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In Bahrain, Britain Is Arming Those Who Are Crushing the Protestors


Shi'a-majority Bahrain, ruled by a Sunni-Wahaabi monarchy, imported from Saudi Arabia and protected by the British for more than century, is once more in turmoil.



More than 120 Bahrainis have been wounded in clashes with the regime's security personnel, heavily dominated by the members of Saudi and Pakistani armed forces. Now, a report shows the killers are using the arms that Britain approved for sale last year, and the supply of arms is continuing to-date.


"There were over 100 cases on Tuesday, and 37 of them are bad, with head injuries and fractures," said a medic who works in Bahrain with researchers of an international organization and who asked not to be identified. 


"On Monday we had 20 people [wounded] in all villages around the country." The medic said some casualties were victims of birdshot pellets, which Bahraini police deny using.


The report, cited by the Sydney Morning Herald on Feb. 15, shows that Britain approved the sale of licences for weapon sights, rifles, artillery, and parts for military training aircraft. 


Also cleared for export between July and September last year were naval guns and components for detecting and jamming improvised explosive devices. The figures came to light as Bahraini security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters marking the first anniversary of the uprising.


After the exposure a year ago of Britain's approval of sales of arms to Bahrain, Libya and Egypt, London revoked 158 export licences, including 44 covering military exports to Bahrain. 


That was really a cover-up. Now, the latest figures show that in the third quarter of last year Britain exported arms to Saudi Arabia, including components for combat vehicles. During last year's uprising, Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain in British military trucks.

Business Secretary Vince Cable told a committee of MPs last week: ''We do trade with governments that are not democratic and have bad human rights records.'' Touche, albeit, a cruel one.  

None of these weapons made it into Syria, as the Syrian "uprising" is making use of slingshots and rocks.