[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 187 (Wednesday, December 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECENT EVENTS IN BAHRAIN

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2011

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. and Bahrain share a decades-old 
economic and strategic partnership that spawned a free trade agreement 
in 2006 and influenced the decision to locate the U.S. Fifth Fleet in 
the port-city of Jaffair. That partnership has endured for years in 
part because the U.S. viewed Bahrain as a nation committed to evolving 
toward a political system that allowed greater public participation and 
respect for religious tolerance. Events over the last year have dealt a 
serious blow to that long held belief.
  The Arab Spring inspired Bahrain's Shi'a majority to seek the full 
human and political rights that they say they have been denied since 
the Al Khalifa family became the rulers of the tiny island nation over 
200 years ago.
  The Bahraini government's response to the largely peaceful 
demonstrations of the opposition groups who seek only a better life for 
themselves and their families has been violent and systematic. Dozens 
of demonstrators lost their lives; independent media outlets were 
silenced; Shi'a mosques were burned; thousands of Bahrainis were 
incarcerated and thousands more lost their jobs.
  Our worst suspicions were confirmed by the report recently released 
by the Bahrain Commission of Inquiry. The report described the 
disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by security forces. 
Opposition members were abused, beaten and even tortured.
  I associate myself with the public statements of President Obama and 
Secretary of State Clinton as they strongly urge the Bahraini 
government to follow through on its promises and to systematically and 
expeditiously implement the forthcoming recommendations of the newly 
established follow-on committee.
  To achieve a meaningful and lasting reconciliation, all parties must 
engage in comprehensive political dialogue geared toward a mutually 
satisfactory power-sharing solution. The long-standing commitment of 
the United States to a strong partnership with the government and 
people of Bahrain will be influenced by how the government of Bahrain 
chooses to negotiate this challenging moment in its nation's history.
  We all will be watching closely.

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