A controversial two-day forum on the constitution, organised by Bahrain's opposition, was allowed to go on yesterday by the authorities who had earlier threatened to stop the unauthorised meeting.
However, the conference began in the absence of its foreign guests who had been denied entry to Bahrain by the government which said it could not allow foreigners to interfere in domestic matters.
The conference, which is the biggest event ever staged by the kingdom's four-group opposition si-nce the beginning of the democratisation drive four years ago, aims to debate what the four groups call "the constitutional predicament".
It was opened yesterday morning with a call for "an elected government." The organisers are the Islamic National Wefaq Society, the National Democratic Action Society, the Nationalist Block and the Islamic Action Society.
These groups had boycotted the national elections of October 2002, Bahrain's first parliamentary polls in nearly three decades, saying the elected Parliament "has been stripped of its real powers" in the amended constitution. The amendments were introduced by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa two years ago yesterday as part of his vast political reforms.
The boycott movement will continue as long as the appointed Shura Council, with 40 members named by, continues to enjoy legislating powers that are equal to those of its elected counterpart, Sheikh Ali Salman, leader of Al Wefaq said in the conference opening address.
He said the constitution should be amended to give the elected House of Deputies the exclusive powers of legislation. "The Shura Council should not be mere than a consultative body," he said.
"We are looking for a genuine constitutional mo-narchy, under which the people would elect an independent Parliament and, at a later stage, are able to elect the government," he added.
The conference, which will end today, has been the point of controversy over the past week as the government said it couldn1t be held without the proper authorisation.
A senior government official told Gulf News on Friday that the meeting was "illegal because the organisers failed to get the required license from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs."
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, urged the opposition to abide by the law. "These groups have always called for the rule of the law," said the official, "Why don1t they abide by it?," he asked.
The official said the government was not against any political function, "but the law should be respected by everyone." The conference participants a number of Arab parliamentarians and political activists from England and France were denied entry to the kingdom, the official has confirmed.
"With due respect to all foreign experts, it is necessary that all public discussions on domestic matters stipulated by the constitution be confined to Bahrainis, and no one else should be involved. Such debates will receive full support," the Minister of Royal Court, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa quoted King Hamad as saying.
"External participation is unacceptable because it touches on domestic matters that are peculiar to Bahrain." Bahrainis have the absolute freedom to discuss internal issues, but not foreigners, the Minister of Information Nabeel Al Hamer also said.
Gulf News
