Bahrain update: At least one helicopter spraying fire on funeral mourners, journalists

[The Straight Story]

Bahrain update: At least one helicopter spraying fire on funeral mourners, journalists - NYT

MANAMA, Bahrain — Government forces opened fire on hundreds of mourners marching toward Pearl Square Friday, sending people running away in panic amid the boom of concussion grenades. But even as the people fled, at least one helicopter sprayed fire on them and a witness reported seeing mourners crumpling to the ground.

It was not immediately clear what type of ammunition the forces were firing, but some witnesses reported live fire from automatic weapons and the crowd was screaming “live fire, live fire.” At a nearby hospital, witnesses reported seeing people with very serious injuries and gaping wounds, at least some of them caused by rubber bullets that appeared to have been fired at close range.

Even as ambulances rushed to rescue people, forces fired on medics loading the wounded into their vehicles.

A Western official said at least one person had died in the mayhem surrounding the square, and reports said at least 50 were wounded. The official quoted a witness as saying that the shooters were from the military, not the police, indicating a hardening of the government’s stance against those trying to stage a popular revolt.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/world/middleeast/19bahrain.html?_r=1&hp

[Cleita]

1. The Bahrainis need to take a page out of

Fidel Castro's book. Fidel and Che conducted a guerilla war against the Batista regime and eventually won. They would have been killed in the streets if they openly had protested and also because the USA was backing the Batista regime. I believe money interests including our country are backing the Bahrain Al Khalifa royal family as well.

[starroute]

4. Bahrain has an area of 665 square kilometers

It consists mainly of one large island and a bunch of little ones. According to Wikipedia, its total area is 3.5 times that of Washington, DC. The highest point on the island is at an elevation of 122 meters.

Not exactly a lot of room for guerrilla armies under those conditions.

[Cleita]

5. They could if they operated like the Taliban from a

neighboring country. But I'm only suggesting what could be done. Only they themselves on the ground know what would work best for them.

[Jokinomx]

2. Our friends wouldn't do that to their own people? No.... it can't be.

Yet we won't have diplomatic relations with Cuba and I am no friend of the dictatorship they have...but the hypocrisy is sickening.

Sadly, I think this is only the beginning of the riots worldwide with people that are marginalized by food and water shortages due to climate change and unchecked population growth.

May the good people of Bahrain get the government they deserve.

[Uncle Joe]

3. That's some cold-blooded shit.

I hope democracy comes to the people of Bahrain.

Thanks for the thread, The Straight Story.