Bahraini Forces Firing Peaceful Protesters with Poisonous Tear Gas, a Woman Martyred
5 November, 2012 – Shia Post

Poisonous tear gas used by Bahraini al-Khalifa forces against peaceful anti-government protesters has martyred 43 years old woman in Jid Hafas.

The victim, identified as Asiyeh al Madih, 43, martyred on Sunday after a tear gas canister hit her when walking in a street during an overnight attack by regime forces in Jid Hafas.

According to reports, she moved to hospital and after hours of remaining under treatment, Asiyeh al Madih could not bear and hence doctors confirmed her martyrdom.

Bahraini troops heavily rely on tear gas and stun grenades to disperse peaceful anti-government protesters. Several Bahraini civilians, mostly senior citizens and kids, have died from asphyxia after regime troops fired tear gas in residential areas and into homes in violation of international standards that Bahrain is a signatory to.

Bahrainis have been staging demonstrations since mid-February 2011, demanding political reform and a constitutional monarchy, a demand that later changed to an outright call for the ouster of the ruling Al Khalifa family following its brutal crackdown on popular protests.

96 people have been killed and many others injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown on peaceful protesters in Bahrain. …source

Five indiscriminate bombings targeting civilians is completely inconsistent with stated aims of reformist and revolutionary elements in Bahrain society. In short it simply does not make sense. The attacks and fabrication of charges consistent with the practice of fabrication, disinformation and false flag operations by the regime. These desperate actions by the regime are “made necessary” to force the opposition to its “table of reconciliation”. The result reveals a desperate regime that is incapable of ceding power in any significant or meaningful way toward a free and just society in Bahrain. If King Hamad is genuinely interested in “national unity” he must step down. These desperate action demonstrate the pursuit of a “scored earth” policy by the regime. They are willing to agitate a civil war to finish its genocidal mission against the Shiites in Bahrain if they cannot subordinate the opposition through the pretense of a “reconciliation process”. What will follow in the aftermath of these bombings staged by the regime is a virtual siege of the Villages and widespread arrests of those who resist in the streets. Phlipn.

Explosions kill two workers in Bahrain
5 November, 2012 – Reuters – Al Akhbar

Five homemade bombs went off in the Bahraini capital Manama on Monday, killing two foreign street cleaners and wounding another worker, the state news agency said, describing the explosions as “terrorist acts.”

The attacks come as two Bahraini activists were sentenced Monday to prison for “defaming” the king on Twitter. One activist received a one-month sentence and the other is to serve four months in prison, their lawyer said.

Another activist was sentenced to six months in prison last week over the same charge.

Police have been targeted by explosions several times this year in what is seen as retaliation for dozens of killings of protesters at the hands of security forces since the massive anti-government uprising erupted in February 2011.

But bombs targeting civilians are rare in the kingdom, raising suspicions over responsibility and motives at a time when the government is coming under heightened international scrutiny over its persecution of human rights activists.

“As always, we condemn all acts of violence and call for an independent investigation into the bombings,” Maryam al-Khawaja, acting head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, told Al-Akhbar. “There has been so much lying that we cannot trust anything this government says.”

The explosions on Monday took place in the Qudaibiya and Adliya districts of Manama, the BNA agency said, citing a police official.

An Interior Ministry statement on Twitter said the two dead men and the wounded man were Asian workers.

BNA gave no more details on the backgrounds of those affected or the incidents, which come after the government last week banned all rallies and gatherings, drawing international condemnation from human rights groups and the United Nations.

Amnesty International described the ban as a violation of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Anti-government protests have continued throughout the country despite the ban.

A prominent human rights activist was arrested on Friday while documenting police attacks on peaceful protesters in the village of Diraz.

Said Yousif, BCHR deputy head, may be charged with participating in an “illegal gathering” within a week pending an investigation.

Bahrain’s royal family, which has maintained a tight grip over the country for more than a century, is a strategic US ally and hosts the US Fifth Fleet.

Continuous Suppression of Protests and Detained Activists; What Direction is the Human Rights Situation in Bahrain Going?

Bern, Switzerland – 3rd November 2012 – Ahmed Al-haddad

On Friday, 2/November/2012 and after the decision issued by the Bahraini Ministry of Interior to prevent marches and any manifestations of protest, rallies in several different areas in Bahrain went out protesting the decision of the Ministry of Interior, and to demand the immediate release of Mr. Hassan Mushaima, a political activist sentenced to life of imprisonment and accused in the case known as the “Alliance for the Republic” and whom health was worsened recently because of the torture he suffered from and lack of necessary health care provided to him in prison. Especially that he was suffering from cancer, which now seems and as reported has returned to him after it was cured.

(Mr. Hassan Mushaima)

One of those protests went out in Diraz, western of the Bahraini capital Manama and it was attended by some human rights activists to monitor the course of its progress. It was only minutes until the protest was excessively suppressed by the Bahraini security forces of the Ministry of Interior, using shotguns and tear gas, resulting in several injuries of pro-democracy activists. As well as the arrest of Mr. Yousif Al Muhafda, the Head of Monitoring and Documentation of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, who was present for the monitoring and documentation purposes on charges of illegal gathering in Diraz.

