Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
which the national dialogue could be held. This proposal
would eliminate all the negative aspects of other proposals
and would provide the following positive features:
i. A dialogue on political reform should be undertaken in
a constitutional institution that is governed by rules of
procedure, mechanisms and specific deadlines and
timelines, and not in the form of a workshop, which is
not a legal structure and which is incapable of
producing a result of a legal nature that achieves the
desired constitutional reform.
ii. An elected Constituent Assembly would reflect the true
weight of each party in society.
iii. A Constituent Assembly would be a forum for national
dialogue that would not be based on sectarianism.
iv. Differences in opinion are normal, but there would be a
way to find common ground through a Constituent
Assembly, especially since the election campaigns held
before the elections would give the parties an
opportunity to outline their views on the political
system of the country.
v. The Constituent Assembly would protect the dialogue
from developments that could lead to its failure, such
as foreign intervention or the withdrawal of any
parties.
vi. HRH the Crown Prince, within the current
constitutional structure, does not have a mandate to
conduct this dialogue. Even the mandate issued for
him to conduct the dialogue did not come in a form
stipulated in the constitution. Therefore, there is no
constitutional basis for HRH the Crown Prince to
conduct this dialogue or to implement its results.
vii. This proposal would deflate public anger and direct
attention towards the Constituent Assembly.
viii. Electing a Constituent Assembly has been the preferred
option of many other countries that experienced similar
events.
ix. If this proposal is not adopted, there is nothing that can
guarantee that the ceiling of demands will not rise
further. At that point, the Constituent Assembly may
no longer be an acceptable solution.
x. The result of the dialogue must be the adoption of a
new constitution that comes into force upon adoption.
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