5-11 February 2016
Even before the unedifying spectacle of MPs fighting with each other during the weekly Parliament session, many of this week’s newspaper commentaries were concerned with why MPs have so far failed to get to grips with the huge challenges facing Bahrain.
In the context of the 14 February anniversary of both the 2001 National Action Charter referendum and the 2011 unrest, there has also been a lot of soul-searching about where Bahrain is going and how to lead the nation in the right direction.
“Banishing religion from politics”
“…The institutions concerned with taking this nation forward and reaping prosperity must do so decisively, without hesitation or fear, because the public good always comes first. Therefore, legislation must be based on the will of the public and the society in separating religion from the state and politics; so as to prevent politics being driven by religion and from the pulpits of mosques and places of worship. Society must be politically insulated against religious and sectarian societies which remain silent concerning Iranian interference… This will foil the plots of Daesh, the Khomeinists, and extremist Salafists who try to drown politics in religion through sectarian violence…” Ishaq al-Shaikh Yaqoub – Al-Ayam
“What can we expect from the 2018 Parliament?”
“…Parliaments protected Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco from the earthquakes of the Arab Spring. Their presence acted as a barrier against foreign interference in internal affairs. Al-Wefaq and their fellow coup-plotters desperately tried to portray the Parliament as ‘window-dressing’; because these Parliaments represent the will of the people and cannot easily be undermined. Democratic life in Bahrain, with the elected Parliament as its backbone became a force to be reckoned with in Bahrain, particularly during the last elections when those entities trying to destroy the state were depending on the boycott predicted by Iran’s Supreme Leader”… the widespread participation was a major factor in banishing foreign interference…
“If we want to strengthen Parliament, this will not be difficult. The Parliamentary Code can be modified, without any need for constitutional amendments in order to restore to Parliament its required strength. (The only constitutional article which I would want to change for enhancing the strength and capabilities of Parliament would be the clause about the qualifications of candidates, which needs a reinforcement of the academic requirements, particularly in the current situation)…” Sawsan al-Shaer – Al-Watan
“Real partners”
“…We were living in a ‘welfare State’, meaning that the State was responsible for providing everything in our lives – housing, education, health and entertainment. We lived this way for years, until we lost our ambition and competitiveness… Because of the changes which befell the region and these new realities, it has become difficult for the State to bear these responsibilities. As a result I am hearing these angry voices asking why austerity isn’t reaching all branches of the State… I take exception to those who try and inflame Bahraini public opinion, going beyond legitimate enquiry, to angry rabble rousing….” Dr. Lulwa Budalamah – Al-Watan
“The necessity of holding meetings with the public”
“…Recent days brought successive reports of upcoming plans to raise prices of many goods. Cancelling subsidies will force the public to pay more… Therefore, there must be debate between decision-makers and implementers with those affected by these decisions… in order to address concerns and fears and correct incorrectly-reported information and rumors… My attention was recently drawn by a meeting organized by the Housing Ministry in cooperation with the Capital Governorate aiming to engage with the capital’s public and address their queries… Such meetings are an important initiative, bringing all the concerned parties together and breaking down barriers…” Faisal al-Shaikh – Al-Watan
“Ministers addressing a sensitive issue”
“…The recent meeting between the Education and Justice Ministers which focused on religious and education institutions in opposing extremism and sectarian incitement should act as a foundation stone for achieving these goals…These statements should be transformed into national constants which can’t be undermined if we really want to insulate our society from the escalating waves of sectarian incitement and preaching of hatred which emerged from the social media bottle and shockingly were proclaimed from the pulpits of places of worship – locations which should be for constructive discourse, reconciliation and enlightenment…” Abdallah al-Ayoubi – Akhbar al-Khaleej
“’Scuffles’ in Parliament”
