Qatar’s prying exposed

The Bahrain-based Al Watan newspaper today exposed the details and the extent of Qatar’s meddling in Bahrain’s internal affairs during the incidents of 2011.
Al Watan explained the nature of the clandestine communications conducted between Doha, Tehran and the now-dissolved Iranian-backed Al Wefaq society which plotted to topple the Kingdom of Bahrain’s constitutional regime. These communications with Al Wefaq led to preparations of the so-called Qatari initiative aimed to form a transitional government in Bahrain and to officially demand the withdrawal of the Peninsula Shield Joint Forces from Manama.

The newspaper said former Qatar prime minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani in 2011 conducted intensive talks with Al Wefaq’s secretary-general Ali Salman shortly before the arrival of the Peninsula Shield Joint Forces into Bahrain and these talks culminated in a set of ideas later presented as the so-called Qatari initiative for Manama.

The newspaper said Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani in his communications with Al Wefaq requested the society to coordinate with its allied societies to ensure protests continuity in the Gulf Cooperation roundabout whereas Qatar would pressurize the Government of Bahrain in order for the security authorities to open all roads for protesters, suspend civilian vigilance and popular checkpoints.

The Qatari ex-prime minister also “presented his vision to Al Wefaq society in order to launch a national dialogue as soon as possible to discuss its political demands provided that the protests would not end at the said roundabout until one month elapses from the beginning of such dialogue,” according to Al Watan daily.

During the Qatar-Al Wefaq talks, Bahraini mediators presented a number of demands to Hamad bin Jassim who vowed to work with them on what he described as ” significant and positive ideas”.

Following these communications, the former Qatari prime minister evolved the so-called “Qatari initiative” document to demand from the Kingdom of Bahrain’s government to take four steps namely to: 1- Ensure the right of all citizens to stage street demonstration. 2- Halt Bahrain Television (BTV) broadcast. 3- Release all detained rioters. 4- Form an interim government within two months.

The newspaper exposed many provocative ideas discussed between the former Qatari prime minister and Al Wefaq including the lifting of the State of National Safety in the country and withdrawal of the Peninsula Shield Joint Forces. He assured them that Doha will not participate in the Gulf Joint Forces and even if Qatar participates it would be only a nominal participation.

These ideas were accepted by Al Wefaq’s general secretariat, especially after Hamad bin Jassim assured them that Doha will be the main sponsor of such initiative. Al Wefaq stressed the need for its participation in the so-called “Bahrain’s transitional government” and this request was agreed. The Qatari government presented its ideas to the Kingdom of Bahrain which absolutely rejected them and considered them as an intervention in the country’s internal affairs.

Source: Fana News