Comments for http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldhaveyoursay/2011/02/protests_in_bahrain_libya_and.html

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02/18/11--01:16: T from New Zealand (chan 2884791)

My condolonces to those who've lost people and my best wishes to everyone who is standing up against repression. I hope that I'd be as courageous were I in similar circumstances.


02/18/11--01:38: Ibrahim in UK (chan 2884791)

I am worried about the protestors, especially in Bahrain. It is a small country where a Sunni King rules over and oppresses a Shia majority. His oppression is backed by the US and Saudi Arabia who don't want to see Shia/Iran's influence grow even more. While the people's wish is to be free, they are caught up in a greater battle (or battles) which could derail it from peaceful tahrir-square-like protests into something much uglier.Is it true the much of the Bahraini police force is made of foreign nationals who are selected for being anti-Shia fundamentalists, and that the military contains troops and tanks mainly from anti-Shia Saudi Arabia, and the internal security/torturers are former members of Saddam's Baath party and from Sunni Jordan, all in an attempt to bolster the Sunni and anti-Shia demographics in the security forces?


02/18/11--03:03: Sheila (chan 2884791)

Concerned about the poor in Bahrain as they have no access to fair trials or legal support. Basic human rights are simply accorded to only the ruling King and his minions. As an American, I'm frustrated that our government along with England and other major EU Countries pays billions to these governments to prop up these horrifying regimes in the name of stability. Our very own Mrs. Clinton and Pres. Obama and Prime Minister Mr. Cameron will have to rethink stability and for whom.peace dreams from NYC


02/18/11--03:20: corum-populo-2010 (chan 2884791)

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02/18/11--03:34: corum-populo-2010 (chan 2884791)

"Protests in Bahrain, Libya or Yemen"Protests, since the global banking collapse, that have simmered for decades, have risen to the surface for young and well-educated individuals who are unemployed across the world - not just in North Africa and the Middle East. Moreover, class, tribal/religious intolerance is to be found ALL societies too.


02/18/11--03:55: Ekram222 (chan 2884791)

These "coincidintal occurences" seem to me as a planned effort to disrupt the Arab World. Who has the power to concurrently cause such mayhem? The BBC would have a better story if they investigate the real elements feeding these uprisings. By simply giving the internet all the credit seems naive to me.The right to freedom and justice is a human value that is sought by all. But encouraging revolt is not the way. Cool and level heads must prevail to navigate the Mideast away from revolts.By the way, America and the West would be better served if they let the locals resolve their problems. Democracy in the Middle-east may mean one large arab block demanding peace with Israel in full respect of the already approved UN resolutions. What statement would America and the West make then?


02/18/11--04:30: Munther (chan 2884791)

Bahrain is a small country in size but huge in its strategic significance - sandwiched between Iran and Saudi and the home of the US Navy’s 5th fleet. It is in the best interest of the whole world to keep this country under control in order to secure the flow of oil and to maintain the balance of power in the region. Knowing the strategic significance of the country’s geo-political position, Bahrain’s royal family decided to use it in its favor to crackdown on the recent protests. It influenced the media to make it seem as though protests were being fueled by Iran and then attacked under the cover of darkness the protesters’ camp at Pearl Roundabout and killed unarmed protesters while they were asleep. To justify their act, the army planted guns, swords, knives, and – most importantly – Hizb Ullah flags at the camp and had its spokesman present them on national TV. It is important for the whole world to know, Bahrainis included, that the protests in Bahrain’s Pearl Roundabout were not to demand for the right of any specific Islamic sect in the country. In fact, protesters from both sects, Sunnis and Shiites were asleep on the roundabout when the army attacked. The demands were of reform and implementation of a true democracy. Protesters were asking for the Prime Minister (the kings uncle who has held this position for the last 40 years) to be changed and the right to elect a new prime minister. They were also asking for the illegal naturalization of some 300,000 people over the last 10 years to be revoked.The Bahraini government is cunning and was able to use the western world’s fear of an Atomic Iran to have everybody look the other way while it conducted its holocaust on its people. There are 7 deaths so far and more than 60 people (men, women and children) are unaccounted for.


