US scales back Bahrain travel warning

Posted by: Proud Bahraini
1 Jun 2011
Dear Joanne, I am a Bahraini Citizen and reader of Hotelier Middle East. I would like to comment on the allegations in your article: "after weeks of pro-democracy protests led mainly by Shi'ites calling for greater political freedoms, a constitutional monarchy and an end to sectarian discrimination." Firstly, almost 50% of our Parliament consists of individuals from anti government groups. Secondly, we have political freedoms as protests are legal once applied through the Government who will restrict the protest to a specific time limit and location. Our Government were calling for discussions with the protestors for a month, while the protestors vandalised public property and caused unrest and fear to the citizens of Bahrain. Please tell me in which other countries of the world does the government wait for 30 days for discussions, with no restrictions? What sectarian discrimination are you talking about? Did you know that we have members of Shura Council and ministers that are Shiite, such as the Ministers of health, labour, Trade/commerce, etc. Not only that, we have wealthy and successful businessmen who are Shiite, government officials and employees who are Shiite, and some of our best and most successful doctors are Shiite. The people in Tunisia and Egypt protested after being fed up of the unemployment rates, whilst Bahrain's unemployment rate is at 3.7% and you are connecting Bahrain's uprisings to that of Egypt and Tunisia. Did you know that we have training programs for fresh college graduates and private companies fund these training programs? The development in Bahrain in the past 10 years has been phenomenal and with the help of our Government many sectors, such as the financial and tourism sectors, have grown. It seems to me that you are reporting inaccurate statements without checking the facts. Or, have you been gathering your reports from the demonstrators only? Thanks for showing your lack of credibility