Bahrain’s monarchy has met with the opposition leader in an effort to put an end to the mass demonstrations that have shaken the country for nearly three years.
Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa held talks
with the main opposition chief Sheikh Ali Salman for the first
time since Shiite demonstrations began in 2011.
“The meeting was especially frank and very transparent,”
the Shiite opposition group, Al Wefaq said in a statement
Al Wefaq claimed that the talks took place on the Prince's
initiative to “study ways (to have) a serious dialogue that
would result in a new political framework that shapes a
comprehensive solution.”
The Crown Prince told the political representatives that the
government aims to “strengthen the rule of law and
institutions,” while urging the opponents to “show
seriousness, transparency and credibility,” BNA reported.
During the meeting “it was agreed on the main issues to be
discussed under national dialogue in a coming stage,” the
official news agency announced.
It was the first time in nearly three years that a member of the
ruling family has met a leading member of the opposition.
According to Prince Salman’s twitter account, he also discussed
the country’s future with independent political figures, members
of parliament and the country's consultative Shura council.
The national dialogue began last February but achieved no
concrete results. Last September five groups including the main
opposition Shiite movement Al Wefaq, boycotted the talks after
Shiite leader, Khalil Marzooq was arrested on charges of inciting
terrorism.
The Bahraini Shiite majority has been staging nationwide
demonstrations for almost three years demanding the creation of a
constitutional monarchy with a government chosen from within an
elected parliament. They have also voiced concerns about
discrimination from the ruling Sunni minority, an accusation the
Manama government denies.
According to the International Federation for Human Rights, at
least 89 people have been killed in Bahrain since the protests
began.
Bahrain, a staunch US ally and home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet,
has been repeatedly criticized by human rights organizations for
the torture of opponents, including kids, and jailing doctors
that have been helping those wounded in clashes. Among dozens of
jailed opposition activists is a prominent Bahraini human rights
activist, Nabeel Rajab, serving a 2-year prison term for
“encouraging illegal gatherings” and “disturbing
public order.”
Rajab, who is considered “a prisoner of conscience” by
Amnesty International, openly criticized the country’s regime on
RT while appearing on the Julian Assange Show in May of 2012
prior to his arrest.