Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry
444. Multiple attempts to dissuade the demonstrators and convince them to
turn back failed. A senior police officer warned the demonstrators to retreat,
explaining that large numbers of predominantly Sunni residents of Riffa had
gathered behind the police barricade, and therefore allowing the protesters
through would lead to violent confrontations. At 15:30, the President of the
Council of Representatives arrived to attempt to convince the protesters to
depart. The total number of people on both sides of the barricade was
estimated to exceed 8,000.
445. Most of the demonstrators chanted the slogan, “The people demand
the removal of the regime”, while many others chanted, “Yaskot … yaskot
Hamad” (“Down … down Hamad”). The demonstrators also criticised the
Prime Minister and demanded his resignation.
446. At 17:00, when attempts to persuade the demonstrators to vacate the
area had failed, and after many of them had managed to break through the
barbed wire fence, police began dispersing them using tear gas. By 17:30, the
area had been cleared of all demonstrators.
447. Later that evening, pro-government demonstrators gathered in the
vicinity of the Prime Minister’s residence to voice their support of the GoB.
448. Meanwhile, a much larger demonstration was organised in the Seef
district to call for the abrogation of the 2002 Constitution. Tens of thousands
of individuals participated in this march, which was called for by Al Wefaq,
Wa’ad, the Islamic Action Society, the National Democratic Assemblage, the
Nationalist Democratic Society, Al Ikha’ National Society and the Al Menbar
Progressive Democratic Society. The demonstrators demanded that the
Constitution be rewritten and called on the Prime Minister to resign. Some of
the participants also demanded the removal of the regime and accountability
for those responsible for killing peaceful protesters.
449. Following the event, the political opposition groups leading the
demonstration issued a statement in which they announced that the protest had
proved that the people of Bahrain had rejected the 2002 Constitution. They
also called for the election of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new
constitution that would provide for a fully elected and empowered legislature,
a government freely elected by the people, the peaceful transfer of power,
equality before the law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
and free and fair elections. The statement also denounced the 2002
Constitution because it was “concocted in the dark behind the backs of the
people” and because it contradicted the National Action Charter, especially as
related to the requirement that legislative functions be within the exclusive
purview of the elected chamber of Parliament.
450. At the GCC Roundabout, protests, events and discussions continued
much the same as in the previous days. Community leaders and political
figures of various backgrounds gave speeches. At 19:00, a march that had
departed from SMC arrived at the roundabout, and later in the evening another
candle light vigil left from the roundabout to the UN offices.
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