OPPOSITION SOCIETIES TO HOLD CONSTITUTIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000174

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM BA
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SOCIETIES TO HOLD CONSTITUTIONAL
CONFERENCE

REF: A. MANAMA 111

B. 04 MANAMA 683

C. 04 MANAMA 237

Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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The Constitutional Conference
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1. (SBU) On February 10, four opposition political societies,
known as the Quartet Alliance, will hold a conference
entitled "Contractual Constitution for a Constitutional
Monarchy." Conference attendees will discuss means of
promoting constitutional reform in the kingdom, including
petitions, drafting an alternative constitution, and protest
rallies. The Alliance, composed of Al Wifaq, Al Amal Al
Islami, National Democratic Action Society, and Al Tajamo' Al
Qowmi, boycotted the 2002 parliamentary elections and have
not changed their official policy more than two years later.
They say that they will boycott the fall 2006 parliamentary
elections unless they are granted a dialogue with the King or
his representative on amending the constitution. Society
members told the press February 5 that police had confiscated
posters and banners advertising the conference.

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The Constitutional Dialogue
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2. (SBU) The Alliance contends that the 2002 Constitution is
illegitimate and grants too much legislative authority to the
King and the executive branch. They say the country's 1973
Constitution, which was suspended in 1975, granted the
elected parliament more power and is the only legitimate
constitution. In September 2004, the Alliance and Minister
of Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Majeed Al Alawi (currently
the Minister of Labor),who represented the government,
launched a constitutional dialogue. The dialogue quickly
broke down with no progress.

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Efforts to Present Petition to King
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3. (SBU) The societies claim they have gathered 75,000
signatures on a petition calling for modifications to the
2002 Constitution. The societies presented a request on
January 18 to the Royal Court to meet the King to discuss the
petition. The Royal Court replied instructing them to meet
instead with the parliament, which the government considers
to be the proper forum for discussing amendments to the
constitution rather than in an outside-the-system
negotiation. Al Wifaq's President Sheikh Ali Salman said "it
is the authorities' duty to receive any letter or petitions
from citizens according to the constitution," referencing an
article in the 1973 Constitution. In an example of political
theater, the Alliance sent the petition twice to the King,
first via registered mail and later by regular mail; the
Royal Court refused to accept the petition both times.
February 5 newspapers report that the Minister of the Royal
Court invited several deputies to a meeting to discuss the
court's refusal to accept the petition.

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Comment
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4. (C) The Alliance's threat to boycott the 2006 elections
is likely more of a political bargaining tool than an actual
plan. Privately, many in the opposition societies'
leadership support full participation in the next elections
(Ref A). The National Democratic Institute (NDI)
representative in Bahrain, Fawzi Guleid, told PolOff the
Alliance is hoping for some sort of compromise with the King.
It would like to see 10 out of the 40 normally GOB-appointed
Shura Council seats up for election, for example, or a
similar gesture of increased popular participation. In press
reports on February 6, National Assembly Society Chairman
Abdullah Hashem called the constitutional conference
"politically useless" and urged the opposition to work within
the current political system. Given that the next
parliamentary elections are more than a year and a half away,
there is real hope that the King and the opposition can find
some common ground on the constitution and parliament's
composition.
MONROE