I once travelled to Israel, with a politician, a trenchant critic of Israel’s policy towards the Palestinians.
The Israeli ambassador in Canberra therefore invited the politician to come and see for himself, to get a “better understanding of the problem.”
Israel would pay – something that the politician, wisely rejected.
“OK, but Israel will arrange all the calls on senior politicians and officials.”
“Agreed.”
And so to Tel Aviv, naturally, alerting the Australian Embassy.
Access was good, lots of interesting contacts, sights, Israelis both pro and anti-government as interlocutors, invariably about relations with the Palestinians.
Everywhere, we had guides and minders, “for your own security, of course.”
And even happy to arrange a call on Hanan Ashrawi, the Palestinian legislator and activist.
“Thank you, but no. We will get the embassy to arrange that.”
Glum look, “Security,” muttered audibly.
No minders, no chaperones, and forth we went to Jericho, just Australians.
There, very different stories about deprivation, struggles, injustice,
And when we returned to Canberra, the politician was an even stronger advocate of the need to a more fully engaged, Palestinian State.
“My friend,” the Israeli ambassador, told the politician, “I think you need a visit to Israel!”
Everyone laughed.
Which brings me to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, who has got under a lot of skins, for what is regarded as a very one sided view of Bahrain’s human rights record.
Now various Bahraini luminaries have insisted the Commissioner come to Bahrain to see “the situation for himself.”
“Bahrain has nothing to hide,” trilled MPs, offering an open invitation to visit villages, open discussions with the most senior minister or officials, full access to Jaw prison and talk to any prisoner, including alleged political
prisoners, on any subject.
What could be better than that?
Well nothing really, not if it is indeed open.
While facilitation will be necessary and indeed welcome in parts, resist the presence of hordes of faceless minders, that in my experience, whose presence, is often stultifying.
Far better four or eight eyes meetings, the minister or senior official, the commissioner, and a note-taker, one from either side, thus a better chance of getting somewhere.
Ask the High Commissioner for a list of the things, the people HE wants to see, NOT a list made out for him to visit.
Show and tell, in the broadest sense.
The commissioner has an agenda and in the main, the interlocutors are there to explain and respond to any allegations made.
The agenda at each meeting, is the commissioners’
Don’t shepherd or “gild” the visit, facilitate, but step away and stay away, so the Commissioner can’t claim to have been “led everywhere.”
Let him go to a village at night, inside a police vehicle perhaps, and see the nightly disruption and thuggery, first hand.
And ensure there is a “final meeting” to get his views and correct any misconceptions, where possible.
There is every right to hear his views.
And make sure there is a note taker!
wpeppinck@hotmail.com