The government of Bahrain has admitted in a public statement that its security forces used excessive force and mistreated detainees during democracy protests.
“The government has carried out its own assessments and conducted its own investigations,” it said. “These investigations have revealed things to praise as well as things to deplore. Regrettably, there have been instances of excessive force and mistreatment of detainees. This was in violation of government policy. Twenty prosecutions against the officers involved have been initiated.”
More than 40 people have been killed in the unrest which began in February. This is a serious number, but nothing in comparison to Syria, for example. Bahrain, however, has been in the international spotlight.
The statement said the country’s penal code will be amended to outlaw torture and the government will establish a national human rights organisation.
The statement comes in the run-up to the publication of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Investigation (BICI), which will be announced tomorrow. This was requested by King Hamad in June, as Bahrain reeled at the international condemnation of its behaviour.
The opposition, some of it inspired by Iran, is expected to argue that the report will play down the government violence, but it is expected that the reportw ill also draw attention to some very atrocious activities committed by the protesters as well. There continue to be protests in the Shia neighbourhoods and it is difficult to know if this is inspired by radical elements of society or an indication of the entire community. The statement said that the police force has shown “admirable restraint when faced with great provocation”, knowing that every civilian casualty is a defeat for the government.
“The extremists know this, and have engaged in reckless provocation,” it said. “The police have suffered 846 injuries since the beginning of the events; four deaths; innumerable threats and insults, especially to their families.”
The government knows that it needs to solve the problems as quickly as possible as the economy has been in trouble since the unrest began. Some financial institutions and other businesses have relocated to nearby Dubai, where there are no such problems.
This is all well and good but it is still not clear whether a Grand Prix is a good idea as it could still act as a target for protest, which would not help Bahrain and would certainly not help F1.
I don’t buy it.
The fact that by all accounts they tortured doctors as part of their trial where they were accused of helping protesters – not a crime I’m aware of except under brutal governments – means that until that government goes Bahrain will always have blood on its hands.
I don’t often deal in absolutes, but this is one situation where no apology is good enough.
The commission was appointed by the king, and the (Egyptian) judge who is chairing it has already claimed there has been no torture of detainees… The line about the police showing “admirable restraint when faced with great provocation” sums everything up – you can absolutely guarantee this report will be as much of a whitewash as the FIA’s “findings” were earlier this year.
Let’s read what the truly independent human rights groups have to say before believing anything the ruling Saudi puppets come out with.
Another instance of Joe’s wide-ranging curiosity and good reporting of events outside the F1 bubble that influence life inside the bubble.
When all the doctors and nurses have been let out of prison and compensated, only then will I start to believe.
Until such time as all charges are dropped against medical staff who treated protesters, I think it would sent a very poor signal to even schedule a Grand Prix in Bahrain.
Wilson
I would have liked to hear a team and driver saying something close to “unless they release the medics then I’m/we’re not even going to bother to go there.”
Joe, how would that affect a team with respect to the Concorde Agreement? Personally, I cannot imagine that any action would be taken by any parties (FIA, FOTA, FOA or sponsors) because it would be ethical suicide. Your opinion?
George,
Teams pretty much go where they are told to go,but there are limits, as we saw over Bahrain this year. I am sure that the Bahrainis understand the importance of the doctors, and I am sure it will be sorted out. While I am generally in favour of the protesters one must nonetheless accept that there has been some interference from extremists.
Ooops! We did bad stuff, then we got caught out, now we’re being punished.
Let’s apologize and act humble for a little while until the focus of (some of) the world’s media is elsewhere, then it’s business as usual.
Call me cynical, but until profound changes happen at the heart of government and all innocent people have freedom and rights restored (with appropriate reparation) I, for one, just don’t buy it.
And neither should the FIA, FOM, FOTA, etc.
Words without action mean nothing.
Were another peaceful protest to emerge tomorrow, would the Bahraini government allow it, or would they send in the riot police and crack skulls? Would they jail the protestors without charge? Would they torture them?
I think we all know the answers to those questions.
And so we should all know the answer as to whether Formula One should be used by the Bahrain government to plaster over the terrible things happening there.
Release the political prisoners, (not just the doctors), allow peaceful protests, -then- maybe, Formula One should consider revisiting Bahrain. Until then, there is absolutely no upside in Formula One staging an event in that nation.
Holding a race in Bahrain before any real reforms occur could do real and lasting damage to the sport. As Bernie is always reminding us, there are dozens of nations begging for the privileged of hosting a grand prix. The sport should not allow itself to be used by these thugs.
Reasons for not going to Bahrain: Too numerous to list. Reasons for going to Bahrain: More money for Bernie and his family.
Lon,
That is a rather simplistic analysis.