(The moment of arrest of Mr. Al Muhafda)

Mr. Al Muhafda was presented at the Public Prosecution today Saturday 3/November/2012 for interrogation after 7 hours of waiting. He was arrested for seven days pending for investigation and transferred to Hamad Town Police Station to be transferred on Sunday to Dry Dock Prison northern of Bahrain.

Another protest was organized in Bilad AlQadim western of the Bahraini capital Manama on Friday and it was also subjected to violent repression by security forces, and a serious head injury of a 12-year-old child was monitored and documented.

The security forces of the Bahraini Ministry of Interior continues to use excessive force in facing these peaceful protests which contains participants of all ages, men and women. These security forces are still deliberately directing their shootings of firearms at protesters toward the heads and sensitive areas of the body causing serious injuries without any consideration or proper justification.

The European-Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights EBOHR condemns the use of excessive violence in dealing with peaceful protesters demanding their legitimate rights, as it would not provide any solutions to the crisis taking place in the country, but will worsen it more and more. We also demand the Bahraini authorities to show restraint and to provide health care for the injured in pro-democracy rallies without any fear of arrest, torture or prosecution.

The EBOHR urges the Bahraini authorities for the immediate release of the Head Monitoring and Documentation at the Bahrain Human Rights Mr. Yousif Al Muhafda without any restrictions or conditions, and to stop harassing human rights activists who work in order to develop an integrated human rights culture in the country.

…source

Ahmed Al-haddad
Head of Information & Media Relations
European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights (EBOHR)
www.ebohr.org – Twitter: @Diablohaddad

House raids and mass arrests: the Black Scare is well under way
28 July, 2012 – Cautiously Pessimistic –

[excerpt] – This week[28 July 2012], three houses were raided in Portland, and subpoenas served to a number of individuals in Portland, Olympia and Seattle, summoning them to appear at a grand jury on Thursday August 2nd. This follows on from more house raids in Seattle earlier in July, and is clearly one aspect of the broader project of repression that’s seen the FBI setting up fake terror plots. The FBI’s search warrant states that they are looking to seize items which may be evidence regarding the crimes of conspiracy to destroy government property, interstate travel with intent to riot, and conspiracy to travel interstate with intent to riot. Those items include: Clothing and related items worn during commission of offenses; paint; sticks and flags similar to those used or carried during the commission of the offenses, and material for making flags; anti-government or anarchist literature, documentation or communications related to the offenses, flares, computers or electronic storage media of any kind.

So, anti-government or anarchist literature, paint, black hoodies, and material for making flags are all evidence of crimes now. For those of you who aren’t aware what a grand jury is, they’re pretty serious shit. The famous Fifth Amendment, which gives you the right to silence, doesn’t apply to them; in fact, it starts “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury…” If someone who’s been subpoenaed for a Grand Jury refuses to testify, they can be jailed for contempt of court. …more and HERE

URGENT – FAST FORWARD – 2 November, 2012

Dear Capr supporter,

On October 25, 2012 a fifth subpoena was served to Matthew “Maddy” Pfeiffer to appear before the federal grand jury on November 7, 2012. Early this week, they declared their intent to resist the grand jury. You can read their statement at our website: HERE. We are preparing to support Maddy as they go in front of the grand jury next week. Check our website for updates on what you can do.

Matt Duran and Kteeo Olejink are still being held in contempt of court at Seatac Federal Prison and continue to need your support. Please consider writing or sending them books, donating money so we can fill up their commissary or having a solidarity action in your community. We recently received a letter from Kteeo and wanted to pass it on to you. Thank you for your continued support.

Kteeo’s letter:

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the incredible and constant support that I have been receiving since being locked up at the FDC over a month ago.

I want to thank my family for their unwavering support, pride, and love—throughout this situation and throughout my life.

I want to thank my closest friends for supporting me out of love, regardless of political beliefs; for your constant letters, for keeping my life on the outs in order, for spreading the word of my incarceration, and for reminding me daily that I am never alone.

I want to thank all the incredible support team for getting the word out there; through the internet, through word of mouth, radical media, anarchist media, lefty media, and mainstream media. I want to thank you all for all the fundraising you have been doing; and for your constant reminder of solidarity and friendship.

I want to thank my wonderful attorney; you are such a badass!

I want to thank all of my old friends from across the States and the world who are spreading the word to their friends and networks both through the use of technology and face to face communication (which I have to say is pretty rad).

To all of the rad people organizing on our behalf, I thank you for dedicating your precious time, energy, and love to our release and well-being.

I want to thank all of my new friends who have heard about our case from mutual friends, the internet, political groups; any number of forms of media; ya’ll have been consistently writing letters and spreading the word since day one. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

To a whole lot of anarchists who have written me every day, thank you!

To a whole lot of people who are not anarchists, who have written to me every day, thank you!

To those who have made it their life’s work to write prisoners, thank you!

To those who are writing me because they have experienced the red scare, and said never again, thank you!

To all of you who have inquired about donating (I hope I gave you the info), those who donated, and those who are planning benefits, thank you!

To my community of downtowners, thank you for having my back. Thank you for not forgetting me, thank you for loving me, thank you for proving that communities can be strong regardless of political beliefs, and for proving that all of this is about so much more than political affiliations.

