Posts from — August 2012

Lobbyist-linked Group Footed Bill for Rep. Burton’s Bahrain Trip
by Justin Elliott – ProPublica – 31 July, 2012

When Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) and his wife Samia arrived in Bahrain in April, they were greeted with a huge welcome poster featuring oversized smiling headshots of the Burtons.

The veteran Indiana Republican, who is the third-ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, met with the crown prince, after which a local pro-government newspaper ran a picture of the two men under the headline, “Bahrain’s reforms are hailed.” The paper reported that Burton had “lauded His Majesty for his statesmanship [and] steps to modernise Bahrain and promote reforms,” amid continuing pro-democracy protests.

When the congressman returned to Washington from Bahrain, he took to the House floor to praise Bahrain’s leaders and criticize protesters. (See video of the speech below.)

Burton’s soothing words for the embattled government weren’t the only unusual thing about this trip.

The $20,966 cost of the trip, including business-class flights for Burton and his wife, was paid by a nonprofit group, the Bahrain American Council, created last year by the lobbying and public relations firm Policy Impact Communications to promote the Bahraini government line in Washington.

Members of Congress are not allowed to accept travel funds from any entity that “employs or retains” a lobbyist. The rule was instituted in 2007 after the Jack Abramoff scandal, which involved the corrupt lobbyist paying for luxury junkets for members of Congress and other officials.

Given the prohibition, how could a lobbyist-connected group finance Burton’s trip?

Because the Bahrain American Council says it doesn’t have any lobbyists on its staff.

But it sure is close to them.

The Bahrain American Council is located at 1401 K Street, NW, Suite 600 in Washington. That’s the same office as Policy Impact, which does employ a registered lobbyist and thus would be barred from paying for Burton’s trip.

William Nixon, the CEO of Policy Impact and a registered lobbyist, and two other Policy Impact officials originally incorporated the Bahrain American Council and made up its board, according to the group’s articles of incorporation.

Nixon told ProPublica a new board of directors, led by current council president Khalafalla, was installed soon after the group’s creation. But Nixon remains on the group’s advisory board, which met in May. And Policy Impact employees handled our phone calls seeking comment from the Bahrain American Council.

The current vice chairman of the Bahrain American Council is another Policy Impact executive, Richard Carlson (the father of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson). Until March of this year, Policy Impact itself was listed in Washington records as the corporate agent of the Bahrain American Council.

Policy Impact also distributes op-eds written council president Al Khalafalla. One Khalafalla op-ed posted on Policy Impact’s website states, “For 300 years, Bahrain has been a stable, peaceful, and tolerant land, marching steadily toward continued openness and inclusion.” Khalafalla accompanied the Burtons on their April trip.

Asked about the relationship between Policy Impact and the council, Khalafalla told ProPublica that “Policy Impact has helped with the business development of the BAC, as well as extending public relations services.” He said the council is funded by donations from private businessmen and described the group as wanting “to ensure that commercial, trade, and cultural relationships between the [U.S. and Bahrain] remain strong.” …more

Will Congress Put Bahrain in the Human Rights Spotlight?
By Sanjeev Bery – 1 August, 2012 – Amnesty

Against a backdrop of ongoing human rights violations in Bahrain, the US Congress is about to hold a high-level public hearing today on events in the country. Organized by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, the hearing will focus attention on whether or not Bahrain’s government has actually followed through on the promises it made to end human rights abuses and hold violators accountable.

The hearing comes at a key time. In April of this year, Amnesty International issued an important report demonstrating the Bahraini authorities’ failure to implement human rights reforms. Indeed, Bahraini courts have continued to sentence activists to prison simply for criticizing the government.

These prisoners of conscience include Nabeel Rajab, who faces 3 months in jail for tweets that the government didn’t like. Doctors and medical workers have also been sentenced to prison following comments they made to the international media. And then there is Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a political activist who is now imprisoned on a life sentence.

