US embassy cable - 05MANAMA174

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, BA 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION SOCIETIES TO HOLD CONSTITUTIONAL 
CONFERENCE 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 111 
     B. 04 MANAMA 683 
     C. 04 MANAMA 237 
 
Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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The Constitutional Conference 
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1. (SBU) On February 10, four opposition political societies, 
known as the Quartet Alliance, will hold a conference 
entitled "Contractual Constitution for a Constitutional 
Monarchy."  Conference attendees will discuss means of 
promoting constitutional reform in the kingdom, including 
petitions, drafting an alternative constitution, and protest 
rallies.  The Alliance, composed of Al Wifaq, Al Amal Al 
Islami, National Democratic Action Society, and Al Tajamo' Al 
Qowmi, boycotted the 2002 parliamentary elections and have 
not changed their official policy more than two years later. 
They say that they will boycott the fall 2006 parliamentary 
elections unless they are granted a dialogue with the King or 
his representative on amending the constitution.  Society 
members told the press February 5 that police had confiscated 
posters and banners advertising the conference. 
 
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The Constitutional Dialogue 
--------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU)  The Alliance contends that the 2002 Constitution is 
illegitimate and grants too much legislative authority to the 
King and the executive branch.  They say the country's 1973 
Constitution, which was suspended in 1975, granted the 
elected parliament more power and is the only legitimate 
constitution.  In September 2004, the Alliance and Minister 
of Labor and Social Affairs Dr. Majeed Al Alawi (currently 
the Minister of Labor), who represented the government, 
launched a constitutional dialogue.  The dialogue quickly 
broke down with no progress. 
 
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Efforts to Present Petition to King 
----------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) The societies claim they have gathered 75,000 
signatures on a petition calling for modifications to the 
2002 Constitution.  The societies presented a request on 
January 18 to the Royal Court to meet the King to discuss the 
petition.  The Royal Court replied instructing them to meet 
instead with the parliament, which the government considers 
to be the proper forum for discussing amendments to the 
constitution rather than in an outside-the-system 
negotiation.  Al Wifaq's President Sheikh Ali Salman said "it 
is the authorities' duty to receive any letter or petitions 
from citizens according to the constitution," referencing an 
article in the 1973 Constitution.  In an example of political 
theater, the Alliance sent the petition twice to the King, 
first via registered mail and later by regular mail; the 
Royal Court refused to accept the petition both times. 
February 5 newspapers report that the Minister of the Royal 
Court invited several deputies to a meeting to discuss the 
court's refusal to accept the petition. 
 
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Comment 
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4.  (C) The Alliance's threat to boycott the 2006 elections 
is likely more of a political bargaining tool than an actual 
plan.  Privately, many in the opposition societies' 
leadership support full participation in the next elections 
(Ref A).  The National Democratic Institute (NDI) 
representative in Bahrain, Fawzi Guleid, told PolOff the 
Alliance is hoping for some sort of compromise with the King. 
 It would like to see 10 out of the 40 normally GOB-appointed 
Shura Council seats up for election, for example, or a 
similar gesture of increased popular participation.  In press 
reports on February 6, National Assembly Society Chairman 
Abdullah Hashem called the constitutional conference 
"politically useless" and urged the opposition to work within 
the current political system.  Given that the next 
parliamentary elections are more than a year and a half away, 
there is real hope that the King and the opposition can find 
some common ground on the constitution and parliament's 
composition. 
MONROE