So, to all of you; I know I did not do anyone any favors by staying out of the public eye until my incarceration, but every single one of you has done so much to bring light to what is going on.
Every single one of you has done so much to bring light to what is going on. Every single one of you helps me to grow stronger every day.

To all of those who have written me; I have received about 100 letters every week since I have been in here (over 400 letters so far), and I am so sorry to all of those I have not written back yet. All of your words, artwork, and photos have inspired me and I can not thank you enough. Again, I’m really very sorry if I have not written you back yet; postage is a bit of an issue. Also to all of you who have sent me books, most of them have not contained return addresses, but I still want to let ya’ll know that they are loved by myself and my new friends on the inside. To the friend that sent me Soledad Brother and the beautiful letter within days of being here, I do not have an address for you, but I love you and your words have helped to strengthen my resolve.

Anywho…to all of you again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

Keep smiling, keep struggling; in solidarity, gratitude, and love,

Kteeo

PS: ….to another old friend, I got your postcard. Live to eat.”
Katherine Olejnik #42592-086
FDC SeaTac,
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 9819

Bahrain: One year after security forces killed his child, father arrested while the killers enjoy full impunity
Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Instead of Arresting Policemen Involved in Killing His 14-year-old Son, Authorities Detain the Father for Peacefully Protesting

The Bahrain center for Human rights expresses its concern over the arrest and act of intimidation practiced by the Bahraini regime toward the relatives of the victims killed by the security forces to stop them from demanding justice.

On 26 Oct 2012, Jawad Al-Shaikh was arrested from a peaceful protest in Manama that demanded self-determination and breaking the siege of Aleker village which was living under high security restrictions for the past few days before the protest (More details: bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5487); dozens of people were attacked and a number of peaceful protestors were arrested among them Jawad Al-Shaikh.

Jawad was kept in police custody for over 48 hours before he was finally presented to the Public Prosecution on Monday 29 Oct 2012, in a violation of the Bahrain Law, which states that the decision of the Public Prosecutor should be made within 24 hours to keep or release the detainee. The Public Prosecution ordered detaining him for 15 days pending investigation on charges of “illegal gathering”. He was not allowed the presence of a lawyer during the interrogation. Such acts are “business-as-usual” for the Judiciary and Public Prosecution in Bahrain, the BCHR recently have issued a detailed statement. (Read More : The Judiciary and Public Prosecution in Bahrain are Tools to Oppress the Human Rights Activists and Political Opponents)

Jawad is the father of a 14 year old boy Ali Al-Shaikh who was killed with a shot to his neck from behind last year on 31 Aug 2011, the morning of Eid Al-Fiter. Jawad Al-Shaikh, says that the government tried to force him to sign documents stating that Ali was not killed by regime forces. A few months later he was summoned by police for interrogation. Security forces have numerously raided the family’s home and ripped pictures of Ali off the wall. They constantly smash the pictures on his grave as well as throwing away any flowers which the family leaves on their son’s grave. Ahmed Al-Shaikh, the cousin of Ali Al-Shaikh, who is a witness of his killing was arrested on January 5 2012. Ahmed has been charged with illegal gathering. Until this day, no official of any rank has been held accountable for the death of Ali.

Jawad, like many other fathers and relatives of the killed victims, has been participating in protests, peacefully demanding justice for his killed son.

The BCHR believes that Jawad Al-Shaikh has been arrested for practicing his legitimate right in peacefully assembly to raise awareness about the case of his killed son, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The BCHR also believes that this arrest is an act of intimidation directed at all other relatives of killed victims who continue to accuse the regime with the killing of their sons and continues to participate in peaceful protests to demand justice. …more

Bahrain activist sentenced for anti-king web posts
Associated Press – 1 November, 2012 – The Olympian

MANAMA, Bahrain – A civil court has sentenced an online activist to six months in prison on charges of insulting the Gulf nation’s king in Twitter posts, the official news agency said Thursday.

The activist, whose name was not released, was among four people arrested last month for allegedly defaming Bahrain’s monarch in cases that mirror other social media crackdowns by Gulf Arab rulers. Court rulings on the three other Twitter activists are expected next week.

The official Bahrain News Agency said that in addition to the sentence, the court on Thursday ordered the activist’s laptop and mobile phone confiscated.

Bahrain has been hit by unrest for nearly 21 months as the island’s Shiite Muslim majority seeks a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled kingdom that hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.

The prosecutions have brought strong criticism from media freedom groups – as has the government’s announcement Tuesday banning public demonstrations.

The ban is the most sweeping attempt to quash the kingdom’s anti-government uprising since martial law rules went into effect during the early months of unrest last year. It sharply increases pressure on political groups from the Shiite majority.

Shiites comprise about 70 percent of Bahrain’s 525,000 citizens, but claim they face systematic discrimination such as being denied top political and security posts. The Sunni monarchy has made a series of concessions – including giving more powers to the elected parliament – but opposition groups say the reforms do little to loosen the ruling family’s hold on power.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday joined the U.S. government in criticizing the move by Bahrain’s rulers.

The U.N. chief said the restrictions violate international human rights standards, including respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said.

