Manama: Recommendations by a high-profile report on dismissed employees, suspended students and demolished houses of worship are the top priority of the National Commission set up by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, members have said.
The report issued by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), also established by King Hamad in June to look into the incidents that hit Bahrain in February and March and their consequences, listed recommendations to help Bahrain ease out of a deep political and social crisis.
The report, made public on November 23, called for setting up a national commission that would oversee the implementation of the recommendations.
Hundreds of employees have been dismissed and dozens of students suspended in the aftermath of the incidents early in the year.
In its first meeting, the commission, chaired by Ali Saleh Al Saleh and including 18 members, said that its work would be "the gateway through which Bahrain will resume its progress as a pioneer in human rights, development and democracy."
"The National Commission will work within a framework of transparency to keep the public up to date with its progress. All proposals brought forward for discussion will be approved by consensus and will set the stage for national reconciliation."
The commission includes Hassan Madan, the head of the Democratic Progressive Tribune, an opposition society, and Abdullah Al Durazi, the former head of the Bahrain Society for Human Rights who resigned from his leading post under pressure from society members not keen on him joining the national panel.
Two members of Al Wefaq, the largest opposition society, had declined the invitation to join the commission, arguing that it should have been sent to the society and to them.
The commission agreed to form three sub-committees to deal with legislative issues, judicial issues and national reconciliation.
