Bahrain is the focus for Monday’s edition of The Stream
Bahrain will be the focus of Al Jazeera English‘s innovative “social media” television show, The Stream, this Monday, June 4, at 3:30 p.m. EST (19:30 GMT), 10:30 p.m. Bahrain time. The guests are President of Bahrain Center for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab (@NABEELRAJAB) , former Member of Parliament for Al Wifaq and political activist Matar Ebrahim Matar (@Matar_Matar) , and an IAA spokesperson.
The host and guests will discuss such questions as
- Is reconciliation between the opposition and the government still possible?
- What are the prospects for constructive reforms and reconciliation?
- What steps need to be taken?
This edition of The Stream will be produced by Aws Haidari. You can follow him on Twitter @awshaidari and tweet him and @ajstream your thoughts and comments before the show. Alternatively, you can follow this link to upload a video or record your questions and comments. If you your comment doesn’t fit in a tweet, you can leave one on their Facebook page here http://www.facebook.com/AJStream.
During the live show on Monday, you can use Twitter hashtag #AJStream , and tweet The Stream host Imran Garda (@ImranGarda) and the digital producer Malika Bilal (@mmbilal) to share your thoughts and questions.
The Stream is a half-hour television show, is broadcast in English, and is live-streamed online. Watch The Stream live online http://stream.aljazeera.com for free.
In the DC area, The Stream and other Al Jazeera programs appear on Cox cable channel #474 and on Comcast #275, as well as on other television channels.
The Stream, which features stories that are topical on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even Pinterest, appears on Al-Jazeera English Monday – Thursday, and has gained popularity since its launch in April 2011.
“The idea is to tap into conversations that are already happening around the world from people who understand the issues but don’t have the opportunity to participate in mainstream media, ” said former The Stream host Ahmed Shihab-Eldin.
Thanks for sharing the news of this television program and important discussion with your friends.
Related articles
- Al Jazeera’s Webby Award-winning The Stream at one (journalism.co.uk)
- How Al Jazeera is Forging the Future of Social TV (readwriteweb.com)
Posted on June 1, 2012, in Human Rights in Bahrain, Video and tagged AJStream, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English, Arab Spring, Aws Haidari, Bahrain, Imran Garda, social media television, The Stream, Twitter. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
Is reconciliation between the opposition and the government still possible? Not at this time
What are the prospects for constructive reforms and reconciliation? Not good right now. Many Bahrainis would like to see this happen but with hardliners on both sides having control it does not look likely. The opposition has repeatedly refused to talk with the government which is one reason the hardliners in government have taken over. There was a chance in Feb/ early March of 2011 but the opposition dropped the ball with the Crown Prince. If they had only been farsighted enough to want what was best for the people of Bahrain and not just power we would be in a different place right now. Unfortunately it is what Bahrain is like wanting too much with as little effort as possible, expecting too much with as little effort as possible and getting nothing because no one is willing to give up their “dignity” and talk.
What steps need to be taken? No violence of any type on either side. Young people have got to be made to see that you do not get something without really working for it. On going educational reform (true educational reform not just lip service). Ongoing political and economic reform. Quality people running for parliament with a better understanding of what democracy really is (taking both minority and majority views into account). People who put the good of the country and its people above religious beliefs. This final point I never see happening with some (the masses) in Bahrain.
Thanks for your comments, Dawn. I appreciate the thought that you put into this response and I encourage you to comment often so your views are heard. I agree that violence on both sides needs to stop — but I think, to show their good faith, the government needs to take several actions. Dialogue cannot take place without some measure of trust. A start would be releasing political prisoners, dropping charges against the Bahraini doctors and nurses who treated protesters, releasing the detained teachers, and absolutely stopping tear-gassing the villages and cities. They need to stop using shotgun pellets on people. That is just inhumane and indiscriminate. Until the government stops doing certain things, and starts doing others! no one will take their calls for dialogue seriously.
Thank you for engaging in the discussion, both Dawn and Mary. Both of you make good points, but I think one of the very strong opinion on the ground is that a political dialogue and reconciliation initiatives can’t take place before the stop of human rights violations. When a government still uses methods of torture, and excessive force, that indicates they are not serious about reconciliation and dialogue. The stop of human rights violations doesn’t take time to achieve, it takes an order from the king. It’s the easiest step the government could take to start earning the people’s trust back. There is no trust between both sides, and since the regime has a reputation of making false promises, the people don’t want to blindly fall in the trap again. The ball is in the government’s court to take a step forward, and the people to reciprocate.
