Bahrain Hands Out Cash Ahead of Day of Protest

Seeking to head off Egyptian-style unrest, ruler also vows more freedom to the media

Bahrain is handing out generous cash grants to citizens and promising more freedom to the media as it moved to defuse an aggressive social network campaign calling for a Valentine’s “Day of Rage” on Monday in the Gulf island country.

The king announced over the weekend that he would hand out 1,000 dinars ($2,650) to every family in a move officially connected with the 10th anniversary of constitutional rule but is widely seen as an attempt to buy off the country’s marginalized Shiite majority and disenchanted youth before they take to the streets.

While Bahrain and the other Gulf countries – all of them monarchies – haven’t been any street protests similar to those seen in Algeria, Egypt and Yemen, activists from the Shiite majority are calling for nationwide demonstrations for February 14. The Sunni ruler’s throne is considered the most vulnerable to unrest among the Gulf Arab countries.

Situated off the coast of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. If they come off, the demonstrations will be the first major anti-government protests in the Gulf since the uprising in Egypt. It isn’t yet clear how widespread the protests will be, but the threats of unrest have already won concessions.

A government statement said that the cash was ostensibly being given to mark the anniversary of a national charter for reforms. Ten years ago, the National Arab Charter was signed to end a popular uprising.

“On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter and as a sign of appreciation for the people of Bahrain who have approved it, King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa has ordered 1,000 dinars to be paid to every Bahraini family,” the official Bahraini News Agency said.

Those who are not in need were asked to donate their cash to the poor. The daily Alayam reported that between 85,000 to 100,000 Bahraini families would benefit from the gift. Bahraini’s make up only about 42% of the 1.2 million people living in Bahrain. Expatriates won’t be eligible for the money.

Last week, King Hamad ordered a hike in food subsidies in a step he said was aimed at easing the burden on the population. The subsidies were for meat, flour and poultry in the face of spiraling food costs.

In an apparent attempt to defuse simmering public animosity, countries across the Arab world have taken steps to reduce food prices. Libya and Jordan relaxed food taxes and cut prices of staple foods. Kuwait went as far as to give stipends and even free food to its citizens until March 2012.

The king’s measures haven’t yet convinced the opposition to back off. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) issued an open letter to him to “avoid the worst case scenario” by releasing 450 detainees including human rights defenders, religious figures and over 100 children, by dissolving the security forces and by prosecuting corrupt officials.

“The release of all the detainees in Bahrain will not solve the main highly disputed issues between the ruling family and the majority of the people. However, it could help to ease the tension and pave the way for a serious, instant and constrictive dialogue on issues such as; political participation, corruption by high officials, housing and low income problems and discrimination and naturalization on sectarian basis,” said the center’s president Nabeel Rajab

“No one is completely sure what is going to happen on February 14th, if it is going to be ‘The Day of Rage’ in Bahrain or if it is going to be just the start of series of events that we hope will end in enhancing rights and freedoms and an escalation into chaos or bloodshed” added Rajab.

Reports from Bahrain said government media monitors began talks on Sunday with publishers and others to draft new rules to limit state controls. The official Bahrain News Agency, meanwhile, launched a multimedia service that includes social media applications to seek more outreach.

Bahrain is one of the few Arab countries where the majority practices Shi’ite Islam, but Shiites to feel they have been discriminated against and cut out of the political process.

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif wrote that he was “disgusted” by the over sectarian tone of the campaign on the social media networks.

“I hate to be the pessimist, and I am also the most fervent supporter of democracy, democratic values and human rights,” Al-Yousif wrote in his blog Mahmood’s Den. “Until we in Bahrain really believe in the mantra of No Shi’i, No Sunni, Just Bahraini, we’ll not be moving far from where we currently find ourselves and shall continue to wallow in our own sectarian filth.”

However, a popular Facebook campaign Bahraini Youth for Freedom http://www.facebook.com/notes/bahrain-youth-for-freedom/byan-14-fbrayr/129651983771274 had already garnered over 14,000 supporters as it urged protestors to shun violence.

“The time of waiting has ended, and the time of action is now. If we do not demand our rights by our own hands then no one will grant them to us. We have witnessed our brothers in Tunisia and Egypt carry the banner of freedom and justice. For what is the value of life without freedom? And how will we have our dignity without justice? Change will not come without sacrifice, so let us sacrifice for the sake of our future and the future of our people,” the website said.

Security forces were reportedly deployed in malls and other key spots around Bahrain on Sunday in a clear warning against holding the rallies.

“We as Muslim Sunnis believe that the Shiite have no loyalty to either the country nor to the government. Their loyalty to the Grand Shiite Mullas in Qum, Iran.,” one Bahraini  blogger identified as Bu Ahmed wrote.

Mid East News Source