JNN 12 June 2011 MANAMA – More than 10,000 pro-democracy protesters shouting “we are victorious” gathered for a demonstration for political reform on Saturday. 

The first large demonstration since the Persian Gulf monarchy backed by Saudi troops brutally crushed a democracy protest movement in March, shows pro-democratic protesters’ resolve after fierce crackdowns and clamp downs.

Bahraini regime brought in troops from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in March and introduced martial law, which ended last week, to stop the protests against the Al-Khalifa family that rules Bahrain against people’s wishes.

According to Reuters, Bahraini regime claimed the protests had a sectarian agenda. The opposition denies this.

“Some try to manipulate our demands, to make them Shia demands. This is not true. We are… to build up our political reforms together, Shia and Sunni, which will benefit all Bahrainis,” said Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the Wefaq opposition group which organized the event.

“We will continue peacefully and we will continue our peaceful demonstrations,” he said, as the crowd roared back: “Peaceful, peaceful!”

The rally will likely be seen as a show of strength by Wefaq, Bahrain’s leading opposition party, as it heads to a national dialogue called by the king for next month.

“Wefaq wants to encourage people to get back out after months of fear. It’s a good sign,” said protester Fatima.

People drove in from around the city, causing traffic jams of more than 2 km long. State helicopters buzzed over crowds raising signs that read “The nation is for everyone.”

Opposition figures more than 10,000 people attended the rally. The Interior Ministry said 4,000 people were gathered.

The government said it granted permission for the rally, held in a large square in the Shia district of Saar, west of the capital and away from central Pearl Roundabout, epicenter of the earlier protests inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

Protesters waving Bahraini flags spilled out into the streets and dozens watched from nearby rooftops.

Bahraini security forces stayed back from the crowds on Saturday. Police helicopters passed overhead. There were no reports of clashes.

“With our blood and soul, we sacrifice for Bahrain,” the crowds chanted.

Wefaq rejects appointment of new speaker

Bahrain appointed its parliament speaker to lead a national dialogue in the wake of the crackdown, the state news agency said on Saturday, but the opposition said the crown prince should lead the reform process.

Khalifa al-Dhahrani, speaker of the Council of Representatives, said he hoped to bring “all parties concerned with matters of the state” into the dialogue.

He said the talks would “accelerate the pace of reform towards further development in various fields that will meet the expectations of all citizens,” Bahrain News Agency cited him as saying on Saturday.

The leading Shia Muslim opposition group Wefaq objected to the appointment.

“The real dialogue that needs to take place must be between the king or the crown prince and the opposition because what we are discussing is a pivotal issue of difference between the ruling family and the people,” Khalil al-Marzooq, a Wefaq leader, said.

“The call for dialogue was meant to complete the one which the crown prince had started previously. It raises a lot of questions about the extent of the seriousness of this dialogue in looking for a political solution that will meet the demands of the people,” he said.

Marzooq said of Dhahrani’s appointment: “We respect him but he has already taken his position. He has previously said that he objects to discussion of reforms over elections, constitutional amendments and the issue of discrimination.

“We call for the crown prince to lead these talks… to pull this country out of the bottle neck which it is stuck in.”

National dialogue

On Friday, Bahrain News Agency reported a labor ministry order that 571 people who had been sacked had been given their jobs back “for lack of legal foundations justifying their dismissal”.

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa announced that a national dialogue would begin on July 1 and would be open to reform in all areas. Opposition groups have complained the lack of parameters made it difficult to know what options for reform were really on the table.

Shia Muslims have long complained of discrimination in jobs and housing, as well as over the gerrymandering of district lines for elections in favor of the Sunni population.

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