That being said, many political leaders and human rights activists are encouraging the dialogue.
I encourage you to participate in the show, and maybe record a video submission that could air on Monday.
Before March 16 2011, I truly believed there is a strong possibility for reconciliation and that the government and the people will come to acceptable compromises to make things right. However, after that and with the national safety period and the months that followed, the regime became more aggressive and more determined to exterminate the opposition at any cost. Tens of people were killed by the regime, hundreds in detention for voicing their opinions, hundreds more without their jobs and thousands others affected negatively in one way of another. So what kind of reconciliation is the regime seeking? They only want to stay in control and continue being the masters while the people are treated like slaves. For the people and I am one of them, we cannot reconcile with this regime. How is it possible to do that with those who killed, jailed, injured and fired our sons/daughters, siblings, partners, parents and friends? Is it possible to just say OK, give us a few bread crumbs and we’ll forgive and forget? I doubt that you could find anyone welling to do this. To have a workable solution, this regime must go first.
Thanks for your comment and please continue to share your views. It is a heartbreaking situation to be sure, and you may be right, perhaps there really is no turning back. In Egypt, Mubarak was president for 30 years. I am sure he never dreamed he would end his days in prison. The monarchy should be aware they are not invincible, and that change happens. It surprises me they are not more politically savvy.
” Forget the past ”
Thats what the rulers want from us , imagin if i killed your brother or sidter or father and no one is giviing him justic ?. Its normal that each action will result a reaction , but still we didnt use violance , we are still peacefull which is a good thing and a bad thing , the good thing that the world will listen to us more and understand us , but the bad thing is that the world reaction is too weak and slow , its not stopping the violations and its not. Giving us our rights , We also gonna be killed more if we didnt defend our self , its not us who attack the villages to call us Terrorism , we are just defending and its our right , so its not only about dignity , its only an ignorant would say that and he deServe the word for not understanding what is really happening to the people of bahrain …
Anyway , if they want Dialogue they must come to us not the people go to them , governments must get afraid of the people not the other way , we tried to talk to them and look what we got ?. And then they say to us come talk to us with nonesense that doesnt lead to anything only to say one thing which is that the government started a dialogue and we the people are wrong so we deserve to get killed more
Thank you for your comment, and please continue to share your views. I can’t imagine the pain and anger you must feel. If anything, I think the people of Bahrain have shown remarkable restraint in the face of so much injustice. I agree — the Kingdom must show good faith and they must demonstrate that they are willing to do what it takes (free political prisoners, stop excessive force, acknowledge and punish those guilty of murder and torture) for true dialogue to begin. But I have not seen them demonstrate that, at least, if the UPR statements are any indication.
” Forget the past ”
Thats what the rulers want from us , imagin if i killed your brother or sister or father and no one is giviing him justic ?. Its normal that each action will result a reaction , but still we didnt use violance , we are still peacefull which is a good thing and a bad thing , the good thing that the world will listen to us more and understand us , but the bad thing is that the world reaction is too weak and slow , its not stopping the violations and its not. Giving us our rights , We also gonna be killed more if we didnt defend our self , its not us who attack the villages to call us Terrorism , we are just defending and its our right , so its not only about dignity , its only an ignorant would say that and he deServe the word for not understanding what is really happening to the people of bahrain we are not the one who started the violance so dont blame us for someone in his village through a molotoph which is like throughing a toy at a police man who kill/torture/shoot shotgun / tear gas at houses and the body of the protesters or even normal people / rubber / real bullets / burn houses and the people in it / humiliate people / attack houses / arrest / steal / kidnap …etc
Anyway , if they want Dialogue they must come to us not the people go to them , governments must be afraid of the people not the other way , we tried to talk to them and look what we got ?. And then they say to us come talk to us with nonesense that doesnt lead to anything only to say one thing which is that the government started a dialogue and we the people are wrong so we deserve to get killed more
Sorry for spam , i have problems with the network
No worries!
Thanks, again, for your comments!
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