Detailed Flaifel reportage is sign of changing times

In a sign of the new times in Bahrain, the island's once-closely monitored newspapers have been providing their readers for the last two weeks with detailed reports and a whole lot of opinion pieces dealing with the controversial case of a fugitive former senior state security officer who fled the country after being accused of several cases of extortion.

Flaifel, a controversial officer in the now-disbanded General Directorate of State Security Intelligence, fled Bahrain on May 3 to an unknown country while being investigated by the government regarding at least nine complaints of extortion cases worth at least 10 million dinars ($27 million). Some has even estimated the total amount involved to be as high as 24 million dinars.

Since then, the local media has been extensively reporting on the case with no apparent interference by the government. Most Flaifel stories, noticeably, are being prominently featured on front pages.

"With regard to this story, we have been reporting facts only and at our own discretion," Habib Toumi, assistant editor of the English language daily the Bahrain Tribune told Gulf News yesterday. The paper, he added "has absolutely not received anything, written or orally, from any governmental body saying for example: write this or don't write that'."

Writing in Sunday's Arabic daily Al Ayam, columnist Ahmed Jumaa noted: "The first municipal elections to be held in the country (since the 1950s) have coincided with the overwhelming public debate on the fugitive officer Adel Flaifel. The two developments reflect the new political situation in Bahrain."

The details of Flaifel's case were first announced by the government – the Interior Ministry – in an official statement issued on May 4. He wrote: "Therefore, we appreciate the transparency demonstrated by this department and those behind this move."

Khlail Yousif, writing on the same day, says His Majesty the King, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khlaifa "takes the credit for having this case unveiled, as he personally ordered the investigation (into the officer's dealings) after the Royal Court had received complaints from businessmen who explained how the fugitive colonel blackmailed and threatened them, confiscated their rights and seized their properties and funds."

With this action, Yousif wrote, the king reaffirms his determination to continue the political reform process, launched in the National Action Charter early last year.

"We can also figure out from this move that His Majesty is determined to seriously tackle corruption and reveal the corrupt, whatever their positions or exceptional powers," he added.

Nevertheless, the columnist raised questions over the way Flaifel have managed to flee the country.

Columnist Ahmed Kamal, meanwhile, had the most explicitly critical remarks for the Interior Ministry which, he says, "committed a mistake when it failed to arrest (Flaifel) after the first session of investigation by Public Security officials because the first session revealed the volume of the crimes he had perpetrated."