The by-elections held here yesterday proved that the pioneering road to democracy, anchored by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Reform Project, will continue in spite of efforts to slow it.
Efforts made by some clerics and political factions to urge people not to take part in the by-elections by hinting that participation is religiously forbidden were not successful as voters headed to the polling stations to exercise their constitutional rights.
In addition to appealing to citizens not to vote, groups of rioters and vandals tried to spread chaos and disturb the peace to create unfavorable conditions for the elections and force citizens to boycott them through violence and incitement. In this context, a group of demonstrators disrupted the City Centre Shopping Complex on the eve of the elections (Friday), where families often go to enjoy their weekend. The situation quickly escalated so that security forces had to be brought in to arrest those trespassing and intimidating employees and visitors.
Acts of vandalism, threats and small group disturbances continued throughout the polling day, in order to obstruct the electoral process and make it difficult for voters to cast their ballots at the their local polling centers. In order to combat this problem the government set up independent polling centers in easily accessible public locations.
Among the areas hit by disruption were Bilad Al Qadim where a small group of 15 vandals blocked roads and streets leading to the Qurtoba Intermediate Girls School when the polls were first opening. Security forces cleared the area (with no arrests) so voters could access the polling center there, but were called back to the area twice more to deal with vandalism (including inciting political slogans spray-painted on the walls of the school) and small groups trying to block voters from the area, or at least reduce voter turnout.
Similar disruptive actions took place in other constituencies, most notably in Sanabis where vandals created a large oil spill in the area of the polling center at the Intermediate Girls School immediately prior to the opening of polls.
In A’ali, some voters had their cars damaged as they went to vote by gangs of vandals throwing bricks and large rocks. Similar actions took place in the Capital Governorates 4th and 8th constituencies, the Central Governorate’s 2nd constituency and the Northern Governorate’s 2nd, with security forces having to intervene in order ensure the success of the elections and the security of citizens.
A statement from the Ministry of Interior reaffirmed that legal actions will be taken against all those who violated the Kingdom’s laws.
In spite of all the efforts to disrupt the Parliamentary by-elections, the voter turnout was heavier than expected, precipitating run-off elections scheduled for next week.