By REBECCA TORR
Published: 4 October 2006
THE man behind the Bandargate report claims he is due to meet British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and other officials, to discuss the allegations.
Dr Salah Al Bandar told the GDN yesterday that he was planning to meet with Ms Beckett within the next week, to discuss the report’s allegations that a secret organisation has been operating in Bahrain, with a five-year plan to control the country’s political, economic and social fabric.
“I will be meeting with the Foreign Secretary and others interested in Bahrain specifically and Arabia in general,” said Dr Al Bandar, who was deported to the UK on September 13.
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 4 October 2006
THE man behind the Bandargate report claims he is due to meet British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and other officials, to discuss the allegations.
Dr Salah Al Bandar told the GDN yesterday that he was planning to meet with Ms Beckett within the next week, to discuss the report’s allegations that a secret organisation has been operating in Bahrain, with a five-year plan to control the country’s political, economic and social fabric.
“I will be meeting with the Foreign Secretary and others interested in Bahrain specifically and Arabia in general,” said Dr Al Bandar, who was deported to the UK on September 13.
“We won’t let this issue rest – the report and other areas.
“The line I will also use is for international organisations to push and pressure the government to accept international observation of the elections, like in the Yemeni elections.”
A British Embassy spokesman told the GDN yesterday that they were not aware of any appointment between Dr Al Bandar and Ms Beckett and nothing to this effect had been scheduled in her diary.
Dr Al Bandar will meet with anti-Bahrain government campaigner Lord Avebury and other activists and members of the Press at the House of Lords, London, at 11am tomorrow to give a summary of the report and recommendations.
“I will summarise the document itself and the recommendations which ask for His Majesty King Hamad and the government to form a fact-finding mission and for the immediate firing of certain people,” said Dr Al Bandar.
“This meeting is the starter for our advocacy plan.
“Next week, (I’m waiting for it to be finalised), I will be flying to Brussels to meet with the European Commission.”
He said a translation of the Bandargate report from Arabic to English had been produced and would be sent to 16 foreign ministries in Europe and 150 non-governmental organisations across the world interested in the Middle East, democracy, as well as group, civil and human rights.
© Gulf Daily News
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