UK: Queen's Jubilee monarchs' lunch criticized over
guest list
By the CNN Wire Staff
May 18, 2012 -- Updated 0933 GMT
(1733 HKT)
London (CNN) -- Rights groups have slammed a lunch being
hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Friday for including monarchs
criticized over their countries' human rights records.
Among those expected to attend the event at Windsor
Castle is the king of Bahrain, whose government has come under fire for its
crackdown on anti-government protests last year and its handling of continuing
unrest.
Swaziland's King Mswati III, accused by critics of
enjoying a lavish lifestyle at public expense while his people suffer great
poverty, will also be there.
The monarchs' lunch is part of celebrations of the
Queen's Diamond Jubilee, marking her 60 years on the throne. It will be
followed by an evening banquet at Buckingham Palace hosted by Prince Charles
and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said it was
"outrageous that the Queen has invited royal tyrants to celebrate her
Diamond Jubilee."
He called for the invitations to monarchs heading
nations with poor records on rights to be withdrawn by the Queen.
Rights group Amnesty International said the event
risked giving the impression that Britain did not care about the victims of
human rights abuses.
"We can imagine why victims of recent human
rights abuses in countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and Thailand
might feel their plight has been ignored when they see the guest list for the
Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations," said Philip Luther, Middle East and
North Africa director for Amnesty International.
He said Bahrain's King Hamad al-Khalifa had made
some efforts to address the abuses committed last year by setting up an
independent inquiry -- but that failures to ensure reforms are fully
implemented "make his promises seem hollow."
Luther added: "He should use this occasion to
commit to releasing the prisoners of conscience still held in Bahrain and
ensure true accountability for the violations of the last year."
A Foreign Office spokesman defended the presence of
King Hamad al-Khalifa at the lunch, saying Britain and Bahrain "work
together closely on a range of important issues."
"The UK is a long standing friend and ally of
Bahrain and ministers regularly meet with Bahraini counterparts in the UK and
abroad," he said.
"This strong relationship also allows us to
have a full and frank discussion on a range of issues including those
where we have concerns. On human rights we support the reforms already underway
in Bahrain and we want to help promote that reform."
The Foreign Office has encouraged the Bahraini
government to take "further urgent steps" to implement reforms
recommended by the inquiry last year, he said. "This includes bringing to
account those individuals responsible for human rights abuses."
Grand Prix organizers were urged to cancel the F1
race in Bahrain last month because of concerns over human rights.
Bahrain is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet and is
viewed as an important bulwark against Iran's influence in the Persian Gulf.
The Foreign Office said all world sovereigns have been
invited to the lunch, which was organized by the Royal Household with its help.
Not all those invited to lunch are on the guest list
for the evening event. The menus for the two meals have not been made public.
Royals from Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway,
Sweden and Monaco are among those invited to both events, as are the Emperor
and Empress of Japan.
CNN's Max Foster, David Wilkinson and Laura
Smith-Spark contributed to this report.
