Could this happen in your country ( Archived) (28)

Many Bahrainis have told Sky News they are more determined than ever for the country's monarchy and government to be removed, but they are keen for their demonstrations to be peaceful.

A huge section of the crowd at the funeral procession in the village of Sitra, on Manama's outskirts, was made up of women - unusual for a country where they are traditionally kept out of sight.

One said: "I'm not concerned, I'm very optimistic. We are calling for transformation."

After allowing several days of rallies by disaffected Shia Muslims, the royal rulers of the island nation, which lies east of Saudi Arabia, unleashed riot police in the capital on Wednesday night.

They stormed a protest encampment at the Pearl roundabout in the early hours of Thursday, firing tear gas, beating demonstrators and blasting them with shotgun sprays of birdshot.

The willingness to resort to violence against largely peaceful demonstrators has been seen as a sign of how deeply the Sunni monarchy - which rules over a Shia majority - fears prolonged protests.

Authorities have also escalated their physical attacks on media trying to report the unrest, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Mohammed Abdel Dayem, the CPJ's Middle East and North Africa programme coordinator, said: "Governments throughout the Middle East and North Africa cannot deny their citizens coverage of these momentous events across the region.

"Local and international media must be allowed to cover the news."

Several journalists have reported that Bahraini authorities are barring them from entering the country, while others have reported physical assaults and confiscation of equpiment.

The latest uprising appears to have been inspired by a wave of anti-government unrest sweeping the Middle East and North Africa.

Nearly three weeks of protests in Egypt resulted in president Hosni Mubarak stepping down last Friday after some 30 years in power.

Tunisia's president quit in January and fled the country following violent clashes. There have also been deadly protests this week against Colonel Gaddafi's regime in Libya.

Bahrain's foreign minister Khalid Al Khalifa said the military crackdown was necessary because the demonstrators were polarising the country "and pushing it to the brink of the sectarian abyss".

Speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting with his Gulf counterparts in Manama, he called the violence regrettable and said the deaths would be investigated.

He defended the retaliation by the authorities by saying authorities chose to clear people from the landmark Pearl roundabout by force at 3am, when fewer people were there, to reduce the possibility of casualties.

Many of the protesters were sleeping and said they received little warning of the assault.

Dozens are said to be still missing following the early morning raid, prompting fears that the true death toll is much higher than being reported by officials.

In the wake of the bloodshed, angry demonstrators at one hospital chanted: "The regime must go!"

The White House has called for restraint on both sides. Bahrain is a key ally of the West and the base of the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

The fallout from the protests is also being felt in the sporting world, with next month's Bahrain Grand Prix at risk of being cancelled.

:: Britain reviews arms deals with Bahrain in wake of violence

:: Bahrain prince: 'Arab-Israeli issue is key'


Could this happen in your country

I missed your previous replies, many people don't care though and will go down the slippery slope through ignorance

Hi TomW

Yes, watching it all as it happens here on the ABC news site..

I dont know if anything like this could happen in our country, because our pollies are voted in and out like yoyos if they dont come up to scratch...

But if we absolutely disagree strongly with something, we sure do make a fuss...

i dont blame these people for wanting rights...and with the beginning of this new century, and with the media now openly able to give the world news of whats happening,, they can see us, as we can see them... and it's no wonder they are wanting freedom to do, say, and think what they want.

Of course, the despots are wanting to remain the same.. they are oldish and have one idea in their head that does not gell with the younger ones.. tis just a generation equilibrium that needs to be ridden out.. peacefully, I dont think so...
Sadly...

BTW

Mass bribery doesn't work here... Cruddy Ruddy tried it and we all took the money and was glad to see the back of him.. he is now our minister for foreign affairs..

no, I don't think this could happen in my country.

"could this happen in your country"

Depending on the country it probably already has which has led to their government and society today. If you compare the times of the revolutions in regards to how the people were ruled when it happened to how these people are being ruled today.

A short list:
Magna Carta in England,
French Revolution,
American Revolution,
Russian Revolution
and so on...

Mass bribery doesn't work here... Cruddy Ruddy tried it and we all took the money and was glad to see the back of him.. he is now our minister for foreign affairs..


I just love Oz, and you my lovely but never say never

I agree with you 100%, but it will happen again

your saying it will happen again...be specific unless your just another one of the crazy voices out there spouting malcontentism against "modern society" governed by, dare I say,
quote-fair-unquote governments?
Yet, it was rebel-rousers and malcontents who start all revolutions.