Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
326. The protesters’ demands had increased significantly since earlier
demonstrations, especially those organised before the clearing of the GCC
Roundabout on 17 February. Many demonstrators were no longer demanding
mere changes to the Constitution, increased powers for Parliament or greater
social and economic equality. Rather, the protesters were now almost unified
in chanting, “The people demand the removal of the regime”, which had been
a prominent cry in other Arab countries that experienced mass protests, such
as Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Syria. Many protesters also directed their
chants and slogans at HM King Hamad by chanting,
“Down…down…Hamad”, and, “Leave…leave”, in reference to the monarch.
In addition, while they were demonstrating outside the office of the Council of
Ministers, many protesters rejected the limited cabinet reshuffle that had been
announced the day before and which they considered insufficient and
designed merely to placate public anger. The demonstrators openly demanded
the resignation of the Prime Minister and the entire cabinet, and threatened
further escalation by marching towards other areas of the capital. Other
protesters lifted pictures of the martyrs who had died in clashes with security
forces, and expressed their resolve to achieve the objectives for which the
martyrs had died. A few of the demonstrators carried pictures of Mr Hassan
Almeshaima, who was known to be arriving that day in Bahrain.
327. Many of the protesters carried flowers as a symbol of their
peacefulness. This practice continued in many of the demonstrations during
the following weeks.
328. As the afternoon proceeded, demonstrators returned to the GCC
Roundabout where speeches were being given by political leaders of various
affiliations. Among those speaking that day were Sheikh Ali Salman, Sheikh
Hassan Aldehiey and Mr Mohamed Habib Alsafaf. Others present included
Dr Abduljalil Alsankis, Mr Hussein Alakraf and Sheikh Saeed Alnoury.
329. Meanwhile, the GoB and Al Wefaq continued to discuss the
modalities of the national dialogue and the steps needed to initiate it. Mr
Zayed Al-Zayani, an adviser to HRH the Crown Prince, held a meeting with
Sheikh Ali Salman during which the latter offered the following points as a
framework for dialogue: (i) a democratic system that would guarantee that
neither sect would oppress the other; (ii) an elected and fully empowered
government which reflected the principle that the people were the source of
authority; and (iii) an elected parliament with full legislative powers.
According to the representatives of HRH the Crown Prince, when Al Wefaq
was asked what it was willing to concede in return for government
concessions on these issues, Sheikh Ali Salman asserted that Al Wefaq could
clear 90% of the GCC Roundabout and that they could change the slogans
chanted in demonstrations from “down with the regime” to “reform the
regime”. This came as a surprise to the representatives of HRH the Crown
Prince, since Al Wefaq had claimed during earlier discussions that they had
lost control of the streets.
330. During these discussions, Al Wefaq expressed discontent with what
they considered to be the biased coverage of the unfolding situation by
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