http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10121772.html

04/29/2007 11:27 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: A rights watchdog has launched a scathing attack on a motion tabled in Bahrain's lower house to ban migrant bachelors from living in residential areas, saying that it amounted to creation of ghettos.

"This motion is discriminatory and promotes derogatory and racist attitudes towards migrant workers. To relocate labour camps to industrial areas, where few Bahrainis would choose to live, appears as the first step towards building a ghetto where migrant workers will be segregated from Bahraini residents," Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) Vice-President Nabeel Rajab yesterday said in a statement, a copy of which was sent to Gulf News.

Neglected
No legislation yet to ensure welfare of over 50,000 foreign housemaids
Titus Filio
Contributor

Over 50,000 foreign housemaids working in Bahrain are awaiting legislations that can ensure them better treatment, decent work environment and better wages.
The maids are feeling left out – almost forgotten – as Bahrain and the rest of the world commemorate International Labour Day tomorrow.
The housemaids are not even considered “workers” – a fate they share with about one million counterparts in the other GCC countries.
For many there is no dayoff or overtime payment. And some are subjected to physical and verbal abuse.

Ministries must respond to public's concerns
By ALISTAIR BAPTISTA
Published: 30th April 2007

HUMAN rights activists have slammed new legislation approved by parliament that bans expatriate bachelors from living in residential areas. Parliament passed the new law and also approved a proposal banning labour camps from residential areas and re-locating them to industrial areas last Tuesday.

However, activists are worried that it could be the first step towards creating a "ghetto" and called on parliament to reconsider.

The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) says MPs should instead come up with legislation that will enforce decent standards of living for migrant workers, decrease overcrowding in labour camps and improve their health and living conditions.

Expats 'caught in visa racket'
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 28th April 2007

MANY expatriate workers are being left stranded in Bahrain and unable to work because employees are abusing the sponsorship system, according to a rights activist.

Migrant Workers' Protection Society (MWPS) committee head Marietta Dias says some companies are automatically renewing the visa of their employees, even if they have finished their contracts and resigned with the correct paperwork.

This means they have trouble leaving Bahrain or are unable to legally work for anyone else until the situation is resolved.

Arab activists invited to attend court hearing

Society preparing website on arrests

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights is inviting activists from the Arab states to attend the hearing of the case of political activists Hassan Mushaima and Abdulhadi Al Khawaja in the lower criminal court on May 21.
The society will also launch a website in this regard.
Al Khawaja and Mushaima along with Shaker Mohammed were arrested on February 2 by the security forces.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, Col. Mohammed Rashid Bu Hammoud, had said in a statement that three people had been arrested on charges of instigating subversion of the political system and openly inciting hatred against the political system.

By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 27 April 2007

A CLASS-action lawsuit filed over government officials also working privately as lawyers has been adjourned by the High Civil Administrative Court.

The Bahrain Bar Association (BBA) and 70 lawyers have filed two lawsuits against three high-ranking government officials.

One is against Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa and Supreme Council for Women secretary-general Lulwa Al Awadhi.

Another is against Shaikh Khalid and UN General Assembly president Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa.

The suits alleges that Ms Al Awadhi and Shaikha Haya, who are lawyers by profession, have continued to practice law in violation of legislation that prevents them from doing so while in government positions.

Sponsor attacks worker with knife
The sponsor allegedly attacked a worker, Mohan Prasad Prajapathi, with a knife after beating him on Saturday.
His fault: Prajapathi had asked him to pay his salaries for six months.
Recounting the incident to the Tribune, the 27-year-old aluminium fabricator said the sponsor pressed the knife against him and asked “Are you feeling the pain? You will feel more pain if you don’t go to work.”
Mohan said he got scared and ran away before the sponsor could harm him further with the knife. “He picked up the knife from my own room and ran it several times along the left side of my chest, cutting the skin. It was the knife I was cutting vegetables with,” he said.

Employer accused of assault

Titus Filio
Staff Reporter

A Filipina housemaid filed physical assault charges against her madame who assaulted her right inside the Philippine Embassy yesterday.
Visitors at the embassy’s welfare section were shocked when the employer suddenly punched the housemaid in the face while in the middle of an argument over disputes at work.
A welfare section staff was mediating between the two when the employer suddenly stood up and attacked the housewife. Cooler heads pacified the employer but embassy officials were quick to call the police who led the employer outside the embassy’s premises.

BACHELORS FACE BAN
By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
Published: 25th April 2007

MANAMA: A new law banning expatriate bachelors from living in residential areas could be implemented soon.Parliament approved the law at its weekly session yesterday, as well as a proposal banning labour camps from residential areas and re-locating existing ones to industrial areas.

The Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry and the five municipal councils have backed the law and proposal, saying it would help solve problems many people were facing. However, parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani warned MPs against voting on the proposal, claiming it would cause more harm than good.

U.S. navy in Bahrain holds biggest crisis drill
Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:51AM EDT
MANAMA (Reuters) - The U.S. navy's base in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain and several Bahraini agencies, including special forces, are conducting the biggest emergency response exercise held on the island, the navy said on Tuesday.

