Ruler of Bahrain vows to establish an elected parliament
Bahrain, Politics, 12/19/2000

The ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa al-Khaleifa on Saturday vowed in a speech he delivered on the occasion of the country' s national day to establish two councils, including a parliament and this is to be made through elections in this " conservative Gulf state."

A 46- member committee appointed by the prince himself had proposed to draw a draft national work charter as part of political changes.

Sheikh Hamad said: " at the level of the legislative authority, we see that the democratic and constitutional changes in the world require the foundation of the two- council system, so as to have a Parliamentary council elected directly and freely by citizens and be in charge of legislative matters besides a Shoura council which includes those of good experience to be oriented by their views." The first parliament in Bahrain was elected in 1973 but it was dissolved after two years. The return back of the dissolved parliament was one of the demands requested by protests held in Bahrain between the years 1994- 1998.

Bahrain has appointed a Shoura council composed of 40 members to offer consultation to the government in draft resolutions before these resolutions are sent to the ruler of the country for final approval.

This Shoura council does not enjoy legislative authorities.

Political parties are forbidden in Bahrain which is a prominent financial and banking center in the Arab Gulf.

Sheikh Hamad who succeeded his late father in ruling Bahrain in 1999 vowed in October to have a new phase in Bahrain of a national dialogue about the constitution.

He said that he seeks " to reactivate the judicial apparatus in maintaining the independence of the judiciary system."

He talks about the armed forces and said that its development " is on the top of the targets to protect the achievements of the homeland and to contribute in the movement of progress and overall development.

Sheikh Hamad, on the other hand ordered a one month salary extra payment for the state's employees, reducing electricity and customs tariff fees.

Meantime, The minister of finance and the national economy Abdullah Hassan Seif said in a statement quoted by the Gulf News Agency that these measures will cost Bahrain some 69 million Bahraini dinars during the two coming years. He added that reducing customs fees on cars to 15 % from 20% will cost the government 3.3 million Bahraini dinars every year, while the cost to reduce electricity fees is 6.2 million Dinars annually.

On the other hand, The London- stationed al-Bahrain " Islamic liberals movement" said that the address made by Sheikh Hamad is disappointing.

In a statement, the movement added that the " prince's address came more serious in dealing with political and economic issues of concern to the people of Bahrain, but on the other side was disappointing in not releasing all detainees and political prisoners, returning back the expelled without set preconditions and ending the state of emergency represented in the state security law." The movement also called for the return back of " the national council and the participation of all social strata including the opposition forces inside and outside the country in preparations for the people's referendum to be carried out in the presence of independent international observers."

Previous Stories:
  Bahrain's prime minister gets a message from Musharraf   (12/9/2000)
  Ruler of Kuwait gets a message from Bahrain's counterpart   (12/6/2000)
  Cohen: The US will not leave the region   (11/17/2000)

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