“The secretary-general believes these restrictions could aggravate the situation in the country and urges the government of Bahrain to lift them without delay,” he said.

Ban reaffirmed that the only way towards greater stability and prosperity is an inclusive national dialogue that addresses the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis, del Buey said.

…source

MOSCOW: A senior Russian diplomat has warned the West against trying to predetermine a future leadership of Syria.

Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Twitter Friday that such attempts would contradict guidelines for a political transition in Syria approved in Geneva in June.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that the administration would push for a shakeup in the Syria opposition leadership so that it better represents fighters on the frontline. Washington believes that a revamped rebel leadership could rally wider international support and prevent extremists from hijacking the rebellion.

Russia has been the main supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, shielding it from U.N. sanctions over a crackdown on the 19-month uprising, in which at least 36,000 people have been killed, according to opposition activists.

…source

Protesters in Sanabis massive in tribute with the political prisoner Hassan Mushaimae

Another fine piece of total fabrication(bullshit) from “The Hill”. When Mark Toner was directly asked if his “public scolding” of Bahrain had been discussed with the Bahraini government he appeared to have absolutely no clue. The actual “Scolding” was not much more than a few words, quite to the contrary of The Hills story. The “scolding” Toner delivered is nothing new and has been uttered repetitively over the past two years of the al Khalifas relentless, tortuous and murderous bloody crackdown on protests. The only thing missing was the reference to the al Khalifa’s as “friends” and that usually follows when the King dispatches one of his relatives to visit the US in a week or two to kiss some State Department Ass. Phlipn out.

HERE is the “lengthy condemnation” of Bahrain “protest crackdown” that has been in practical effect for the last two years.

State condemns Bahrain’s crackdown on political demonstrations
By Julian Pecquet – 31 October, 2012 – The Hill

The State Department issued a tough and lengthy condemnation of Bahrain’s crackdown on protesters Wednesday, saying the United States is “deeply concerned” by the U.S. ally’s decision to outlaw public gatherings.

“Freedoms of assembly, association and expression are universal human rights,” department spokesman Mark Toner said. “We urge the government of Bahrain to uphold its international commitments and ensure that its citizens are able to assemble peacefully and to express their views without fear of arrest or detention.

“We urge the government of Bahrain to work with responsible protest leaders to find a way for peaceful and orderly demonstrations to take place. The decision to curb these rights is contrary to Bahrain’s professed commitment to reform and will not help advance national reconciliation nor build trust among all parties. We also urge the opposition to refrain from provocations and violence; violence undermines efforts to reduce tensions, rebuild trust and pursue meaningful reconciliation in Bahrain.”

The Persian Gulf kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by protests since the government quashed an Arab Spring-inspired uprising in February and March of last year, leaving more than 80 people dead. Bahrain has since established a commission of inquiry that faulted the government for systematic torture and made several recommendations to alleviate tensions.

The latest measure also threatens legal action against protest supporters amid intensifying complaints of discrimination against the Sunni-ruled country’s Shiite majority. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla al-Khalifa justified the decision by accusing protesters of fomenting violence and disrupting the economy.

Al-Khalifa on Wednesday called the ban “temporary.”

“Interior Minister: banning rallies & gatherings is a temporary decision until security is restored to protect national unity,” the Interior Ministry said on Twitter. “Freedom of expression is protected within the constitution and law.”

The Obama administration has been criticized for not supporting the pro-democracy movement in Bahrain, as it has in other Arab Spring countries. Republican candidate Mitt Romney has declined to challenge President Obama on the issue.

Great Britain has criticized Bahrain, despite signing a defense cooperation agreement with the country earlier this month.

“A blanket ban of this nature is excessive,” Alistair Burt, the British minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said Tuesday.

“Peaceful protest is a democratic right. I hope the Bahraini government will rescind this measure as quickly as possible.”

The human-rights group Amnesty International has also weighed in.

“Even in the event of sporadic or isolated violence once an assembly is underway, the authorities cannot simply declare a blanket prohibition on all protests,” Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the Middle East and North Africa Program deputy director at Amnesty International, said in a statement.

“Such a sweeping measure amounts to nothing less than nullifying the rights to freedom of association, expression and assembly. Law enforcement officials must act to protect peaceful protesters rather than using the violent acts of a few as a pretext to restrict or impede the rights of all.” …source

Mum on drones, US up on Balochistan
By: The Nation Monitoring – 1 November, 2012

UNITED NATIONS – Ducking the drone issue, the US has voiced concerns over what it called “growing instability” in Balochistan.US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Eileen Donahoe, alleged that security squads in the province, under their kill-and-dispose of policy, have been “targeting proponents of civic rights, local activists and their families, journalists, political workers and student leaders, therefore the Baloch society has been alienating and chances of peace there have been shrinking”.

Donahoe, while taking part in the debate on the human rights situation in Pakistan during a UN Human Rights Council meeting Tuesday, demanded that this drive to gag opponents through the use of force be stopped, and those responsible for torturing and lifting people at the national level be brought to justice.

According to BBC, the US envoy also expressed apprehensions over the increasing attacks on Shias and Pakistani authorities’ sluggishness to investigate them. Donahoe, however, did not make any mention of US drone strikes that some believe she should have.