“…The public do not benefit from these quarrels between MPs. Instead we expect them to get together and agree on holistic solutions. Until now they have not been able to do anything for the public… We want the Parliament to take a tough stance towards the Government and with the public. The screaming and shedding of tears over the ruins do not help us. There are other methods that MPs could resort to for addressing shortcomings. There has certainly been weakness and an inability to achieve anything, yet ambition is the foremost key to achievement…” Mariam al-Shuruqi – Al-Wasat
“To the head of the civil service: Concerning the recruitment of foreigners”
“I was dumbfounded by the decision taken by the majority of those present at the end of the latest Council of Representatives session in rejecting the private bill demanding that the Government does not renew the contracts of 50% of foreigners working in the private sector. This important proposal, for making unemployed Bahrainis take the places of foreign employees was put forward by MP Jalal Kadhim. This odd decision to kill off the proposal comes in the context of enmity from a group of MPs who sometimes lead Parliament astray and sometimes lead Parliament into crisis… There is an urgent need to stop public money draining away and the overriding current priority is to establish serious plans for qualifying the national workforce in taking the place of foreign employees…” Rashid al-Ghaib – Al-Bilad
“The problematic relationship between human rights concepts and civil society”
“…What have civil society organizations concerned with human rights done to study the situation on the ground and are they really neutral of political affiliations? These non-governmental and non-profit-making organizations should have an active role in public life and responsibly play a part in achieving progress, expressing the interests and values of their membership… they should avoid partisanship, sectarianism and personal interests, with lofty intentions for enhancing unity, while learning from past experience…” Salman Nasser – Al-Watan
“The political crisis – between dialogue and negotiation”
“…Many politicians believe that there is a pressing need for serious dialogue and negotiation between both sides of the dispute. There are also significant national institutions on both sides ready to help facilitate taking this major project forward. The major achievements which both sides could achieve in this regard may exceed the expectations of politicians. They would be able to implement a well-devised plan for preserving national unity between all components of the nation, ethnic, sectarian and religious. Through unity, solidarity and national accord we can achieve comprehensive and sustainable growth and reduce the intensity of the financial and security crisis…” Salman Salim – Al-Wasat
“The Government’s ‘solutions’”
“Parliament’s disputes and conflicts are distracting it from performing its oversight role, with nobody to bring MPs back together again. Meanwhile, MPs are behaving more like ministers and officials than the ministers themselves, after becoming fed up with their role of oversight on behalf of the public. So everything has become mixed up. Who is monitoring who? Who is the executive branch and who are the legislators; and who should the public pass on their complaints to?…” Sawsan al-Shaer – Al-Watan
“Sorry Mr. Deputy, denial won’t help you”
“…I say with great regret that the infantile behaviour and poor performance from some MPs; the failure to properly take account of the situation on the street; the failure to address complex problems facing citizens; and the attempts to play with their emotions… these will all compound the state of failure and do away with the honest efforts of other MPs who are trying to make this a strong Parliament… Yes, I am angry, because I saw for myself how people young and old, men and women, poured into the election booths at the last elections determined to vote. My greatest wish was for this Parliament to succeed and achieve what those before it failed to do…” Tareq al-Amer – Al-Watan
“Lesson from the Phoenicians”
“…Bahrain’s future prosperity is necessarily rooted in the health of its private sector and its success in selling services and products to GCC nations and the world… The ancient Dilmunians and Phoenicians show us precisely that we should be looking outwards. Though healthy relations with our neighbours and the great nations around the world, we can once again make Bahrain great and prosperous. Through imagination and entrepreneurial flair we can reestablish Bahrain as the commercial heart of the region…” Akram Miknas – Al-Ayam
“Nothing more beautiful than red”
“MPs must realize that their elections slogan “You can, with your vote” doesn’t mean that they can hoard all the benefits for themselves and forget the voters… Bahrain needs MPs who can create solutions to the ongoing economic crisis and devise benefits for the public – not for there to be a crisis between them and the public: ‘Concentrate on your work and stop provoking those citizens who haven’t forgotten what you promised them’”. Muna Ali al-Mutawwa – Al-Watan