14<strong>Gulf</strong> <strong>Daily</strong> <strong>New</strong>sWednesday, 20th February 2013n His Majesty King Hamad yesterday received at Sakhir Palace six new amb<strong>as</strong>sadors who submitted their credentials. The newly-appointed diplomats are, from left, Italian Alberto Mikia,Indonesian Chilman Arisman and Sri Lankan Raja Karura Mui-dyan-selage. Below, from left, Canadian Thom<strong>as</strong> Macdonald, EU Commission Amb<strong>as</strong>sador Adam Kulach and Cuban JoseEnrique Enriquez Rodrigues.n <strong>Dialogue</strong> ‘key toBahrain’s stability’Minister of State for Information Affairs andthe government’s spokesperson Sameera Rajabyesterday stressed the importance of continuingdemocratic dialogue and peaceful expressionof opinion to promote security and stability andprotect national achievements. This came <strong>as</strong> shereceived Japanese Amb<strong>as</strong>sador Shiguki Sumi, who<strong>as</strong>serted his country’s support for the dialogue.n Health services vowMinister of State for Defence AffairsLieutenant-General Dr Shaikh Mohammedbin Abdulla Al Khalifa yesterday chairedthe first meeting of the Supreme Council forHealth. Health Minister and council deputychairman Sadiq Al Shehabi attended.n Revamp on trackTHE Works Ministry’s roads projects andmaintenance director Raed Al Salah revealedthat the ministry h<strong>as</strong> completed 75 per cent ofrevamp work on Shaikh Salman Avenue in Riffa.The project, covering blocks 908, 906 and 944,is expected to be finished in May this year.n Products showc<strong>as</strong>edMinister of State for Electricity and WaterAffairs Dr Abdulhussain Mirza yesterday metthe regional director of German companyEurolight, John Decker, who introduced thecompany’s products, especially LED streetlamps.n Traffic Week backedInterior Ministry Under-Secretary Major-General Khalid Salim Al Absi yesterdayreceived <strong>Gulf</strong> Petrochemical Industries Companypresident Abdulrahman Jawaheri, who stressedthe company’s readiness to take part in the 29thGCC Traffic Week, to be held from March 10-18under the slogan ‘Our Goal Your Safety’.n Rights report reviewedBAHrain’s first national report on theimplementation of provisions of the ArabCharter on Human Rights w<strong>as</strong> reviewed forthe second consecutive day yesterday beforethe Arab Human Rights Committee at theArab League headquarters in Cairo. Ministerof State for Human Rights Affairs and headof Bahrain’s delegation Dr Salah Ali said thekingdom is proceeding with speedy steps toensure the constitutional rights of citizens, andpreserve those rights through updating thelegislative system and developing democraticpractices to achieve justice and the rule oflaw. The panel reviewed a number of issues,including the right to life, physical safety,combating slavery and human trafficking,political and civil liberties, independence ofjudiciary and fair trial, right to work, freedomto form <strong>as</strong>sociations and trade unions, freedomof opinion and expression, right to education,right to private property and the right to protectthe family, especially women and children.n IMF ties in focusLabour Ministry Under-Secretary Sabah AlDosary yesterday met an International MonetaryFund (IMF) advisory mission and discussedco-operation. He stressed the government’s effortsto improve citizens’ living standards and enhancethe employability of university graduates.n Theft suspect heldA man accused of stealing c<strong>as</strong>h from a carparked in Zinj h<strong>as</strong> been arrested in less than12 hours, the director-general of CapitalGovernorate Police announced. He said theNabih Saleh police station received a callfrom a person reporting the theft of BD20,000from his car parked near a company. Policetracked down the suspect and arrested himafter obtaining permission from the PublicProsecutor. He h<strong>as</strong> confessed to the crime.n His Majesty yesterday received at Sakhir Palace chairman of newly-formedIsa bin Salman Education Charity Fund Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad AlKhalifa. Deputy Premier and Education and Training Development Committeehead Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Education Minister and funddeputy chairman Dr Majid Al Nuaimi and board members were present. TheKing stressed the charity’s crucial role in extending a lifeline for students topursue their university and postgraduate studies. Students with special needswill also benefit from the fund.n The Crown Prince yesterday highlighted the importance of consolidatinghuman rights. This came <strong>as</strong> he received members of the board of commissionersat the <strong>National</strong> Institution for Human Rights, led by Dr Abdulaziz H<strong>as</strong>san Abul.He urged the commissioners to adhere to values to achieve goals b<strong>as</strong>ed onlegislation and independent human rights work. He said opinions should besupported by logic and stressed the need to embrace all sides under theumbrella of the nation, away from parochial polarisations that do not serveBahrain’s present and future