Today’s hearing on Bahrain will bring together key voices:

– Former Bahraini Member of Parliament Matar Ebrahim Matar, who was arrested by the Bahrain government for his criticism of the Bahraini monarchy.

– US Senator Ron Wyden, a critic of Bahrain government practices who joined Rep. Jim McGovern in introducing legislation to stop US weapons sales to Bahrain.

– US Assistant Secretary of State Michael H. Posner, who has advocated for human rights in Bahrain, though within the limits of the Obama Administration’s diplomatic and military relationship with Bahrain’s government.

– Representatives from key human rights groups in Washington DC.

It’s a critical time to act. The government of Bahrain has continued to crack down on those who peacefully engage in protest and criticism. While not every protester has been peaceful, many who are committed to the nonviolent expression of their political demands have faced significant penalties for doing so. It is time to put the focus back on human rights. This hearing is a helpful step in the right direction. …source

The implications of British support for the Bahraini ruling family go further than merely exposing as hollow official statements of foreign policy objectives in the Middle East in light of the Arab revolts. Certainly, it undermines and contradicts British officials’ declaratory support for civil and human rights against state authoritarianism. But it also risks placing Britain definitively on the wrong side of history. Backing autocratic states may hitherto have been a necessary evil in the messy world of inter-state relations, but in an era of freer access to and exchange of information, there are no hiding places anymore, and the gap between democratic rhetoric and authoritarian practice in British foreign policy will become progressively harder to reconcile.

Britain and Bahrain: mutual interests and the politics of protection
by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen – 01 August, 2012 – The New Left

For over a year protesters in Bahrain have demonstrated for democratic reforms, in the face of often brutal repression by the regime. British arms transfers to Bahrain continued throughout that period. This should not surprise. For nearly two centuries, Britain has been the guarantor of Bahrain’s ruling Al-Khalifa dynasty, and for much of the past century its security backbone. Time and again, British support has enabled the Al-Khalifa regime to withstand local agitation for greater political freedoms and human rights. Britain’s protectorate relations with Bahrain may have formally ended on 15 August 1971, but they live on through informal channels and personal relationships in the royal, military, and commercial spheres. These have facilitated the upholding of authoritarian misrule, and they expose the hypocrisy at the heart of British policy in the wake of the Arab Spring.

A treaty in 1820 between Britain and local notables in the Persian Gulf first elevated the Al-Khalifa family to the title of ‘Rulers of Bahrain.’ Since then, the links between the dynasty and the British have flourished and proliferated, with a protectorate declared in 1861. This lasted until 1971, during which period power over Bahraini foreign policy was transferred to the British, who also intervened regularly in Bahrain’s domestic affairs. This included deposing three rulers deemed unsuitable, in 1868, 1869, and 1923. Monarchical ties have continued to be close in the post-1971 era; the present King, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, is a Sandhurst graduate and the patron of the charitable Sandhurst Foundation.

Connections between Bahrain and the United Kingdom have also rested on a succession of powerful British ‘advisors’ to the Al-Khalifa family. Charles Belgrave was appointed personal adviser to the ruler in 1926 and remained ‘Chief Administrator’, and effectively the most powerful man in the emirate, until 1957. He was only forced out after popular anti-British fervour following the Suez crisis united Sunnis and Shiites in a cross-sectarian social movement for political and economic reform. His advisory services were resurrected less than a decade later when Ian Henderson arrived as head of state security. Prior to his arrival in Bahrain, Henderson served as a Colonial Police Officer in Kenya, and had been accused of using torture in putting down the Mau Mau rebellion in the 1950s. He later faced similar allegations of torturing opposition activists and political detainees during the Bahraini uprising in the 1990s. International pressure led to his removal in 1998 but he continues to reside in Bahrain as a guest of the ruling family.

