REPLY TO MEETING THE KING OF SIMMERING BAHRAIN

Frank Gardener

This article by Frank Gardener appeared today in BBC NEWS MAGAZINE . I am not a journalist, nor do I have the verbiage skills that he has. I am just an ordinary Bahraini citizen, who is quiet displeased with the way he constructed his article. The article name is MEETING THE KING OF SIMMERING BAHRAIN", so one would assume that the article would actually be about meeting the King, but the entire article is built on Shia and their demands. The actual meeting of the King only was worth couple of lines to him, while meeting with a convicted doctor was worth a quarter of the article. In my humble opinion he should have used a different title, at least we won't be deceived by the contents.  In blue is what he said and my replies are in black.   

For a while earlier this year, protesters tried to bring the Arab Spring to Bahrain. They failed. The police cleared the streets, making many arrests, and reports of torture in custody have been rife.

Ok, let's just get it straight Mr. Gardner, it was an attempted Coup. In the worst case scenario, they were Rioters NOT Protesters. Yes the police did clear the streets just as your police did in London and as the cops are doing in several American cities. As to the torture allegations, some of them are true but the vast majority are lies and fabrications. The first thing a young lawyer tells his client when he bails him out is to claim confession under duress, if nothing else it is a ground for appeal or re-trial.  

In a white-walled village where the sun made me squint, I went to see a doctor.

Sorry about our sun making you squint. Next time we will turn it down for you. So, tell us about your doctor friend.

Fatima Hajji is petite and elegant, her headscarf framing her face, her eyes shining beneath plucked eyebrows.

"Please," she gestured, "have a chocolate, while I just put my son to sleep."

Like several others in her profession, she stands accused of abandoning her ethics and joining the uprising earlier this year.

She said she did not, the prosecutors say she did, but I was more concerned with her treatment in custody.

Looking me in the eye while choking back tears, she described how a female interrogator had beaten her with a hose, electrocuted her then threatened to have her son abducted if she did not confess her crimes. She signed the papers.

This, and thousands of other alleged human rights abuses, are dragging Bahrain's name back into the Middle Ages.

Ok lots of grounds to cover here. We now know – thanks to you, she is a pretty lady doctor, petite, elegant, well dressed, sexy, very polite , a mother just like any good mother in the UK, emotional softy, a hero who endured torture and sacrificed herself for the sake of her child – just like all decent human beings would do. What's wrong with this image Frank? You only showed your readers the Congenial Ms. Hyde and did not show the Dr. Jekyll that she is. Incriminating videos and testimonies were enough to convict this felon of the charges against her without the need to resort to torture.

I see that you are a so called Security Correspondent and not a human rights correspondent, I would suggest if you really want to venture down this ally, to at least look at her dossier of mile long charges. Even if a woman beating another woman drags a whole country back into the Middle Ages, then I suggest you get your ice boots out when you visit DC next summer. At your rate,  the US should be back into the Ice Age for the atrocities they have committed in Iraq. Your own country Sir, would be in the Bronze age. You people don't have the credential of moral standings to come and judge us. Do you really know the history of your Empire Frank ?      

A country fostered by the British, with supposedly the most advanced judicial and educational system in the Gulf, has gained a toxic reputation.

Contrary Frank, our reputation is spotless clean, the only toxins are the words in your report. We are proud of our systems, all of our systems, though perfect they are not, but they work for us. Our system is based on equality and justice for all.

The king, a genial Anglophile who went to Sandhurst, is appalled and slightly baffled by events.

But he does not necessarily hold all the reins of power. A hard-core clique within the government wants little or no concessions to the protesters.

