Interior Minister announces 16-member panel to promote national values

Manama, Mar. 20 (BNA): In continuation of the initiative to promote the spirit of belonging to the nation, launched by His Excellency Minister of Interior Lt-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa on 21 January 2018, a 16-member Committee to Reinforce Loyalty and National Values was announced today as part of the Interior Ministry’s celebrations to mark the Community Partnership Day. HE the Interior Minister delivered the following speech: "We are celebrating the Community Partnership Day, which is a practice and not a theme. It is a form of constructive solidarity and without doubt a day of national harvest. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to explain to you how this national project started. It began with a desire expressed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He is the protector of the nation’s sovereignty and dignity. The Royal desire was for a close police presence in the various areas and villages of Bahrain in a responsible way that showed the resolve to assist the citizens and make them feel they were secure in their homes and their interests were protected. As a consequence, we worked on the idea to set up the community police in 2005. As the time passed, the country encountered the 2011 incidents and we also faced foreign interference that targeted the Bahraini nationalism and aggravated sectarianism and extremism, thus disrupting the community’s unity and bonds. By the grace of God, those ill intentions were shattered in the face of the firmness of HM the King’s leadership and the awareness of sincere Bahrainis. After this I understood the delicate moment of our history, the depth of the idea, its national meaning and the strong need for cooperation between police and the citizens to strengthen the domestic front, as security is for the benefit of all. Honourable Attendees By the grace of God, the country has succeeded in achieving security despite the magnitude of the challenges we had to deal with. Today, massive efforts are being made in Bahrain to deploy police that is capable of meeting security challenges in the wake of the changes in the nature of the crimes. Today we have to work to create an impenetrable security barrier against any foreign interference in the spirit of belonging to the nation. What makes us more determined to achieve this national initiative is the amount of sacrifices Bahrain had to make to attain stability, and the policemen’s sincere efforts and sacrifices towards that goal. The constant interference by Iran and other countries in our internal security affairs, Iran’s continuing efforts to recruit Bahrainis to change their national ideology and train them to carry out terrorist acts, the use of weapons and explosives, and the cooperation between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Qatar are the regional signs of extremism and terrorism. Even as we face the security challenges, we are determined, by the grace of God, to protect our social fabric. We will sincerely work together to promote the spirit of nationalism. In a nation with a strong society it is hard for anyone to disturb its security because the national will rises above foreign ambitions as it represents a righteous sentiment which is above everything. Brother Attendees Bahrain is a state with faith in nationalism. I am talking about the nationalism that voted for Arabism of Bahrain under the leadership of the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Late Amir of Bahrain, in response to the demands of the Shah of Iran, in front of the Commission of Inquiry in 1970. I am talking about Bahrain that voted ‘Yes’ with 98.4% for the National Action Charter under the leadership of HM the King. Bahrain that overcame chaos and reverted to order in 2011. Bahrain that voted for its parliamentarians after the resignation of those who wanted to disrupt our democratic ethos. There is no doubt that we are proud and protective of our national achievements. Brother Attendees We won't allow Bahraini children to become tools for the destruction of their own country through foreign guidance and support. We will strengthen awareness among them and advise them. They should know that their interests lie in their commitment to assume their national responsibility through constructive participation. As for saying ‘No’ to breaking the law, those who realise the truth after facing the law regret it. The option of violating the law is failing and doesn’t serve anyone, neither the family nor the nation. In this context, the Interior Ministry has come up with a comprehensive initiative to reinforce the spirit of belonging to the nation. To achieve this national project, an initiative to form the Committee to Reinforce Loyalty and National Values was presented to the nationalists and we thank them for agreeing to join it with their brothers in the Interior Ministry. I am glad on this blissful day to announce the acceptance of new batch of 200 community police to reinforce the community partnership. In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank all the citizens who contributed in the reinforcement of the community partnership by words and deeds. Thanks also to the loyal police personnel who represent the supreme example of a partnership to achieve the highest national goals in the prosperous era of HM the King. Peace, mercy and blessings of God." After the speech, the formation of the Committee to Reinforce Loyalty and National Values was announced with the task of drafting a comprehensive strategy and vision. Then a film on national identity and the values of nationalism, which are among the foundations of the Reforms Project of HM the King, was screened. It focused on the responsibility of all members of society to promote the national identity, starting from the family to the schools, the universities, the educational, youth and sports institutions and the media and national organisations. The film also highlighted the community partnership strategy implemented by the Interior Ministry as an advanced concept to reinforce loyalty and nationalism. HE the Interior Minister, then, honoured a number of officers, commissioned officers, and men and women in the police force for their distinguished community partnership roles and their efforts to reinforce the relation of trust between police and various sections of society. A number of citizens who had assisted police in legal cases to achieve comprehensive security in all parts of Bahrain were also honoured. (MOI)