#Bahrain seeks mercenaries from #pakistan amongst other countries #terrorism #prostitution

Updated June 21, 2011 13:11:11


A noted Saudi scholar claims that Bahrain's royal family is seeking Indonesian mercenaries to help maintain its grip over the country.

Bahrain has arrested hundreds of state employees, permitted widespread and systematic human rights abuses in its prison and jailed leading political critics... not to mention opening fire on protesters.

In mid-March, troops from Saudi Arabia arrived to help quell the unrest.

Now it's being claimed that Bahraini officials have travelled to Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan to seek mercernaries and more weapons.

Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Ali al-Ahmad, heads the Washington based Institute for Gulf Affairs

AL-AHMAD: For the past few decades the Bahraini monarchy have been relying on foreign mercenaries to build its army in order to stop the influence or reduce the influence of the people of Bahrain. The majority of the people of Bahrain have been trying to change the policy and right now even unseat the regime, the monarchy has been using imported soldiers and officers to stop the people from taking power peacefully. And that has been the case for example in Bahrain. There is not a single Shia Muslim officer or soldier in the whole of the security and armed forces in Bahrain, which makes it one of the most unique and disturbing armies in the world. In fact the majority of the population are not allowed to enter into the security forces, and that is why they're using imported, because the minority population cannot support the, does not have the numbers to provide for security and they still do not have trust the minority that they come from the Sunni Muslim, the Bahrain, so they need to import mercenaries from the foreign countries specially, Pakistan and other countries.

COCHRANE: So at the moment there are already mercenaries from Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan in Bahrain, is that the situation?

AL-AHMAD: Right now we have seen the majority of them come from Pakistan and some other Arab countries like Jordan, there have been reports or knowledge of Somalis, Yemenis, Syrians, but this is a new way, they are trying to really to not have one group dominates the army, so there bringing in Asians from poorer countries, like Malaysia and Indonesia, because it's cheaper to bring an Indonesian than to bring a Syrian. And that makes it harder for them to go against the government, because they do not speak the language, they just receive orders and kill people or torture people that they don't speak their language and they're basically foreign to them, and that has been the case. One of the leaders or the commanders of the Bahrain army spent a lot of time, about a week in Pakistan and met with Pakistani officials and they were guaranteed that they will get anything they want in terms of arms and in terms of mercenaries, because the government of Pakistan must approve such a transaction.

COCHRANE: For the case of Indonesia and Malaysia, how are you so certain that this is happening, that there is a recruitment going on, have you had contact with Bahraini officials or Indonesian and Malaysian officials?

AL-AHMAD: Well this was not only through our sources in Bahrain, but the Wall Street Journal also reported the fact that they are imported from Indonesia. So this is nothing, it's not exclusive information that I have but also the American media, such as the respected Wall Street Journal has reported on that. And they have been getting Saudi support in trying to recruit people. In terms of Malaysia, the Malaysian government itself offered to the Saudi representative that they are willing to send troops to protect peace in Bahrain, when they mean peace they mean that to protect the monarch, the absolute monarchy in Bahrain from the population of that country.

COCHRANE: There's a willingness there, is there any confirmation that either Malaysia or Indonesia have actually, people from Malaysia or Indonesia have actually gone to Bahrain?

AL-AHMAD: Right now we don't have any confirmation of that, but I think that's what taken, between weeks and a few months. I think the Malaysians probably would do that at the end because they are really focused on gaining a lot of economic access to the Gulf because of the high income and the oil revenue there so it will improve the economy of Malaysia. So they are willing to send a few hundred people and get the dollars for that, I think that they will do that anytime because they are focused on their economy in Malaysia. Similar in Indonesia the population is large, they have to do something, tens of thousands of people abroad for work and work and security, an officer or a soldier probably pays better than a maid or a driver in the Gulf.

COCHRANE: Is there any indication that the Indonesian government has knowledge of what's going on and is sanctioning the sending of mercenaries? Or is this people acting of their own accord?

AL-AHMAD: Most likely the Indonesian government is aware of that and because there is not a lot of pressure to bear arms and such government so they will allow it to happen, and they will in fact support it because we see the United States and European countries basically have been looking the other way when it comes to Bahrain's abuses of its population. So right now there is not a risk of such mercenaries being put on trial or held responsible for their crimes against peaceful protestors in Bahrain. So I assume that it will be both approved by the government and also on an individual basis, and I think Southeast Asia has always been a place for people to recruit fighters and soldiers.

COCHRANE: Now you also say that Bahrain is looking to buy weapons from countries in Southeast Asia. Where specifically are they trying to purchase these weapons, and what kind of weapons?

AL-AHMAD: There are a lot of weapons that have been used lately coming from Pakistan. And you see France and the UK both froze arms sales to the monarchy in Bahrain. So they need an alternative source, and the source of a lot of the weapons used against the protestors, especially these shotguns, have been coming from Pakistan, and that is according to Human Rights Watch. So we are aware the majority of the weapons they are using is coming from Pakistan, and that's basically to avoid any legal problems because if for example a victim of such a crackdown went to France or to the UK, that would be a huge embarrassment to the monarchy. But the same thing cannot happen in Pakistan. So they are going to sources where they cannot held legally responsible for such a purchase.