More than 800 U.S. service members and defense department personnel are taking part in the exercise, dubbed Desert Sailor 07, less than a month after the navy conducted its biggest war games at sea on Iran's doorstep.

Police cars and dozens of Bahraini security personnel armed with machineguns lined the main road leading to the U.S. navy base, a Reuters witness said.

Committee of Solidarity with Activists and Detainees of Conscience in Bahrain
April 24th , 2007.

The detainees of Karbabad -Sayed Ali Sayed Akbar (20 yrs), Jaafar Sadiq Kadhem (21 yrs), and Mahmood Ali Mahdi (22yrs) –were summoned today at Fourth Lower Criminal Court who were released on April 9, 2007 on bail of 500 Dinars each. After the deliberation of their defense lawyers, the judge, Mane'a Alboflassah, ruled the postponement of the trial to May 30th, 2007 of crowd and riot charges against them by the Public Prosecutor.

Yesterday, April 23, 2007, was the third court session of Jaafar Salman Yousif (23 yrs) from Karranh, Rahdi Ali Radhi (22 yrs) from Abu Saiba, who were arrested since the beginning of the fourth week of last February after protests in Bani Jamrah and Jassem Jaafar Madan (25 yrs) from Hamad town, who was arrested in the same period, aftermath protests in Daih. The coroner report was supposed to be read after their defense counsel request due to subjecting the detainees to torture during detention and interrogation. The judge decided to postpone the two cases to Sunday, May 13 th, 2007 to issue the verdict against the three defendants to charges of rioting and crowds, as per articles 178 and 179 of the Penal Code.

Bid to check Thai illegal activities
Thai officials say they are aware that a number of their nationals are conning fellow citizens into coming to Bahrain and later forcing them into prostitution.
They organised themselves this year in an attempt to crack down on illegal activities like prostitution in Bahrain.
“We are aware of the number of illicit activities that take place here in the Kingdom. It is hard to point fingers or throw baseless accusations at this point because we do not hold any form of evidence to convict the perpetrators of the crimes. We do know that there are Thais who have established local contacts to help them ‘recruit’ young women from Thailand with the prospect of high paying jobs but end up in the flesh trade. This, for us is very unfortunate indeed, our own people conning their fellow Thais,” said the Thai Ambassador, Pitak Phiombubpsa.

'Family Days' out for prisoners
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 24th April 2007

PRISONERS who behave themselves may be allowed time out with their families in specially-built villas.People sentenced to three months or less in prison may also be ordered to do community service as an alternative to actually going to jail, under pioneering plans.

The Interior Ministry plans to build four villas next to Jaw Prison, as part of its "Family Day" project, to allow prisoners of good conduct to be closer to their families, it was revealed yesterday.

A draft law has already been prepared and is due to be submitted to parliament for discussion, said Interior Ministry's reformation and rehabilitation director Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Abdul Rahman Abdul Ghaffar.

UN backing for women's society
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 24th April 2007

BAHRAIN Women's Society (BWS) is the first non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the country to be accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

This status gives the society the opportunity to enter into policy dialogue with UNEP and to participate in the Global Civil Society Forum, an associated meeting of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum.

It also enables the group to actively participate in regional consultation meetings, to receive unedited working documents from the UNEP and to contribute to them for distribution to governments.

By MANDEEP SINGH

BAHRAIN'S "suicide bridge" will be redesigned. Bridge designer Ismail Khonji Associates has been asked to submit proposals to suicide-proof the footbridge over the King Faisal Highway on the Manama seafront.

The move was revealed by Works and Housing Ministry Under-Secretary for Public Works Nayef Al Kalali

The pedestrian bridge, near the Intercontinental Regency Bahrain, on the King Faisal Highway, was the scene of two suicide leaps in three months.

In January, Indian salesman Hamza Maheen, aged 47, leaped to his death. He smashed through the windscreen of an oncoming car on the highway below, injuring the Bahraini couple inside.

Call for probe into reasons behind suicides of expats
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10119969.html

04/21/2007 11:14 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: A Bahraini rights watchdog has called for a thorough investigation of the reasons behind the increasing number of suicides among expatriate workers in the country.

"The reasons, conditions and situation which lead migrant workers in Bahrain to take their own lives should be investigated," Nabeel Rajab, vice-president of the dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, yesterday said in a statement to Gulf News.

Anti-poverty march vow by activists
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 21st April 2007

ACTIVISTS will hold their third march of the month against poverty today, despite earlier interventions by police. The event, being organised by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), is part of a month-long campaign of weekly marches.

This latest march will call for economic rights for the villages of the Central Governorate, including Sitra, Al Eker and Nuwaidrat.

It is being held in association with the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, the Unemployment Committee and other groups.

BYSHR president Mohammed Al Maskati said that the event would go ahead even if police tried to stop it like they did with their first two marches, one in the villages along the Budaiya Highway and other in Malkiya, Karzakan and Dumistan.

Anti-poverty march vow by activists
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 21st April 2007

ACTIVISTS will hold their third march of the month against poverty today, despite earlier interventions by police. The event, being organised by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), is part of a month-long campaign of weekly marches.

