Vigilante threat to labour camp

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
VIGILANTES in a Segaiya neighbourhood are threatening to take the law into their own hands if 100 expatriate workers are moved into accommodation in the area. Violence is likely as the residents have a history of driving out groups of expatriate workers housed in the area, says a councillor. The residents are furious that a Bahraini businessman has rented two neighbouring homes, which he is currently renovating to house 100 workers. Manama Municipal Council has been trying to negotiate a compromise between the property owner, the businessman who has rented the buildings and the residents.
But the residents are adamant that they will drive the men out if they move into the homes.
Residents in the same area have driven out other expatriate workers by threatening to set their accommodation ablaze.
They have a history of violent clashes with expatriate workers housed in the area, area councillor and council technical committee chairman Majeed Al Sebea'a told the GDN yesterday.
"The expatriate labourers who were living here before, of whom many have left, have been doing many irritating and immoral things that the residents were upset with," he said.
"They tried to remove them peacefully, but they were unable to do so, so they resorted to force, which I believe is wrong.
"If they don't want these labourers, then I can't force them to accept them, even if the labourers don't break the law."
Mr Al Sebea'a said that 30 family heads out of 400 people had submitted a petition to the council, warning that if nothing is done, they will take action themselves. "They are threatening to stage demonstrations by the end of the week or early next week," he said. "There were plans before to turn the house into a school, but residents rejected the proposal and permission was never given. "I have met the businessman renting the place and he is willing to co-operate, but is unable to do so because he is obliged to fulfil a two-year contract." The businessman renting the two houses is former Shura Council member Ibrahim Nonoo, who told the GDN yesterday that he did not want trouble in the neighbourhood or any harm to his employees. "I am obliged to pay BD46,000 for the two-year contract and whether I stay or leave, I must pay it, unless the government forces me out," he said. "Mr Al Sebea'a is very keen on having the issue solved, but the residents don't want to compromise. "The new employees are expected to come in batches for my Basma Cleaning Company. "There is no legislation banning bachelor labourers living in residential neighbourhoods, but if the government sends me a paper saying otherwise, then the contract will be terminated immediately." Mr Nonoo said he was willing to sit with residents and promise them that his workers would not disturb the community. "Whatever the residents believe is wrong I will ask my employees not to do," he said.