With the brutal military suppression of the uprising in Bahrain escalating, the Greens have expressed concern and called for the EU to take urgent steps to stop the bloodshed. Commenting on the situation, Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Daniel Cohn-Bendit said:

"We are deeply concerned about the escalating violent repression of democracy activists in Bahrain. While the international community is preoccupied with events in Libya, it cannot turn a blind eye to the brutal crackdown by the security forces in Bahrain.

"We call on the EU to take urgent steps to exert pressure on the regime in Bahrain to end its violent repression. The EU needs to show consistency in supporting democratic opposition movements around the world and this includes the demands for democratic participation by the Shia majority in Bahrain. As a first step, EU member states must immediately suspend the supply of all weaponry, ammunition and related equipment used by the riot police and security forces in Bahrain.

"The hypocrisy of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its member countries is reprehensible: on the one hand calling for a no-fly zone over Libya, while on the other hand supporting the brutal repression of democratic protesters in Bahrain. The GCC should instead play a proactive role in bringing government and opposition forces together for negotiations."

 
 
 
Richard More O'Ferrall,
Press and media officer,
Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
Mobile: +32-477-443842 - Ph. +32-22841669 (Brussels); +33-388174042
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