Imperialist UK reaffirms support for Puppet Bahrain Regime

When the British government sent an invitation to the Bahraini king to attend Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee celebrations, British media tried to pretend it is a formality London hopes the Bahraini side will politely refuse.

However, Prime Minister David Cameron’s refusal to call for the cancellation of the Sunday Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain has provided another evidence that the invitation has been a de facto token of friendship rather than a formality.

However, Cameron turned down ,on Friday, opposition leader Ed Miliband’s call to join those who believe the Bahraini F1 is a green light to the al-Khalifa to continue their atrocities against democracy-seeking protestors.

“We should be clear: Bahrain is not Syria; there is a process of reform underway,” Cameron said in a statement.

Bahrain’s rulers have promised to introduce reforms to increase democracy, but campaigners say no reforms have yet been implemented.

Earlier, Miliband said during a Welsh visit that “given the violence we have seen in Bahrain and given the human rights abuses, I don’t believe the Grand Prix should go ahead.”

He also called on the government to “make its view clear and say the same” stressing “I do not think the Government should remain silent on this.”

However, Cameron’s office snubbed Miliband’s call saying ”it is not for us to dictate what sporting events happen in other countries.”

The Downing Street did not, however, refer to the fact that the F1 Grand Prix was cancelled due to the regime violence last year and its go-ahead this year will suggest the situation has improved this year – what human rights groups deny.

“With the world’s eyes on Bahrain as it prepares to host the Grand Prix, no one should be under any illusions that the country’s human rights crisis is over,” said Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director, Hassib Hadj Sahraoui.

“The authorities are trying to portray the country as being on the road to reform, but we continue to receive reports of torture and use of unnecessary and excessive force against protests,” Sahraoui added.