The UN Human Rights Council, elections for which are heating up, allowed a mere 80 seconds per speaker on candidate Pakistan.Including Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, most of the Western countries called for amendments to the blasphemy law in the light of the international conventions; signing of international convention against enforced disappearance of civilians; effective execution of the rights of women, children, religious and ethnic minorities; effective implementation of the existing laws to discourage the trend of forced marriages and human trafficking.

They also called for the protection of human rights activists and journalists. Algiers, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia, many African and Asian Muslim countries, and China, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and Sri Lanka expressed satisfaction over the progress in legislation about human rights in Pakistan, keeping in view the economic, political and terrorism challenges facing it.

Nevertheless, Indian delegation did not participate in the UN review meeting for Pakistan, although it was present in Geneva.

Speaking back to back, Sri Lanka wished Pakistan best of luck in its fight against terrorism, and Sudan raised the issue of US drone strikes. Last week, Christof Heyns as UN system Special Rapporteur responded to Inner City Press that this fight in 2009 killed some 40,000 civilians. Is this the luck being wished? Sri Lanka soon faces its own so-called Universal Periodic Review, but with even less time per speaker: only 72 seconds.

On Pakistan, Sudan raised the issue of drone strikes, days after its ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman, told Inner City Press that his country would be filing a complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council for the bombing of Yarmouk compound in Khartoum.

The UNSC has been closed for five days: first for Eid and the weekend, now two days and counting for Hurricane Sandy in New York.Incoming UNSC member Australia raised Malala by name; Brazil offered some praise despite a glancing reference to ‘recent disturbing developments’.

Permanent UNSC member the UK raised the death penalty; failed UNSC candidate Canada used its time to ask a question about religious freedom.The US has been running to keep its seat on the Human Rights Council, and sent official Harold Koh to make its case at the UN Headquarters earlier this month. When Inner City Press asked about drone strikes, not only in Pakistan but also Yemen and Somalia, Koh said these comply with all international laws, a point about which Inner City Press asked Heyns, who is UN system Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions. He was less sure of their legality. But what is or can be resolved in the 80 seconds given on Pakistan? Or the 72 seconds coming up on Sri Lanka?

…source

US to break silence over Bahrain’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests
By Julian Pecquet – 31 October, 2012

The Obama administration is preparing a statement addressing the ongoing crackdown against pro-democracy protests by U.S. ally Bahrain amid increasing international condemnation, a State Department official told The Hill on Wednesday.

The Persian Gulf kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, banned all public demonstrations on Tuesday. It also threatened legal action against protest supporters amid intensifying complaints of discrimination against the Sunni-ruled country’s Shiite majority. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla al-Khalifa justified the decision by accusing protesters of fomenting violence and disrupting the economy.

The State Department and the U.S. embassy in Manama have so far declined to comment. The department, by contrast, vocally condemned the death of a Bahraini policeman earlier this month when his patrol came under attack by rioters.

Al-Khalifa on Wednesday called the ban “temporary.”

“Interior Minister: banning rallies & gatherings is a temporary decision until security is restored to protect national unity,” the Interior Ministry said on Twitter. “Freedom of expression is protected within the constitution and law.”

The Obama administration has been criticized for not supporting the pro-democracy movement in Bahrain as it has in other Arab Spring countries. Republican candidate Mitt Romney has declined to challenge President Obama on the issue.

The United States is increasingly isolated, however. Great Britain has criticized Bahrain, despite signing a defense cooperation agreement with the country earlier this month.

“A blanket ban of this nature is excessive,” Alistair Burt, the British minister for the Middle East and North Africa, said Tuesday.

“Peaceful protest is a democratic right. I hope the Bahraini government will rescind this measure as quickly as possible.”

The human-rights group Amnesty International has also weighed in.

“Even in the event of sporadic or isolated violence once an assembly is underway, the authorities cannot simply declare a blanket prohibition on all protests,” Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the Middle East and North Africa Program deputy director at Amnesty International, said in a statement.

“Such a sweeping measure amounts to nothing less than nullifying the rights to freedom of association, expression and assembly. Law enforcement officials must act to protect peaceful protesters rather than using the violent acts of a few as a pretext to restrict or impede the rights of all.” …more

The BCHR Holds the King Responsible for the Spread of the Culture of Impunity which Has Claimed the Lives of Tens of Victims
31 October, 2012 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights reached compelling and extremely worrying facts, after having prepared a deep report (study) by both the Monitoring and Research Committees in the Center, looking into the cases of impunity and lack of accountability to members of the ruling family and officials in the security forces and the army who were involved in gross violations of human rights, that violate both local and international law, by committing crimes of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary executions, deprivation of life, brutal torture, mock trials and the use of excessive force. This is after the Authority in Bahrain backed with forces from the Gulf states (Peninsula Shield) – mostly from Saudi Arabia – crushed the vast national uprising that was affected by the Arab Spring and that calls for freedom and democracy in February and March 2011 and thereafter until the writing of this report.

