Gulf | Bahrain
Bloggers' network to monitor elections
Watchdog says coverage will be without bias
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 October 26, 2009
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Manama: Bloggers in Bahrain will create a network to monitor the parliamentary and municipal elections next year, a human rights watchdog said.
"The group of bloggers will produce news and statements about the elections and will post pictures and video clips from the day when candidates submit their papers to the announcement of the final results," said Menashi Cohen, deputy secretary general of Bahrain Human Rights Society.
"The bloggers will be from the society. It will be our contribution to higher levels of transparency and to the success of the elections," he said. The blogs will be a reflection of the reality on the ground without any political bias, Cohen said.
Bahrain held legislative elections in 2002 and 2006 after almost three decades of stalled parliamentary process. Four societies, led by Al Wefaq boycotted the 2002 voting, but reversed their position in 2006. Al Wefaq won 17 of the 40 seats becoming the largest bloc.
Mobile phones were used to promote programmes and ideas, but there was no successful interactive communication between candidates and the public. Bahrain Human Rights Society and Bahrain Transparency Society monitored the 2002 and 2006 elections.
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