This latest march will call for economic rights for the villages of the Central Governorate, including Sitra, Al Eker and Nuwaidrat.

It is being held in association with the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, the Unemployment Committee and other groups.

BYSHR president Mohammed Al Maskati said that the event would go ahead even if police tried to stop it like they did with their first two marches, one in the villages along the Budaiya Highway and other in Malkiya, Karzakan and Dumistan.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10119609.html

04/20/2007 12:07 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: Schools in Bahrain are to be given new religion courses that promote moderation and respect of all sects, education sources yesterday told Gulf News.

The new standards encouraging studies of the various Sunni and Shiite schools of thought, promoting common features among Sunnis and Shiites and shunning fanaticism and violence will be implemented in the next academic year starting in September.

"The education specialists who devised the new curriculum have favoured readings of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) that are moderate, oppose extremism and radicalism and support an open look at past and modern developments based on tolerance and mutual acceptance," said the sources who wished not to be named.

Web posted at: 4/19/2007 3:16:20
Source ::: The Peninsula
ILO representative, Dr Ibrahim Awad (third left) addressing the panel discussion yesterday as (from left) Mohamed Fuad, Jamal Al Salman, Dr Saleh Ali Saleh Sheikh, Colonel Adib Al Suwaidan and Abdullah Al Mohannadi look on. (Salim Matramkot)
doha • Geneva-based International Labour Organisation (ILO) says changing the sponsorship system in the Gulf can make their job markets more efficient by giving the foreign workers the right to change jobs.

By not allowing a worker to move from one job to another, you are denying another employer the opportunity to benefit from his services, the ILO said.

Web posted at: 4/19/2007 3:14:24
Source ::: The Peninsula
Doha • The Gulf countries will be forced to change their existing system of sponsorship sooner than later, a senior government official from Bahrain said here yesterday.

The observation was made by Jamil Humaidan, Under-secretary at the Ministry of Manpower in Bahrain while responding to an intervention from the audience on the sponsorship issue. Humaidan was a speaker at a session titled "migrant workers and Gulf labour market."

The intervention was from a Qatari businessman, who said he would prefer expatriate workers to the nationals because he will have more control over them under the existing system. Nationals can switch jobs according to their whims because they don't require a release from the sponsor.

By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 20th April 2007

MORE Filipino workers have sought shelter at the Philippine Embassy this week. The number of the 'runaways' at the shelter, Zinj, last Sunday went down to 80 from 96, but as of yesterday the number went up again to 92, said an embassy spokesman.

"Ninety-six was the most we've ever provided shelter for," he said.

"Considering we get up to three to four workers coming to us for assistance or shelter each day, it is to no surprise the number has gone up once again to 92 in a short span of four days."

Despite the overcrowding in the two-storey shelter, he said that each worker had enough food and water on a daily basis.

By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 20th April 2007

AN MP has urged authorities to investigate a call for his death and that of one of his colleagues, which was recorded and distributed over the Internet. Recordings being circulated via e-mails and Internet websites target MPs Shaikh Mohammed Khalid and Jassim Al Saeedi. Mr Khalid claimed that the motive behind the move was sectarian and that he believes that he knows the person whose voice is on the messages.

"I've asked around and people told me that it was the voice of a certain ma'atam speaker," he said. "The recording sounds like it was made at a ma'atam."

'Terror' camp two are denied bail
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 19th April 2007

A JUDGE has refused bail for two Bahraini men arrested in connection with an alleged militant training camp in Bani Jamra.

But Lower Criminal Court judge Ahmed Abdulkhaliq released to their lawyer a medical report by the court, after allegations that the two men had been beaten in custody.

Defence lawyer Ali Al Ayoubi urged the judge to release his clients, aged 21 and 23, on any bail amount deemed suitable by the court.

He also asked the court to allow him to study a medical report on the two defendants.

Bahrain seeks foreign help to solve nightclub murder
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10119263.html

04/19/2007 12:37 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: Bahraini authorities have asked British and American experts to help them unravel the mystery surrounding the killing of a security guard at a nightclub last month.

"We are doing everything we can to identify the killer, [and] so we have asked British and US experts to assist us with the case. We have also asked for help from doctors, pathologists and physics experts," Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa on Tuesday told the editors-in-chief of the local press.

Home of abused kids ready
Nurses, caregivers have been hired, paperwork in place
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Staff Reporter

The National Centre for Child Protection is “almost ready” to begin operations, says psychology expert Dr Sharifa Swar.
Last month, it was reported that discussions were underway in the parliament to pass the child abuse protection law to prevent child abuse.
Although there have been no concrete developments in connection with the law in the parliament, the centre is all set to commencing operations. “We are making sure that all paperwork are in place. We want to be doubly sure that we have followed procedures as per the ministry’s instructions.

Blogger case postponed to May 8
Family, supporters gather outside court

The High Criminal Court adjourned the case of blogger Mahmood Al Yousif yesterday following the death of the judge’s mother.
Members from the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) and newspapers as well as supporters gathered outside the court to express solidarity with Al Yousif.
The blogger told the Tribune, “The case has been delayed and is expected to be heard on May 8. I am overwhelmed by the response from the members of the Press and my family who have been supporting me. The technical team has sought copies of documents for the hearing of the case.”

