Britian’s Imperial legacy in Bahrain

Summary:Bahrain, British Imperialism
12 October 2012 – Bahrain Center for Studies in London

The Bahrain Centre for Studies in London (BCSL) has issue a paper under the title of: “Bahrain, and British Imperialism”by the British journalist Chris Bambery.

The author indicates that the deep links between the ruling circles of Britain and Bahrain were demonstrated by the presence of King Hamad at Queen Elizabeth 11’s diamond jubilee celebration dinner held at Windsor Castle in the spring of 2012. Hamad’s visit went ahead despite the killings, torture, sackings and demolitions being administered to those demanding democracy and self-determination for the Bahraini people.

Britain was the key force in shaping modern Bahrain and in installing and defending the Al Khalifah ruling house. That and its continuing support for the regime mean it must accept a large responsibility for the kingdom’s current problems.

In 1967 Harold Wilson’s government in London announced they would withdraw all British forces east of Suez. The British were quitting HMS Juffair in Bahrain. Worried about Iranian and Iraqi ambitions to control the Gulf the US stepped in. In 1970 they reached agreement with the Sheik to take over HMS Juffair. The American negotiator reported:

“His Highness was very clear that Bahrain desired a continued US presence.”

The British author sees that the Al Khalifa’s were now under US ‘protection’ but the British continued to run the security forces through appointees.

The presence of a former Scotland Yard senior policeman, John Yates, as the current adviser to King Hamad upholds a tradition established by Belgrave and Henderson – it constitutes a living legacy of British imperialism. It is a tradition which should not be upheld in the 21st century by the Queen, Prime Minister David Cameron and the British banks and corporations who make a tidy penny in Bahrain. …source full report