I would rather not see F1 race in Bahrain, but it’s hard for me to argue against it when a large fleet from my own country is based in Bahrain. I would rather not see both F1 and the U.S. fleet in Bahrain.
Joe, this is changing the topic, but has there ever been any talk of a Grand Prix in Iran? I can’t stand this hatred and war talk from the west (U.S.) towards Iran. I realize Iran it not perfect but still, it seems over the top. I would love to see F1 or Indycar hold a race in that country. Call it the Friend Ship Grand Prix.
Joe, To echo most of the other correspondents, “what happened to the doctors and nurses?” Looks like a good place to avoid. Do you think companies like Vodafone want to be associated with that race? Now I come to think of it, most corporates in F1 could not give a flying fig for anyone’s human rights.
Tony G,
Obviously the question of the doctors needs to be sorted out, but it is good sign that the government is at least making noises accepting some of the blame. It is better than it was.
Joe,
I couldn’t help but notice that there is already a national human rights organisation for Bahrain, which incidentally played a big role in distorting the facts- i.e., dismissing reported human rights violations, and not acknowledging the violations found by other organisations- throughout February, March, April and May of this year.
I also couldn’t help but notice you state that some of the opposition are inspired by Iran. I’m not sure whether you meant it, but this implies that there is a sizeable proportion of protestors and political opposition who are extremist, Iranian-backed fruitcakes. On the contrary, Mr Reality says that this would give undue credidance to empty government propaganda, which was unsuccessfully employed during the period of great unrest. It would be arguable whether there are more than a dozen or so protestors who are inspired by Iran, if at all. Indeed, a number of political parties have been effectively excluded by the government, using its own propaganda to justify.
Praising a movement in the right direction, however anecdotal it may be- in this case, very-, is all fine and well, but reality sometimes cuts short celebration. A 16 year old boy recently died during a protest. According to a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, the teenager was merely “caught between a police patrol jeep and a house wall behind him”. I’m sure that that is not a case of window dressing, likewise with the statements you quoted. Is it really necessary to lavish them in such a way- to propagate a baseless rhetoric which the government made itself? Honest question, btw.
Seb,
It implies no such thing and I object to you inferring such things. I have been one of the major voices in the F1 world calling Bahrain into question and as a result of that I have been dragged into it rather more than I would have liked. However, you are not fully informed if you think that there are not two sides in this conflict, not just good guys in the streets and bad guys in the government. At least some of the trouble was deliberately stirred up by Iran. You need only to look at the Internet to know that this is true as there is a constant stream of Iranian-sourced stories about Bahrain. Unfortunately if one is in a position to check most of them out, they are simply not true. They are propaganda. In addition the protesters (whoever they may be) have done some pretty atrocious things to members of the security forces, which have not all been reported. The question is really to what extent the trouble is stirred up deliberately and to what extent it is spontaneous. That is the hard question to answer and I do not claim to be able to answer it. There is clearly still trouble on the streets and while this is happening I doubt that it is a good idea for F1 to go to Bahrain. However, this is a subject where there are no simplistic divisions between those in white hats and those in black hats. There are (as always) many shades of grey.
I think that if anyone believes this stuff, they’ll believe anything.
Grabyrdy
I believe that Alejandro Agag in the background of this story. Bankers are not stupid people. My guess is that the move to Valencia and signing De la Rosa are things that were needed to unlock Spanish government-related money, which the new government will organise. Thus while it is being done by Thesan, I believe that they are acting on behalf of Agag. They will take the criticism because they want the cash the sale will bring/has brought them and they don’t care what anyone thinks about them. Agag does not want people making a fuss about his connections with the incoming PP government and the Rajoy/Aznar connection. It is clear, however, that he operates at this kind of level.
He joined PP’s youth organisation at the age of 18 and was elected its international secretary in 1994. That year he became deputy secretary general of the European People’s Party. In 1996 the PP won elections in Spain and Agag was named as political advisor to Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Then in 1999 he was elected a European MP and was also promoted to secretary general of the European People’s Party. He was active all round Europe and helped Silvio Berlusconi’s election campaign in 2001. That year he decided to drop out of politics and concentrate on business. He married Aznar’s daughter and began doing deals in finance and sport, notably the Spanish F1 TV rights deal, which turned out to be highly lucrative as Fernando Alonso emerged. He had close links with Flavio Briatore. And in recent times was involved in the dealings of the F1 moguls in the QPR soccer team. It is no crime to be involved in peddling influence and connections.
Another European MP who did much the same as Agag is Alan Donnelly, Max Mosley’s former close advisor, who managed to get himself into some powerful positions in the FIA before Jean Todt’s broom cleaned him out of the federation after Mosley’s departure.