Blogger's trial adjourned
By MOHAMMED ASLAM

A BAHRAINI blogger accused of defaming a government minister had his trial adjourned yesterday when the judge failed to show up.

Mahmood Al Yousif has been accused of libelling Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Mansoor Bin Rajab in an article that appeared on his website mahmood.tv on December 22.

A number of journalists joined Mr Al Yousif at the High Criminal Court yesterday to show their support for him.

However, the case was adjourned until May 8 because Judge Shaikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Khalifa was absent for "personal reasons".

By SOMAN BABY

A SOCIETY for the protection of workers yesterday urged the government to immediately ban companies from transporting workers in open trucks.

The Migrant Workers' Protection Society (MWPS) also appealed to the business community to support the move, in the interest of the workers' safety.

Society president Mona Almoayyed praised the media for highlighting the suffering of this deprived group of people.

"It is sad that in an affluent society like Bahrain with so much wealth going around in millions for projects, nothing is done to take care of the welfare of those people who build our projects with their bare hands," she told the GDN.

The Bahraini Journalists Association denounces the trial of Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif
Journalists call to mobilize at the High Criminal Court
Jufair - Bahraini Journalists Association - Sunday, April 15, 2007
Bahraini Journalists Association invites all journalists in Bahrain to amass in solidarity with the Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al-Yousif at the High Criminal Court on Tuesday April 17, 2007 due to the case brought against him by the Minister of Municipalities Mansour bin Rajab.

This calls all the journalists to be present at the courtroom and declare their solidarity with Al-Yousif on this issue of freedom of opinion and expression in Bahrain. The BJA condemns the insistence of the minister in pursuing a lawsuit against Al-Yousif, especially as Al-Yousif’s criticism of the minister in his Internet published article was criticism of the minister’s capacity as public official rather than personal. The BJA also calls on civic institutions political and social to show their solidarity by attending at the trial and release supportive statements of Al-Yousif. The Society also announces that it has asked Advocate Fatima Al-Hawaj to assume the defense of Mahmood Al-Yousif and would like to thank Ms. Al-Hawaj for her acceptance in assuming that role.

Push for arms control
Positive response to 40,000 SMS’s to press for signing UN treaty
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

The message was clear and effective.
As many as 40,000 SMS’s were circulated by the control arms campaign yesterday.
The messages were sent by noon and the tone on recipients’ mobile phone kept ringing till evening.
Nasser Burdestani, Control arms coordinator for Bahrain told the Tribune, “We chose 30,000 names randomly two days back and were short by 10,000 names. This is the first of its kind campaign in Bahrain to spread awareness against the dangers of arms.”

Workplace accidents, illnesses take their toll
By Titus Filio
Contributor

A 31-year old Indian suspected to be positive with HIV died at the Salmaniya Medical Centre on Monday.
Hospital staff would neither confirm nor deny if the man had HIV but they said the patient had been put under isolation since he was admitted for some illness at the hospital last week.
The head of the committee on HIV-AIDS monitoring, Dr Somaya Al Jowder, said they had not received the complete records of the Indian and they could not confirm whether he indeed had the virus.
The Indian national was one of three expatriate workers who died within a space of one week at the Salmaniya Medical Complex last week.

Bahraini police, protesters clash

Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 01:28

Bahraini police and protesters clashed in the capital Manama on Friday afternoon as the Gulf island prepared to play host to this year's third leg of the F1 World Championship.
You can get Grand Prix results by sending an SMS with the message F1 to 34911.

The clashes in Manama quickly spread to adjacent suburbs after police tried to prevent a rally called for by 15 opposition figures in protest alleged government moves to change the island's demography via illegal naturalization.

The motorsport action on the 5.4-kilometre track in Bahrain started on Friday with two free practise sessions. Qualifying is Saturday and the race over 57 laps is on Sunday.

Bahrain : Aauthorities used excessive force to prevent a rights march called upon by activists, continues systematic collective punishment, and random arrests,

Around midnight yesterday, eye witnesses confirmed that security forces were observed firing what was left in possession of tear gas canisters on the roofs of houses and alleys, as they depart the region which was free of protesters at that time. This behavior of the special security forces was recently implemented to cause the greatest possible collective punishment in order to incite societal reaction against protesters that marked the region recently .

Protest 'may backfire'
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 14 April 2007

A LONG-RUNNING hunger strike by prisoners in Guantanamo Bay could lead to even harsher conditions inside the facility, lawyers acting for the Bahraini detainees have warned. Around 20 so-called "enemy combatants" being held in camp six have taken the action in protest at the environment within the unit.

It is said to be one of the "cruellest" facilities in the notorious prison, where detainees are kept locked in tiny, isolated cells for nearly 24 hours a day and only allowed out to exercise in the middle of the night.

Visa clamp on 'F1 vice girls'
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 14 April 2007

VISA regulations have been stepped up to minimise the number of prostitutes who take advantage of the Formula One event to enter Bahrain and ply their trade, immigration officials have said.

