Bahrainis Strongly Opposed to UK Military Base
According to al-Bahrain al-Yawm website, they have released a statement calling for national protests against such a move.
They said setting up foreign ministry bases in Bahrain is illegal and illegitimate.
The statement said such a move is aimed at serving the ruling Al Khalifa regime and creating a barrier in the path of Bahraini people’s struggle to reach freedom and independence.
The UK is an enemy of the Bahraini nation and has contributed to the regime’s crackdown on the nation, it added.
The February 14 Youth Coalition, Bahrain Islamic Amal Movemnet and Wafa Islamic Movemnet were among the groups that signed the statement.
Britain on Thursday opened a new naval base in Bahrain, its first permanent military outpost in the Middle East in nearly half a century.
The base, south of Bahrain's capital Manama, will house around 300 British troops and support personnel.
The tiny island nation of Bahrain currently houses the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
Since February 14, 2011, Bahraini people have been holding peaceful protest rallies on an almost daily basis, demanding that the Al Khalifa family relinquish power and let a just system representing all Bahrainis be established.
Bahrainis have also been complaining against widespread discrimination against the Shia majority in the kingdom.
Manama has responded to the protests with lethal force, drawing international criticism.
Bahraini authorities have further detained human rights campaigners, broken up major opposition political parties and revoked the nationality of several activists.
