Activists to test ban with US embassy rally | GulfNews.com
▻http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/activists-to-test-ban-with-us-embassy-rally-1.1219655
The Bahrain Rebellion Movement, Tamarod, which is organising the planned rally, is less than two months old.
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Open letter
On August 1, Tamarod posted an open letter asking the US embassy to provide protection for the planned rally, saying it poses “ethical responsibilities” for Washington.
“We hope that you may convey our deep concern to the US State Department and the US Congress to exert a real political pressure on Bahraini regime to avoid any fatal crackdown and bloodshed,” the letter said.
The group said the goal of the demonstration was a “real democracy in Bahrain not less than that found in Western countries such as the USA and the United Kingdom”.
The main Shiite parties have all boycotted the kingdom’s parliament for more than two years to press their demand for a genuine constitutional monarchy, in which top ministers are elected representatives, not appointed by the king from within the ruling family.
The government banned all demonstrations in the capital, except for officially authorised events outside the offices of international organisations.
Veteran Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman, an uncle of King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, warned on Saturday that the government would not tolerate any threat to public order.
“This island will remain an ember that will burn those who want to jeopardise its security and stability,” he said.
“We shall not allow our country to face the chaos, destruction and displacement suffered by other countries,” warned Shaikh Khalifa.