Manama–Bahrain’s Royal Court designated today the official day of mourning for the “souls of the martyrs” as a tacit conciliation to the opposition.
Since the withdrawal of the military from the roundabout where protesters have been demonstrating since 14 February, and the return to civil norms, a political discourse has begun.
Public opinion is splitting regarding continued demonstrations at the Pearl Roundabout and where the ceiling for demands should be set, especially in light of the ongoing call for dialogue by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, and the release 308 political prisoners, according to the Ministry of Interior.
The release of the political prisoners as well as the pardon of leading opposition figures including Hassan Mosheyma breathed life into the protests and reinvigorated the opposition, as many expressed an interest to defer political matters and decisions to them.
Meanwhile the roundabout has been transformed into a fully equipped nest of civil disobedience.
Families are arriving with furniture and supplies to sustain them for a few days as a statement of intent. A blunt reminder hangs squarely under the large installation in the middle of Manama’s Pearl Roundabout, a sign atop a podium that reads: We are staying, until the system falls.
“We have the same slogan as our brothers in Tunisia and Egypt had: The People want the fall of the regime,” said al-Sayyed Sadek, a 40 year-old clerk.
To him, and many others on the roundabout, this means the resignation of Prime Minister Khalifa al-Khalifa and his government, while maintaining a constitutional monarchy.
“The king can be king, and maintain his regal prestige, but he should not rule, like in Britain,” Sadek added.
The regime they are referring to is the direct product of the constitutional amendments made in 2002 to the 2001 National Charter. The National Charter was meant to guarantee an electoral legislative system that was ultimately accountable to the people. The elected parliament was supposed to be responsible for passing laws, while the Shura Council, whose members are mostly appointed by the king, was meant to convene “for consultation purposes.”
In 2002 the constitution was changed again to give the Shura Council the right to vote with the 40-member parliament. The 14 February, when protests took off this year, was also the day of the referendum on the 2001 National Charter, which passed with a whopping 98 percent of the vote with 90 percent voter participation.
“We want the 2001 charter back,” said 35 year-old Ali Tarek.
The media-center tent, posted on the western corner of the roundabout serves as a depot for information and press releases from the opposition groups and various syndicates. “We are gathering pledges from people who visit the roundabout to see how many people promise to at least come every day after work, so far we have 45,000,” said 30 year-old Hassan.
Food and service tents and kiosks were set up early on during the sit-in.
“There were some ready lessons we learned from Tunisia and Egypt that we took from the beginning. Keeping it peaceful and organizing the area of the sit-in were some of them,” said Ali Qassab, a member of Wifaq, the largest Shia opposition party in Bahrain.
Even the Bedouin tradition of hospitality tents has been brought to the roundabout as people look for ways to help their comrades.
Many nationalistic signs call for unity around “The Pearl,” reading slogans such as “these demands are not Sunni and not Shia, they are demands for human rights and freedom.” Sectarian divides were not visible in the roundabout.
Photos of revered mullahs are scattered around, while clerics-come-community leaders frequently speak at the podium. “The fact is that for the most part, the indigenous Shia are suffering from the government more than anyone. We are discriminated against for jobs, and housing,” said Ali, a 30 year-old truck driver.
Abduljalil Singeis, one of the leaders of the al-Haq movement and recently released political prisoner said, “The indigenous citizens of this land have put their life on the line in order to be truly represented.”
Opposition groups also complain about the naturalization of foreigners they see as having been brought in to incite a demographic shift, tipping the scales against the Shia majority.
Many of these naturalized citizens serve in the police and military forces.
“One of the main differences between our situation here and that of the Egyptians is that in Egypt the military was Egyptian, and was able to play a neutral role. Here the military’s allegiance is strictly to the royal family,” said Mahdy Mohamed, a 23 year-old IT graduate who was volunteering at the media center.
Originally, according to Mohamed, all the protesters would have been happy with parliamentary and judicial reform, as well as increased freedom of speech.
“After the events that led to the military shooting at us, the ceiling of demands has increased. We want the government to step down, and we want those who committed crimes against their fellow Bahrainis to be subjected to a fair trial,” he said.
At a procession for one of the victims of the military’s attack, 32 year-old Abdel-Reda Bu-Hameed said some of the mourners took the demands a step further by chanting “Down with the King,” and “Down with all of al-Khalifa’s traitors!”
At Malkeya, Bu-Hameed’s home village, mourners were especially outraged and outspoken against the entire ruling family. Many of them explained it as a natural reaction to what happened to their neighbor, and not an actual demand.
“I know that it will never happen, but I have to say ‘Down with the King.’ Ever since he ordered his army to shoot at us on 17 February, his own subjects, I cannot say anything else,” said Ibrahim, 25, who has camped in the roundabout since protests started.
“They took down our tent twice, then we put it back up. The truth is we intended to leave the roundabout on Thursday, 17February, but then [the government] decided to shoot at us,” Ibrahim said. “So we’re staying, until they offer us real change.”
