Grand Prix decision masks Bahrain’s political unrest as blood flows in the streets

editor: In the past twenty four hours dozens have been shot with “birdshot” in village protests. The usual barrage of Chemical Gas that fills the air has been curtailed in an obvious effort to “clear the air” for race day. In short, the MOI Police have intensified their use of more lethal and injurious force in order to provide greater comfort for the race teams and fans. Impunity and State Violence of this nature is an invitation to disastrous consequences. Motor Sports unbridled greed will be a stain on Grand Prix motors sports for years to come, as the spineless F1 teams become the moral-less bastards and trod on the blood Bahrainis who are dying for the basic democratic freedoms the racers enjoy. All the while Bahrain’s heartless, shameful King Hamad “force feeds” a hunger striker near death in order to hold his race without a back drop of the murderous unjust detentions of hundreds of political prisoners under torture and mistreatment. Phlipn.

Grand Prix decision masks Bahrain’s political unrest
Frank Gardner – BBC – 13 April, 2012

So Bahrain’s Formula 1 Grand Prix is going ahead after all.

By Sunday night, the racing cars will start being loaded up onto cargo planes in Shanghai and heading west across the Indian Ocean.

By Tuesday, the whole F1 entourage will have arrived in the tiny, troubled Gulf state, ahead of the Grand Prix on 22 April at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).

The decision to override concerns about safety and ethics and go ahead is a victory for the Bahraini government, the business community, expatriates and many others.

It is also a setback for anti-government activists and human rights organisations, who fear the whole event will be used by the ruling family to pretend everything is back to normal in Bahrain. It is not.
‘Not much has changed’

Amnesty International has just brought out a new report saying: “The human rights crisis in Bahrain is not over.”

“Despite the authorities’ claims to the contrary, state violence against those who oppose the Al Khalifa family rule continues, and in practice, not much has changed in the country since the brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters in February and March 2011.”
Bernie Ecclestone speaks to reporters in Shanghai (13 April 2012) Bernie Ecclestone said there was no difference between holding a GP in China and Bahrain

The organisation goes on to say: “Holding the Grand Prix in Bahrain in 2012 risks being interpreted by the government of Bahrain as symbolising a return to business as usual.”

Social media websites, which do not always reflect real opinion on the ground, have been alive with discussion on the issue.

Most commentators condemn the decision to go ahead, unaware or perhaps overlooking the fact that this Sunday’s Grand Prix will be held in China.

Last year, China was also criticised by Amnesty for “jailing and persecuting people for peacefully expressing their views”, where “the use of illegal forms of detention expanded, including… detention in ‘black’ jails, ‘brainwashing’ centres and psychiatric institutions”.

Some argue that sport should be above politics; others say it is immoral to hold the event in any either country with a human rights record like that.

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula 1 boss, who has been one of the strongest proponents of holding a Grand Prix in Bahrain, and whose picture is already being set fire to in certain Shia districts, says: “There is no difference between holding it [in China] or in Bahrain.”
Women protest against the detention of a politician and human rights activist in Bahrain (12 April 2012) Civil unrest has continued since mass pro-demcracy protests erupted in February 2011

Not quite true, say some, pointing out that in China there is no sizeable or visible protest movement demanding that the Grand Prix is called off. …more