in the world. This is the official accomplishment. The High Commissioner for Human Rights keeps mentioning Bahrain in her speeches. She is the most important person to talk about human rights. The HCHR even mentioned Bahrain in her speech in the UN Human Rights Council in a very important paragraph. For the past three years, Bahrain has maintained its position. It is mentioned in conjunction with the huge humanitarian and rights crisis in Syria. Numerous reports have been released about the rights situation in Bahrain by many international rights organizations and states and other parties, including the joint-statement by 47 countries. And we thank these countries here for following the Bahraini human rights situation.The international community now considers Bahrain a rogue state. The Amnesty International report issued on 16th December about children in Bahrain said Bahrain does not commit to its pledges in human rights. This is how the international community deals with Bahrain.Here we don’t need so much effort in the media, rights or even political aspect. We do not need to respond to every single statement made or released by officials. These statements are always outdated and it will be a waste of time to respond or comment. We respond if there is a real and challenging idea. You do not have to respond to an unelected prime ministers speaking about democracy while he has been in power for 43 years. Why should we comment? What is the point of commenting? Sadam Hussain used to preach about democracy and elections in Iraq though he was the only one running for presidency and used to win 100%, but at least that guy had put a ballot box, we don’t have a ballot box here, why shall we reply to him? Of course, nobody needs to prove that Sadam’s regime was a dictatorial one. There is no question and no discussion about that.Now, there is an official who said, “Our response was so soft because we exaggerated in democracy”! What democracy is he talking about? Do we need to respond to such statements? International organizations, states and others, the whole world, is telling this regime you are repressive you need to listen to your people. Then we would hear an official talking about democracy and that the regime has been too soft.That is why the Public Relations firms have failed to cover the real face of Bahrain. Instead, the repressive image of the regime remained as it continues to suppress basic legitimate demands which are freedom and equality and to respect the universal human rights standards. This image will stand bare and the regime will not be able to change it with money. It has lost and will lose. There are universal humanitarian changes on both the media and interest levels. This is why the regime’s approach is useless. That does not mean that we will stop working. We should work harder on the media aspect and on the rights aspect, we need to document things and send them to the concerned parties.The political aspect:The 2013 witnessed more political highlights to the Bahraini issue. The speech of President Obama before the General Assembly of the United Nations was considered one of the most important speeches there, and Bahrain was part of it. This was a clear indicator that Bahrain has a political problem. Furthermore, there are continuous statements from the whole world about the situation in Bahrain, recently from France, underlining the need of a political resolution which can be produced from a genuine dialogue process in which all aspirations of the people must be fulfilled. Mentioning the need of ‘genuine’ dialogue indicates that the world doesn’t believe the current dialogue is a genuine one. The popular aspirations can’t be fulfilled with the Shia community and opposition parties being targeted, crushed and subjected to persecution. The desired fulfillment means transiting the country from the tribal rule to a democratic rule where the people are the source of all powers. This is how the continuous international statements entrench the true scene of the issue in Bahrain that is a political problem.Bahrain cannot be ruled by authoritarianism and absolutism any more. This is the meaning of all these statements. But, they fall short of our ambition and what our pro-democracy struggle deserves. However, it is a step forward in the international position to at least keep on this tone. Well, we can feel a slow progress when we meet with the diplomatic corps in Bahrain and outside. Away from camera lights and media, Bahrain is getting closer and closer to those tyrannical systems which prevailed and got extinct. This is how many political officials see it. Whether they are in official posts now or former officials, they know Bahrain’s repression, dictatorship and tyranny.Yet, this is the official international position which steps closer to feel the rightful popular demands to support the people. But, interests do matter. Interests are still stronger than these statements and decisions. There is a undecided conflict but in it the dispute is ongoing. In the places of decision, there is always an objection to the taken positions towards the Bahraini issue: when are we going to take the right side of history and adhere to our humanitarian stance. Until when are we going to hesitate? This is being said more and more in the places of decision-making. However, interests remain stronger though things change quite slowly. Our people must remain steadfast and peaceful. Things develop gradually and on an accumulative basis. The peacefulness and steadfastness of the people of Bahrain has put pressure on the international community to be fair towards their cause. The struggle for democracy can go on for a long time. Take Ireland and South Africa for example.The report of the British parliament indicates what I have pointed out here. It is one of the most important political reports issued about Bahrain. It says the regime is responsible for the crisis, the regime is not serious in reform, it does not respect human rights. The whole word is saying this to the regime. This is the slow and hard process I am talking about./129
source : al Wefaq
Sunday
29 December 2013
8:30:00 PM
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