US-led West Will Never Support Revolution in Bahrain: Analyst
Interview with Hisham Jaber, Director for the Center of Middle East Studies, Beirut.
One is the right wing in his own regime, which is very severe and very conservative and the other is Saudi Arabia because Saudi Arabia believes that any democracy in Bahrain will move to Saudi Arabia."
Tension in Bahrain has escalated as the al-Khalifa regime has implemented a ban on opposition rallies to exclude the street from being used as an avenue to demand democracy.
While Western media has conspired to remain largely silent in an effort not to draw attention to the people's plight in Bahrain against human and civil rights abuses on the doorstep of America's Fifth Fleet, the vast majority of the population have participated in ongoing protests for some 16 months now.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Hisham Jaber, Director for the Center of Middle East Studies, Beirut about this latest order from the king of Bahrain. The following is an approximate transcription of the interview.
Press TV: A new move by the Bahraini regime of banning opposition rallies. Now it does look like in the face of these protests that have been ongoing as you know for more than a year now - the actions that have been taken by the Bahraini regime, are these kinds of actions going to help in quelling these protests?
Jaber: First of all we have to remember that for almost 16 months the people in Bahrain are asking peacefully for legal and fundamental demands. They are asking for democracy, for freedom, for equality, which are the slogans of international society and the USA comes everyday with those slogans, but may be they are blind they don't see what is going on in Bahrain.
The people in Bahrain so far have not faced the regime's violence with any weapons or violence.
To look at the real situation and to be objective and fair, many observers believe that the king of Bahrain King Hamid wants to give those citizens their rights, but he is facing two strong sides.
One is the right wing in his own regime, which is very severe and very conservative and the other is Saudi Arabia because Saudi Arabia believes that any democracy in Bahrain will move to Saudi Arabia.
What we saw in the Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia despite that there is no contact or cooperation between the people of Bahrain and people in the provinces of Saudi Arabia, but both are asking for democracy and for freedom.
I think the only solution, because the violence cannot be a long term solution and people in Bahrain they may move and they may use violence to face violence and I think that the regime must listen to the people and give them their rights and they cannot, whether in Saudi Arabia or in Bahrain, those regimes cannot count on the support of the US because America at the end of the day and as we have experienced… they may leave them.
And when they find that a regime is tired and ready to expire they kick out the regime. That's the experience in Tunisia and Egypt and everywhere.
I think with regard to the people in Bahrain who are still making peaceful demonstration under the ceiling and umbrella of the regime, the regime must take advantage of this before it is too late.
And every day they are accusing Iran to be behind this. Many observers believe that there is no evidence of any role or interference of Iran inside the domestic problem in Bahrain or in Saudi Arabia.
Press TV: You are saying that the regime should act now before it is too late. Maybe some people would be saying it's already late for the Bahrain regime. We know that when these protests started the demands mainly centered around political reform, now what we're hearing a lot from those protesters is for the downfall of the regime, we want the al-Khalifa's to go.
So, do you think political reform and for instance giving people the kinds of political freedoms that their asking for are going to help the regime or do you think that now it's reached a stage in the revolution where people are saying we want this regime we want the al-Khalifa's to go and we want a transition period for Bahrain?
Jaber: Yes, to be objective and fair and of course there is escalation day after day and what is possible today maybe it will be available or possible tomorrow. Of course, it's late, but it's not too late and I think it doesn't need a political reform and slow reform and promises. It needs a coup - maybe by the king… or a breakthrough of this complicated situation and to come with real reform and to let people trust this regime.
I don't think those people want to destroy their country even if they are starting to lose their trust and confidence in the regime. But I think the regime must do something before it will be too late. And as I said if they are counting on the support of the US, they are wrong.
Now of course Bahrain is a very important strategic point for the Americans. The Americans, what is important for them is their own interests like, you know, facing Iran. I think many Western observers believe any break in tension between Iran and the US, a solution for this crisis will change the whole situation in the Persian Gulf in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia.
Of course, the Americans at the end of the day, if they ensure their future interests - they are interested in oil first of all - and in Bahrain there is no oil, but it is very important from a strategic point of view… it hosts the Fifth American Fleet etc, etc; however, when there is no tension in that region, I don't think the Americans would stay supporting those regimes.
