Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA312
2004-03-08 14:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

NGO REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS REFORM WITH U/S

Tags:  PHUM PGOV KDEM KMPI BA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000312 

SIPDIS

BRUSSELS FOR U/S GROSSMAN
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA FO: PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE,
NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, AND NEA/RA
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM KMPI BA
SUBJECT: NGO REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS REFORM WITH U/S
GROSSMAN

REF: A. MANAMA 291


B. MANAMA 283

Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (b)&(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000312

SIPDIS

BRUSSELS FOR U/S GROSSMAN
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA FO: PDAS LAROCCO AND DAS DIBBLE,
NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, AND NEA/RA
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM KMPI BA
SUBJECT: NGO REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSS REFORM WITH U/S
GROSSMAN

REF: A. MANAMA 291


B. MANAMA 283

Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (b)&(d).

1.(C) SUMMARY. Bahraini NGO representatives welcomed on
March 3 any initiatives that would implement real democratic
reforms in Bahrain, stated that we need to reach a common
definition of democratic and human rights goals, and briefed
U/S Grossman on several persistent problems. They praised
the 2003 Human Rights Report, but asked for more from the
U.S. on human rights than reports. They noted that Bahrain
could improve its record on discrimination, poverty,
education, freedom of expression, independence of NGOs, and
the right to change Bahrain's government. Failure to address
these problems could lead to new instability and unrest, they
said. The NGO leaders voiced distrust of U.S. democracy
initiatives because of U.S. support for Israel and public USG
support for what they perceive as inadequate GOB reforms to
date. U/S Grossman stressed that our public support does not
mean Bahrain's society should remain static, rather, the USG
seeks to assist the people and governments of the region that
wish to implement change. Emphasizing that the USG has no
blueprint for particular reforms countries must adopt, U/S
Grossman encouraged active participation from civil society
groups, believing that the best ideas for human rights reform
come from the people. END SUMMARY.

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NGOs ACKNOWLDEGE PROGRESS, CITE PERSISTENT PROBLEMS
-------------- --------------

2.(C) Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) Vice
President and former political exile Abdulhadi Al Khawaja
agreed that we shared the same objective - promotion of human
rights and democracy. We share a vision that Bahrain should
become a model for the region. Al-Khawaja praised the 2003
Report on Human Rights Practices in Bahrain, but said that
the human rights community in Bahrain is looking for more
from the U.S. than reports. Al-Khawaja asserted that there
are three main problems affecting daily life of Bahrainis --

poverty deriving from unemployment and discrimination (Al
Khawaja said that 160,000 Bahrainis live in poverty),
marginalization of opposition political groups (especially
Shi'a political leaders),and lack of an elected premier. He
complained that the same people have been running the country
since independence in 1970. Shura Council member and labor
activist Faisal Fulad noted that existing labor laws do not
meet International Labor Organization standards on
discrimination and protection of foreign labor. Bahrain
Society for Public Freedoms and Democracy Watch Founder Nizar
Al Qari (a former exilee and torture victim) added that
President Bush mentioned Bahrain in several speeches, giving
the GOB credit for promoting democracy, but NGOs on the
ground can tell you that there has been no recent progress.
Al-Khawaja warned that the unrest and instability experienced
in the 90's could return if these problems remain
unaddressed.

3.(C) Bahrain Women's Society (BWS) and International Visitor
Program alumnus Wajeeha al-Baharna stated that Bahrain had
witnessed a surge of NGO formation in response to reform, but
NGOs remain under the thumb of the Labor Ministry. For
instance NGOs must report to the ministry any member's
participation in international NGO events. Newly elected BWS
president and IV program alumnus Dr. Soroor Qarooni, M.D.,
said the GOB does not take NGOs seriously, and complained
that religious conservatives in the government use their
influence to block licenses for and activities of NGOs.

4.(C) Agreeing with Shura Council member Fulad, Wajeeha
Al-Baharna stated that there is serious need to reform the
education system which she asserted is in "the Middle Ages."
She charged that the schools do not teach the fundamentals,
that students graduating from secondary school know nothing,
and the introduction of new subjects is lacking. Responding
to NEA A/DAS Alina Romanowski's question, Al-Baharna
complained that the Ministry of Education refuses to involve
NGOs or parents in shaping education curricula and charged
that the ministry pressures schools not to allow NGOs to help.

5.(C) Youth activist and former member of the University of
Bahrain (UOB) Student Council Dua' Al Masae'd claimed that
the UOB is not interested in hearing student views. The UOB
demanded a public apology from her when she dared to inquire
about the selection terms for graduate school scholarships.
Following promulgation of Bahrain's new constitution, Dua'
tried to organize a seminar for law students to discuss the
constitution's legal implications. She said UOB officials
prevented its convening on campus and she charged that UOB
administration delayed her graduation for trying to hold the
seminar off campus.
-------------- --------------
USG FOREIGN POLICY - THE "DOUBLE STANDARD" PREVENTS TRUST
-------------- --------------


6. (C) BCHR VP Al Khawaja responded to U/S Grossman's
briefing on GME that it is time for the US to renew its
foreign policy. He calmly and firmly suggested that the US
should not be calling on Bahrain to increase human rights and
democracy when it supports a violator of human rights -
Israel. This double standard makes the US agenda in the
region unclear and in no way fosters trust, he claimed.

7.(C) In response, U/S Grossman said that the President has
cited Bahrain as an example of a country where there have
been some reforms. This support does not mean that we think
Bahrain's society can or should remain static. No society in
the world, including the U.S., can remain static. The US is
not interested in designing a mechanism for NGOs to implement
and has no blueprint on how to accomplish democratic reforms,
said U/S Grossman. Initiatives like GME and MEPI are vehicles
to support to local voices for change. NGOs, he said, fill a
vital space between the people and the government. BCHR
President Nabeel Rajab said that NGOs welcome real human
rights projects here in Bahrain. However, we need to come up
with a common definition of democracy and human rights goals.

8.(U) U/S Grossman cleared this cable.
FORD