Propaganda is Getting Thick in the UAE: Website Calls for Pledge of Allegiance to Shk. Khalifa

[JCMach1]

The Arab Spring has had a very disjointed affect here in the UAE. While there is very little in the way of opposition (think how long would it take for their to be a Beverly Hills Coup), even the slightest dissent has met with crushing resistance. Three emirati bloggers were arrested this last Spring for simply hinting at criticism of the government. Their families are still calling for a fair trial. "We, the families of the five activists, who are held in prison over misdemeanour cases at the Higher Federal court... come forward with this petition to your most courteous selves after they had spent six months in imprisonment," said the statement received by AFP.

"We turn to you asking for your interference, with your influence, in order to stop this trial that isn't consistent with international standards for fair trial, cancel the charges and order the release of the detainees," said the letter addressed to the president and vice president of the UAE and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

The procedures and treatment of the detainees "before or during the trial, violated the standards of fair trial as internationally defined," said the statement.

The violations include "their right to release pending trial... to be presumed innocent... to be tried without undue delay... (and) the right to appeal," said the statement... http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g3EvVxbtCTt2spWZmwi-MBDd129g?docId=CNG.ed074b0c4c62f1cf20ba9837fe4f1ee2.821

In the meantime, there was a tribal majlis in Abu Dhabi with the various tribes re-affirming their loyalty to the regime. These efforts went online this week with the website- ourallegiancetokhalifa.ae


http://www.ourallegiancetokhalifa.ae/en/index.aspx

While there have been continued baby steps towards democracy (we just had a Federal National Council Election), things are so incremental they could perhaps seem laughable in light of the ongoing Arab uprisings in neighboring countries.

Ironically enough, in the UAE the Arab Spring has taken democracy and opposition back several steps with the powers that be pondering how to hold on to power.

Just an ongoing chapter in the Counterrevolutions that are ongoing in the Arab world... games within games within games...

[xchrom]

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