The results of the study, which comes a year after the release of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry [1], show that the policy of impunity is still entrenched in the doctrine of the Authority and its security institutions as a basic prevalent culture. This culture which is humanly and internationally condemned constitutes an instrument of repression and paves the way for the fall of more victims of the official excessive violence that is still practiced by the Authority in Bahrain as the only option for dealing with the peaceful demonstrators. This policy is one of the main obstacles behind limiting violations and one of the most important indicators of not implementing the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which clearly recommended investigating the violations and holding the offenders accountable based on the level of responsibility, and it also documented cases of murder, torture and excessive use of force.

What increases the concern of the BCHR is that this systematic policy of impunity and of providing immunity to criminals and enabling them to continue with their duties and their security positions without accountability has led to more deaths among peaceful demonstrators. In August / September 2012, two young men were killed; Hussam Mohammed Jassim Al-Haddad (16 years) [2], and Ali Hassan Neamah (17 years) [3]; who were shot dead by the security forces, and which is the same way by which they killed a number of protesters in February, March 2011 and the months that followed. Instead of undertaking serious investigations in these two incidents, the Bahraini Public Prosecution quickly acquitted the policemen accused of killing Al-Haddad and Neamah, and reserved the cases, justifying that with the self-defense position they were put in which forced the policemen to use bullets and violence that leads to killing as stated by the Public Prosecution about reserving the two cases [4]. …more

Bahrain charges four men with insulting king
18 October, 2012 – The Guardian

Bahraini authorities have detained four men on charges of defaming the country’s king on Twitter, according to the state news agency BNA. The men, all in their 20s, were arrested on Wednesday morning after security forces confiscated their computers and other electronic equipment, Mohammed al-Maskati, head of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights said.

Criticising King Hamad and other members of the Al Khalifa ruling family is a serious offence in the Gulf Arab island kingdom. Bahrain’s public prosecution office had questioned four defendants and charged them with the “crime of insulting his majesty the king on their personal accounts on Twitter”, prosecutor Ahmed Bucheeri said on Wednesday, according to BNA.

The defendants will face “an urgent trial before the criminal court”, he said. No date has yet been given.

Bahrain, a US ally that hosts the US navy’s fifth fleet, has been in political turmoil since pro-democracy protests led by its Shia majority erupted last year and were put down by the Sunni rulers.

Last month, Zainab al-Khawaja, the daughter of an imprisoned Bahraini activist was jailed for two months for damaging public property in a police station, which included the picture of King Hamad, the government’s information authority said. Khawaja’s lawyer said her sentence was handed down for tearing up a picture of the king.

In July, prominent protest leader Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to three months in jail over a tweet against the prime minister, a member of the ruling family, which the court said insulted Bahrainis. He was later acquitted on appeal.

The ruling family used martial law and help from Gulf neighbours to put down last year’s uprising, but unrest has resumed.

Protesters and police clash almost daily and Washington has called on its ally to talk to the opposition. Bahraini authorities accuse Iran of encouraging the unrest and has vowed a tough response to violent protests as talks with the opposition have stalled.
…source

Syria opposition must beware of Islamist ‘hijack’: Clinton
31 October, 2012 – Agence France Presse – The Daily Star

ZAGREB: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that Washington wanted to help the Syrian opposition unite against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime but urged it to resist efforts by “extremists” to hijack the revolution.

“There are disturbing reports of extremists going into Syria attempting to take over what has been a legitimate revolution against an oppressive regime for their own purposes,” Clinton warned during a visit to Croatia.

The opposition should “strongly resist the efforts by the extremists to hijack the Syrian revolution.”

Clinton’s comments as international Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi urged China to help end the escalating conflict that has killed more than 36,000 people since an uprising against Assad’s rule erupted in March last year.

“We are working very hard with many different elements of opposition inside and outside Syria,” Clinton told reporters, saying the United States was interested in “helping the opposition to unite strongly and resist the Assad regime”.

Washington wanted to assist the opposition “to unite behind a shared effective strategy that can resist the regime violence and begin to provide for a political transition”.

The opposition umbrella group the Syrian National Council (SNC) “can no be longer be viewed as the visible leader of the opposition,” Clinton said.

“They can be part of the opposition, but the opposition must include people from inside Syria and others.”

Clinton also called for an opposition “leadership structure” to ensure that all Syrians are represented and protected, adding: “There has to be a representation of those who are on the front line fighting and dying today.”

Earlier Wednesday, Syrian opposition groups, including representatives from the SNC and leaders of the Free Syrian Army, called for a transitional government in exile to be formed to win greater political support from the international community.

But in Paris, Russia warned that the “bloodbath” in Syria would continue if the West stuck to its demand for Assad’s ouster.

“If the position of our partners remains the departure of this leader who they do not like, the bloodbath will continue,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.

Fabius also said France and Russia failed to bridge their differences over Assad’s role in any future transition government at a meeting in Paris.

…source

In 2010, France made the choice to breath new life into its colonial policy. This led her to instigate a regime change in the Ivory Coast and Libya, and to aim for the same result in Syria. But faced with the fiasco of the latter operation, Paris got carried away by the wave of events that she herself unleashed. After having armed and trained terrorist groups in Syria, the DGSE has now struck at the heart of the Lebanese capital.

