pmaitra
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2009
- Messages
- 33,262
- Likes
- 19,594
Some historical reflections on relations between Arabs of present day Saudi Arabia and the Qarmatians (approx. present day Bahrain) can be found here.
The head of the armed forces had been authorised to take all measures to "protect the safety of the country and its citizens", the announcement said.At the scene
Caroline Hawley
BBC News, Manama
This is tense and edgy city; a place of fear. All afternoon, young men have been setting up barricades of sticks, stones and rubbish bins to protect themselves after the declaration of the state of emergency and the arrival of Saudi troops.
In some areas, the trouble has already begun. There has been violence in Shia neighbourhoods on the island, and scenes of pandemonium at Salmaniya hospital, where many of the injured have been brought. We saw an ambulance that had been shot at as it tried to pick up the wounded. Doctors have appealed for international help to ensure access for medics. And at one checkpoint set up by the protesters, a young man said: "Pray for us."
The Bahraini authorities say they are taking measures to restore calm and order, but it is clear here that it will come at a price. In this country, where a Sunni minority rules a Shia majority that has been pushing for change, sectarian tensions have been running dangerously high.
if iran thinks its foreign intervention then i must use its link/resources from HAMAS to help bahrains shi`itesIran objects to foreign troops in Bahrain
(Reuters) - Iran called the arrival of Saudi troops in Bahrain unacceptable on Tuesday and urged the island kingdom to respond to pro-democracy demonstrators peacefully and without foreign intervention.
About 1,000 Saudi soldiers entered Bahrain on Monday to protect government facilities, a Saudi official source said, as part of an effort by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to help the government cope with protests.
"The presence of foreign forces and interference in Bahrain's internal affairs is unacceptable and will further complicate the issue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said at his weekly news conference.
The arrival of the Saudi forces came after mostly Shi'ite demonstrators overwhelmed Bahraini police on Sunday and blocked the highway to the main financial district in the most violent confrontations since troops killed seven protesters last month.
Most Gulf Arab ruling families are Sunni and non-Arab Iran is the main Shi'ite power in the region. Accusations abound of Iranian backing for activists among the Shi'ite majority in Bahrain, a charge Tehran has denied.
Iran, which is facing down opposition protests at home, has welcomed uprisings across the Arab Middle East as an "Islamic awakening" against despotic rulers.
"People have some legitimate demands and they are expressing them peacefully. It should not be responded to violently ... and we expect their demands be fulfilled through correct means," Mehmanparast said on the situation in Bahrain.
Bahrain's Shi'ites have complained of discrimination by the Sunni ruling family.
I agree. Bahrainins have been oppressed for way too long. However, they do not stand a chance against the joint Saudi and UAE forces. Moreover, Gulf Co-operation Council will typically have a pro-Sunni stand due to the demographics of the member countries. A big power, like Russia or PRC has to come to their aid if King Hamad is to be dislodged from his throne.Iran should send weapons to Bahraini rebels and help them fight off the Saudis.
Those people have been oppressed long enough.
In the best-case scenario, a successful revolution in Bahrain (in the mold of Egypt) will spread to the other Gulf countries, and cause a complete political reshuffling. I have my fingers crossed.
Are we getting a little too optimistic ? Democratic Arab governments are never in the interests of India.Iran should send weapons to Bahraini rebels and help them fight off the Saudis.
Those people have been oppressed long enough.
In the best-case scenario, a successful revolution in Bahrain (in the mold of Egypt) will spread to the other Gulf countries, and cause a complete political reshuffling. I have my fingers crossed.
IMO the fact that Qaddafi is regaining ground quickly may have given Saudi / Bahrain monarchs an inspiration that they can crack down on the opposition if they have guts, while big powers would just do some lip service at best. Or most likely it's been endorsed by the US already. What democracy? It's in the best interest of the US those "friendly" Gulf Sheikhs/Emirs stay in powerI can see Gaddafi's troops retaking the towns one after the other. Makes me a little pessimistic about the uprisings, for whether people would achieve what they want
Bahrain's health minister, himself a Shia, has resigned in protest against the government's use of force, and the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Manama says Shia judges have resigned en masse.They are all around Salmaniya medical complex with their guns and they are shooting anybody"
Doctor
Salmaniya hospital
After security forces moved in on Wednesday, plumes of black smoke rose as tents burned in Pearl Square, the centre of the protests.Analysis
Jonathan Marcus
BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
The Saudis appear terrified that the unrest could spread to the Shia areas in the eastern part of their country. Hence the decision to despatch elements of the Saudi National Guard, across the causeway into Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia has a history of intervening militarily to quell Shia unrest around its borders. Saudi forces, for example, crossed into Yemen in 2009.
The Saudis also have wider regional concerns, fearing an Iranian hand in promoting the Shia unrest. Some analysts fear that seeing events simply through this Iranian/Shia-Sunni prism has prompted a policy that may stifle unrest, but will not deal with its fundamental causes.
The Obama administration has been urging reform on Bahrain's rulers. The US and the Saudis are clearly not on the same page in this crisis. And for now it is Riyadh rather than Washington that has the ear of Bahrain's royal family.
Meanwhile a surgeon told the BBC's Bill Law that he had been called to a private hospital to operate on a man with gunshot wounds but was forced to turn back.Mid-East unrest: Bahrain
Map of the Region
King Hamad, 61, has been in power since 1999
Population 800,000; land area 717 sq km, or 100 times smaller than Irish Republic
A population with a median age of 30.4 years, and a literacy rate of 91%
Youth unemployment at 19.6%
Gross national income per head: $25,420 (World Bank 2009)
Protests: Country by country
Country profile: Bahrain
India has had excellent relations with all Arab countries which have not been ruled by Sheikhs and Emirs. Egypt and Syria are two such examples. Iraq was another one, though that can be argued that it was due to Saddam. History has shown that Arabs who are not ruled by Sheikhs and Emirs have been leftists and socialists, making good friends with India.Are we getting a little too optimistic ? Democratic Arab governments are never in the interests of India.
The normal Arabs hate the sub-continentals and especially Indians and Sri Lankans more because of our idealogy. It will be good if the Middle East remains in the hand of 'Sheikhs' and 'Emirs' until oil runs out.
God I wish that was true.History has shown that Arabs who are not ruled by Sheikhs and Emirs have been leftists and socialists, making good friends with India.
I believe India is obligated to protect Qatar from external threats only.Quick question: Qatar is an Indian protectorate. India has promised to help Qatar if they require it. What is something similar happens there? Will India back the government or the people?
Ok I see. That makes sense. Don't want India to get involved in a civil war.I believe India is obligated to protect Qatar from external threats only.
Thread starter | Similar threads | Forum | Replies | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bahrain sentences six to death for 'assassination plot' | West Asia & Africa | 0 | ||
Bahrain International Airshow 2016 | Indian Air Force | 4 | ||
Pakistan pulls JF 17 Thunderbird out of Bahrain air show | Indian Air Force | 126 | ||
UK starts building new permanent navy base in Bahrain | Naval Warfare | 18 |