And the Americans cannot forget and be blind all the time about people who are asking for freedom for democracy and doing it peacefully.
While Western media has conspired to remain largely silent in an effort not to draw attention to the people's plight in Bahrain against human and civil rights abuses on the doorstep of America's Fifth Fleet, the vast majority of the population have participated in ongoing protests for some 16 months now.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Hisham Jaber, Director for the Center of Middle East Studies, Beirut about this latest order from the king of Bahrain. The following is an approximate transcription of the interview.
Press TV: A new move by the Bahraini regime of banning opposition rallies. Now it does look like in the face of these protests that have been ongoing as you know for more than a year now - the actions that have been taken by the Bahraini regime, are these kinds of actions going to help in quelling these protests?
Jaber: First of all we have to remember that for almost 16 months the people in Bahrain are asking peacefully for legal and fundamental demands. They are asking for democracy, for freedom, for equality, which are the slogans of international society and the USA comes everyday with those slogans, but may be they are blind they don't see what is going on in Bahrain.
The people in Bahrain so far have not faced the regime's violence with any weapons or violence.
To look at the real situation and to be objective and fair, many observers believe that the king of Bahrain King Hamid wants to give those citizens their rights, but he is facing two strong sides.
One is the right wing in his own regime, which is very severe and very conservative and the other is Saudi Arabia because Saudi Arabia believes that any democracy in Bahrain will move to Saudi Arabia.
What we saw in the Eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia despite that there is no contact or cooperation between the people of Bahrain and people in the provinces of Saudi Arabia, but both are asking for democracy and for freedom.
I think the only solution, because the violence cannot be a long term solution and people in Bahrain they may move and they may use violence to face violence and I think that the regime must listen to the people and give them their rights and they cannot, whether in Saudi Arabia or in Bahrain, those regimes cannot count on the support of the US because America at the end of the day and as we have experienced… they may leave them.
And when they find that a regime is tired and ready to expire they kick out the regime. That's the experience in Tunisia and Egypt and everywhere.
I think with regard to the people in Bahrain who are still making peaceful demonstration under the ceiling and umbrella of the regime, the regime must take advantage of this before it is too late.
And every day they are accusing Iran to be behind this. Many observers believe that there is no evidence of any role or interference of Iran inside the domestic problem in Bahrain or in Saudi Arabia.
Press TV: You are saying that the regime should act now before it is too late. Maybe some people would be saying it's already late for the Bahrain regime. We know that when these protests started the demands mainly centered around political reform, now what we're hearing a lot from those protesters is for the downfall of the regime, we want the al-Khalifa's to go.
So, do you think political reform and for instance giving people the kinds of political freedoms that their asking for are going to help the regime or do you think that now it's reached a stage in the revolution where people are saying we want this regime we want the al-Khalifa's to go and we want a transition period for Bahrain?
Jaber: Yes, to be objective and fair and of course there is escalation day after day and what is possible today maybe it will be available or possible tomorrow. Of course, it's late, but it's not too late and I think it doesn't need a political reform and slow reform and promises. It needs a coup - maybe by the king… or a breakthrough of this complicated situation and to come with real reform and to let people trust this regime.
I don't think those people want to destroy their country even if they are starting to lose their trust and confidence in the regime. But I think the regime must do something before it will be too late. And as I said if they are counting on the support of the US, they are wrong.
Now of course Bahrain is a very important strategic point for the Americans. The Americans, what is important for them is their own interests like, you know, facing Iran. I think many Western observers believe any break in tension between Iran and the US, a solution for this crisis will change the whole situation in the Persian Gulf in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia.
Of course, the Americans at the end of the day, if they ensure their future interests - they are interested in oil first of all - and in Bahrain there is no oil, but it is very important from a strategic point of view… it hosts the Fifth American Fleet etc, etc; however, when there is no tension in that region, I don't think the Americans would stay supporting those regimes.
And the Americans cannot forget and be blind all the time about people who are asking for freedom for democracy and doing it peacefully.
