Bahrain Mirror: Bahrain's main opposition group Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society stressed that August 14 is a historic day in Bahrain and a badge of pride for all Bahrainis for it represented a transition from a protectorate to an independent and sovereign state.

It considers that August 14, 1971 was a major turnpoint leading to the stability of Bahrain and cohesion of its people under the unified principles and values of establishing a state which everybody accepts and participates in according to the standards of a modern state and a state based on main joint pillars since it has been a pure Arab and Muslim country for 14 centuries, without being neither conquered nor attacked.

-Wefaq also sees that Bahrain's independence anniversary always recalls the basic and urgent need to establish a modern democratic state that is based on: coexistence and participation in power, the principle of the people being the source of authorities, and just rules and laws which emerge from the people's will and the culture of mutual respect, as well as deeming Bahrain's interest the uttermost priority.

Al-Wefaq stressed that the independence was supposed to be a basic pillar that would allow the redistribution of wealth equally so that all Bahrainis would have well-being and a good livelihood, work on putting an end to unemployment, poverty, need, deprivation and dependence on grants; and putting an end to the political, security, economic, social, and human right crisis that has become a threat due to the aggravated public debt, deficit in the state's budget, unemployment, poverty, housing crisis, collapse of markets and capitals and absence of transparency and trust.

Al-Wefaq further stated that Independence was the first milestone of the independence of the political, security and sovereign decision making and the independence of the judicial, executive and legislative powers, establishment of a strong and independent civil society, and development of institutions and legislations. Bahrain; however, hasn't advanced on all these levels since, and even deteriorated on some levels.

Al-Wefaq concluded its statement by highlighting that the world lives today in an era in which it is not acceptable anymore to have the people suffer political marginalization, be uninvolved in the national decision making process, excluded from the state's institutions, and have prisons packed with activists, leaders, women, men and children for expressing their political opinions, as well as have the majority of its people live without security and stability and suffer from increasing fear, concern and poverty.

Al-Wefaq stressed that this occasion is a chance to stress with full confidence and national responsibility that it reaches out its hand sincerely and with love, hoping to put an end to the crisis this country is suffering from, by finding an inclusive national solution that puts Bahrain on the track of democratic states where everybody is a winner and feels happy and safe and where everybody strives to put an end to the political, security, human rights, economic, social and cultural crisis that is preventing Bahrain from managing all its affairs.

Arabic Issue