Exclusive Follow Up on Bahrain Massive Rally as Bahraini Uprising Continues
Ali Rizk
It was an amazing site. Hundreds of thousands of Bahraini citizens took to the streets of the capital Manama in the biggest protest the country has witnessed in its short history. Men, women children and even some members of the police chanted slogans as they proceeded towards Pearl Square in a march "in honour of the martyrs who had fallen since the uprising. Slogans included "down down government", "the people want to topple the regime" and probably most important of all "no Shiite no Sunni only Bahraini" in what the protesters view as a response to a government plot to portray the conflict as sectarian. Speaking to the protesters they all tell you they believe this is a new beginning in Bahrain.
They also say they are fed up with what they view as the ruling Khalifah families' monopolization of the country. Just like the situation witnessed elsewhere like Tunisia and Egypt, people in this country say they have never been prouder of being Bahraini. And indeed as someone who witnessed these protests first hand they are genuinely Bahraini and not a result of outside influence which aims to make Bahrain into some Shiite enclave as some allege.
The only flag which you could see in this enormous march was that of Bahrain where its friendly people are now eager to convey the message that they suffer from discrimination that they can no longer tolerate. The protesters, in particular the youth say that the use of force by the government will not deter them and express a determined readiness to sacrifice for the sake of their country. Walking along with the march I could also not help but notice how foreign workers in Bahrain (Pakistanis, Filipinos and Indians) gazed in amazement at a site which they clearly had never witnessed before since coming to this Persian Gulf country. An even bigger site is now expected on Friday which has been designated by the protesters as a "day of mourning".
It was an amazing site. Hundreds of thousands of Bahraini citizens took to the streets of the capital Manama in the biggest protest the country has witnessed in its short history. Men, women children and even some members of the police chanted slogans as they proceeded towards Pearl Square in a march "in honour of the martyrs who had fallen since the uprising. Slogans included "down down government", "the people want to topple the regime" and probably most important of all "no Shiite no Sunni only Bahraini" in what the protesters view as a response to a government plot to portray the conflict as sectarian. Speaking to the protesters they all tell you they believe this is a new beginning in Bahrain.
They also say they are fed up with what they view as the ruling Khalifah families' monopolization of the country. Just like the situation witnessed elsewhere like Tunisia and Egypt, people in this country say they have never been prouder of being Bahraini. And indeed as someone who witnessed these protests first hand they are genuinely Bahraini and not a result of outside influence which aims to make Bahrain into some Shiite enclave as some allege.
The only flag which you could see in this enormous march was that of Bahrain where its friendly people are now eager to convey the message that they suffer from discrimination that they can no longer tolerate. The protesters, in particular the youth say that the use of force by the government will not deter them and express a determined readiness to sacrifice for the sake of their country. Walking along with the march I could also not help but notice how foreign workers in Bahrain (Pakistanis, Filipinos and Indians) gazed in amazement at a site which they clearly had never witnessed before since coming to this Persian Gulf country. An even bigger site is now expected on Friday which has been designated by the protesters as a "day of mourning".
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