MANAMA, 18 January 2005 — The controversial petition calling for reforming the 2002 Bahraini Constitution that was launched early last year by opposition groups will be presented to King Hamad before Feb. 5, it was revealed here.
The chairman of Al Wefaq Society, Sheikh Ali Salman, said that the petition — which was signed by 70, 000 people according to opposition activists — would be presented to the king prior to the one day 2005 constitutional conference that will be held on Feb.10.
Salman also ruled out that the recent limited reshuffle of the government — which split the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs that was representing the government in talks with the opposition — would have any impact on the presently stalled meetings.
“This is a limited reshuffle and it has no impact on the dialogue with the government,” he said. “The new Cabinet has no new visions and things remain as it was before the reshuffle”.
Bahraini authorities had opened a dialogue with the four opposition groups — Al Wefaq Islamic Society, Democratic Action Society, Nationalist Assembly and Islamic Action Society — last year in an effort to iron out differences concerning the constitution and bring about their participation in the 2006 parliamentary elections.
The launch of the petition had led to the arrest of 17 activists after the society set up 47 signature collecting stalls, which the government had deemed illegal.
All 17 people — who were accused of attempting to change the political system by illegal means, encouraging hatred of the state, and distributing false news and rumors — were later released, before the dialogue with the government began.
The groups claim that under the 2002 constitution the legislative branch of the government is not adequately independent and that elected MPs do not have enough powers.
“We — meaning Al Wefaq Society — will be taking part in the municipal elections, but our position remains the same about boycotting the parliamentary election,” Sheikh Salman said.
Al Wefaq, which is the leading opposition party and one of four societies that oppose the 2002 constitution, has three members elected as heads of the municipal councils in the capital, central, and northern governorates and 22 elected members in four out five municipal councils.
The head of the preparatory committee for the 2005 Constitutional Conference, Dr. Abdulaziz Abul, said the committee had finalized all preparations for the conference.
