Oil company fires 300 workers om crackdown

MANAMA: Bahrain’s oil company has fired almost 300 employees in recent weeks for taking part in anti-government protests and general strikes, according to the kingdom’s energy minister.

Abdul HussaEn Bin Ali Mirza, who also serves as the chief executive of the state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), said that 293 employees have been dismissed since the king declared martial law on March 15 to quell weeks of demonstrations.

Fifty employees were also suspended pending investigations by authorities, and 11 board members of the workers union were referred to the general prosecutor, Mirza told members of parliament.

Authorities have been aggressively pursuing opposition supporters who staged street marches, demanding greater freedoms, equal rights and an elected government in the strategic island kingdom, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

At least 30 people have been killed since the protests began in February, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. Hundreds of protesters, opposition leaders, human rights activists, athletes and professionals such as doctors and lawyers have been detained.