02/18/11--05:05: Munther (chan 2884791)

"Bahrain's Pro-Government Protesters"Bahrain’s pro-government protests are being conducted by Pakistanis, Indians, Syrians, Yemanis, and Jordanians who have recently been naturalized. Over the last 10 years, Bahrain’s government naturalized over 300,000 individuals taking the country’s population from 700,000 to over a million in an effort to change the country’s demographics to increase the percentage of the Sunni population. These new Bahrainis have almost entirely been recruited by the Bahraini army and have put a heavy load on the country’s already strained resources. In addition, they have been numerous clashes between the recently naturalized Bahrainis and the real Bahrainis over the past few years.The other side of the country is flooded by anti-government protests which are being conducted by the real Bahrainis.


02/18/11--05:31: EnochAdam (chan 2884791)

I am afraid that the Bahrain and Yemen dilemma could lead to something explosive. We might even witness the sectarian animosity between Sunnis and Shia grow into an all-out-war.In a majority Shia country, roughly half of the serving cabinet ministers of Bahrain have been selected from the Sunni Al Khalifa royal family. Even Qatar used to be dominated by the Khalifa family of Bahrain. Besides, Iran has often laid claim to Bahrain, based on its seventeenth-century defeat of the Portuguese and its subsequent occupation of the Bahrain archipelago. The Arab clan of the Al Khalifa, which has been the ruling family of Bahrain since the eighteenth century, in turn pushed out the Iranians in 1780.Let's not also forget that 46% of the Yemeni population is Shi'a.


02/18/11--05:37: Munther (chan 2884791)

Bahrainis are being killed by their government! Today (Feb 18, 2011) at 5:30pm Bahrain time, the army struck again killing peaceful protesters in the street... again...


02/18/11--05:42: Munther (chan 2884791)

I find it a bit insensitive when I find the news discussing how the turmoil in the Arab countries can impact the prices of oil and affect global economy. Innocent people are being killed in the streets, women and children among them; it is not the time to discuss the economy.


02/18/11--05:55: bahrainibyheart (chan 2884791)

Im not scared of the protesters, but im scared of the police/ army. 20years of being in bahrain and there has been no change..the poor shia population want their rights (haqq,) but the government wont give it to them. Ive seen first hand a grown man hopping around on one leg in the Bani Jamra village because he was beaten in the early 90's in jail so bad with a piece of piping that he had to have his leg removed !! Doctors who went to pearl roundabout to help the injured got beaten, one man untill his brains exploded out of his head cavity while another Dr who is a specialist in Salmaniya Hospital was beatena round the head by riot police. Bahrain suppose to be a democracy with freedom of speech but we all know if you utter certain words then you will be banged up in jail and beaten. I have fear in my heart of the authorities and certain british people who have a bad name for themseleves due to their ill acts in the 90's. My blood is saxon, my heart is Bahraini, my home is Bahrain with the local shia people.


02/18/11--06:00: corum-populo-2010 (chan 2884791)

Yes, cool heads and calm are to be commended. Democracy or dictatorships are not born overnight.More importantly, the majority of 'ordinary' people - in every country - East or West - North or South - of the planet are repressed or poor/impoverished or helpless in some way or another by democracy and dictatorship?There is no 'Nirvana' or freedom in any country without responsibility?What I'm trying to say is that ALL countries have their own mix of cultures, laws, discrimination, extremism, ideology - that is the human condition throughout record history and before?What 'ordinary' people want, ultimately, is affordable: food, water, heat, light, accommodation, employment and protection from crime by a representative and genuine police force and an accountable Justice System? This last paragraph is relevant to ALL countries, globally.


02/18/11--06:02: Inglenda2 (chan 2884791)

Trouble in Bahrain - something new? I don't think so!In 1955 British troops (first the Green Jackets, later the Royal Gloucesters), were sent to Bahrein (alternative spelling), to protect USA interests there.This is just one of many places, where western oil necessities are placed before the democratic- and human rights of the native people.It also shows that Britain has long since been subservient to America, not just since "Poodle" Blair.


02/18/11--06:31: cordav (chan 2884791)

Message for BBC staff.Please note that the protestors were at Pearl Roundabout, there is no Pearl Square in Bahrain.Please also check your pronunciation of words like Manama and Sitra. You will find the correct pronunciation if you watch Al Jazira


02/18/11--07:06: gary indiana (chan 2884791)

