By MOHAMMED AL A’ ALI
Published: 20th August 2007
A group of angry Malkiya youths yesterday set fire to a watchtower and forcefully removed three out of 10 fish traps that allegedly blocked their beach.
They were angered by alleged delays by the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife in removing 10 fish traps and relocating five to another area, after they were laid by a neighbouring landowner.
The youths swam into the sea and started removing traps, while others set ablaze the landowner’s watchtower, forcing a man they claimed was taking pictures from the tower to flee, under a hail of stones.
By MOHAMMED AL A’ ALI
Published: 20th August 2007
A group of angry Malkiya youths yesterday set fire to a watchtower and forcefully removed three out of 10 fish traps that allegedly blocked their beach.
They were angered by alleged delays by the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife in removing 10 fish traps and relocating five to another area, after they were laid by a neighbouring landowner.
The youths swam into the sea and started removing traps, while others set ablaze the landowner’s watchtower, forcing a man they claimed was taking pictures from the tower to flee, under a hail of stones.
Some of the palm trees on the garden also caught fire, but firemen put out the blaze before it could spread further.
Police dispersed the youths, but there were no arrests or injuries, said Northern Municipal Council member Ali Mansoor, who represents the area.
The commission had said in late June that it had been agreed with the landowner to remove the traps, following several violent demonstrations.
The landowner had placed the fish traps adjacent to his land after taking permission from the public commission.
However, residents claimed that security personnel were stopping them from using the jetty near the fish traps, to venture into the sea.
Mr Mansoor told the GDN that the commission’s delay in removing the traps, despite promising to do so over the past three months, had angered the youths.
He claimed that officials were present at the beach yesterday taking measurements for around two hours, for the second day in a row.
“When approached by council chairman Yousif Al Boori, they scolded him and told him to stay away and stop disrupting their work,” claimed Mr Mansoor.
“A number of youths at the beach overheard what went on.
“This made them upset, since Mr Al Boori has been calming them down over the past few months and telling them to wait until a peaceful solution is reached.
“They decided to demonstrate later in the day and after half-an-hour of waiting jumped into the sea and tore down three fishing traps, before being dispersed by the police.
“Others attacked the landlord’s observation tower after spotting someone they claimed was a provocative photographer. They burned down the tower, but the photographer fled the scene.”
Mr Mansoor said that the council would back residents to take the owner to court, if the traps were not removed willingly.
Mr Al Boori blamed the commission for the escalation of the situation.
“They have been saying that they would remove and relocate the fish traps for weeks, but they never did,” he said.
“The landlord is blocking fishermen’s livelihoods and people’s access to the sea and I can’t blame anyone for getting angry.”
The Interior Ministry would not comment last night and commission officials were unavailable.
alaali@gdn.com.bh
© Gulf Daily News