Not long ago, I was invited to a lunch and found myself sitting on a table with Agag. He did not know who I was and we were not properly introduced. He told some amusing tales. After I departed he apparently asked who I was and I heard that he went rather pale when he found out. However, as I had accepted that the event was not an “on the record” affair, I wrote nothing. I did however learn that Agag must be considered rather careless.
It is worth noting that his name came up recently as a result of an investigation by the Naples Prosecution Service relating to alleged payment of kickbacks by the Italian public company Finmeccanica to government officials in Colombia in exchange for arms contracts. The Prosecution Service is investigating Berlusconi. Agag’s name was apparently mentioned in telephone intercepts of the former Miss Colombia, Debbie Castaneda, who complained that she had been cheated out of a one percent “commission” in a $800 million deal which she orchestrated but Agag completed. The model reportedly said that she would complain to Berlusconi himself. Agag denied there was any such deal. I do not know if the Italians are pursuing the story or not.
The big question with the HRT story is whether Agag is the puppet master, or whether his strings are being pulled but higher forces. I am told that he and Briatore are no longer close (thank goodness) but I believe that he is still on good terms with Bernie Ecclestone, who will no doubt be happy to see the Spanish team moving into more friendly hands.
” A surgeon, Dr Fatima Haji, described how she temporarily lost her sight after being subjected to electric shocks following her arrest.
She said: “I was blindfolded all the time and they handcuffed me with my hands at the back. I looked like a goat or a sheep, ready to be slaughtered at any time.
“They started to beat me on my head. Then I was electrocuted on my head. I lost my vision that night. I could not see. It was all whitening. I was not able to see.” ”
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16115007
bt62b,
Just what is being admitted to.
It’s one thing to write a report citing what one should or shouldn’t do. It’s something completely different to actually act upon it.
This is called window dressing. And defending repression with “exstremist” activities is what the teach you in autocrat 101.
vitaly,
Nothing like having an open mind.
When they’ve convinced Mark Webber, I might think about it.
In addition to seeing the medico’s treated properly, we also need to see how high up the supposed prosecutions go. If they just lock up a few captains and below, well, we know what that means…
Short of very major corrective action, I don’t see how they could clear the slate in time for next year’s race. Not enough time for a substantive track record of repair unless they go about it with unexpected gusto.
RShack,
I never met anyone before who based their poltical views on what a racing driver thinks. Just think about that for a minute.
Neither should the new WEC go there. ACO is clearly going there for the money. Shame on ACO.
Despite the problems and politics, motor racing enthusiasts got on with it at the Bahrain circuit with the National Racing Festival last weekend where they ran races for the WGA Middle East Championship, BIC 2,000CC Challenge and the Bahrain National Drag Racing Championships (where three new world records were set under the watchful eye of Danny Gracia, Technical Director of the NHRA).
Joe Rshack has a semi valid point. Mark Webber does tend to speak his mind in his BBC website columns and is not afraid of saying in his opinion they shouldn’t go to Bahrain.
As I read the statement it´s still OK to assault medical personal which assist injured and dying victims.
With ‘mouth for hire’ Sir Jackie Stewart acting as their PR man, their
credibility has to be questionable, to say the least.
I opened an economist from late 2009 earlier, whilst in A&E with a broken ankle and it was pretty interesting…
They had an advert for Bahrain investment being a ‘friendly and remarkably hospitable’ place that’s friendly to western business. They also said they had 0% income tax and 0% corporate tax which sounded appealing.
There was also a page dedicated to Qaddafi and how Libya was actually pretty good for the nationals with regards to recent investment etc.
The Arab Spring really did change the world.
joesaward
> RShack,
>
> I never met anyone before who based their poltical views on what a racing
> driver thinks. Just think about that for a minute.
You still haven’t. Quite independently of Mr. Webber, I have observed an absence of any positive track record on the part of those who hold power in the wealthier areas of that part of the world to keep their word about the positive things we might like to believe are on the horizon for their regular folk. The shortage is not in the supply of reassuring words, but rather in the follow through. While I will be quite happy to see things trending in a different way, I have not observed it as yet. As I’m sure we can agree, promises made by political people who are under pressure should be considered iffy until proven otherwise.
In the meantime, Mr. Webber has demonstrated himself to be one of the few in F1 who seems to pay attention to such matters and offer a sound and humane opinion. So, while I will continue to form my own political opinions without his help, he has taught me that his comments about F1′s role are worth considering.
Even so, while his comments may cause me to listen, I did not say that he would decide my opinion for me. But given the tenor of my comment, combined with the immense opportunities for misunderstanding that this e-medium provides, I can certainly understand how you might have taken it that way.
Is what Colin Baker says true? If so, that’s shattered my faith in JYS…although I guess he’s always been irresistably attracted to royalty.