The Sore Losers of the Syrian Crisis
by Thierry Meyssan – Voltaire Network – Beirut (Lebanon) – 1 November 2012

A dramatic scene following the attack against Beirut’s Christian neighborhood of Achrafieh. The personal effects belonging to General Wissam that were found at the crime scene led the authorities to conclude that he had been killed. However, the forensic investigation was unable to establish that the victim was actually inside the car. The General allegedly returned the same day from Paris where he had met with his reporting officer, General Benoît Puga; however the air and border police could find no record of his arrival in Lebanon.

During a recent Round Table in Ankara, Admiral James Winnfeld, Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced that Washington would reveal its intentions toward Syria once the 6 November presidential elections were over. He made it plainly understood to his Turkish counterparts that a peace plan had already been negotiated with Moscow, that Bashar al-Assad would remain in power and that the Security Council would not authorize the creation of buffer zones. For his part, Herve Ladsous, the U.N. Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, announced that he was studying the possible deployment of peacekeepers (“blue helmets”) in Syria.

All regional actors are preparing for the cease-fire which will be overseen by a U.N. force composed principally by troops of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikstan). These events signify that the United States is effectively continuing a process, begun in Iraq, of retreat from the region and has accepted to share its influence with Russian.

At the same time, the New York Times revealed that direct negotiations between Washington and Iran are slated to restart even as the United States continues its attack on Iranian monetary values. It is becoming clear that, after 33 years of containment, Washington is acknowledging that Teheran is an established regional power, all the while continuing to sabotage its economy.

This new situation comes at the expense of Saudi Arabia, France, Israel, Qatar and Turkey all of whom had placed their bets on regime change in Damascus. This diverse coalition is now suffering divisions between those demanding a consolation prize and those trying to sabotage outright the process underway.

Ankara has already changed its tune. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, previously ready for the worst, is now actively seeking reconciliation with Teheran and Moscow. Several days after insulting the Iranians and harrassing the Russian diplomats in his country, he is now all smiles. He took advantage of the Organization of Economic Cooperation in Baku to approach President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He proposed a complex framework for discussing the Syrian crisis which would allow Turkey and Saudi Arabia not to be left by the wayside. Careful not to humilate the losers in the conflict, the Iranian president indicated he was open to such an initiative. …more

Excerpt – Press Briefing US Department of State

Mark C. Toner
Deputy Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
October 31, 2012

TRANSCRIPT:

1:34 p.m. EDT

MR. TONER: Good afternoon. Happy Halloween. I’d like to say the reason we’re late is because I was getting into my elaborate costume, but clearly, unless you count a middle-aged bureaucrat a costume –

QUESTION: I thought it was a little Dr. Evil. (Laughter.)

MR. TONER: In any case, welcome to the State Department. And it’s good to see you all. I hope everyone made it through the storm more or less intact and that your homes and your families are safe. Certainly it was a suspenseful couple of days, but welcome back.

Just at the top, I do want to note that the United States is deeply concerned by the Bahraini Government’s decision to ban all public gatherings. Freedoms of assembly, association, and expression are universal human rights. We urge the Government of Bahrain to uphold its international commitments and ensure that its citizens are able to exercise – are able to assemble peacefully and to express their views without fear of arrest or detention. We urge the Government of Bahrain to work with responsible protest leaders to find a way for peaceful and orderly demonstrations to take place. The decision to curb these rights is contrary to Bahrain’s professed commitment to reform, and it will not help advance the national reconciliation nor build trust among all parties.

We also urge the opposition to refrain from provocations and violence. Violence undermines efforts to reduce tensions, rebuild trust, and pursue meaningful reconciliation in Bahrain. Recent violent attacks, including fatal attacks, on security force personnel are a deeply troubling development. So we urge the Government of Bahrain to take steps to build confidence across Bahraini society and to begin a meaningful national dialogue with the political opposition.

With that, I’ll take your questions.

QUESTION: Just on that —

MR. TONER: Yeah, sure.

QUESTION: — before we move onto Syria. This has been made – this position, your views have been made clear to the Government of Bahrain directly? Is that correct?

MR. TONER: Matt, I’m not sure at what level we’ve communicated these to the Government of Bahrain.

QUESTION: They’re not just hearing this from you right now?

MR. TONER: They’re not just hearing this from me, no. But I’m not sure at what level – I’m not sure whether through our —

QUESTION: Well, was it there, here?

MR. TONER: — embassy or bilaterally. I’ll have to check on that.

….source

US concerned at Bahrain’s ban on protests
31 October, 2012 – Lebanon Now

The United States on Wednesday voiced concern at Bahrain’s ban on all protests and public gatherings, urging the Gulf state to find a way to allow peaceful demonstrations to resume.

“The United States is deeply concerned by the Bahraini government’s decision to ban all public gatherings. Freedoms of assembly, association and expression are universal human rights,” acting State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said.

“We urge the government of Bahrain to work with responsible protest leaders to find a way for peaceful and orderly demonstrations to take place.”

Curbing the right to assembly was contrary to “Bahrain’s professed commitment to reform and will not help advance national reconciliation nor build trust among all parties,” he told journalists.

Bahrain on Tuesday banned all protests and gatherings to ensure “security is maintained,” after a spate of clashes between Shiite-led demonstrators and security forces in the Sunni-ruled country.