Not only the King is appalled and "slightly" baffled by the events, we all are. But I want to know Frank, how did you know that the King does not hold the reins of power? Maybe you deduced that from the next statement about hardliners want to concede little or non to the rioters. Hmmmm, In this case the entire population of Bahrain is a hardliner Frank. Any concessions the rioters get will be over our dead bodies. What did your own Prime Minister give to the London rioters, other than jail terms?  This is absurd Frank, be real please. You have not addressed the real issues, the concession they want is to have the country all of their Iranian own. Yes, This is a plot by the Axis of Evil itself and as a security correspondent am highly disappointed in you Frank.

They, in turn, are having to fend off an even harder Sunni faction that wants maximum penalties for troublesome Shia demonstrators. They label them "khaa'in" - traitors - accusing them of having more loyalty to Iran than to Bahrain.

I think I just said that , no? oh, except one thing, though am a Sunni am not as you call a Hard Sunni, am your average Happy-Go- Lucky kindda of a guy , and thousands are like me. My sins are enough to last 3 life times, but hey, when it comes to my country, religion or sect has nothing to do with it, it is a matter of SURVIVAL Frank, pure and simple. And one more thing, Many thousands of the Shia are not in support of  the rioting going on in the country and they want peace and tranquility be restored and to live as brethren as we always have lived. The others – the rioters – yes they are traitors and all you have to do to know that is to read what the Washington Post has been reporting in the last couple of days, and the NY Times as well. Now for raw details please read the report I have posted a day or so ago , oh, but it is in Arabic, but I trust if you know the word "khaa'in" then am sure you can do just fine with it.  

So when the invitation came to watch the state opening of parliament last week, it seemed a good opportunity to go and meet the people who run this island kingdom.

I swear Frank, our government suffers from a masochist streak built-in . The Ministry of Information and the Foreign Ministry need to have their brains examined for inviting you. Especially as you said of less than flattering reports in the past.  

At the entrance gate I witnessed a tiny power struggle, a microcosm of bigger things afoot.

An army captain was refusing to allow our vehicle in.

A man from the king's court waved our gilt-edged invitation in his face, insisting we could come in.

It just a simple case of police following orders Frank, no big deal, this may happen anywhere in the world and it usually does.

While the stand-off continued I watched a policeman standing in the shade of a date palm, fidgeting with his sub-machinegun.

He studied the trigger mechanism as if seeing it for the first time, waving the weapon around disconcertingly, pointing it at trees, at cars, at us, then eventually at his own feet. It was rather a relief to drive past him.

See Frank, this is what I don't like about you, you make this policeman sound like he is kid toying with his toy gun. You are talking about one of the guys entrusted to protect the King, the PM and all the dignitaries attending – including you. That is an incorrect picture Frank, a one you needed not to paint.

Through a metal detector and into a large hall, I took in the scene.

We apologize about your humiliation of going though metal detector Frank, but why is it mentioned? Was it necessary? Have you not seen one in your own country? Every high or government office in your country has one. By the way, give your Embassy a visit and see what sort of security procedures they have. Or worst, try the American Embassy. A final note on metal detectors, did you know that almost every medium and high school in the US have metal detectors , not for fear of terrorists Frank, no, for their own students. In schools Frank, what is so wrong to have it in our Parliament?

Bahrain became a constitutional monarchy in 2002

Robed sheikhs with trimmed beards and cloaks edged with gold thread were giving each other elaborate greetings, the men touching their noses to each other in the tribal tradition.

We are very proud of our clothing and traditions, It seems you did not like it for some reason.

There were clerics in white turbans, Western ambassadors in suits, police and army generals in full ceremonial dress, soldiers with berets and florid, Saddam-style moustaches, and women both veiled and unveiled.

Hmmm , this means a fair representation of our society, is that not what a parliament supposed to be? BUT, what is this about Saddam-style moustaches?? You are not likening them to Saddam even by the mere whiskers, are you?? Your continuous insinuation Frank is beyond belief.  

Suddenly a courtier was at my elbow: "Mr Frank, his majesty would like to greet you."

That is nice of him I would say.

