Leaders of revolution vow to upstage protests to bring down the Al Khalifa

The revolutionary zeal in Bahrain proved to the world that it is still able to drive the

youth towards the final victory of the revolution and the downfall of the Al Khalifa hereditary dictatorship.

As more martyrs fell in the past few weeks, the horizons of change appear to be widening despite the regime’s attempts to contain the people’s willingness for more struggle and sacrifice.

On Thursday30th June, another martyr joined the caravan of heroes marching to heavens. Mr Majeed Mohammad Ahmad, a young man in his thirties, finally succumbed to his horrific wounds he had sustained when the Saudi and Al Kahlifa troops stormed the Pearl Square encampment on 12th March. He was among scores of Bahrainis who had simply “disappeared” from the scene. At least two others remain unaccounted for: Mohammad Abdul Mahdi Abdul Hussain, 18 and Abdul Amir Ghanim Mohammad, 37, both from Abu Quwwa town. The Al Khalifa had feared that if casualties rose steadily it could lead to hardening of attitude among the public. Since the “lifting’ of the martial law on ۱st June several bodies were handed over to their families, some of whom had been among those injured and kidnapped by the Death Squads when the Saudi occupation started.

In the past 22 hours serious cracks have appeared in the official discourse. The dictator, Hamad Al Khalifa, promised to allow peaceful protests, only to be proven unworthy of his words. Hours later a peaceful rally near Jidhafs called for by the 12th February youth was mercilessly attached by the regime’s Death Squads. Scores of Bahrainis were injured and were left to mind their wounds as the main Salmaniya Hospital remained under military control by Saudi and Al Khalifa troops. The people who took part in several other protests raised the same slogans: “The people want a regime change” and “Down with Hamad, Down with Hamad”. This came on a day when the regime was forced to agree to an investigation into the crimes committed against the Bahrainis by the regime’s forces. However, the committee formed to undertake this task has been undermined by several facts: Fist it was formed by the dictator who is the main suspect in the crimes that it is supposed to examine. Second the committee includes a female member hostile to the majority of the population whom she had insulted and attacked in an earlier article. Third, the finances are paid by the Al Khalifa, thus its impartiality is questionable. Forth, it was formed as a means of preventing an international investigation by the United Nations which would have certainly impeached the dictator for his role in ordering the shooting on demonstrators.

The regime’s attempts to conceal its crimes took a new dimension after it announced a public meeting consisting of more than300 people to engage in “dialogue” unrelated to the future role of the Al Khalifa whose removal has been the central demand of the revolution. The dictator has ruled out a meaningful dialogue with the people and replaced it with public discussions on other issues such as the economic situation, job opportunities and how to compensate the families of the martyrs. These delegates are not allowed to undertake any stand with regards to the future shape of the regime ruling Bahrain. The young leaders of the 12th February revolution have dismissed this diversionary exercise. The situation is becoming more stressing as news came out of the jails that the senior members of the opposition who had been sentenced to prison sentences ranging between five years and life behind bars were subjected to more torture upon their return to the cells last week. Mr Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja, Hassan Mushaima, Abdul Wahab Hussain and others were set upon by the torturers. They were thrown to the ground, kicked repeatedly until they bled and were abused verbally and physically for expressing defiance after the sentences had been announced.