For me, the most worrisome part of the protests in the Middle East and in Egypt is their focus upon the persons (or very often upon their religious or monetary affiliations) currently governing countries rather than upon the mechanisms by which governance occurs. Freedom, liberty, or human rights are easy words to shout; but astoundingly difficult to establish as the norm in societies having a paucity of trust. It is similarly easy to point at an external adversary to compel unity by hatred. The trouble with this is that hatred is incompatible with peaceful existence. Continuous unity requires continual hatred. I wouldn’t care to advise anyone in what or in whom they should place trust; but if their wish is democracy, then folks in these nations had better learn to have it in some positive, inclusive aspect of their greater societies. Democracy means trusting a neighbor to esteem your welfare as he does is own, regardless of culture, color, religion or just about any other sort of difference. Currently, and throughout the region, the followers of Islam do not do this either within or without their Faith. For many people in the region, the demand is for homogeneity, while the inexorable global trend is toward diversity. The reader is left to judge the probability of successful outcomes.g


02/18/11--07:09: Joshua Hakeen (chan 2884791)

I think the revolt for freedom & liberty in the Mideast is an outcome of dictatorship. Countries who exercised some sort of democracy will survive from the wave.


02/18/11--07:40: Sir Digby Chicken Caesar (chan 2884791)

In 1955 British troops (first the Green Jackets, later the Royal Gloucesters), were sent to Bahrein (alternative spelling), to protect USA interests there.This is just one of many places, where western oil necessities are placed before the democratic- and human rights of the native people.It also shows that Britain has long since been subservient to America, not just since "Poodle" Blair. --You mean like how in 1956 Britain and France invaded Egypt because they were the US poodle, and that's what caused Ike to condemn it forcing them to cease the raid?Hate to break it to you, but the US doesn't and didn't need Britain to do any military adventures for the US, so I highly doubt your claims.Maybe the UK did it to counter their empire's demise which was falling apart, rapidly during that period?Always comical to watch the USA bashers turn any topic into a bash america forum based on complete falsehoods.


02/18/11--14:16: faisal (chan 2884791)

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02/18/11--23:05: Alam-D (chan 2884791)

Hello, Just wanted to let you guys know that I was out in Manama last night near American Embassy and suddenly I saw 40 people coming out of the Embassy and they had placards which had message against Iran and Velayat-e-Faqeeh..They were also chanting Anti Iran slogans...


02/18/11--23:30: Inglenda2 (chan 2884791)

18 Feb 2011, nova wrote:"You mean like how in 1956 Britain and France invaded Egypt because they were the US poodle, and that's what caused Ike to condemn it forcing them to cease the raid? Hate to break it to you, but the US doesn't and didn't need Britain to do any military adventures for the US, so I highly doubt your claims. Maybe the UK did it to counter their empire's demise which was falling apart, rapidly during that period? Always comical to watch the USA bashers turn any topic into a bash america forum based on complete falsehoods."-----Sorry the truth hurts so much! Perhaps you should speak to the British soldiers who served there before speaking of complete falsehoods. It was and is not the first time British troops have sprung in to assist the USA. The USA has also sometimes helped Britain in the past, but the main difference was, that Britain had to pay back the costs of help with considerable interest.


02/19/11--02:40: corum-populo-2010 (chan 2884791)

North African and Middle East societies are, in the majority, very sophisticated, highly educated, civilised and aware. The internet has enabled them to view the world - and how much they have to offer their own country and globally too? I don't mean religion, and all that disaffection and division it caused throughout recorded human history - and still does today - but something more crucial for humanity as a whole ... an ability to combine to improve and share academic talents; vocations in medicine, science and artistic gifts. Agriculture and conservation too?Personally, I hope North African and Middle East protests may shine some light on how little, the rest of the world, know about some of these countries? However, anarchy is never a solution to repression.Essentially, repression and exploitation occurs globally in democratic nations too. It takes many different forms - not least from economic 'soft' power, or 'soft war' from China in Africa and Brazil where Stock Exchanges are merging.So, the lesson for every 'ordinary' person, wherever you live in the world, is to look outwards and forwards. Do not be 'distracted' by 'dim' paid by hour and opinionated media via satellite. In fact brainwashing is driven commercial SKY membership income.Just a few thoughts.


02/19/11--02:44: corum-populo-2010 (chan 2884791)

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02/19/11--22:39: voice of Bahrain (chan 2884791)

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02/19/11--22:48: voice of Bahrain (chan 2884791)

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02/20/11--02:37: sunnylagarto (chan 2884791)

Egypt is an inspiration to us all. Accountability and transparency are paramount for any viable democracy - including ours.


02/21/11--09:14: Aali (chan 2884791)

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06/25/11--02:45: Peterplucker (chan 2884791)

The treatment of these doctors by the rulers of bahrain is as shameful as the violence by the rulers that the doctors revealed to the media. The rulers do not deserve the trust of the population and should leave.