Friday, March 04, 2011

Bahraini opposition groups said Thursday they were ready to enter talks with the government without demanding preconditions, but have sent a letter to the crown prince saying they want a new government and constitution.

The opposition groups, comprising mainly majority Shiites, have led protests in Bahrain since last month and had demanded a commitment by the ruling Sunni Al-Khalifa family to democratic reforms before entering talks.
The government has made some concessions after ordering troops off the streets under international pressure, but formal political dialogue has not yet started.

Six political groups led by the influential Shiite Islamic National Accord Association (INAA) opposition bloc or Al-Wifaq, the largest in the Parliament, want the resignation of the Cabinet, a new constitution under which the government is elected and an investigation into the actions of the security forces.
Although they asked for the steps in the interest of creating a “positive atmosphere” for dialogue, they stopped short of calling them preconditions.

“We would like to see a declaration at the beginning of the talks stating that in principle they agree to abolishing the 2002 constitution and … to having a parliament fully elected by the people,” Ibrahim Shareef of the secular Waad group told a news conference in Manama.
He also called for “the election of a constitutional assembly for drafting a new basic law.”
And the last demand is to “guarantee the outcomes of the dialogue are applied and respected.”

Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad has been given the task by the king of undertaking dialogue on reform.

The government said in a statement Sheikh Salman had received the opposition’s demands.
“At present there are substantial differences between the various groups and parties willing to engage in the national dialogue. It is precisely for this reason that the dialogue must start in order that a political settlement can be reached by consensus,” it said.

Thousands of young activists camped out at Manama’s Pearl Square are demanding the removal of the ruling family altogether and have been staging almost daily marches to various government buildings in Manama.
A mass rally outside the government headquarters in Manama is scheduled for Friday.
The United States said dialogue needed to start quickly.

“There is a need for all parties to work immediately to begin a dialogue that answers the legitimate aspirations of the Bahraini people,” Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman said in statement during a visit to Manama, adding the U.S. would not interfere or impose a “non-Bahraini” solution.

Government supporters have also taken to the streets. Late Wednesday, tens of thousands gathered at a mosque in Manama to show their support for King Hamad bin Isa.
Faisal Fulad from the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, who attended the pro-government gathering, said Sunni groups want to be part of any political dialogue as well. “The red line for them is the royal family,” he said. – Reuters, AFP