General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence human resources and finance acting director Nayef Al Shurooqi said that the rules, which were also in place last year, were effective in reducing the number of women who overstayed their visas.

He said that the rules were more lax when the race was first held because the country was anxious to promote the race in the Middle East.

Defamation case hearing on Tuesday
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

The High Civil Court has summoned blogger Mahmood Al Yousif to appear on Tuesday.
The summons (pictured) follows the case filed by the Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs, Mansoor Hasan Bin Rajab, alleging that he was defamed in an article posted in Mahmood’s blog.
The summons says the blogger has been charged under the Press and Publication Law 47/2002 (3/4, 72,77) and the Penal Code (3/92, 364, 365).
“I received the summons on Wednesday at 10am. On two occasions the minister had said that he would withdraw the case. But that did not happen.

Plunge maid may walk again
Published: 13 April 2007

A housemaid, who broke her back when she jumped from a third floor balcony in Riffa, may be able to walk again thanks to immediate medical attention at Salmaniya Medical Complex.

Nagamani, from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, underwent a five-hour operation on her spine, hours after she jumped from her policeman sponsor's flat, allegedly in a fit of depression, on April 2.

"Her surgery has been successful and she can sit up with assistance," said a doctor, who didn't want to be named.

"She will be able to walk again with a lot of help initially, but should gradually improve with extensive physiotherapy."

Boy, 13, held over rioting
Published: 13 April 2007

A 13-YEAR-OLD was among four Bahrainis arrested for allegedly rioting in Karbabad.

The teenager and his three co-defendants, all aged 21, are facing criminal charges of illegal gathering, rioting and disturbing law and order.

His case is being heard in the Juvenile Court, while the others are standing trial in the Lower Criminal Court.

The court set bail at BD500 for the three 21-year-olds in its latest hearing.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Eight witnesses testified in the latest court hearing and the court adjourned the case until April 29 to allow the defence time to prepare.

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
Published: 13 April 2007

THE Social Development Ministry was accused yesterday of not offering enough money to needy families.

Al Wefaq's MP Shaikh Maki Al Wedaie claims that the poverty line recognised by the ministry was old and that it has reached at least BD480.

He was speaking at parliament's session yesterday on the ministry's response related to his question on calculating the poverty line.

Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi said that Bahrain's poverty line was calculated at BD370 according to a study carried out by the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research in 2004.

Activists vow to defy rally ban
By Geoffrey bew
Published: 13 April 2007

ORGANISERS of a demonstration timed to coincide with the start of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix have pledged to go ahead with the rally today, defying an Interior Ministry's request to postpone it.

Fifteen human rights activists have called for a march to protest against non-Bahrainis receiving Bahraini passports.

They claim thousands of people are expected to attend the rally, which is scheduled to start next to the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, Manama, at 3.30pm.

The planned route will see them proceed towards Bab Al Bahrain and back.

Slap in the face
‘Job interview’ ends with assault on woman
Ayla Marisse G Ginete
Sraff Reporter

Allowing a runaway out of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for a job interview proved to be too high a price for officials when Virginia Cariaga (pictured) returned late evening shaken up and sexually assaulted.
Virgie was accompanied out by a Bahraini man named “Isa” with the shelter’s permission to meet her prospective German employer on Sunday afternoon. It was late in the evening around 9 pm when he returned her.
“I was eager to find a new employer who is willing to hire me. We believed his story and I went along with him that afternoon. He brought me into a flat and that is when I realised that the job was a hoax. He was grabbing and tugging me from behind as I struggled to break free,” said Virgie, shaking nervously as she narrated the incident.

Help nab killer, get BD40,000
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

In an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Interior has announced a reward of BD30,000 to any person giving information that would lead to the arrest of the killer of Abbas Ali Salman Al Shakhoori.
In addition, Sevenleisure group, for whom Abbas was working as a security guard, has also offered a bounty of BD10,000 for information on his killer. Abbas was gunned down by unidentified person or persons at the BJ’s nightclub on March 30 and he died on Monday.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry said it was offering BD 30,000 for information identifying the culprit involved in the murder. The Al Wefaq bloc welcomed the decision by the Ministry of Interior.

By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 11 April 2007

MANAMA: A Bangladeshi sentenced to death for murdering a Bahraini woman last August plans to appeal against the judgement, it was revealed yesterday.

The lawyer acting on behalf of Mizan Noor Al Rahman Ayoub Mia, aged 29, said his client's relatives had contacted him and asked him to launch an appeal against the death sentence.

"We have two weeks to appeal in the Supreme Criminal Appeal Court," lawyer Ali Abdulla Al Khaja told the GDN.

"The relatives of my client have called me from Bangladesh and asked me to appeal against this death sentence."

Recruiting agencies beware!

POLO-OWWA keeps eye on contract substitution

Officials at the Philippine Labour Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) are on the lookout for manpower agencies and private recruiters who use skilled job orders to hire domestic help in Bahrain.
Job orders for household help for Bahrain and the other GCC countries have steadily dropped since Manila imposed the minimum wages of $400 (BD150) for its maids.
The OWWA offices have stopped accepting job orders which stipulate wages less than $400.
But manpower agencies and recruiters hoodwink the authorities by substituting job orders or contracts of domestic help with those of the skilled workers.