After my last report on Bahrain's troubles which was less than flattering, this came as a surprise - but I rolled up with the rest of them, shorter than the King now that I am in a wheelchair.

Are you trying to suggest that the King is short?  Ok, so ? what's your point please. I bet he is taller than the guy in Russia, or this Sarkozy guy. What does the height of a leader has to do with anything?? I still can't figure out the purpose of your statement.

The monarch smiled and held my hand, recalling when I had lived in his country in happier times.

Yes, our King is down to earth , he talks and greets everyone in the most down to earth way. People tend to appreciate it, you were indifferent about it or so it seems. You did not comment. You have said something to him, right?!!  What was it? You reported everything even the woman's plucked eyebrows. Why not tell what you told him ? Maybe you were patronizing him in person and you don't want anyone to know !? Tell the truth.

I passed down the line to the prime minister, a man who has held that job uninterrupted for 40 years, coming to power when Britain still used shillings and pennies.

You don't use shillings and pennies no more ??  ps. We want him to stay until your country ceases to use the pound, and beyond.

I looked at his tired features, remembering that this was the man whose removal the protesters had demanded unsuccessfully, back in March.

Tired features ? why do you think that is, Frank? You mean it has to do with the removal attempt? No Frank it does not, He is a man who served his country and gave it his total devotion, and yes father time takes his toll.

"We met before," I began.

"I know," he cut me short, "it was in the hotel lobby three years ago."

That sort of memory, I thought, is scary.

What is so scary about that Frank?? You ought to be elated he remembered you, don't take it personally but you are kindda  uhhhh forgettable.

Cat and mouse

The next night I got my wish, to ride with the riot police and see how this controversial force does its job.

Is this your wish Frank ?? Really ?? come to my house, you will get to enjoy it from the comfort of a balcony, BYOB , relax and enjoy, every night.

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights says about 40 people have died since the unrest began in February

About 40?? Hmmm. Is thi the same Bahrain Center (sorry Frank I spell it the American way) that is working illegally? And not licensed? But anyway, The actual deaths for the rioters are 12 , those died while they were rioting. When you put yourself in harm's way you can expect such a thing – sad really, but anyway, there were several people who died by natural causes whom this center calls them martyrs i.e died by police action. And there were police officers who were killed by the rioters and truly innocent poor Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian workers. The rioters vented their anger on those poor souls – Would be nice if you mention how their human rights were violated so savagely.   

While they are not the ones accused of the sort of abuses alleged by Dr Fatima, there are countless stories from earlier in the year - some exaggerated, some true - of them smashing their way into houses, beating and dragging activists off to undisclosed police cells.

At least here you mentioned that their stories are exaggerated or at least some of them, a step in the right direction.

Tonight they were at pains to point out their respect for human rights.

Aha, you say 'Tonight" ! this means tonight only , just because of your presence with them. They do this every night Frank.

"We give them warnings with loudspeakers to disperse," says a police captain.

"Then we use tear gas, rubber bullets and sound bombs. But they have weapons too: gas canisters, slingshots and steel spikes," he says.

As we drew up at a back street in a restive Shia village I could see the rubble of hurled rocks in the road while the tang of tear gas hung in the air.

I wish not to comment – self explanatory

Down the road a gaggle of young protesters waved a Bahraini flag and shouted slogans.

"They will go home soon," says the captain. "It's a school night and they have homework."

Sure enough, the youths dispersed, the police went back to their barracks.

It seems that since the captain knows their behavior , then it is only logical that the response the government takes is the same every night . So, it is not just "Tonight" Frank, now is it?

It seemed almost like a game of cat and mouse but it left me with the disturbing feeling that Bahrain's simmering rebellion, by no means shared by all the country, is marking time, waiting for the moment when it will boil over once again.

You got that right Frank , they play like mice , use garbage dumpsters, hide in the sewers , bushes and all the filthy places. It is too bad , really too bad that any Bahraini would act as a rodent.  

               

DR. KNOW