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MP defiant over telephone mast
Saudi Arabia Created: 15 Nov 2009
AN MP under fire over a mobile telephone mast erected in his own backyard has vowed to have it removed - but only if it is proven to be illegal or harmful to his neighbours.

Jawad Fairooz argued he was one of eight people in the area to agree to a phone mast being erected on his property, including his next door neighbour.

However, he claims he is being targeted as part of a political smear campaign designed to erode his credibility - especially with parliament elections expected to take place in less than a year.

He also questioned whether the government agreed with claims by municipal councillors that such masts were illegal, since it had not objected to them going up.

"I am committed to abide by the law and will yield to any decision laid down by the law."

Protesters have set up camp outside Mr Fairooz's house, in Hamad Town, for several days - erecting banners and even a tent right outside his property calling for the mast to be pulled down.

It is the latest twist in an ongoing campaign against telecom firms putting up such masts in residential neighbourhoods.

Mr Fairooz is also the chairman of parliament's public utilities and environment committee, which has distanced itself from looking into telecommunication masts because they are "not part of its specialities".

However, Mr Fairooz claimed that since the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) appeared to have no problem with the masts, then he had done nothing wrong.

"The telecom company is responsible for the mast, the TRA is responsible for licensing the company and the government is responsible for giving this power to the TRA to put up these masts," he said, suggesting that anyone upset with the phone mast should contact the government.

"Do not blame me for the law because I will abide by the law completely."

He also vowed to meet any member of his constituency who wanted to discuss the issue with him directly.

However, the head of the Northern Municipal Council - area in which Mr Fairooz lives - told the GDN that he thought the phone mast was illegal.

Council chairman Yousif Al Boori claimed that all phone masts erected without council's permission were against the law.

"All 45 masts in my governorate are illegal because they have been set up without any permits," he said.

He added that even if health concerns were not taken into account, the appearance of mobile phone masts was spoiling neighbourhoods.

"Environment specialists who have said so far there are no negative impacts on health say that masts being put up without licences are unacceptable because they are very random and their appearance destroys the surroundings," he said.

"In countries abroad, these phone masts are cleverly hidden and are given a beautifying touch."

Mr Al Boori also accused phone companies behind new masts of ignoring notices to take them down. "The companies are not paying any attention to the Northern Municipality's notices and I believe that they have strong support," he said.

"This is the first time we face such a problem with another party and that is why we need to strengthen municipality laws."

The GDN reported at the end of September that municipal councils were planning to dismantle all mobile phone masts that had been put up without their permission.

However, they agreed to back down after the TRA agreed to come up with new procedures for erecting masts and aerials on rooftops in three months. The TRA and municipal bodies will then review existing sites without permits before informing operators to remove structures that do not comply with the new rules.

Councillors have claimed telecom companies are paying up to BD1,000 a month to erect mobile phone masts on people's roofs without permission.

Bahrain's 2002 Telecommunications Law states telecom companies can construct installations on private property if an agreement is reached with building owners.

However, the Building Regulation Law of 1977 states that landowners require municipality consent to modify any building.
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Source: Gulf Daily News, RASHA AL QAHTAN, 14 Nov 2009

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