Fresh violence in Bahrain after F1 gets go-ahead
Violence erupted in Bahrain between police and protesters on Friday, hours after Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone declared the Gulf nation safe to host a grand prix next week.
All 12 teams told Ecclestone on Friday they were happy to travel to the tiny kingdom despite the ongoing political unrest and no extra safety precautions being put in place.
"There's nothing happening (in Bahrain),'' Ecclestone said in Shanghai ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. "I know people that live there and it's all very quiet and peaceful.''
But clashes broke out after the funeral of activist Ahmed Ismail, who authorities say was killed late last month by gunfire during a protest, although it is still unclear who fired the shots.
"No F1, no F1 ... they killed my son in cold blood,'' sobbed Ismail's mother, Makyia Ahmed, who said her son had been a volunteer at previous F1 races.
Firebombs were hurled Friday by some protesters, who were chanting anti-government slogans, and riot police fired tear gas and bird shot to clear the crowds. Several people were injured by the bird shot pellets.
Race organizers canceled last year's grand prix after the outbreak of violence which has led to at least 50 deaths. The harsh crackdown by the Sunni-led government was imposed after Bahrain's Shiite majority demanded a greater political voice.
Human rights groups criticized the race being reinstated this year, and protesters have galvanized supporters by chanting against Formula One in marches, while criticizing Ecclestone and drivers on social media websites.
Amnesty International warned that "the human rights crisis in Bahrain is not over.''
The London-based group said that despite authorities' claims the Gulf kingdom is calm and free of political unrest, the "state violence against those who oppose the Al Khalifa family rule continues,'' referring to the family of the king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
"Holding the Grand Prix in Bahrain in 2012 risks being interpreted by the government of Bahrain as symbolizing a return to business as usual,'' Amnesty's statement said.
A group calling themselves the Feb. 14 Coalition _ named for the anniversary of the uprising – denounced the decision to stage a grand prix in a week as "against our wishes and the feelings of the people of Bahrain.''
But Ecclestone said he believes the problems in the country should not affect the race for a second year running.
"I'm happy that our position is quite clear,'' he said. "We don't get involved in politics in a country. We go to a country like we come here. They will sort out their internal problems, I'm quite sure.''
And Ecclestone claimed there were no dissenting voices among the teams.
"It was asked whether anybody had any problems and everybody said, 'No, no problem at all,''' he said.
Most F1 drivers were reluctant to comment on the Bahrain situation when asked in China, but Red Bull's Mark Webber said racing against the background of social and political unrest put drivers in a difficult position.
"Ultimately, we are all human. We have morals, we have ways we see things,'' he said. "We like to think that people and situations are fair and everything is, as I suppose, correct as we would like it to be.
"As a grand prix driver, I'm contracted to the team, they're contracted to the FIA (governing body). They hold a 20-round world championship. We go to those venues and race. And that's where it is.''
Webber's boss at Red Bull insisted that the team would not compromise on the safety of its staff.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that the teams have to "trust and respect'' the judgement of the FIA.
"We take the security of all our employees very carefully and so inevitably, as with other races, sometimes extra precautions are taken and we'll do our best to ensure that all our guys and girls are in a secure environment,'' he said. "But I don't doubt that for a moment. The statement from the FIA is clear.''
The FIA said federation president Jean Todt visited Bahrain in November and met with Shiite members of parliament, the president of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, European ambassadors, the crown prince, the interior minister and businessmen to discuss the political situation in the country and viability of the race.
"All expressed their wish for the grand prix to go ahead in 2012, and since then, the FIA has kept in close touch with all these stakeholders,'' the governing body said. "Away from the public eye, the FIA has received regular security briefings from the most senior diplomatic officials based in the kingdom as well as from other independent experts.''
The Bahrain organizers are now pressing ahead with preparations for the country's biggest sporting event, which draws a worldwide TV audience of around 100 million in 187 countries
"The BIC has been clear throughout recent weeks and months that the security situation in Bahrain is suitable for the staging of a major sporting event,'' the Bahrain International Circuit said in a statement. "This assessment has been provided by experienced figures, from both inside and outside the Bahraini government, to motor racing entities which have traveled to Bahrain to do their own research.''
