Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have
started joint naval exercise in the Persian Gulf waters as the Manama
regime has been trying for years to draw closer to Saudi authorities
and receive their assistance in the heavy-handed crackdown against
pro-democracy activists and opposition figures.
Commander of the Eastern Fleet
Rear Admiral Fahd al-Ghafili stated on Tuesday that the naval
exercises, codenamed Bridge 18, began today between the Saudi Royal
Navy and the Bahraini Royal Navy, Saudi Arabia’s official news
agency SPA reported.
He added that the drills are aimed
at consolidating Riyadh-Manama naval ties, increasing combat
preparedness, supporting and reinforcing joint forces in case of
naval confrontations and strengthening joint operational
coordination.
Ghafili further noted that the
naval drills will be staged in two phases, stressing that Saudi and
Bahraini naval forces will carry out controlling operations in their
territorial waters, protect critical infrastructure and main
waterways, and conduct surveillance operations during the maneuvers.
Thousands of anti-regime
protesters have held demonstrations in Bahrain on an almost daily
basis ever since a popular uprising began in the country in
mid-February 2011.
They are demanding that the Al
Khalifah dynasty relinquish power and allow a just system
representing all Bahrainis to be established.
Manama has gone to great lengths
to clamp down on any trace of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist
Bahrain in its crackdown.
Scores of people have lost their
lives and hundreds of others sustained injuries or got arrested as a
result of the Al Khalifah regime’s crackdown.
On March 5, Bahrain’s parliament
approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure
blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition
of an undeclared martial law countrywide.
Bahraini monarch King Hamad bin
Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3.
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