Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter IV — Narrative of Events of February and March 2011
stage, the GoB took a number of measures designed to placate public anger
and engaged, through HRH the Crown Prince, in negotiations with groups
from across the political spectrum in an attempt to reach a solution to the
ongoing crisis. Among the measures undertaken by the GoB was granting
protestors unfettered access to the GCC Roundabout, dismissing four Cabinet
Ministers, pardoning large numbers of individuals convicted in political cases
and allowing exiled political leaders to return to Bahrain. The GoB also
allowed demonstrations and marches to be held throughout Bahrain and
ensured that the Public Security Forces exercised considerable self-restraint
and did not disperse these protests. No fatalities were recorded during the
period from 18 February to 15 March 2011.
664. While efforts to find a negotiated solution to the ongoing crisis in
Bahrain were underway, other aspects of government policy seem to have
exacerbated public discontent. For example, government media outlets,
especially Bahrain Television, provoked criticism for what many considered
to be biased coverage of the unfolding events promoting sectarianism.
665. As the weeks passed, there were a number of important
developments. The most significant were the sectarian clashes, the disruption
of classes in many schools as students participated in political marches, the
violent clashes at the University of Bahrain, the attacks against expatriates, the
blocking of major thoroughfares in Manama, the creation of “popular
committees” and the setting up of checkpoints in many neighbourhoods to
defend against vandals.
666. By 12-13 March, the general state of law and order in Bahrain had
significantly deteriorated. This, coupled with the failure of political
negotiations between HRH the Crown Prince and the opposition, led the GoB
to take steps to restore order and maintain security. The GoB requested
assistance from GCC-JSF which arrived on 14 March followed by the
issuance of Royal Decree No. 18 of 2011 pursuant to which a State of
National Safety was declared in Bahrain. The GCC-JSF did not participate in
any riot control operations and did not engage with any civilians.
667. In the following weeks, the GoB forcefully confronted all forms of
demonstrations in Bahrain. Public Security Forces were dispatched to the
various villages and neighbourhoods to disperse demonstrations. The BDF
was deployed to the centre of Manama, where the GCC Roundabout was
cordoned-off and later removed. The GoB also arrested many of the political
leaders of the protest movement and set up checkpoints throughout Bahrain
where people found to have either participated in demonstrations or
sympathised with the demonstrators were arrested. Many of those arrested
were subjected to mistreatment at police stations. This situation continued
until 31 March 2011.
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