Daughters 'given to new mum'
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 11 April 2007

A BAHRAINI mother who signed her two daughters away to another woman 10 years ago was jailed for six months yesterday.

The High Criminal Court also jailed the 60-year-old Bahraini woman who brought up her children, as well as two witnesses who testified that the children belonged to her, for six months.

They were all convicted of forgery after they were found guilty of lying to a court clerk to obtain birth certificates for the girls.

The four were able to deceive a Civil Court judge and a court clerk into issuing the birth certificates by providing false information.

By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 11 April 2007

A MURDER investigation has now been launched into the death of an Indian man, who was found unconscious by police on July 31 last year.

Indian carpenter Surjit Singh Bedi, in his 50s, was in and out of a coma at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) until he died on February 23.

Kanoo Garden Sikh Temple president Rakesh Sharma said that police wanted to clear all doubts that he was not murdered.

He said since Mr Bedi, a chronic alcoholic, was found in "suspicious circumstances" with a head injury, police want to rule out foul play.

"It is likely that he may have fallen when he was under the influence of alcohol," said Mr Sharma.

Blogging the New Arab Public: Arab Blogs' Political Influence Will Grow
Marc Lynch | 10 Apr 2007
World Politics Watch
Editor's note: This article is adapted from a paper that first appeared in Arab Media and Society, an online journal published by the American University in Cairo's Center for Electronic Journalism.

Arab political blogging is changing and becoming more politically relevant. Arab blogs remain a very small, if rapidly growing, phenomenon -- there are perhaps a few thousand political blogs across the region. Still, Internet use and blogging are growing fast, and Internet access seems nearly universal among politically mobilized youth in certain Arab countries.

More runaways seeking shelter
By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 10th April 2007

LESS than a week since the Philippine Embassy recorded the highest number of workers at its shelter, the number of 'tenants' has grown from 83 to nearly 100. An average of three workers 'run away' to the shelter, located in Zinj, each day and officials are now afraid the number would keep rising.

All but two of the workers at the shelter are women, said welfare officer Attorney Venus Bravo.

"The male tenants are only two; one worked as a coffee shop supervisor and the other a male nurse," she said.

"The majority of the workers here at the shelter are housemaids, whose complaints include overwork, unpaid salaries, sexual harassment and physical abuse.

Bomb hoax sparks alarm at school
By Sara Sami
Published: 10th April 2007

A HOAX bomb threat resulted in the shutting down of the Bahrain Bayan School, Isa Town, yesterday.

"The school's principal learned about the threat when he checked his e-mail at home at around 5am," a Public Prosecution spokesman said yesterday.

"The e-mail, which was also sent to the school's vice-principal, said that there was a bomb at the school.

"The principal immediately informed the police about the incident, who reached the school at 6am before the arrival of students.

"The school was evacuated of labourers and students and teachers were stopped from entering."

Shot guard dies
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 10th April 2007

MANAMA: Bahraini hotel security guard Abbas Ali Salman Hadi Al Shakhoori died yesterday, 10 days after he was shot in the head outside BJ's at the Al Bustan Hotel, Adliya. He died at around 8am yesterday when his heart simply stopped beating, Salmaniya Medical Complex consultant neurosurgeon Dr Taha Al Durazi told the GDN.

"I started my rounds at around 7.30am and I saw Mr Al Shakhoori's blood pressure was dangerously low at 58/25 and falling.

"I discussed this with the ICU staff. When I returned a few minutes later, he was dead." A post-mortem was conducted in the presence of Interior Ministry officials.

Defamation case is adjourned
Published: 9th April 2007

A DEFAMATION case against Akhbar Al Khaleej editor-in-chief Anwar Abdulrahman and former reporter for the newspaper Hisham Al Zayani was adjourned until May 6 by the High Criminal Court yesterday.

Mr Abdulrahman and Mr Al Zayani denied defaming Arabian Gulf University president Dr Rafia Ghubbash.

The public prosecution has charged them with defamation and violating the Press and Publication Law, following the publication of an article written by Mr Al Zayani.

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© Gulf Daily News

Cook to die for murdering Bahraini woman
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 9th April 2007

MANAMA: A cook was sentenced to death yesterday for the savage murder of a Bahraini woman. Sana Al Jalahma's relatives were in court to hear the verdict against 29-year-old Bangladeshi Mizan Noor Al Rahman Ayoub Mia. They were silent as High Criminal Court judge Shaikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Khalifa read out the sentence.

Mia had denied premeditated murder but the prosecution said he admitted during questioning that he lay in wait to kill the 37-year-old fashion designer, after a row when he delivered food to her room earlier in the day.

When employers use tricks
Accusations common to avoid payment of dues

Filipino workers continue to face problems as employers allegedly make up stories to avoid the payment of indemnity and other benefits accumulated during their tenure.
Workers in the services sector such as food servers, salespersons and cashiers especially are facing problems because the employers are reluctant to let them go – with their dues.
Often they accuse their workers of embezzlement or petty thefts from the establishments. Then they call the authorities who pick up the workers their place of work for deportation. The workers have little chance to prove their innocence.

