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Chan'ad Bahraini

(Scomberomorous maculatus Bahrainius)
Note: This page has moved to a new address. Please click on the following URL to get there: http://chanad.weblogs.us/index.php?s=Crowds pledge loyalty to Premier. Sorry for the trouble.

Crowds pledge loyalty to Premier

Thursday, October 07, 2004

The frontpage headline story from today's GDN:

MANAMA: Crowds of people waving flags and throwing roses gave a rapturous welcome to the Prime Minister at his court yesterday.Citizens from Hidd and Muharraq pledged their loyalty and praised constitutional reforms, modernisation and democracy - instigated by Bahrain's wise leaders.

Really, our press needs to grow some backbone. It's been two weeks now since Alkhawaja's comments against the Prime Minister at the Oruba Club, yet our press is still obsessed with displaying its loyalty to the regime. Is it not possible for them to take a slightly more balanced and objective approach to reporting? I don't mean that they have to go around bashing the regime, but how about reporting both sides of the story? Since this affair started there have been countless articles about "crowds" of supporters pledging their loyalty to the PM, but there was NO coverage of either the 2000 person protest last Friday, or the 200 person protest on Monday. Will the press really get into trouble for merely reporting that these protests took place? I mean, Mahmood and myself have been talking about this issue quite freely and I have not seen any CID vehicles following me around (but I'm still waiting).

Anyhow, I was not able to attend the planned protest rally in the Diplomatic Area yesterday evening since I was busy (yes I have a life of my own... uhh, sort of). It was supposed to be a protest rally in cars, but I heard from someone that the cops blocked the whole road off so that the rally couldn't take place. If anyone has any details then please let us know. The next event I believe is a series of lectures that will be held on Friday evening in Bilad al Qadeem. I don't think I'll be able to go, so don't expect me to report on it. But if any of you get a chance to go then please drop me an email.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 07, 2004 at 10/07/2004 06:54:00 pm. Permalink

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4 Responses to 'Crowds pledge loyalty to Premier'


Anonymous Anonymous says:
10/08/2004 06:04:00 pm

Has Al Sahaf defected to the GDN? I thought he was keeping a low profile in Dubai, but its obvious he's gainfully employed in this part of the Gulf.

Last time round when those petitioners were arrested I thought the GDN did itself proud by interviewing Amnesty International about the case - and reporting its criticism.

Now it seems normal Arab service has resumed.    

Anonymous Anonymous says:
10/10/2004 12:49:00 am

evacuations occurred at 2 private universities in bahrain yesterday morning - NYIT & UCB - canadaian university in saar....

heres the link to chk out what happened:

http://www.ucbforums.lunarpages.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8162#post8162



is this by any chance connected to the al-khawaja affair??


thank u in advance chanad ;)    

Blogger Chanad says:
10/10/2004 01:18:00 am

Anon, thanks for the heads up about NYIT and UCB. Let's wait and see what the papers tomorrow have to say about this (or don't have to say).

At the link you've provided, someone suggested that it might have something to do with Rummy's visit to the island today. But I find it quite difficult to connect either Rummy's visit, or the Alkhawaja affair to the closure of two colleges.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. Do let us know if you find out anything new. Thanks again!    

Blogger Chanad says:
10/10/2004 10:42:00 pm

Today's Tribune has an article about yesterday's closure of UCB and NYIT. It says:
---------
Two schools yesterday called off classes citing glitches in their alarm and power systems.
Confusion met students of the University College of Bahrain in Saar at around 11am when classes were suddenly called off despite an important “test week” that students had prepared for.
Civil service and firefighting units were seen at the campus site as students were herded out of their classrooms.
A university instructor said the classes were called off because the civil service units had to check on the school’s fire alarm systems.
“There wasn’t really any emergency but they need to check on the sytems. Last month, the fire alarm system just sounded off which caused panic to some students,” said the instructor.
--------------    

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