Bahrain demand change: protesters

Skooter report 02/16/11

When Skooter learned this news from his Briton friend, Paul D. who works in Manama now, he shook his head. Skooter visited Bahrain’s capital city twice when he was still working in Riyadh, KSA. He couldn’t believe that such a progressive, beautiful, and peaceful place would have this kind of political crisis. Paul in his e-mail said, at least 2,000 protesters said to be Shi'ite camped out in Manama to press their demands for political change and the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, after a day of unrest inspired by popular revolts that toppled rulers in Tunisia and Egypt.

On Tuesday, a man was shot dead during clashes between demonstrators and security forces. A funeral procession for Ali Mushaima the man who was killed was planned on Wednesday morning. As evening fell on Tuesday, the number of protesters encamped at Bahrain's Pearl Roundabout dwindled from 2,000 to around 1,000.

Paul said, he was not sure if the number of protesters that stayed in the Pearl Roundabout would rise or fall during Wednesday. He said, Tuesday was a public holiday to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, so some people will have to return to work.

The Bahrain's Shi'ite majority said that the ruling Sunni minority denied them of housing, healthcare and government jobs. On Wednesday, there would be talks between the government and the main Shi'ite opposition bloc Wefaq, which boycotted parliament to protest Sunni security forces crack down on demonstrators. .

Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, ruled the Gulf Arab state since its independence in 1971. An uncle of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, is thought to own much land and is seen as a symbol of the wealth of the ruling family.

Well, Bahrainis are waking up now because of the disparity between Shiites and Sunnis. Who woke them up? It was Egypt’s bloody people power.