interests.n Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa yesterdayreceived UNDP resident co-ordinator Peter Grohmann who outlined UNplans to set new development goals beyond 2015.n Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa yesterday startedan official visit to the Czech Republic to promote bilateral relations. Hew<strong>as</strong> received at Prague International Airport by Czech Deputy ForeignMinister Vladimir Galuska and other senior officials. Shaikh Khalid hailedsteadily growing relations, stressing mutual desire to further bolster ties.Mr Galuska welcomed the official delegation led by Shaikh Khalid,<strong>as</strong>serting his country’s firm resolve to strengthen relations on the b<strong>as</strong>is ofmutual understanding and co-ordination.n The Crown Prince in talks with Mr Krajeski‘Support talks to meetpeople’s <strong>as</strong>pirations’His Royal Highness PrinceSalman bin Hamad Al Khalifa,Crown Prince and DeputySupreme Commander, yesterdaycalled for a need to supportthe ongoing <strong>National</strong> <strong>Dialogue</strong>to achieve results that meet theexpectations of all sides.He said the dialogue, whichw<strong>as</strong> widely welcomed by Araband foreign countries, must bepromoted out of a belief in thecapacity of Bahraini people toovercome all challenges thanks toits commitment to national unity.Speaking <strong>as</strong> he received USAmb<strong>as</strong>sador Thom<strong>as</strong> Krajeski,the Crown Prince highlightedthe importance of preserving thekingdom’s landmark achievementsand building on them tomeet <strong>as</strong>pirations of all segmentsof society.The meeting also touched uponlatest regional and global developments.n Shaikh Mohammed yesterday received Union of the Comorosparliament speaker Hamid Burhan and discussed bilateral co-operation.n Deputy Premier Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa yesterday receivedUAE Amb<strong>as</strong>sador Mohammed Sultan Saif Al Suwaidi and reviewedstrong relations.
Email: gdnnews@gdn.com.bhSand dredging<strong>Gulf</strong> <strong>Daily</strong> <strong>New</strong>sWednesday, 20th February 201315Two policemenare cleared of<strong>as</strong>sault chargesBy Noor Zahra‘killing sea life’By B<strong>as</strong>ma MohammedSAND dredging and landreclamation could be killingmarine life, includingdolphins, according to a topofficial.They change maritime routesand cause sea creatures tolose their way, get stuck inshallow waters and die on theshore, said Public Commissionfor the Protection of MarineResources, Environment andWildlife marine resourcesdirector-general J<strong>as</strong>sim AlQ<strong>as</strong>sir.He w<strong>as</strong> speaking after a deaddolphin w<strong>as</strong> found near AmwajIslands on Monday.“Dredging and reclamationcould lead to changes in watercurrents – something that canRelationshipsexpert topresent talksINTERNATIONAL bestsellingauthor and pop psychologyphenomenon Dr John Gray willpresent two seminars today.The seminars, which will beheld at the Diplomat RadissonBlu Hotel, Residence and Spa,will be b<strong>as</strong>ed on his teachingsfirst made popular through hisbestselling book Men Are FromMars, Women Are From Venus.The four-hour sessions will be held at8am and 5pm.confuse animals like dolphins,” he toldthe GDN.“They follow a route known for yearsbut when such work happens, it canlead them to lose their way and end upat the co<strong>as</strong>t.“Their nerve system gets confusedand this leads to them being stuck inthe co<strong>as</strong>t and committing what we call a‘semi-suicide’.”Mr Al Q<strong>as</strong>sir suspected the dolphinfound at Amwaj too faced a similar fateand because it could not find its wayback to sea, it stayed close to the shorewhere it eventually died.“Whales, <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> salmon, gothrough similar scenarios when routesare changed due to dredging and reclamation,”he added.However, he explained thatother re<strong>as</strong>ons could also leadto inhumane deaths of marinelife, and demanded a probeinto methods used by fishermento catch their prey.“Some creatures such <strong>as</strong>dolphins get trapped in theirnets and they treat them cruelly,”he said.“We urge fishermen to bemore careful when dealingwith sea creatures.”Bahraini fisherman Ali Yateem, whofound the dead mammal, said he spottedtwo more dolphins floating near theshore on the same day.The morning seminar will be titledMars and Venus In The Workplaceand will focus on incre<strong>as</strong>ing successn The dolphin and, right, the dead dolphin found on the co<strong>as</strong>tn Mr Al Q<strong>as</strong>sirn A section of the audience and, right, Dr Grayat work.While the evening event, whichcosts BD60, will be on personal“We were sailing throughthe area when we saw a weirdbody on the shore,” he said.“Upon coming close, wesaw the dead dolphin andcalled environmental activistswho, with the co-operation ofthe commission, took action.“We also alerted them onthe other two dolphins wesaw.”The dolphin, which w<strong>as</strong>buried in Askar, allegedly didnot have any signs of injurieson its body, Mr Yateem added.However, no details were revealed onthe other two.