Hunger strikers still in prison...
By Geoffrey Bew
Published: 8th April 2007

SIX prisoners who went on a three-day hunger strike last year to demand their immediate deportation are still languishing in jail nearly six months later.

The five Indians and one Pakistani have been held in the Asry Detention Centre for almost two years.

They are waiting to be sent home, but are unable to leave because they have outstanding debts and civil cases lodged against them.

All owe thousands of dinars and one prisoner is understood to be BD13,000 in debt.

Officials from the Indian and Pakistani embassies and Migrant Workers' Protection Society (MWPS) have been trying to get them released and negotiations are on.

Maid sets a trap for sex pests
By MOHAMMED ASLAM
Published: 8th April 2007

TWO men who pestered a housemaid to sleep with them for money were arrested after she hatched a plot to catch them with her sponsor.

The Asian men wanted her to let them into her sponsor's house and have sex with them both, assistant public prosecutor Nawaf Al Awadhi told the GDN.

She agreed, but then told her Bahraini employer and the pair set a trap to catch them.

When they showed up the next day, the maid led them to her room, but then excused herself.

Her boss then went in and held them until the police arrived.

Bahrain Press one of freest
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 8th April 2007

THERE were 154 violations of Press freedom in Bahrain last year, according to an independent study.

However, the Freedom of the Media in the Arab Countries 2006 report concluded that Bahrain remains one of the least restricted in the region for media professionals.

State control of the media in Bahrain was categorised at 1.39 per cent, compared to 11.11pc in Saudi Arabia and 15.28pc in Libya, while only Iraq and Jordan reported no interference of any kind.

Bahrain was also among the countries reporting the least restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion, as well as the lowest harassment of foreign media workers.

‘Blocked’ sites accessible
Has government lifted ban or was it a glitch?
Bonny Mascarenhas
Staff Reporter

Nineteen websites previously blocked by the Ministry of Information were being accessed yesterday.
It could not be verified if the ban had been lifted or it was just a technical glitch.
Blogger Mahmood Al Yousif told the Tribune that he was able to access various sites since morning.
“I have shortcuts to all the blocked sites in a box on my computer screen,” he said. “I check them daily as a routine and discovered yesterday that I could access all of them.
“I hope that this is not a technical glitch but a strategic understanding that blocking Internet content does not serve the country any good at all, apart from it being a futile exercise,” Mahmood said.

Drive urged to highlight migrant workers' plight
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 7th April 2007

THE Bangladeshi envoy to Bahrain yesterday called for awareness campaigns to educate locals about the plight of migrant workers in the country. Bangladesh Ambassador Ruhul Amin said that while most Bangladeshi workers in Bahrain are happy with their employers, there are some who are being treated as if they are less than human.

He believes that the issue isn't being highlighted enough through television dramas, plays, cartoons and other mediums.

"Most Bahrainis are good to their employees and Bangladeshis living in Bahrain are treated better than they are in many other countries," said Mr Amin.

Bahrain

Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2006
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
U.S. State Department

Bahrain is a monarchy led by King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa. In 2002 the country adopted a constitution that reinstated a bicameral legislature consisting of a 40-member Shura Council (consultative) appointed by the king and a 40-member elected Council of Representatives (Nuwab). Parliament has the authority to propose and review legislation; however, the king, as head of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, holds most legislative authority. Citizens over the age of 20 have the right to vote. Political parties are not permitted under the law, but in July 2005 the government passed legislation that legalized political societies that function somewhat like political parties. The country held parliamentary and municipal elections in November and December, and all registered political societies participated, including four opposition political societies that boycotted the 2002 legislative elections. Election observers did not report significant problems during the voting itself, although there were allegations of some manipulation, particularly related to the general polling stations. Both Shi'a and Sunni citizens were represented in the government, including the first Shi'a deputy prime minister in the recently-formed cabinet.

Committee of Solidarity with Activists and Detainees of Conscience in Bahrain

April 7th , 2007.

During yesterday evening (Friday), the Bahraini Special Forces showered Sanabis village with extensive abundance of tear gas and rubber bullets after besieging its main entrances in large numbers. Dozens of citizens had gathered in a peaceful sit-in, raising slogans demanding basic rights and release of detainees of conscience in Bahraini prisons since last February. The Special Forces fiercely attacked the men and women demonstrators using rubber bullets, and dispersed them with heavy amounts of of tear gas.

Bay prison misery for detainees
By GEOFFREY BEW
Published: 7th April 2007

ANTI-RIOT squads equipped with helmets, shields and sticks have been forcibly removing Guantanamo Bay detainees from their cells on a daily basis, according to lawyers.

Bahraini detainee Isa Al Murbati is among those who have been targeted, says legal team head Joshua Colangelo-Bryan.

The incidents in Camp Six often result in physical injuries to the captives, though they are now less frequent, he told the GDN.

Mr Colangelo-Bryan had previously said he was worried that Mr Al Murbati may commit suicide after being moved into the camp, said to be one of the "cruellest" facilities in the notorious prison.