The Gulf state has been shaken by unrest since its forces in March last year crushed a month of popular protests led by members of its Shiite Muslim majority demanding greater rights and an end to what they said was discrimination against them by the Sunni royal family.

The crackdown, which drew strong criticism from international rights groups, was followed by a three-month state of emergency declared by King Hamad, during which protests were also banned.

Toner added Washington was also urging “the opposition to refrain from provocations and violence” adding recent attacks on security forces were “a deeply troubling development.”

“Violence undermines efforts to reduce tensions, rebuild trust, and pursue meaningful reconciliation in Bahrain,” he said.

“We urge the government of Bahrain to take steps to build confidence across Bahraini society and to begin a meaningful… dialogue with the political opposition.”

…source

March 14 Group’s Political Games will Never Return Them to Power
By Mohammad Irani – Mehr News Agency – 29 October, 2012 – Moqawama.com

Lebanon is facing a new security dilemma in the wake of the recent bombing in Beirut that killed the head of the intelligence unit of the country’s Interior Ministry, Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan.

In light of current developments in the Middle East and Lebanon’s special geopolitical position in the region, the repercussions of the incident were not restricted to Lebanon.

Neighboring Syria, which is still grappling with a 19-month political crisis, was roundly accused and the Lebanese opposition said it was the prime suspect.

Al-Hassan was one of the key members of the March 14 alliance and was totally opposed to Syrian intervention in Lebanon. Immediately after the bombing, some figures in the opposition seized the opportunity and accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of personally having a hand in the assassination of al-Hassan. This is obviously a new political game by the March 14 group to help it return to power, but the country’s current situation shows that there is almost no chance for the March 14 group to win such a game.

Meanwhile, after more than 19 months of chaos in Syria, the efforts of Western governments and their regional proxies to internationalize the crisis have failed. The Sassine Square bombing in Beirut was apparently another move by the anti-Syria front to intensify the crisis and pave the way for military action against the Syrian government.

The fragility of the sectarian political system in Lebanon increases the risk of civil war. This would not only harm Lebanon’s national interests but would also create a threat for neighboring countries.

However, despite the Lebanese opposition’s anti-Syria propaganda, it can be said that Syria did not gain any advantage from the Beirut bombing. In light of the internal crisis in Syria, it would be almost impossible for Damascus to commit such an act of political suicide. Moreover, after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, Syria has had a much more diminished role in Lebanon, and logically, the Syrians do not want to add to their problems in Lebanon.

The assassination of Wissam al-Hassan, who was one of Lebanon’s most senior security officials, was certainly a complicated operation that needed sophisticated intelligence support. Taking Syria out of the picture, the only other regional player that could have sponsored such an operation is “Israel”. The “Israelis” have a long record of hostility toward Lebanon and Syria, and this time, they were trying to replicate what they did in the Hariri assassination to further destabilize the region. However, the conspiracy was foiled again, and “Israel” was unable to benefit from the unrest in Lebanon. …source

Months before Assassination, Jordanian Intelligence Warned Al-Hassan: “Israel” Wants Your Head
Local Editor – Moqawama.com – 30 October, 2012

Under the title, “Wissam al-Hassan: They want my head,”, “al-Akhbar” Lebanese newspaper revealed information that reflect the possibility of “Israel’s” involvement in Achrafieyh blast; thus, the assassination of Lebanese Information Branch head.

According to “al-Akhbar” Tuesday’s editorial, the victim informed people close to him, that Jordanian officials warned him he is at the center of “Israeli” targets.

In details, months before his murder, al-Hassan told a number of his close associates about two meetings he held with the head of Jordanian intelligence [in Germany] and a minister in a direct connection with the Jordanian intelligence. “The two men reported information from meetings with “Israeli” Intelligence officials,” al-Hassan said.

Al-Hassan further revealed the content of the Jordanian officials talks with the “Israelis”, which tackled the situation in Lebanon and its consequences.

According to “al-Akhbar” sources, the Jordanians addressed al-Hassan by saying: The “Israelis” aren’t satisfied with your performance and you have to be cautious.”

In parallel, one of the two men warned al-Hassan: “You have to be careful, even in Europe .”

“Al-Hassan was aware of the fact that the “Israelis” wanted his head and said more than once that he is no longer safe during his visits to Europe,” the daily mentioned.

It also noted: “The victim knew the size of “Israeli” wrath resulting from the fall of their espionage cells in Lebanon since 2008.”

Moreover, other sources unveiled to “al-Akhbar” that “The beginning of this year carried another alert to al-Hassan.”
“He received a letter, in January 2012, from United Arab Emirates Intelligence based on reliable information that a senior officer in the Lebanese Internal Security Unit will be a target of an assassination attempt,” they said.
Al-Akhbar quoted these sources as saying: “The officer will be the target of a car bomb in the Achrafieyh, on the road between the ISF building and the ISF official’s residence.”

“Al-Hassan was surprised for until that moment , his secret office was unknown,” the newspaper added.

In this context, it also highlighted: “An Emirati official told al-Hassan that available information reflected that “al-Qaeda”, particularly a group in ain al-Helwe camp, is preparing for an assassination attempt.” …source