A game changer: Bahrain opposition wants constitutional monarchy

Bahrainis press on with regime change protest as opposition reiterates call for democracy.

Middle East Online

'The government should be elected by the people' MANAMA - Shiite opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman on Wednesday called for measures to establish a real constitutional monarchy in Bahrain with the prime minister elected rather than appointed by the king. The Islamic National Accord Association (INAA) head said his MPs would not end a boycott of parliament until demands were met to transform Bahrain "into a constitutional monarchy where the people would be the main source of power." "The government should be elected by the people who would have the right to hold it accountable," he told a press conference, as angry demonstrators calling for regime change occupied a Manama square for a second day. The 18 deputies of the INAA opposition bloc walked out of Bahrain's 40-member parliament on Tuesday in protest at the killing of two Shiite demonstrators in clashes with police since Monday. To appease concerns that Bahrain's Shiite majority aimed to establish an Islamic regime like in neighbouring Iran across the Gulf, Salman said there was "no place for a Vilayat-e Faqih," or supreme religious leader, in his country. "People do not demand a religious state. They demand a civic and democratic state like in other places of the world," he said. Salman welcomed King Hamad's address on Tuesday in which he expressed sorrow for the killing of the two demonstrators, announced a ministerial probe and pledged to press ahead with reforms launched in 2001. But the televised speech had not addressed people's demands "for political reforms concerning the transfer of power," the INAA chief said. A 2001 referendum transformed Bahrain from an emirate into a constitutional monarchy and led to elections in 2002 for the first time since parliament was scrapped in 1975. Meanwhile, thousands of Bahrainis took part in the funeral of a Shiite protester killed in clashes with police on Wednesday as angry demonstrators occupied a Manama square demanding regime change. Fadel Salman Matrouk was shot dead in front of a hospital on Tuesday where mourners gathered for the funeral of Ali Msheymah who died of his wounds after police dispersed a protest east of Manama the previous day. Echoing slogans which have become popular across the Arab world following uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, mourners chanted "the people want to overthrow the regime." Washington said it was "very concerned" over the violence in Bahrain, a staunch ally, and called for restraint in a country ruled by the Sunni Al-Khalifa family that was the scene of deadly unrest in the 1990s. "This is your only and last chance to change the regime," read a banner carried by protesters who descended on Pearl Square after the funeral of Msheymah. On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters were camped in Pearl Square, while thousands more were expected to arrive after Matrouk's funeral. "I slept here. I will sleep here today until our demands are met," said Hussein Attiyah, 29. Washington, which uses Bahrain as home base for its Fifth Fleet, said it was urging its allies in the Middle East to open up to their peoples' demands. "We have sent a strong message to our allies in the region saying let's look at Egypt's example, as opposed to Iran's example," President Barack Obama said on Tuesday. The protesters appeared unimpressed by King Hamad's televised address to the nation on Tuesday in which he expressed sorrow for the deaths and announced a ministerial investigation. He also vowed to press on with a reform process that saw the restoration in 2002 of the parliament dissolved in 1975. "Reform is going ahead. It will not stop," the king said. A 2001 referendum transformed Bahrain from an emirate into a constitutional monarchy and led to elections in 2002 for the first time since parliament was scrapped in 1975. But the Shiite-led opposition has long complained that the elected chamber's legislative authority is shared with an appointed upper house. Interior Minister Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa also apologised for the killings, announcing that the policemen behind the two demonstrators' deaths have been taken into custody pending investigation. And the interior ministry said it was allowing demonstrators to stay in Pearl Square "taking in consideration the feelings" of the people. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay accused the Bahraini authorities of having used "disproportionate force against peaceful protesters" and called for the release of demonstrators. US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley urged all sides "to exercise restraint and refrain from violence." Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa director Malcolm Smart condemned the killings and called on Bahraini authorities to listen to the calls for change.