HO HA
05-27-2005, 09:32 PM
صحيفة جلف ديلي نيوز 27/5/2005
MALKIYA villagers will demonstrate today against private reclamation projects being carried out on their coast.
The demonstration is organised by the Malkiya Charity Fund, Malkiya Club, and Malkiya Rovers, in co-ordination with the Northern Municipal Council.
Rovers' leader Saeed Mansoor said that the demonstration would be staged to send a message to private landowners that the coast is for villagers.
"We have a lot of memories of this coast, which has hosted various festivities and events over the years and taking it away from us means removing something from our hearts and souls," he said.
"This coast is the main source of income for a lot of village residents and other neighbouring villages who depend on the sea for a living and blocking access to the sea means the end of their livelihoods."
Mr Mansoor, who is a photographer, said families from the village and others nearby would sit on the coast, the only recreational facility available to them, to enjoy themselves.
"The place is lively all the time, with children, women and men from all ages and telling residents they can't go there anymore, means heartbreak for them," he said.
Mr Mansoor urged His Majesty King Hamad to intervene and help return the coast back to residents.
"His Majesty is the only one with the authority to give land and we hope he will give these owners land elsewhere in compensation for this land, which has been ours for years," he said.
"The demonstration is just the beginning and we will continue calling for the return of our coast until we get it back."
A tough new law to protect Bahrain's coastal areas was backed in principle by the Shura Council earlier this week.
The proposed legislation would ban private investors from acquiring any coastal land or reclaiming land from the sea, without government permission.
Even then, the government must ensure that people living in the area always have direct access to the sea, says the proposed law.
Violators would face fines of up to BD5,000 or possibly jail, under the proposal, submitted to the council by its public utilities and environment affairs committee.
The government would still be able to use coastal or reclaimed land for housing when necessary, or for investments which will genuinely benefit the community.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/source/xxviii/068/images/Lpic3.jpg
MALKIYA villagers will demonstrate today against private reclamation projects being carried out on their coast.
The demonstration is organised by the Malkiya Charity Fund, Malkiya Club, and Malkiya Rovers, in co-ordination with the Northern Municipal Council.
Rovers' leader Saeed Mansoor said that the demonstration would be staged to send a message to private landowners that the coast is for villagers.
"We have a lot of memories of this coast, which has hosted various festivities and events over the years and taking it away from us means removing something from our hearts and souls," he said.
"This coast is the main source of income for a lot of village residents and other neighbouring villages who depend on the sea for a living and blocking access to the sea means the end of their livelihoods."
Mr Mansoor, who is a photographer, said families from the village and others nearby would sit on the coast, the only recreational facility available to them, to enjoy themselves.
"The place is lively all the time, with children, women and men from all ages and telling residents they can't go there anymore, means heartbreak for them," he said.
Mr Mansoor urged His Majesty King Hamad to intervene and help return the coast back to residents.
"His Majesty is the only one with the authority to give land and we hope he will give these owners land elsewhere in compensation for this land, which has been ours for years," he said.
"The demonstration is just the beginning and we will continue calling for the return of our coast until we get it back."
A tough new law to protect Bahrain's coastal areas was backed in principle by the Shura Council earlier this week.
The proposed legislation would ban private investors from acquiring any coastal land or reclaiming land from the sea, without government permission.
Even then, the government must ensure that people living in the area always have direct access to the sea, says the proposed law.
Violators would face fines of up to BD5,000 or possibly jail, under the proposal, submitted to the council by its public utilities and environment affairs committee.
The government would still be able to use coastal or reclaimed land for housing when necessary, or for investments which will genuinely benefit the community.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/source/xxviii/068/images/Lpic3.jpg