“Upon examining it, no visible injurieswere spotted on the body,” he said.“We are waiting for the investigationto reveal the cause of death and see whyit happened.“This is not the first time I see a deadsea creature and I wonder what could bethe cause of this.”Fishermen in Bahrain have held severalprotests against sand dredgingand land reclamation, claiming theyaffected sea resources and decre<strong>as</strong>edfish stock.The demonstrations have led to theissue of a decree amending the lawon regulating fishing and exploitingand protecting marine resources inSeptember l<strong>as</strong>t yearḃ<strong>as</strong>ma@gdn.com.bhrelationships.Meanwhile, Dr Gray held a brief talkat the Ramli Mall l<strong>as</strong>t night.n Indonesian tourist dies of tuberculosisAN Indonesian tourist h<strong>as</strong> died in Bahrainof tuberculosis. He died yesterday atSalmaniya Medical Complex, where hew<strong>as</strong> admitted on Friday after arriving onboard a cruise ship from the UAE. AnIndonesian Emb<strong>as</strong>sy spokesman said it w<strong>as</strong>now making arrangements to repatriate thebody. “We have the information about thisman and how he died, but we still do nothave his family’s contact details,” said thespokesman. “Unfortunately, no one from hisfamily w<strong>as</strong> with him when he died.”The patient h<strong>as</strong> been identified only <strong>as</strong>Sayudi.n Port services talksOFFICIALS from the TransportationMinistry’s Ports and Maritime Affairs(PMA) and the Bahrain Chamberof Commerce and Industry (BCCI)yesterday discussed strengtheningco-operation and enhancing services.The talks were led by PMA directorgeneralH<strong>as</strong>san Ali Al Majid and BCCIboard member and its transportationand communications committee headAbdulhakeem Al Shammery. Alsopresent were representatives fromcustoms clearance agencies and APMTerminals Bahrain – the Khalifa BinSalman Port operator.n Online photo contestAN online photography contest is beingheld by the <strong>National</strong> Geographic’sAugmented Reality. Visitors, who haveexperienced the interactive technology atSeef Mall, should post the photographstaken of the virtual reality on socialnetworking websites to qualify for thecontest. It will continue until March 15.Posts that receive the maximum number oflikes or votes will receive a gift voucherworth BD100 to be redeemed at outlets atthe mall.For more information, visit www.facebook.com/seefmallbahrain, www.Instagram.com/seefmall or www.youtube.com/Seefmallbh.TWO policemen have beenacquitted of <strong>as</strong>saulting andthreatening an inmate.The 36-year-old vice-corporaland 26-year-old policemanwere cleared by the HighCriminal Court yesterdaydue to lack ofevidence.They werecharged with forcingthe Bahrainiman to confessto possessinga n t i - g o v e r n -ment songs andslogans.“He (Bahraini n Mr Zakariyaman) w<strong>as</strong> playingsongs and poems in his carthat incited hatred against thegovernment,” argued lawyerYounis Zakariya in court.“My clients then arrestedhim after he received a complaintfrom a woman p<strong>as</strong>ser-by.“The victim then sm<strong>as</strong>hedthe fl<strong>as</strong>h memory stick whichcontained the songs.“He then falsely claimedthat my clients took him tothe police station and beat himup to change the fact that hew<strong>as</strong> the one that committed thecrime.“There are no prosecutionwitnesses or any evidence toprove his claims; therefore Irequest my client’s acquittal.“There were also no injurymarks on the victim’s body likehe claimed, except for a smallbruise on the face when a medicalexaminer checked him.“The victim claimed he w<strong>as</strong>hit in the neck, stomach, backand other parts of the body.”Bl<strong>as</strong>t suspectsappear in courtSIX men appeared in court forthe first time yesterday in connectionwith an attack on policemen,which left one officer deadand another seriously injuredl<strong>as</strong>t year.The Bahrainis, aged 21 to 28,are accused of attempted <strong>as</strong>sault,arson and possessing Molotovcocktails.They allegedly hurled Molotovcocktails andmetal rods atpolicemen whowere forced totake shelter ina police vehicle,according tocourt documents.Eighteen othermen are beingtried in absentiain connectionwith the attack,n Mr Mohammedincluding three charged withpremeditated murder over thedeath of 19-year-old policemanImran Ahmed Mohammed – whow<strong>as</strong> killed by an explosive projectile.The attack happened in Ekerl<strong>as</strong>t October and the six defendantsin custody appeared at theHigh Criminal Court yesterdayto plead not guilty.A video of the attack postedon the Internet shows a Molotovcocktail narrowly missing MrMohammed, before he w<strong>as</strong> killedby an explosive projectile that hebent down to pick up.All 24 defendants are alsoaccused of taking part in an illegalgathering in Eker.The trial w<strong>as</strong> adjourned untilMarch 13 for the court to reviewc<strong>as</strong>e files.
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