US embassy cable - 05MANAMA672

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000672 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2015 
TAGS: KDEM, PGOV, BA 
SUBJECT: "CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS FIRST" DEMONSTRATION 
HIGHLIGHTS OPPOSITION'S DISCONTENT 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 501 
 
     B. MANAMA 471 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C)  Four opposition political societies, represented by 
the constitutional conference general secretariat, organized 
a May 6 demonstration with the theme "Constitutional Reforms 
First."  The estimated 5,000-10,000 participants were 
peaceful, and police kept a low profile.  Opposition leaders 
have expressed publicly and privately that they are using 
demonstrations to increase pressure on the GOB in hopes of 
gaining concessions on constitutional or elections reform. 
The societies represented by the general secretariat 
boycotted the 2002 parliamentary elections and have vowed to 
boycott the 2006 elections unless they are granted a dialogue 
with the King or his representative on amending the 
constitution.  End Summary. 
 
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"Constitutional Reforms First" 
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2.  (SBU) An alliance of four opposition political societies, 
represented by the constitutional conference general 
secretariat, organized a May 6 demonstration calling for 
 
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constitutional reforms.  An estimated 5,000-10,000 people 
attended the rally.  Before launching the event, organizers 
gave strict instructions to participants to cooperate fully 
with police and refrain from using any signs or slogans that 
did not represent either Bahrain or the rally's theme, 
"Constitutional Reforms First."  Participants were peaceful 
and speakers did not engage in aggressive or hostile 
rhetoric.  Patriotic songs played in the background and 
Bahraini flags were handed out.  Traffic officials and police 
kept a low profile. 
 
3.  (SBU) The event is a follow-on to the March 25 rally 
organized by leading Shi'a opposition society Al Wifaq (Refs 
A and B).  The societies represented by the general 
secretariat -- Al Wifaq, Al Amal Al Islami, National 
 
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Democratic Action Society, and Al Tajamo' Al Qowmi -- 
boycotted the 2002 parliamentary elections and have vowed to 
boycott the 2006 elections unless they are granted a dialogue 
with the King or his representative on amending the 
constitution. 
 
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Minister of Social Affairs: Demonstrations are Ineffective 
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4.  (SBU) Despite earlier indications to the contrary, the 
press announced that Ministry of Interior officials gave the 
organizers permission to hold the demonstration and pledged 
to provide support in regulating traffic.  Following the 
rally, Minister of Social Affairs Dr. Fatima Al Belooshi told 
the press that demonstrations are an ineffective way of 
addressing constitutional reform.  She noted that only 
parliament can change the constitution and encouraged the 
opposition to participate in the electoral process. 
 
5.  (SBU) Al Wifaq President Sheikh Ali Salman responded 
publicly May 7 saying that if parliamentarians really had the 
power to make constitutional changes, they would have done so 
in the past three years.  The head of the general 
secretariat, Jalila Al Sayed, told journalists that 
 
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oppositionists had no choice but to hold demonstrations as 
the GOB refuses to engage in dialogue with them.  Prominent 
Sunni cleric Sheikh Salah Al Jowder, who is also a municipal 
councilman in a Sunni-concentrated area, attended the rally 
and said that all political groups in Bahrain want 
constitutional reform. 
 
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Looking for a Royal Concession 
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6.  (C) Al Wifaq board member Nizar Al Qari told PolOff that 
the four opposition societies had already decided that they 
would participate in the 2006 parliamentary elections. 
However, they need a face saving concession from the King in 
order to announce their decision publicly.  (Comment: This is 
so they can justify having boycotted the political system 
since 2002.  End comment.)  In holding a series of 
demonstrations, the opposition seeks to increase tension so 
that the King will be forced to intervene and engage 
seriously with the opposition. 
 
7.  (C) Mansour Al Jamry (protect), editor-in-chief of 
independent daily newspaper Al Wasat, told the Ambassador at 
a lunch in honor of visiting Council on Foreign Relations 
President Richard Haass, that leading Shi'a cleric Sheikh 
Issa Qassem had sent a message through Al Jamry offering to 
meet with the King to discuss the constitutional issue, but 
the King had not responded.  Al Jamry said that, in his view, 
all the Shi'a political demands are negotiable; they just 
want the opportunity to discuss the issues with the King. 
The types of concessions they are looking for include the 
redistricting of electoral boundaries, a decrease in the 
appointed Shura Council's authority, and constitutional 
amendments.  (Note:  The MEPI-funded National Democratic 
Institute has held several conferences and seminars recently 
on these issues.  End Note.) 
 
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Comment 
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8.  (C)  The opposition is organizing demonstrations to 
pressure the GOB so it can create a face-saving way of 
getting into the political game.  Working outside of the 
system, there is little that it can provide in terms of 
housing, jobs, and other issues of concern to Bahrainis. 
Several of the prominent oppositionists are realizing this, 
and some are privately expressing interest in getting into 
the parliament, even if the legislature is not as strong as 
they would like it to be.  The GOB's decision to allow the 
May 6 demonstration may point to the government's recognition 
that actions perceived as restricting freedoms backfire and 
bring additional pressure onto the government.  Given that 
parliamentary elections are still 18 months away, there is 
still plenty of time to resolve these matters.  But pressure 
is building, even among the more mainstream oppositionists, 
for a resolution to come sooner rather than later. 
 
MONROE