Bahrain cooperates with watchdogs, HRW report flawed

Manama, Nov.23 (BNA): The Government reiterated its firm resolve to continue cooperating with international partners to achieve further rights and legislative strides, said Information, Parliament Affairs Minister Isa Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi. "The consolidation of such achievements should be made through the independent national institutions which were set up over the past years with the aim of bolstering individuals’ rights and prevent any illegal practice", he added. Addressing a post-Cabinet press briefing, he reiterated Bahrain’s stance, refusing to work with politicized organizations which follow agendas that aim to defame the Kingdom and belittle its landmark achievements. "The Kingdom of Bahrain is in no need for organisations which issue "one-sided" reports", he said describing the latest Human Rights Watch (HRW) report as being misleading, unbalanced and controversial, being based on false information. Bahrain, he said, pays heed to any alleged illegal practices and takes them seriously, citing the establishment of independent national watchdogs to probe any alleged illegal practices involving detainees, inmates or others. "The Government of Bahrain cooperated with Human Rights Watch (HRW) and supplied the watchdog with the necessary information through the Interior Ministry’s Ombudsman", he said, describing this particular detail as being the only truth cited in the report. He reiterated Bahrain’s drive to take any allegations seriously, adding that the Kingdom has no adopted policy that condones illegal acts. "We have a clear policy of cooperation with international organisations which are willing to do so", he said, adding that Bahrain is no need for politicized watchdogs which work through an agenda. Bahrain, he said, works in compliance with the United Nations and other international organizations, being a full-fledged member in these agencies, dismissing any need for agenda-oriented and politicized watchdogs which come only to give directives. "We do have a constitution as well as law provisions and accountability principles to deal responsibly with any illegal acts", the minister said. Commenting on the recent meeting between the relevant parliamentary committee and the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), he reiterated the Government’s adopted policy of redirecting subsidies to benefit citizens. "This issue is a focal point and core component of the Government Action Plan (GAP)", he said, adding that the panel which convened with the EWA officials discussed proposals but has yet to reach a decision. He pointed out that the issue concerning the trade sector is still under study. Asked about last week’s parliamentary consensus putting a cap on public debt, Al-Hammadi stressed the Government’s commitment to all that is referred by the legislative branch. He said that a cap would be put on Bahrain's public debt once the law takes effect, pointing out that the Government would then have to go back to the Council of Representatives for a budget rethink, taking into account the state revenues, the current spending levels as well as the loan which may be granted to the Government of Bahrain. As for the Governmental taskforces which were set up to reduce expenditure, he said that they work in accordance with a fixed timeframe, adding that the panels would submit their reports by December 1 to the ministerial financial committee. "The reports will then be submitted to the Executive Committee before their referral to the Cabinet", adding that the taskforces were assigned to reduce spending by 30 per cent (30%) with the focus essentially on the Government's internal operating expenses without affecting citizen-oriented services.