Bahrain's dialogue participants seek answers
Manama, June 2, 2014
Participants in Bahrain's long-delayed National Dialogue are seeking answers from authorities, claiming they are being kept in the dark over the progress of talks.
The stalled process received a welcome boost in January when parties that previously withdrew agreed to come back to the table to resolve their differences, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
A new-look format was agreed and participants were asked to submit their visions for the country to the Royal Court.
However, representatives of both the Sunni community and mainly Shi'ite opposition groups say they have heard nothing since.
With the traditionally quiet summer months and Ramadan approaching, they are now urging authorities to move forward with the process - especially with national elections expected to take place in October.
Chairman of the National Unity Assembly (NUA) Dr Shaikh Abdullatif Al Mahmood, who heads the Sunni contingent in the National Dialogue, warned frustrations were again creeping in almost three years since the dialogue process started.
"It is a big problem for our country what we have faced and continue to face," he said.
"The government is keen to push for the National Dialogue, but we need all groups, including the opposition, to play a bigger role at this stage."
He argued that reaching a consensus between all political factions was the only way to overcome divisions and move forward.
However, he also claimed an opposition tendency to dictate terms was the reason for delays.
"We want them to collectively agree on issues rather than dictating terms," he said.
"The opposition groups want to push demands for only a segment of the society.
"This is also a reason for the delay in the dialogue process."
The NUA heads the Coalition of National Political Associations, a Sunni contingent whose members include the National Action Charter Society, Al Wasat Arab Islamic Society, National Constitutional Gathering, National Dialogue Society, Al Menbar National Islamic Society and Islamic Shura Society.
During the National Dialogue process it has regularly come into conflict with largely Shi'ite opposition groups, including the National Democratic Action Society (Wa'ad).
However, Wa'ad secretary general Radhi Al Mousawi agreed that progress was needed and urged authorities to push forward with the process - especially after opposition groups announced a boycott of upcoming parliamentary and municipal council elections in protest at an alleged failure to address key issues.
"We do not want to repeat the same mistakes that happened previously regarding the National Dialogue," said Al Mousawi.
"But we have heard nothing new from authorities regarding when these talks will happen."
The five opposition groups involved in the National Dialogue are Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, Wa'ad, Al Ekha National Society, the Democratic Progressive Tribune and National Democratic Gathering Society.
However, the talks were revived on January 15 after His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, met representatives of both groups.
Minister of State for Information Affairs and official government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab told a Press conference in March that the Royal Court had reviewed submissions from all parties involved in the National Dialogue, but gave no timeline for the process. - TradeArabia News Service
