Page 82 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

58 The Origins of the United Arab Emirates

al-Qaiwain. Instead he sent bedouin to keep watch on his borders
with Umm al-Qaiwain in ease the murderers should be sighted.
In retaliation, Rashid bin Ahmad sent the murderers to raid Jazirat
al-Hamra, where they burned huts and were generally destructive.
Although Sultan complained to Rashid, he received no answer
to his letter. In despair, he appealed to Khalid bin Ahmad of
Sharjah, still technically the ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, who sent
back an evasive reply. Sultan then had no alternative but to begin
an attack on Umm al-Qaiwain. Rashid bin Ahmad immediately
complained to Khalid bin Ahmad of Sharjah, who sent his brother
‘Abdallah to intervene. Although ‘Abdallah realised the extent of
Rashid’s guilt, he seized the opportunity to weaken Sultan’s position
by collaborating with Umm al-Qaiwain. Feeling outnumbered, Sultan
appealed to the rulers of Ajman and Dubai. They both promised
to come to his aid if Khalid bin Ahmad allowed his brother
to join forces with Umm al-Qaiwain.7
Worried that a full-scale war was about to break out, the Political
Resident wrote to Rashid bin Ahmad, warning him against starting
hostilities and urging him to accept mediation.8 Apparently convinced
of the danger involved, Rashid allowed Khalid of Sharjah to mediate,
and peace was restored. But Sultan bin Salim was still left with
responsibility for the murder of the Somali sailor. Despite strict
injunctions from Knox, the Political Resident, to pay diyah to the
family of the sailor, and despite the threat that not to do so
would ‘bring on you the displeasure of the Great Government’,9
Sultan refused to accept the situation. When the Resident finally
threatened to send a warship against Sultan,10 the ruler capitulated
and paid the diyah. Thus the Political Resident intervened to prevent
the reluctant Sultan from settling the matter by force, yet used
the threat of force to induce Sultan to pay diyah.
Relations between Umm al-Qaiwain and Ras al-Khaimah had
never been very cordial, their proximity being an important reason
for the perennial friction. Neighbouring shaykhdoms were often
cool or hostile towards each other, the lack of clearly defined,
mutually agreed boundaries doing much to encourage squabbling
and distrust. Yet, as noted earlier, it was not until the advent
of oil companies seeking concessions that the question of defining
boundaries came to be regarded seriously. How it was then tackled
is discussed in later chapters.

MAINTENANCE OF THE RULER’S AUTHORITY

As may be observed from the Somali murder ease, the ruler was
personally responsible for defending the legitimate rights of all people