Bahrain: Vote of No Confidence Against US Ambassador

Bahrain’s parliament “issued a vote of no confidence in the appointment of new US Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski, who they claimed had a volatile agenda towards Bahrain.” Members of Parliament stated that they found his “meetings in the U.S. with individuals and groups who want to harm stability and peace in the country” as “suspicious.” While the MPs  were attempting to block the Bahraini government from giving Krajeski “diplomatic accreditation,” such a decision rests solely with His Majesty King Hamad.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information yesterday condemned the fining of four journalists after they were forced to resign for “publishing news that defame the image of Bahrain abroad, during the protests of last February.” Mansoor Al-Jamri and Walid Nuwayhid, the former editors-in-chief of the newspaper, Aqeel Mirza, former chief of the localities department, and Ali Al-Sharifi, journalist, were all fined 1,000 Bahraini Dinars.

Also, Bahrain’s main opposition political party Al-Wefaq released the “Manama Document” which lays out the democratic demands “of the Bahraini people.” The document outlines several key demands, including: 1) an elected government “representing will of the people rather than an appointed government” ; 2) “Fair electoral districts guaranteeing political equality amongst the people and meeting the universal principle of one person, one vote”; 3) “A parliament comprising of a single chamber having sole legislative and regulatory powers, replacing the current bi-cameral arrangement, one elected and the other appointed” ; 4) an independent Judiciary “both financially and adminstratively”; 5) “Security for all via… [the] formation of the army and other security apparatus on the basis of providing security for all, and trained to show respect for human rights at all times, rather than serving wishes of the government in suppressing the opposition.” The document was signed not only by Al-Wefaq, but also by four other political parties including:  National Democratic Action Society (Waad), Nationalist Democratic Assembly, National Democratic Assemblage and the Al-Ekha National Society.