- Sep 26, 2000
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6181160.stm
I wanted to respond to a thread that seemed to indicate that Bushes plan for democracy in the middle east was working in Bahrain.
However, the thread disappeared!.
So here's another.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6181160.stm
Bahrain votes on new parliament
It is the second time people have been able to vote for representatives at a national level under a new system introduced by the King of Bahrain.
On Friday, about 2,000 people protested in the capital Manama demanding the resignation of the prime minister over alleged electoral fraud.
The former government adviser who made the allegations has been deported.
Salah al-Bandar had accused the government of plotting to ensure Sunni Muslim dominance in the elections.
Protesters also accused Prime Minister Khalifah bin Salman al-Khalifah of granting citizenship to foreign workers in order to increase the proportion of non-Shia voters.
Foreign workers, many of them Asian, make up approximately one-third of Bahrain's 700,000 people.
Voter turnout was expected to be high.
Oh yeah, the make-up of this new Parliament?
It has two houses. The King appoints all 40 members of the Upper House.
And the King can veto any bill he pleases.
Therefore this is NOT democracy in any way shape or form. Just an attempt to pretend they are making "progress" towards democracy.
Sad.
I wanted to respond to a thread that seemed to indicate that Bushes plan for democracy in the middle east was working in Bahrain.
However, the thread disappeared!.
So here's another.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6181160.stm
Bahrain votes on new parliament
It is the second time people have been able to vote for representatives at a national level under a new system introduced by the King of Bahrain.
On Friday, about 2,000 people protested in the capital Manama demanding the resignation of the prime minister over alleged electoral fraud.
The former government adviser who made the allegations has been deported.
Salah al-Bandar had accused the government of plotting to ensure Sunni Muslim dominance in the elections.
Protesters also accused Prime Minister Khalifah bin Salman al-Khalifah of granting citizenship to foreign workers in order to increase the proportion of non-Shia voters.
Foreign workers, many of them Asian, make up approximately one-third of Bahrain's 700,000 people.
Voter turnout was expected to be high.
Oh yeah, the make-up of this new Parliament?
It has two houses. The King appoints all 40 members of the Upper House.
And the King can veto any bill he pleases.
Therefore this is NOT democracy in any way shape or form. Just an attempt to pretend they are making "progress" towards democracy.
Sad.
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