Salah Abbas Habib was beaten to death by the police in the Kingdom of Bahrain during the May Day demonstration which was brutally attacked under the government’s guidance.
“Dozens of armored vehicles and security forces in riot gear have been deployed along the road to the Bahrain International Circuit and around the capital, Manama. Activists said barbed wire has been installed near some parts of the main highway.” Al Jazeera reports.
And while the Royal Family in Bahrain continues to protect its riches and oil and gas resources from the “enemy”, the Bahraini people, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and its General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, was received with all honors by the Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa a few days ago.
The meeting was held as a follow-up of the ITUC’s announcement which was praising the Bahraini regime for reinstating 1,500 workers who were fired during the uprising.
What ITUC neglected to mention in its announcement is that the reinforced workers are obliged to sign contracts pledging no future involvement in any political or civil society activities. That the workers received lower positions, weren't compensated for time lost, were deprived of leaves, and got salary cuts. Which means that, the even cheaper and repressed labour force, was actually welcomed by the employers.
Since the Bahraini uprising 60 deaths have been known so far. No murder charges were filed. About 4,000 including journalists have been arrested during the protests. Some still remain imprisoned. Torture and iron inflicted wounds were documented on video. People are being tear-gassed while praying. There are at least 100 documented cases of kidnapping. More than 2,000 workers were dismissed for refusing to work during strike.
And an innocent observer cannot stop wondering: Does this flirting have to do with the fact that the AFL-CIO is a leading force inside the ITUC and that the AFL-CIO is a Federation driven around by the US government? Needless to say King Hamad is a close US ally and US is providing Bahrain with the armor to break the demonstrations. Moreover, Bahrain is the home of America’s Fifth Fleet which is based as a bulwark against Iran across the Gulf, which remains in turmoil since the last year’s uprising.
Is ITUC now tranquilizing the public opinion in favour of the repressive Bahraini government while the competition with Iran is on fire?
Can ITUC become anything else than the fifth column of the imperialist armies after it has enhanced the alibis were the wars against Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and recently Libya were built on? And finally, what is the position of the trade union forces inside the ITUC who claim to be progressive and democratic?
