MANAMA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Sunni Muslims warned the
Bahraini government at a rally against entering a dialogue with
Shi'ite-led opposition parties, as pressure mounts for the
Sunni-led Gulf Arab state to end unrest now entering its second
year.
The tourism and banking hub, dominated by the Sunni Al
Khalifa family, has been in turmoil since a protest movement for
democratic reforms erupted on February 14 last year and was put
down one month later with a period of martial law.
"How can there be a dialogue at this time? The majority of
citizens ask, is this the time for dialogue and a political
solution? Security is the priority!" said Khalid Bloashi,
reading a statement from a Sunni youth group that organised the
rally of about 20,000 people in central Manama late on Tuesday.
"The priority is deterring vandalism that aims to blackmail
the nation for foreign agendas... We will never accept backroom
dialogue, so for how long will the state ignore us?"
The warnings over dialogue come after it emerged last week
that royal court minister Khaled bin Ahmed last month met
figures from Wefaq, a Shi'ite Islamist party which won almost
half of parliament seats in past elections, as well as three
secular opposition parties on a separate occasion.
The crowd, carrying a sea of Bahraini flags peppered with
the green flag of government ally Saudi Arabia and a few others,
chanted back: "No dialogue! No dialogue!"
Recent months have seen an escalation in clashes between
riot police and Shi'ite protesters. Shi'ites are thought to be a
majority on the island and complain of political and economic
marginalisation. The government denies this.
Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and iron bars. Activists
say that while police have not used live fire, an official death
toll of 35 last June has risen to over 60 as a result of
heavy-handed use of tear gas, stun grenades and speeding police
cars. Two people died in police custody last month.
The government disputes the causes of death and says it is
investigating all cases.
Many Sunnis and other loyalists, who dominate state media,
accuse Wefaq of exploiting the violence to force concessions.
Police often license rallies and marches by Wefaq.
IN A RUT
Bahrain remains in a rut as protests continue. Some ratings
agencies have downgraded banks, many office blocks stand half
empty and weekend Saudi tourism is a shadow of what it was.
The British ambassador said this week Bahrain would have
difficulty attracting foreign investment if it did not make
economic and political reforms to help restore confidence.
Bahrain is a key Western ally and host to the U.S. Fifth
Fleet. Washington supported the government during last year's
protests, during which some called for setting up a republic,
and Saudi Arabia sent troops to boost defences as fear gripped
some of an Iranian intervention.
The statement read by Bloashi addressed the U.S. ambassador
in Manama. Columnists often attack the United States for urging
the government publicly to enter talks with Wefaq.
"Let the American ambassador listen: Bahrain is not a tool
of America... We will not be a bargaining chip or a testing
ground," he said, also calling for tolerance and coexistence in
Bahrain and attacking government corruption.
The crowd carried banners such as "USA, will you stop
playing with our national security?" and chanted "The people
want to bring down Wefaq", a variation on the Arab Spring slogan
"The people want to bring down the regime".
King Hamad bin Isa thanked the participants in a statement
for affirming that the island should remain "an oasis of peace
and security for those of all religions living there, without
interference in its affairs", state news agency BNA said.
Tuesday's rally at the Fateh mosque was held to mark the
first anniversary of a meeting at the same place where Sunnis
had aired their fears that the protest movement, then a week
old, had a Shi'ite sectarian agenda.
(Edited by Richard Meares)
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