Page 164 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

150 Records oj Bahrain

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Tins man executive committee, Bahrain.
it might oomo 3
in harmony uith and in aocordanoo to thoir traditions and 0^3 toms und roligion, ao
Balirnin i3 an Islamic and Arab country, it can accept any law wliioh conflict with
r • Islamic and Arab tradition. Wo would liko to quo3tion tho cauao for the
ness of tho civil oodo to completo and go on with Tonal codoj and al3o wo
oiod tliat tho proposed Penal Code lias boon composod in tho light of tho latost
and most-up-to-dato legal thought and wo can not soo theso most-up-to-dato nad
latost logal thought will work out under the presently existing opporassivo and
backward and non-constitutional ono person rulo in this country.
(3) The presonoo of Mr, Peace, Tlie Bi'Itisli Judicial Advisor, has no
doubt croatod some ld.nd of trust and confidence in tho pooplo*s minds towards tho
Local Courts and thoir illiterate Judges, In showing our sincere appreciation
to II, B, M's Government for its of for to train suitablo Bahraincoo in tho law in
England, wo would liko to point out tliat tho Bahrain Governmont has refused to
continue paying the tuition foes for a Baliraini student studying law at the
University of Iondon. How can we reconcile or comparo the first good will with
second adopted policy?
(4) The coming of an expert in the Polico and public security work like
Colonol Hamorsloy is a good and welcomed action. We definitely lenow from his
testimony before the Governmont Committoo of enquiry tliat ho lias submitted sovoral
reports ainco his arrival to the Governmont suggesting and rocoinmedning drastic and
fundamental cliangcs in tho Police Department and in tho pr«£*xo&s, but in vain and
with no positive result. He lias been quoted to say in Ms testimony tliat nHad
ho been glvon tho fully liborty to exerciso Ms authority in Ms Job, ho would havo
done a lot in less than a month of time11. Bu how can one expect for any such liberty
and freedom to bo given to any expert, no matter wl»at Ms rank i3, under the ruling
dospotic and ono porson control as oxists in Balirain,
(5) Tho Memorandum mentioned tliat uIl,II., tho Ruler, lias agreed to
modernise tho constituation of tho various municipal councils in Balu'ain and tliat
thoir status is going to be reformed in order tliat they shall liavo groator powers
arid autonony. The Municipalities, as it ir in all parts of the world, is 3omotliing
owned and to be run by the pooplo with no direct control or interference in ito
affairs, and we strongly encourago and side with any positivo roforrn seting back to
those municipalities their powers and autonony. But we are doubtful whothor such
reformo are to be executed as long as tills country la controlled and run by one porson
whose word is final and never repealed, and wo can stato dosons of examples to prove
our doubt and fear, but wo suffice ourselves with two illustrations of (a) tho Manama
Municipality was not able to execute® its decision to remove the northern concern
of tho advisorato garden wldch constitute a groat danger to tho traffic, because the
Adviser has refused to sanotion tide decision as it affected his own porsonal interest,
(b) The Manama MuMcipality decided tliat all open air cinemas must be covered during
the winter season to which the advisor lias agrood and sanctioned, but witliin few
montlis he repudiated Ms approval and wroto a harsh letter to the Municipality tliat
tho whole question is out of Mi e business, and so tho MuMcipality wa3 forced to
give up becauso of tMs direct control and interference in ito work, wliioh is tho
solo and main cause for tho present failure and non-prou uncivilly of theso concilfl.