Interior Minister: HM King guided the nation through challenging times

Manama, Jan.10 (BNA): Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa stated today that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has guided the nation through some of the most challenging times in recent history. He called upon all Bahrainis to unite behind the leadership of HM. "We are entering a new stage that requires the participation of all good citizens," he said. He called for this support during a meeting with editors-in-Chief and columnists. During the meeting, the Minister said he considered the end of 2014 to be important in terms of the variety of security incidents that police investigated. He discussed the ongoing police operations from 2011 to present that resulted in many successes, including the parliamentary and municipal elections. He said there is a need to build on national consensus, as Bahrain is a country of love and tolerance. "Our hands are always open to goodness. We do not believe in disunity. We believe in the participation of all and the general interest of society is our supreme goal," he said. The Minister provided an overview of crime statistics for 2014, comparing that year’s statistics with 2012 and 2013. He said the data indicated a reduction in outdoor political activities as well as a reduction in the number of participants. He attributed the reason to political reforms and intensified security measures by the Interior Ministry and swift response to lawbreakers. There was also a reduction in the number of injured policemen because of increased experience and security preparation. The data also showed a reduction in arson, the blocking of roads and sectarian clashes. The minister cited 26 serious investigations that resulted in arrests through cooperation with concerned security authorities, while fugitives are being chased in cooperation with the Interpol, pointing out that compelling evidence and contraband were collected in those cases. About the detention of the General Secretary of Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the Minister said that his violations had been made in public and that although he was aware of the law, he made illegal statements. Regarding the timing of his detention, he said that since 2011 Bahrain has witnessed a political test. "We won thanks to HM the King, wise government and citizens," he said. He highlighted incidents Bahrain has endured since the formation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), the approval of HM the King of its recommendations and the commitment of the government to implement them. He emphasized the launch of the National Dialogue to encourage all segments of society to reach a solution. The Dialogue resulted in many recommendations, including constitutional amendments, of which five were proposed by Al Wefaq in the Council of Representatives. He added that the continuation of the National Dialogue reached a dead end followed by initiatives that were rejected by some political societies that refused an agreed upon solution. He said that despite the positive response of the initiative, Al Wefaq held 76 events calling upon citizens to boycott elections, but the result was to the contrary. "We have endured a lot for not taking legal procedures against Al Wefaq General Secretary before the elections. This reflected the dedication of the state of the participation of all," he said. In response to the statement by the US State Department, he said: "They talk of peacefulness despite the fact that 14 Bahraini policemen were killed in the line of duty and 2,886 have been injured since 2011. However, when a US policeman died there was a security alert and deployments on the road." About the Iranian interference in Bahrain’s affairs, he said Iran does not care more about Bahrainis than HM the King and the Bahrain government. "It is better for Iran to care about its citizens as we are by grace of God leading normal lives here, while Iran should respect neighbouring countries rather than interfering in our affairs. Those who are more loyal to Iran should leave the country, as Bahrain is for Bahrainis," he said. About the stance of Hezbollah General Secretary and his recent statements on Bahrain, the Minister said: "He should confine himself to his own affairs rather than interfere in Bahrain’s affairs." He added that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization because of their practices against us and others. He said that the Interior Ministry has taken steps against individuals who are participating or have participated in fighting abroad. The minister answered inquiries about the new traffic law that aims to achieve safety and reduce jams on the King Fahad Causeway. At the end of the meeting, he thanked the editors-in-Chief and columnists for their role in journalism and their aim to serve national interests. The editors-in-Chief and columnists expressed their appreciation of the Minister’s willingness to communicate with the media as part of a community partnership strategy that aims to keep the public informed about all newsworthy events that relate to the Ministry of Interior. .