One man’s quest to end corruption
He may be alone when he unfolds his banners outside the gates of Bapco or elsewhere, but Abbas Al Omran’s quest to fight the institutionalised corruption in the tiny state of Bahrain finds resonance in the hearts and minds of other citizens. The extent of corruption is far ahead of any other GCC state.
The prime minister’s financial empire exhibits no signs of shrinking as his greed progresses with his age. Mr 10 percent (as he is commonly known for his insistence on receiving that amount on any government project before it is given to the successful bidder) owns the largest hotels in the country, the “financial harbour” tower in Manama, large estates, the island of Jida in addition to stakes in large companies operating in Bahrain.
The ruler and his son are now competing with their uncle and have misappropriated large areas or reclaimed sea land. It is estimated that up to 90 percent of all coastline is owned by members of the ruling Al Khalifa family or their cronies. They have given lands to other GCC rulers while ordinary Bahrainis continue to suffer from severe shortage of housing.
It is not a common occurrence in any of the Gulf states for one person to defy the tribal “laws” and raise his concerns about corruption. That is exactly what 40 years-old Abbas Al Omran did. He has clearly placed himself at great risk. Over the past few years several opponents were murdered as they protested against the excesses of the tribal regime. Starting with Nooh Khalil Al Nooh in 1998, the list of victims include Mohammad Jum’a Al Shakhouri, Mahdi Abdul Rahman, Abbas Al Shakhouri and Ali Jassim. All were murdered by “hidden hands” and none of the murderers has been caught.
Most citizens believe that they had been hunted and killed by the “Death Squads” operating under the direct command of the royal court. Concerned voices have been raised expressing fear for the life of Mr Al Omran and calling on the international community to offer helping hands to Bahrainis who face the increasing prospect of annihilation at the hands of the murderous regime and his “Death Squads”.
Abbas Al Omran, a senior Mechanical engineer with the Bahrain Petroleum Company, Bapco, is a distinctly sincere man. He has served his country well whether through his employment or his voluntary work as a trade unionist and a human rights activist. His misfortune probably began when he became a member of Bapco’s Trade Union. He came face to face with corruption of the highest degree. The ruling family would use the trade union to further its policies in exchange for bribes and favours. When he tried to question the forces working in the underworld of the company and the ruling establishment he was summarily persecuted, threatened and denied any promotion in his job. He saw how his colleagues, who turned blind eyes on corruption, received favours and promotions while he remained a target for the hidden forces in the country, run by the royal court. His case came to the limelight last month when he started protesting openly against the widespread corruption in Bapco, administered and encouraged by senior members of the ruling Al Khalifa family. He started picketing outside the perimeter of Bapco, as he attempted to raise the awareness of the workers to the ongoing scam within the company’s management, their Al Khalifa superiors and some figures within the trade union. The establishment was so enraged that he was summarily dismissed.
Now that he has taken his case to new highs, he is risking a serious revenge from the royal court, led by the notorious sectarian figure of Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa. International NGOs are now reminded of their duty to intervene in order to protect the life of Mr Al Omran from the “hidden forces” especially the “Death Squads” run by the royal court. Appeals have been made to several parliaments and governments to provide a political asylum to Mr Al Omran, should he wish to apply for a safe haven. Other victims include more than thirty political prisoners and at least five Bahrainis detained yesterday from the village of Demestan for being pro-democracy and anti-regime. Among them are: Hussain Abdullah Khalil, 21 and Ibrahim Yousuf Ahmad, 23.
Bahrain Freedom Movement
6th October 2008