Source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fresh-violence-in-bahrain-after-f1-gets-goahead/936720/0
All 12 teams told Ecclestone on Friday they were happy to travel to the tiny kingdom despite the ongoing political unrest and no extra safety precautions being put in place.
"There's nothing happening (in Bahrain),'' Ecclestone said in Shanghai ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. "I know people that live there and it's all very quiet and peaceful.''
But clashes broke out after the funeral of activist Ahmed Ismail, who authorities say was killed late last month by gunfire during a protest, although it is still unclear who fired the shots.
"No F1, no F1 ... they killed my son in cold blood,'' sobbed Ismail's mother, Makyia Ahmed, who said her son had been a volunteer at previous F1 races.
Firebombs were hurled Friday by some protesters, who were chanting anti-government slogans, and riot police fired tear gas and bird shot to clear the crowds. Several people were injured by the bird shot pellets.
Race organizers canceled last year's grand prix after the outbreak of violence which has led to at least 50 deaths. The harsh crackdown by the Sunni-led government was imposed after Bahrain's Shiite majority demanded a greater political voice.
Human rights groups criticized the race being reinstated this year, and protesters have galvanized supporters by chanting against Formula One in marches, while criticizing Ecclestone and drivers on social media websites.
Amnesty International warned that "the human rights crisis in Bahrain is not over.''
The London-based group said that despite authorities' claims the Gulf kingdom is calm and free of political unrest, the "state violence against those who oppose the Al Khalifa family rule continues,'' referring to the family of the king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
"Holding the Grand Prix in Bahrain in 2012 risks being interpreted by the government of Bahrain as symbolizing a return to business as usual,'' Amnesty's statement said.
A group calling themselves the Feb. 14 Coalition _ named for the anniversary of the uprising – denounced the decision to stage a grand prix in a week as "against our wishes and the feelings of the people of Bahrain.''
But Ecclestone said he believes the problems in the country should not affect the race for a second year running.
"I'm happy that our position is quite clear,'' he said. "We don't get involved in politics in a country. We go to a country like we come here. They will sort out their internal problems, I'm quite sure.''
And Ecclestone claimed there were no dissenting voices among the teams.
"It was asked whether anybody had any problems and everybody said, 'No, no problem at all,''' he said.
Most F1 drivers were reluctant to comment on the Bahrain situation when asked in China, but Red Bull's Mark Webber said racing against the background of social and political unrest put drivers in a difficult position.
"Ultimately, we are all human. We have morals, we have ways we see things,'' he said. "We like to think that people and situations are fair and everything is, as I suppose, correct as we would like it to be.
"As a grand prix driver, I'm contracted to the team, they're contracted to the FIA (governing body). They hold a 20-round world championship. We go to those venues and race. And that's where it is.''
Webber's boss at Red Bull insisted that the team would not compromise on the safety of its staff.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that the teams have to "trust and respect'' the judgement of the FIA.
"We take the security of all our employees very carefully and so inevitably, as with other races, sometimes extra precautions are taken and we'll do our best to ensure that all our guys and girls are in a secure environment,'' he said. "But I don't doubt that for a moment. The statement from the FIA is clear.''
The FIA said federation president Jean Todt visited Bahrain in November and met with Shiite members of parliament, the president of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, European ambassadors, the crown prince, the interior minister and businessmen to discuss the political situation in the country and viability of the race.
"All expressed their wish for the grand prix to go ahead in 2012, and since then, the FIA has kept in close touch with all these stakeholders,'' the governing body said. "Away from the public eye, the FIA has received regular security briefings from the most senior diplomatic officials based in the kingdom as well as from other independent experts.''
The Bahrain organizers are now pressing ahead with preparations for the country's biggest sporting event, which draws a worldwide TV audience of around 100 million in 187 countries
"The BIC has been clear throughout recent weeks and months that the security situation in Bahrain is suitable for the staging of a major sporting event,'' the Bahrain International Circuit said in a statement. "This assessment has been provided by experienced figures, from both inside and outside the Bahraini government, to motor racing entities which have traveled to Bahrain to do their own research.''
Source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fresh-violence-in-bahrain-after-f1-gets-goahead/936720/0
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