Embassy shelter 'is overcrowded'
By EUNICE del ROSARIO
Published: 7th April 2007

A RECORD number of workers are being sheltered at the Philippine Embassy, in Zinj. Eighty-three Filipinos, the majority housemaids, are currently housed in the shelter.

"More workers are coming in than going out," said officials.

"An average of about three workers are sent back to the Philippines by the embassy per day, if we are lucky, but we also receive an average of three workers coming to our shelter every day seeking assistance," said embassy case officer Geoffrey Puy.

"This is the most number of workers we have had at the shelter and this is probably due to the busy summer season of the airlines.

Society protests the poverty 'trap'
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 7th April 2007

A MARCH against poverty went ahead yesterday, albeit on a detoured route after police intervention.

The event, organised by the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, called for economic rights for the villages of the Northern Governorate that lie along the Budaiya Highway.

The march was stopped before it began by more than 10 police vehicles near the Jawad Petrol Station in Karanah village, where it was scheduled to begin.

At first the organisers called off the event, but they regrouped in nearby Barbar village, which was among the places that the activists were planning to pass by.

http://www.asianjournal.com/
April 6th, 2007

RP envoy in Bahrain warns vs illegal recruitment of maids

MANILA, Philippines -- In light of the new deployment rules for household service workers, the Philippine embassy in Bahrain warned against illegal recruitment of maids younger than the allowed 23 years old, an official said.
In his report to Manila, Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Eduardo Pablo Maglaya has issued a warning against the employment of under-aged Filipinos as domestic workers and their illegal entry into Bahrain through Cyprus.

Maglaya said that certain recruitment agencies in the Philippines are reportedly sending young Filipino housemaids to Bahrain using tampered passports.

Political party calls on Bahraini authorities to drop blacklist
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10116317.html

04/06/2007 01:03 AM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: Al Wefaq, Bahrain's largest parliamentary bloc, was up in arms yesterday at the interior ministry after its leader Shaikh Ali Salman was temporarily held at the Kuwaiti border.

"What happened to Shaikh Ali was humiliating, and the ministry of interior should fully assume the responsibility of the degradation Bahraini citizens face at border entry points," Hussain Al Daihi, the deputy secretary-general of the religious and political society, said in a statement to Gulf News.

Ministry urged to prevent armed clashes in schools

BCHR concerned over increasing incidents

The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), now defunct, has expressed concern over reports of armed confrontations and fights between local and ‘naturalised’ students of Arab origin.
The centre has called on the community to be tolerant and prevent any sectarian moves.
The call follows the fights between two groups at Hamad Town Boys Secondary School last week.
The police intervened in several cases. In one case, one student sustained knife injuries in an attack by another student and was taken to hospital.

Kuwait bars Ali Salman
Sandeep Singh Grewal
Staff Reporter

The leader of Al Wefaq and Member of Parliament Shaikh Ali Salman (above) was stopped from entering Kuwait yesterday. Shaikh Ali Salman was part of an Al Wefaq delegation on a parliamentary visit to Kuwait.
According to a statement issued by the society yesterday, Shaikh Ali Salman, on arrival, was informed by immigration officials that he was barred from entering the country “since his name was on the blacklist forwarded by the Bahraini authorities on March 18.”
The delegation included Shaikh Jassim Ahmed Hassan Al Moamin, Mohammed Yousif Yaqoob Al Moz’il, Abdulhussain Ahmed Al Mitghawi and the Vice General Secretary of the party Shaikh Hussein Daihi.

Marching to fight poverty
By TARIQ KHONJI
Published: 6th April 2007

A SERIES of marches has been lined up by several activist groups to raise awareness of poverty issues in Bahrain.

The first event will take place today near the Jawad Petrol Station, Muqsha.

The 8km route will pass by several villages and end in Duraz.

The event is being jointly organised by the Unemployment Committee, Housing Committee, the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), the Improving Living Standards Committee and the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR).

Participants will also call on Bahrain to sign the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, said BYSHR president Mohammed Al Maskati.

Centre for Human Rights calls for mobilisation against sectarianism
http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10116316.html

04/05/2007 11:06 PM | By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights yesterday called for a full mobilisation against sectarianism, saying that prompt action was needed by all concerned parties.

"We urge all local human rights groups, political societies and civil society organisations to tackle the issue of sectarianism and to address ethnic tensions from all aspects and angles," the rights watchdog said in a statement to Gulf News.

The vice-president and president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), an interim IFEX member, have become the latest victims of a government campaign to suppress dissent.

On 14 March, BCHR vice-president Nabeel Rajab was called before criminal investigators looking into a case filed against him by a health ministry employee. BCHR believes this investigation and any resulting criminal charges are part of a government attempt to silence activists who publicise the so-called "Bandargate" report. The report named the health ministry employee as having been paid by a senior government official to set up anti-Shia internet forums.

Top officials are taken to court by lawyers
Published: 4 April 2007

THE Bahrain Bar Association (BBA) and 70 lawyers filed two lawsuits against three government officials yesterday in the High Civil Administrative Court.

One case is against Justice and Islamic Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa and Supreme Council for Women secretary-general Lulwa Al Awadhi.

Another is against Shaikh Khalid and United Nati