Amnesty says Bahrain government failing to reform
Bahrain's government fails to implement human rights reforms demanded by independent commission, which investigated a brutal crackdown on protesters last year
AFP , Monday 13 Feb 2012
"The Bahraini government remains far from delivering the human rights changes" recommended by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), Amnesty International said on Monday.
Despite several government announcements claiming progress, "the fact is that it has still not delivered in the most important areas," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, the group's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. "Victims and families of victims of the serious human rights violations... are still waiting for justice," she added.
The rights group called on Bahraini authorities "to allow peaceful protests" planned by activists and the opposition to mark the first anniversary of the 14 February Shia-led uprising against the government and its Sunni-ruled dynasty.
The death toll from last year's unrest reached 35, including five security personnel and five detainees who were tortured to death while in custody, according to the BICI report. But Amnesty said on Monday that "at least a further 20 have died since," in ongoing protests.
"The security forces have continued to use excessive force to deal with demonstrators," the statement said, adding that "several protesters have died since the end of November as a direct or indirect result of the inappropriate use of tear gas."
Fifteen-year-old Sayyed Hashem Saeed died on 31 December after being hit on the head by a tear-gas canister fired by Bahraini police trying to disperse protesters in a Shia town. Tensions have run high in the Gulf kingdom as the opposition and activists prepare to commemorate the first anniversary of their uprising on Tuesday.
Bahraini police clashed with protesters again on Monday, witnesses said, as the kingdom's security chief warned citizens not to heed calls by activists to mark the anniversary. Amnesty also accused the government of preventing free access to information on the trials of police officers charged with misconduct during the month-long uprising.
"The government's promises... will remain hollow if reported investigations into violations by the government remain shrouded in secrecy," Hadj-Sahraoui said. The government claims that "48 people from the security forces had been investigated for their roles in suppressing protests."
But according to Amnesty, "only eight policemen... are known to have been brought to trial" so far.
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