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February its intention to establish a trade union without government consent. A

fund was created to support the union. The Party also announced its boycott of all

government councils and committees, ordering citizens (both appointed and

elected) to withdraw from them immediately. The measure included committees

created previously by the Administration for Waqf purposes, minors, municipalities,

trade, courts, and all other such entities. The HEC warned that those who failed to

resign ‘will be considered as a traitor’, thus solidifying internal polarisation.

In the same circular the Movement introduced its policy for the coming

months. It first called for the formation of committees in Bahrain’s cities and

villages to oversee local disputes as an alternative to the Government’s own judicial

system. Second, it gave the Government of Bahrain an ultimatum of two months to

respond to its demands. If the Government failed to answer positively to the

demands, the Party would then launch demonstrations throughout Bahrain’s major

urban centres. The Movement also called for a boycott of the Manama Municipal

elections. The casus belli was that the Municipal Council should fall under the

jurisdiction of ‘the people’ and not the Administration. 271 The circular was followed

by an official letter to the Ruler of Bahrain dated 9 February from the HEC urging

him to ‘accept the people’s demands’ without further delay. 272 The announcement

displayed a new tone by the HEC when confronting the Administration -- both

271 TNA, FO 1016/386, The Higher Executive Committee, Circular No. 15, 8 February 1955; and TNA,
FO 371/114587, Gault to Burrows, 30 March 1955.
272 TNA, FO 371/114586, The High Executive Committee to the Ruler of Bahrain, 9 February 1955.

© Hamad E. Abdulla 90