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US hands in glove in with Bahrain in suppressing dissent: Pundit

Wednesday, 22 February 2017 7:40 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 22 February 2017 7:44 PM ]

The photo taken on February 13, 2015 shows Bahraini protesters taking cover from tear gas during clashes with police following a demonstration on February 13, 2015, to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bahraini uprising, in the village of Bilad al-Qadeem on the outskirts of the capital, Manama. (Photo by AFP)

The Bahraini regime has defied international calls for halting human rights abuses against opposition because the monarchy thinks it has the full support of the American authorities, says Michael Springmann, author and former US diplomat from Washington.

The Bahraini “government is going from bad to worse” in using harsh tactics against protesters who want freedom and justice, said Springmann.

He blamed the US support of the Manama regime for the heavy-handed crackdown on the dissidents in Bahrain.

The United States is backing the Bahraini regime to safeguard its military presence in the tiny Persian Gulf country, Springmann told Press TV’s Top 5 on Wednesday.

“The Trump administration is considering a multi-billion dollars sale of American fighter jets – the F16 – to Bahrain,” he noted

"Why do they (Bahraini officials) need fighter jets? Who is going to fight them? Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the Emirates, the people who are really fighting for freedom? I don’t think you can use F16s against these people on the streets who are protesting,” the former diplomat noted.

On Wednesday, Bahraini police clashed with protesters in the village of Nuwaidrat, south of the capital, Manama, who condemned the killing of a young activist by the Manama regime forces.

A female protester holds a photo of top Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, as she confronts riot police armored personnel carrier during a demonstration to mark the 6th anniversary of the February 14 uprising, in the village of Sitra, south of Manama, Bahrain, February 14, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

The Al Khalifah regime uses tear gas and rubber bullets to suppress people on the streets and is trying to intensify crackdown on dissent, he added.

Bahraini MPs have approved an amendment to the kingdom’s constitution under which civilians could be tried in military courts, in another move to further suppress political dissent.

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Amnesty International has recently warned that Bahrain is on the verge of a human rights catastrophe amid a pattern of increased violence against demonstrators, executions and detentions.

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