It is in this context that continuing British support for the Al-Khalifa regime must be seen. Mass demonstrations in support of political reform erupted on 14 February 2011 and, at their height, saw up to one-third of the population on the streets demanding their rights. This was the highest per capita involvement in any of the protests during the Arab Spring, and the scale of the mobilisation shook the ruling family and its fellow Gulf monarchs to the core. Forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered Bahrain on 14 March to restore order while the government mercilessly pursued and crushed its opponents during a brutal three-month period of emergency rule that lasted until 1 June.

Although the Bahraini authorities convened a National Dialogue and commissioned what turned out to be a hard-hitting investigation into the events of the spring, their promises of reform have yet to result in any meaningful change to the structure or balance of power. The arbitrary arrest and detention of activists continues, and daily skirmishes occur between protestors and police units notorious for their use of an extremely toxic form of tear gas that has contributed to more than twenty deaths from inhalation. In late-June, the security services appeared to deliberately shoot at the leader of the largest political opposition society, while many other opposition politicians remain imprisoned. In April, the staging of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix was intended to mark the country’s return to the international fold but was instead marred by the death of a protestor, the refusal to grant visas to journalists from most international news organisations, and running battles with the police.

Yet, amid the ongoing unrest in Bahrain and intensifying criticism of the regime by international NGOs and the United Nations, British interests in the country have multiplied over the past year. In December, the appointment of former Metropolitan Police commissioner John Yates as adviser on police reform rekindled unhappy memories of Belgrave and Henderson. Although his contract was originally meant to last only until April 2012, he remains in place, and he accompanied the Minister of Interior on a visit to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in June. Yates has also emerged as a stout defender of the regime in the UK media through interviews and articles in which he dismisses the unrest as ‘vandalism’ devoid of political significance.

Bahrain’s troubled year has also presented opportunities to expand British commercial and trading interests. A recent House of Commons report on arms export control revealed that 97 export licenses currently exist for sales to Bahrain, ranging from small arms and sniper rifles to silencers and gun sighting equipment. In addition, a British company has provided the intelligence-gathering software to monitor social media and spy on activists, while a phalanx of consultants and PR companies have been appointed to present a polished image of the regime to the world. The British government’s policy has continued to prioritise a ‘business as usual’ approach to secure lucrative contracts, especially in the security sector, while keeping judiciously quiet about the continuing human rights abuses.

At a time of economic austerity and relentless cost-cutting at home, such a mercantilist approach may make commercial and even strategic sense; moreover, as tensions with Iran escalate, so does the strategic value of Bahrain to the British and American posture in the Gulf. Moreover, companies and governments wishing to maintain close relationships with neighbouring Saudi Arabia are unlikely to want to jeopardise these far more valuable ties by making a stand over Bahrain, given the degree of Saudi political and economic influence over the country. Hence, despite the potential for leverage accorded to US and British policy-makers by virtue of their security partnership and historic ties, little evidence exists that officials are willing to exercise it. Instead, Bahrain has become a symbol of the double-standards of Western policy toward the Arab uprisings, where the withdrawal of support for dictatorial regimes in Libya and Syria stands in contrast to the enabling of autocratic rulers in the Persian Gulf. …more

5 tonnes of bomb materials seized
01 August, 2012 -Gulf News

SECURITY authorities have examined 1,000 pieces of evidence seized from an alleged bomb-making factory in Salmabad.

Three more suspects wanted for questioning have also been identified, said Public Security Chief Major-General Tariq Al Hassan.

They were named as Hussain Al A’ali (arrested), Ahmed Jaffar (at large) and Mohammed Yousif Mohammed Al Mughni (arrested).

Forensic experts from London’s Metropolitan Police were earlier flown in to assist an investigation after the seizure of explosive materials during a series of raids last month.

“There is no timeframe for this investigation because this terrorist plan aimed to cause a massacre in Bahrain and all aspects related to it are being studied with the help of UK investigators,” said Maj-Gen Al Hassan.

