MUHARRAQ, 7 March 2006 — Sunni activists in Bahrain have unveiled plans to establish their first opposition grouping since the country introduced reforms in 1999, under the title of the National Adalah (Justice) Movement (NAM).
The announcement came late Sunday at a meeting in Muharraq, north of the capital Manama, held to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the March 5, 1965, uprising by Bahraini workers against British occupation.
NAM co-founder, writer Ahmed Zaman, emphasized the group’s role as an opposition movement and said that Sunnis had been sidelined in Bahrain since the dissolution of the country’s Parliament in 1975.
“We want to re-introduce balance” to the Bahraini political equation, he said, adding that the Sunni community faced problems including lack of access to housing and employment as well as discrimination in the workplace.
NAM leaders said that they reject any foreign meddling in Bahrain’s internal affairs.
“We oppose any overt or covert cooperation with foreign powers to achieve any goals here particularly by Britain and Iran,” said Zaman. He also expressed opposition to US policies in the region.
In leaflets distributed at the venue, NAM expressed support for demands put forward by other opposition groups including constitutional reforms, limits on random naturalization and opposition to laws that restrict freedom of expression. It also joined their calls for combating corruption, illegal land acquisition and equal distribution of wealth.
Co-founder Abdullah Hashem, a lawyer, said although they demand constitutional reforms, they call for gradual changes.
“We are not for an immediate change in the constitution, and we will not support any reforms that might have negative consequences on some sections of society,” he said. “There are demands being put forward at this stage which would have dangerous consequences”.
Zaman refuted claims that the movement was a sectarian one and said that at present they were focusing on galvanizing the community.
Differing opposition groups representing Shiites and nationalists among others have emerged in Bahrain since King Hamad introduced sweeping political reforms following his rise to power in 1999.
The government has however had a tense relation with the leading opposition groups over a range of issues including constitutional reforms.
However analysts say a thaw may be on the cards with opposition groups believed to be ready to lift a boycott on elections ahead of polls planned for later this year, and to engage with the government on pressing social issues.
