Bahrainis hunger for democratic reforms

Bahrainis are expected to embrace democratic reforms in referendum

By Middle East Correspondent Frank Gardner

Tens of thousands of Bahrainis began voting on Wednesday in a two-day nationwide poll which will decide if their country will again become a democracy.

The Gulf island state's last parliament was dissolved 26 years ago, and there were violent protests against the government in the 1990s.

Bahrain's Emir Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa put forward proposals for change

Polling day in Bahrain is a new and somewhat bewildering experience for a people who have never known real democracy.

At polling booths all over the country, men and women dressed in the traditional robes of the Gulf are lining up at the ballot box. When asked how they are voting, they all say yes to the new national charter that promises political reform.

New hope

"I feel great about this," said one old man, although he couldn't remember the name of the ruler who is now giving his people a say in government.

What people are voting for here is the chance to have an elected lower house of parliament, and a legal system that is free from government interference.

The new charter, if it is approved, will also turn Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy. After years without freedom of expression, it has given Bahrainis great hopes for the future.

By giving this vote, people are gathering behind the leadership in pushing the whole country forward into the 21st Century

Disc jockey Mohammed Al-Rumaihi

Disc jockey Mohammed Al-Rumaihi is one of those who are optimistic about change.

"Everybody is expecting political change, economic improvement in the country and national reconciliation," he said. "By giving this vote, people are gathering behind the leadership in pushing the whole country forward into the 21st Century."

A big change

But Bahrain still has some wounds to heal. In her family home in the village of Sitra, Ramla Jawad is still coming to terms with what happened to her.

She was one of thousands of mainly Shi'ite Bahrainis arrested in the 1990s for protesting against human rights abuses.

She told me her story.

"They were beating me always, from eight o'clock in the morning until five o'clock in the evening," she said." And they said to my father that 'you can't meet your daughter.'"

Political prisoners released by the ruling Emir were welcomed home last week

Ramla says she is still being harassed by a senior member of the security forces. She says he threatened her life on Wednesday, after she spoke to the media about her time in prison.

But like all former opposition activists, she believes the tide has now turned, that Bahrain's democratic reforms are unstoppable.

Hassan Mushaimia is one of hundreds of political prisoners released by the ruling Emir last week.

"The Bahrainis are good people, and they are ready to forget everything, if there are new good things for them," he said. "Especially when they find that the Emir himself, His Highness himself, is ready to give the parliament for them and let them live a different life."

Political uncertainty

There was an organised welcome for Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Al-Khalifa on his return to Bahrain this week.

Bahrain's first parliament was dissolved in 1975

It is widely believed that he argued against some of the democratic changes being proposed by his nephew, the ruling Emir, Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa . But, on Wednesday he denied this.

"It was development and we develop every year, we have changes and organise ourselves to the best of our knowledge to serve our people, our country," he said. "There was no delay and no struggle at all."

Whether or not Bahrain's ruling Al-Khalifa family is in one mind about the move towards democracy, there can be no doubt that this is what the nation wants.

Foreign support

It is also the direction that Western governments would like to see Bahrain heading.

Peter Ford, the British Ambassador in Bahrain, said: "The British Government warmly welcomes these developments.

"We've been encouraging them all along the way, and we want to work now with the Emir and his people to help him translate the national charter into a more grassroots democracy on the ground here in Bahrain."

The results of the referendum are announced on Friday.

Everyone is expecting a landslide 'yes' to the reformist national charter.

But just how it is then put into practice will be closely watched by those both inside and outside the country.