“Five tonnes of materials used in making bombs and 110 litres of chemicals that were seized in the operation last month are being studied at the forensic laboratory.

“The materials represent a serious threat to lives as they were stored in a residential area near a Ma’atam.”

Maj-Gen Al Hassan said as part of the investigation police inspected 14 locations and raided several after completing legal procedures.

He said some of these searches were conducted late at night or early in the morning. Some residents were upset and in some cases made allegations of improper police procedure. Opposition groups have also alleged serious police misconduct, including thefts of large sums of money.

The minister takes these allegations seriously and while having full confidence that investigators conducted themselves properly, understands that an individual officer might have acted in an inappropriate way, he said.

“Families of the suspects were informed about the case and they showed no co-operation with security forces,” he said.

“We have examined the confessions of the accused arrested in the case.”

Three suspects had earlier been identified as Radhi Ali Radhi Abdulrasool, Jaffar Hussain Mohammed Yousif Eid and Dhafir Saleh Ali Saleh, two of them still on the run.

Maj-Gen Al Hassan said the suspects appeared to be part of a sophisticated operation.

“They were trained as they are using mobiles, fire extinguishers and other homemade explosives to cause harm,” he said.

“But whether a foreign element is involved or who is behind it is still being investigated and any further details if revealed could hinder the investigation process.”

Maj-Gen Al Hassan said police were still discovering bomb-making factories.

“At the moment, except the Salmabad illegal factory there is no other high-end bomb-making location,” he said.

“But we are constantly discovering low-end factories where pipe bombs, fire extinguishers and other materials are hidden aiming to cause harm. “There are many places and we are now tracking them down.” …more

Bahrain Condemned for “Unprecedented” Tear Gas Use
01 August, 2012 – POMED

The group Physicians for Human Rights slammed the Bahraini government for excessive tear gas use in its latest report released this week. According to their investigation, the group uncovered “an alarming increase in miscarriages, respiratory ailments and other maladies” from “abnormally prolonged” tear gas exposure, as well as serious wounds to the skull and limbs from tear gas canisters shot at close range. Bystanders in addition to protesters have suffered these health effects, notably when gas canisters have been fired into cars or homes, resulting in at least two deaths from inhalation in an enclosed space.

Meanwhile, Justin Elliott investigates ties between Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) and Bahrain lobbyists. The congressman visited the Gulf kingdom in April at a cost of $20,966, paid for by the non-profit group the Bahrain American Council. Since the council does not officially employ lobbyists, the trip abides by congressional rules. However, the Bahrain American Council was created by and shares an office with lobbying firm Policy Impact which advocates on behalf of the Bahrain government.

Additionally, Cole Bockenfeld argues that the Bahraini government’s effective ban on protests is pushing would-be moderates to extremes, giving authorities the excuse that they want to crack down on the protest movement. Bockenfeld also calls on the U.S. to end its silence on this development by explicitly conveying that limits on the right to peacefully assemble “represent a red line in the bilateral relationship.”

However, Bahrain’s Ambassador to the U.S. Houda Ezra Nonoo counters critics ahead of a hearing Thursday on the implementation of Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry recommendations. Nonoo writes that the kingdom has made “tangible, measurable, and verifiable progress in enacting reform” which have been undertaken in 18 of the commission’s 26 recommendations, with progress underway on another 7. The ambassador also acknowledges mistakes made, particularly those that led to protester deaths, but argues that the truth has been distorted in critics’ accusations.

Also, the Bahrain Chief of Public Security, Major General Tariq al-Hassan, called for a full investigation into allegations of police misconduct and theft during recent home searches. The chief said all recent raids, even those conducted late at night, have complied with the law, but that the Ministry of the Interior will launch an investigation into claims by opposition groups of abuses and the theft of large amounts of money. …source

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission – USA
01 August, 2012 – HumanRights.gov

Assistant Secretary Posner on the “Implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Report”
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael H. Posner
Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights – U.S. Congress

2012-08-01

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing and for your sustained concern about Bahrain and the current challenges there. I appreciate the opportunity to appear here today to outline the administration’s views with respect to Bahrain.

