Anyone in Bahrain - read this NOW - stay safe

[meditrina]

FCO have issued a new travel advisory 15 March text here, following today's imposition of a state of emergency.

It says that unless it is essential for young remain in Bahrain, you should start making preparations to leave; also recommends that you don't go out overnight.

Not possible to tell from UK if this is sensible and proportionate advice, but thought it's worth posting in case there are MNetters who might not (yet) be on consular information flows.

Stay safe, everyone.

That's awful. So frightening for the people there.

Morning bump - I think Bahrain is 3 hours ahead, and I hope everyone there has this information by now.

There is a MNetter leaving today. Wishing her luck

Thanks for this. Will be watching with interest.

Gosh, how scary. It takes a lot for the foreign office to advise citizens to leave.

It does, ML. I was told last week that the Western govts have so much invested in Saudi that they will not do anything to stop the govts of SA and Bahrain using any nec force to stop the protesters. I hope everyone is ok. I do wonder whether the King of B will be coming to the Royal Wedding.

Where are you getting your information? I am watching BBC24 and the Guardian does not have comments. Is there a site where I can read posts from people on the ground?

I read that once the FCO have issued a travel warning to tell citizens to get out then they are legally obliged to assist - by military means if necessary - to get them out.

Not sure if that is accurate though.

But it would explain why they are so reluctant to issue a warning.

The MNer mentioned having to get through protesters so am hoping she got help.

Considering those Saudi f**rs have sent a small contingent to "help" Bahrain in their sectarian games, it does not bode well.
Be safe!

slim why are they 'Saudi F**rs'? Bit of a generalisation surely?

Even the very religious muslims hate them because they allowed the "devil" (read US) troops in the inner haram (sanctuary).
So really I think am not generalizing.

Anyone else not sure how to take Slim's posts?

Do you share that view of the house of "yahoud", Slim? That calling someone Jewish is a great insult, and by extension, that to be Jewish is a terrible thing?

Annie, please do not take offence, you know which way I meant that!

No, slim, really, I don't.

I absolutely loathe the Saoud

I rest my case, am not going into a sterile conversation. I was illustrating my point and trying to give an insight into the psyche of the man on the street in the arab world.

AnnieL - I think slim is just reporting on anti-semitic language use here, not agreeing with it. (I would be strongly agreeing with you if I thought otherwise.)

But is throwing about insults about the Saudis even relevant to the subject?

Slim's original description would be more accurate.

Yes - the House of Saud presides over one of the most repressive and unpleasant regimes on the planet.

thank you chaotica, that's what i meant.

I suppose it's relevant to the thread, because the majority of people in Bahrain (I would think) are Bahrainis and can't go anywhere. If the Saudi army were invited in to keep order, and they have a reputation for brutality against even their own people, this cannot in any sense be a good thing.

very relevant I would think, they are sending reinforcement to "neutralize" protesters who are mainly Shi'ites so things are not going to go smoothly.
The reason they are doig this is because they would not want Shi'ite stirring trouble in their perfect little kingdom of dellusion.
In both countries Shi'ites are at the bottom of the social hierarchy with very menial jobs if they can find any.