Broken promises in Bahrain – UN experts question Government’s human rights commitments
“In light of the discrepancies between reality and expectations, the Government’s commitments are in question,” the experts said recalling two official statements in response to condemnations by the UN human rights chief and experts in relation to the crackdown against peaceful protestors: ‘The Government of Bahrain’s immediate priority is to keep peace and security’ and ‘The people are now able to demonstrate freely on the Pearl Roundabout and can continue to do so.’
The Special Rapporteur on arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, condemned the persistent use, on an even more intensive scale than one month ago, of the brutal tactics to quash non-violent protests. “This is happening despite the Government’s promises and in clear violation of the right to life and international principles on the use of force,” he stressed. “Public order cannot be sustained by attacking peaceful crowds and unarmed civilians with shotguns, rubber bullets, clubs, tear gas and knives.”
Since February 2011, the Government has promised to have an open dialogue with opposition members, noted the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, “but how is it possible to have any genuine exchange of views when people have guns directed at them?
“By crushing the voices of peaceful protesters with brute force, rather than addressing their legitimate concerns, the Government is only aggravating the situation,” he said, a position also supported by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya.
In the past week, human rights organizations and the media have documented increased incidents of serious human rights violations in the capital, Manama. The Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan Méndez, demanded an immediate stop to the violations and described “the appalling killing and ill-treatment of protestors, including those in hospitals, and the targeting of medical personnel and journalists” as “completely unacceptable.” He called on the Government to take immediate action to start an investigation and prosecution of those responsible, in line with Bahrain’s international obligations.