Context: Bahrain is an important strategic partner at a crossroads

We all recognize Bahrain’s importance as a longtime partner of the United States in the Gulf region. For more than 60 years, the United States military has worked closely with its Bahraini counterparts. The Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, and the country serves as a pillar of our regional security strategy in the Gulf region. The U.S. – Bahrain relationship is particularly important in the face of rising threats from Iran.

Our longstanding alliance with Bahrain is based on shared political, economic, and security interests. And it is in part because of this important strategic relationship that we have devoted so much attention to Bahrain in the last 18 months. The demonstrations and violent confrontations that shook Bahrain last February and March were traumatic to all segments of Bahraini society. And although the violence has diminished significantly in recent months, Bahrain is still a deeply divided nation struggling to regain its equilibrium.

As partners and friends who care deeply about Bahrain’s future, we must be straightforward in our assessments. This is not a time for complacency or wishful thinking. It is a time for the United States and others to work with the government and the political opposition and to urge a new approach to dialogue, about which I will say more in a moment.

It is in this challenging political context that I have traveled to Bahrain five times in the last 18 months, most recently in June, each time meeting with senior government officials, lawyers, journalists, medical professionals, civil society groups, human rights advocates, and several political societies. This visit, my meetings focused on 1) the current situation for human rights in Bahrain following the unrest in February and March of last year, 2) the need for inclusive dialogue and negotiation, and 3) implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry report.

The current situation for human rights in Bahrain

In a number of ways, Bahrain today is more stable than it was a year ago. Last year, the government showed courage in inviting Cherif Bassiouni to initiate the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI). The BICI process was unprecedented both in its scope and the unfettered access the BICI team were granted. King Hamad deserves great credit for initiating this commission and for allowing an independent body to take a critical look at Bahrain’s human rights record and to report so extensively on its findings. We also commend the King for accepting and committing to implement the recommendations of the BICI report. And after a worrying period of rising violence in the streets by both demonstrators and police, violence has subsided this summer.

Despite these positive accomplishments, my recent visit revealed deep divisions within Bahraini society and between many Bahrainis and their government. Almost nightly confrontations, including a number that end in violence between young protestors and the police, and the recent discovery of sophisticated bomb-making materials in Salmabad and Hamad Town punctuate the need for urgent action to heal the divisions in society and bring peace and prosperity to all of its people.

We are concerned that more than a year after the release of the BICI report, we see reports of continuing reprisals against Bahraini citizens who attempt to exercise their universal rights to free expression and assembly. For example, on March 31, 2012, Ahmed Ismail Hassan, a 22-year-old videographer, was shot and killed while filming a pro-reform demonstration. This is one incident in a pattern of reports of activists and demonstrators being injured and mistreated in interactions with the police.

Moreover, permits for organized demonstrations are often denied. Over the past month, Bahrain has stopped granting permits for organized demonstrations in central Manama, and has announced a study to identify suitable locations for protests away from the downtown area. While the study may be a useful opportunity to initiate constructive dialogue, including with the opposition, it must not be used as a mechanism to restrict the universal right to peaceful protest. At the same time, we urge Wifaq and others who organize demonstrations to do their utmost to ensure that those gatherings remain peaceful.

Urgent need for dialogue

Since February and March 2011 there have been numerous calls – including by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and members of the international community – for broad political dialogue that will lead to a way forward on political reform.

While dialogue and negotiation can only occur among Bahrainis themselves, as a friend and partner of Bahrain, the United States has encouraged dialogue in a variety of different forms over the last 18 months. But despite numerous attempts, attempts at dialogue have broken down. There is little evidence that Bahrain is moving toward a negotiated political agreement on issues such as the powers of parliament and electoral districting. …more