Salman: the Authority proposed offer is an entrenchment of tyranny

Rasa - Sheikh Ali Salman, the Secretary-General of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, described a recent offer the Bahraini Authority delivered to the opposition as a “document to entrench tyranny”.

News ID: 1200

Date: 21 September 2014 - 15:12

RNA - According to Bahrain's Alwafaq official website, Sheikh Ali Salman, the Secretary-General of Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, described a recent offer the Bahraini Authority delivered to the opposition as a “document to entrench tyranny”. The document consisted of 5 points which the Authority attempted to get the opposition’s consent for.

"The document literally says the core of the problem in Bahrain must be concentrated and not dissolved”, Salman stated.

He said, “Making superficial changes to electoral constituencies or giving one or two ministries to the national opposition so that it will abandon the people’s demands is an illusion”.
Salman assured the Bahrainis that the opposition will not give in to or be part of a project that entrenches unilateral decision-making.

Salman criticized the document for maintaining the structure of the legislative authority with the Shura Council –which is assigned by the king- “vetoing” legislations made by the elected Representatives Council. Moreover, the document made clear that the parliament will be dissolved the third time it refuses the government and its structure, and the latter will remain in office until a new parliament is formed. Salman also mentioned that the document made clear that the current repressive laws will remain and the military and security apparatuses will not be open to all citizens and “sovereign ministries”, including the Finance Ministry, will remain an absolute right to the king. The document included broad and ambiguous statements such as “guarantees to ensure the legislative process will not be interrupted”.

Salman said foreign diplomatic personalities were shocked by the received document which lacked any initiative to be discussed.

“Despite all this, the opposition was keen to remain positive and take a step forward toward consensus”, he said, “We sent our reply in less than 48 hours, expressing our readiness to sit down and resume the bilateral meetings between the Crown Prince and the representatives of the opposition societies and discuss these 5 points and other issues to explain our viewpoint. But we did not get a reply to that, just like the previous letters we sent”.

Salman called on the people of Bahrain to boycott the sham elections stressing that the Authority must respond to the people’s legitimate demand for real democracy. He also called for wide participation in a mass march to be held on Friday evening on Budaiya highway, west of Manama, to protest the Authority’s refusal of the people’s demands and entrenchment of the totalitarian rule whilst shutting doors in face of dialogue and negotiation.

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